The world's political record
Person
![Official portrait of Rep. Kuykendall, Steven T. [R-CA-36]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/k000357_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
295 records where Rep. Kuykendall, Steven T. [R-CA-36] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2000
Expresses the sorrow of the House of Representatives at the deaths of four named members of the U.S. Marine Corps in a helicopter crash in North Carolina on December 11, 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2000
Expresses the sense of the Congress concerning the Federal Government's role in long-term care, including its role in the reform of long-term care costs and financing.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2000
FHA Downpayment Simplification Extension Act of 2000 - Amends the National Housing Act to temporarily extend certain downpayment provisions of the Federal Housing Administration single family housing mortgage insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2000
Mandatory IDEA Full Funding Act of 2000 - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to require specified minimum levels of Federal grant payments to States for assistance for education of all children with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2000
Debt Relief Lock-box Reconciliation Act for Fiscal Year 2001 - Title I: Debt Reduction Lock-Box - Amends Federal public finance provisions to establish the Public Debt Reduction Payment Account in the Treasury. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to use amounts in the Account to pay at maturity, or redeem or buy before maturity, any Government obligation held by the public and included in the public debt. Provides that any obligation which is paid, redeemed, or bought with amounts from the Account shall be canceled and retired and prohibits its reissuance. Appropriates funds for the Account. Prohibits such appropriation from being considered as direct spending for purposes of pay-as-you-go provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). (Sec. 102) Reduces the public debt limit by the amount appropriated into the Account. (Sec. 103) Bars Account receipts and disbursements from being counted as new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficit or surplus for purposes of : (1) the Federal Government budget as submitted by the President; (2) the congressional budget; or (3) the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act. (Sec. 105) Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the Account. Title II: Social Security and Medicare Lock-Box - Amends H. Con. Res. 290 (106th Congress) to replace a point of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate against consideration of any revision of such resolution or any concurrent budget resolution for FY 2002 that sets forth a deficit for any fiscal year with one that provides a point of order against consideration of any budget resolution that sets forth a surplus for any fiscal year that is less than the surplus of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for such year. Makes it out of order in the House or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report if the enactment of the reported bill or resolution, the adoption and enactment of an amendment, or the enactment of a bill or resolution in the form recommended in the conference report would cause the on-budget surplus for any fiscal year to be less than the projected surplus of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for such year or increase the amount by which the on-budget surplus for any fiscal year would be less than such trust fund surplus for that year. Makes such point of order inapplicable to social security or Medicare reform legislation. Requires any Federal budget submitted by the President that recommends an on-budget surplus for any fiscal year that is less than the surplus of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for such year to include proposed legislative language for social security or Medicare reform legislation. Makes the lock-box requirements of H. Con. Res. 290 (106th Congress) and the preceding paragraph inapplicable upon the enactment of social security and Medicare reform legislation. Defines "social security reform legislation" and "Medicare reform legislation" as a bill or joint resolution to save social security or Medicare, respectively, that specifies that it constitutes reform legislation for purposes of such resolution. (Sec. 202) Requires any official Federal Government statement of the Federal or congressional budget surplus or deficit totals to exclude the outlays and receipts of the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program under the Social Security Act. Requires such outlays and receipts to be submitted in separate social security budget documents.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2000
Recognizes, on the 60th anniversary of the first U.S. peacetime military registration: (1) that the United States must continue to be prepared to defend its people and interests during conflict; and (2) the continued need for U.S. males of 18 years of age to register for possible military service as required by the Military Selective Service Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2000
Directs the Secretary of Education to notify States and State educational agencies of their ability to use certain administrative funds, under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, to establish and operate school safety telephone hotlines.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Quality Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act of 2000 - Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a program of student loan forgiveness in exchange for the borrower's commitment to three consecutive years of full-time teaching in low-income schools or special education teaching. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Straight Talk on Social Security Act - Amends the Social Security Act to require social security account statements to contain: (1) a comparison of the annual social security tax inflows to the amount paid in benefits annually and a statement of whether the ratio will result in a cash flow deficit and what year such deficit will commence as well as the first year in which funds in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Funds will cease to be sufficient to cover the deficit and the percentage of benefits due at that time that could be paid from annual tax inflows; and (2) an explanation of the average rate of return that a taxpayer can expect to receive on old-age insurance benefits as compared to the total amount of social security taxes a taxpayer expects to pay.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2000
Requires the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to make arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal to Tiger Woods in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship, and in breaking barriers with grace and dignity by showing that golf is a sport for all people. Authorizes funding.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2000
Debt Relief Reconciliation Act for Fiscal Year 2001 - Amends Federal public finance provisions to establish the Public Debt Reduction Payment Account in the Treasury. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to use amounts in the Account to pay at maturity, or redeem or buy before maturity, any Government obligation held by the public and included in the public debt. Provides that any obligation which is paid, redeemed, or bought with amounts from the Account shall be canceled and retired and prohibits its reissuance. Appropriates funds for the Account. Prohibits such appropriation from being considered as direct spending for purposes of pay-as-you-go provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Reduces the public debt limit by the amount appropriated into the Account. Bars Account receipts and disbursements from being counted as new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficit or surplus for purposes of : (1) the Federal Government budget as submitted by the President; (2) the congressional budget; or (3) the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the Account.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Privacy and Identity Protection Act of 2000 - Title I: Provisions Relating to the Social Security Account Number - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with regard to: (1) governmental use and treatment of social security account numbers, including restrictions on the sale of such account numbers by governmental agencies; and (2) prohibitions against public access to such account numbers in governmental agency possession, and against use of such account numbers on checks issued for payment by such agencies. (Sec. 101) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Congress on: (1) the current usage by governmental agencies of the Social Security account numbers of individuals, and derivatives of such numbers, for identification purposes; and (2) the most effective means by which any such usage extending beyond the original purposes of the Social Security account number may be minimized. Amends SSA title II to provide for independent verification of birth records provided in support of applications for Social Security account numbers. Directs the Commissioner of Social Security and the Attorney General to report jointly to Congress on the progress of the Social Security Administration and the Immigration and Naturalization Service in implementing a process for enumeration at entry for aliens entering the United States. Amends SSA title II to prohibit: (1) the appearance of Social Security account numbers on driver's licenses or motor vehicle registrations; and (2) the display of such account numbers, or any derivative, on any card or tag provided by governmental agencies to their employees for identification purposes. (Sec. 102) Provides for the regulation and restriction of the sale and purchase of the Social Security account number in the private sector. (Sec. 103) Amends SSA title II to subject criminal penalties the sale and purchase of Social Security account numbers. (Sec. 104) Amends SSA title XI with regard to civil monetary penalty authority concerning treatment of withholding of material facts, and application of civil money penalties to elements of criminal violations. (Sec. 105) Amends SSA titles II and XVI (Supplementary Security Income) (SSI) to provide authority for judicial orders of restitution in cases of Social Security payments obtained by fraud. Amends SSA title VII (Administration) to provide for the establishment of a special fund in the Treasury for receipt of restitution payments. (Sec. 106) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide for confidential treatment of credit report header information including the Social Security account number of the consumer or any derivative thereof. (Sec. 107) Amends SSA title VII to provide for law enforcement authority by special agents of the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration. Title II: Provisions Relating to Representative Payees - Amends SSA titles II and XVI to authorize reissue to beneficiaries or alternative representative payees of OASDI and SSI benefits misused by organizational representative payees. (Sec. 202) Amends SSA titles II and XVI to provide for: (1) oversight of nongovernmental organizational representative payees and disqualification from service as a representative payee upon a felony conviction; (2) fee forfeiture in case of benefit misuse by such a representative payees; (3) liability of representative payees for misused benefits; and (4) extension of civil monetary penalty authority with respect to representative payees.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2000 - Title I: Amendments to the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to increase benefits to railroad employees and their beneficiaries and to revise financing of the pension part (tier II) of the railroad retirement system. (Sec. 101) Increases benefits for widows and widowers by guaranteeing to them all of the tier II annuity the employee was entitled to at the time of the death. (Sec. 102) Makes employees with 30 years of service eligible to retire at age 60 with unreduced tier I and tier II annuities. Makes spouses of such employees eligible for unreduced annuities at age 60. (Sec. 103) Reduces the vesting requirement for tier II retirement annuities from ten years to five years of service after December 1995. Makes employees with at least five years of such service, but less than ten years of total service, eligible for a tier I disability annuity if their combined railroad retirement and social security earnings credits would satisfy social security eligibility requirements. Makes spouses, divorced spouses, and survivors of employees with at least five years of such service, but less than ten years of total service, eligible for a tier I annuity if they would have been entitled to a social security benefit based on combined service. (Sec. 104) Repeals a limit on the total amount of monthly railroad retirement benefits payable to an employee and spouse at the time the employee's annuity begins. (Sec. 105) Establishes a Railroad Retirement Trust Fund (the Fund) and a Railroad Retirement Investment Trust (RRIT) to manage and invest the assets of the Fund. Declares that RRIT is not an agency, department, or instrumentality of the U.S. Government. Requires RRIT to be administered by a Board of Trustees (the Trustees) with seven members (three representing labor, three representing employers, and one representing the general public) with experience and expertise in the management of financial investments and pension plans. Requires the Trustees to be appointed by a unanimous vote of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Prohibits RRB members from being Trustees. Applies specified reporting requirements and fiduciary standards to the RRIT. Requires the Trustees to diversify investments so as to minimize the risk of large losses. Authorizes the Trustees to invest Fund assets in non-Governmental assets. (Sec. 106) Abolishes the Railroad Retirement Supplemental Annuity Account and provides for transfer of its funds to the Fund. (Sec. 107) Requires the RRB, upon the establishment of the Fund, to determine the portion of the Railroad Retirement Account not needed to pay current administrative expenses and direct the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer that amount into the Fund. Requires the Fund to transfer the necessary amount of funds to pay benefits and related administrative expenses to the disbursing agent. Transfers to the Fund Social Security Equivalent Benefit account funds not needed to pay current benefits, but requires that such funds only be used to pay benefits or to invest in U.S. Government or Government-guaranteed securities. Transfers to the disbursing agent from the Dual Benefit Account the amount necessary to make dual benefit payments. Requires the Trustees to consult with the Secretary of the Treasury to develop an appropriate method for transferring or converting existing account obligations. (Sec. 108) Requires the RRB to calculate the ratio of assets to benefits to determine annual tier II tax rates for employers, employee representatives, and employees. Establishes schedules for: (1) decreasing tax rates if the average account benefits ratio, based on the ratios for the ten most recent fiscal years, is above six; and (2) increasing employer and employee representatives' tax rates if the ratio is below four. Title II: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt the Railroad Retirement Trust Fund (the Fund) from taxation. (Sec. 203) Repeals a supplemental annuity tax that railroad employers pay to finance a benefit for long-time rail employees. (Sec. 204) Provides for adjustments to railroad employers, employee representatives, and employee tier II tax rates. Decreases such rates in 2001 and in 2002 for employers and employee representatives. Provides in the years after 2002 for tax rate schedules, based on the ten-year average account benefit ratio, for employers, employee representatives, and employees.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2000
Enhanced Federal Security Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) entry by false pretenses to any real property, vessel, or aircraft of the United States, or any secure area of an airport; and (2) the transfer or receipt, in interstate or foreign commerce, of a counterfeit police badge, or of a genuine police badge to an individual not authorized to possess it, with exceptions. Sets penalties for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2000
Recognizes the tenth anniversary of the initial activation of National Guard and Reserve personnel for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm and the growing importance of the National Guard and Reserve to the security of the United States. Expresses support for ensuring the readiness of the National Guard and Reserve.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2000
Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 2000 - Title I: Emergency Relief for Areas with Substantial Need for Services - Subtitle A: HIV Health Services Planning Councils - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require that an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) planning council reflect the demographics of the population of individuals with HIV disease (currently, the demographics of the epidemic) in the eligible area involved. Modifies requirements regarding council composition, including requiring representatives of former prisoners. Requires that at least 33 percent of the council be people who: (1) are receiving HIV-related services pursuant to a grant under provisions relating to emergency relief for areas with a substantial need for services (substantial need grant); and (2) are not officers, employees, consultants, or representatives of any entity that receives substantial need grant amounts. (Sec. 102) Modifies council duties, including regarding: (1) determining the size, demographics, and needs of the HIV disease population; (2) council establishment of fund allocation priorities; and (3) coordination with Federal grantees that provide HIV-related services in the area. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) develop epidemiologic measures for establishing the number of individuals with HIV disease who are not receiving HIV-related health services and for carrying out council duties; and (2) provide to the chief elected official receiving a substantial need grant guidelines and materials for training council members regarding council duties. (Sec. 103) Requires that council meetings and records be open to the public, subject to exception. Subtitle B: Type and Distribution of Grants - Makes permanent provisions requiring expedited disbursement of certain substantial need grant amounts. Requires, after fiscal year 2004, that the substantial need grant amount formula use the number of cases of HIV disease in the most recent year rather than the number of cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the most recent ten years, but until FY 2007 conditions that change on the Secretary's determination that there is sufficiently accurate and reliable data on HIV disease cases from all eligible areas, requiring the Secretary to consider: (1) the findings of a study mandated by title V of this Act; (2) the fiscal impact of using or of not using that data; and (3) the impact of the use of that data on the organization and delivery of HIV-related services. Modifies requirements regarding increases in the amount of a substantial need grant under expedited disbursement provisions. (Sec. 112) Requires that the amount of supplemental substantial need grants be determined by the Secretary based on a weighting of specified factors, with severe need counting one-third. Includes the current HIV disease prevalence, an increasing need for services, and unmet need for services as factors the Secretary must consider in determining severe need. Directs the Secretary, in determining the required factors, to develop a mechanism to use national, quantitative incidence data by 18 months after enactment of this Act (currently, by May 20, 1998). Requires mechanism modification based on the findings of a study mandated by title V of this Act. Removes provisions basing the amount of substantial need grants on substantial need grant applications. Subtitle C: Other Provisions - Requires that substantial need grant funds be used, among other purposes, for: (1) outreach to identify individuals with HIV disease who are not receiving HIV-related services; and (2) early intervention services. Requires that substantial need grants be used to provide health and support services to infants, children, youth, and women (currently, infants, children, and women) with HIV disease in the same ratio as those groups with HIV disease bear to those groups in the general population. Requires that the chief elected official of a substantial need grant-receiving area establish a quality management program to assess whether HIV health services under the substantial need grant are consistent with the most recent Public Health Service guidelines. (Sec. 123) Requires that official to ensure that the area's planning council: (1) reviews existing, available data on expenditures by substantial need grant recipient entities from their overall budget for administrative costs; and (2) makes a determination whether the financial compensation of any of those entity's officers or employees exceeds that of the official. Title II: Care Grant Program - Subtitle A: General Grant Provisions - Requires that grants to States to improve the quality, availability and organization of health care and support services for individuals with HIV disease (care grants) be used to provide health and support services to infants, children, youth, and women (currently, infants, children, and women) with HIV disease in the same ratio as those groups with HIV disease bear to those groups in the general population. (Sec. 202) Allows care grants to be used for support services, outreach activities, early intervention, and quality management. (Sec. 203) Modifies requirements regarding grants to establish HIV care consortia. (Sec. 204) Allows a State to meet a requirement to use a portion of its care grant to provide therapeutics to treat HIV disease or prevent related health deterioration (including prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections) by paying for health insurance or plans whose coverage includes a full range of such therapeutics and primary care. (Sec. 205) Requires care grant applications to contain determinations of the size, demographics, and needs of the population of individuals with HIV disease in the State. Modifies requirements regarding the comprehensive plan. Requires the public health agency that administers care grants for a State to engage in a public advisory planning process. (Sec. 206) Doubles, subject to appropriations, the minimum care grant allotment to each State and U.S. territory. Requires, after fiscal year 2004, that the care grant amount formula use the number of cases of HIV disease in the most recent year rather than the number of cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the most recent ten years, but until FY 2007 conditions that change on the Secretary's determination that there is sufficiently accurate and reliable data on HIV disease cases. Provides for increases in the formula amount. Requires, if an appropriations Act provides an amount exclusively for treatment drug grants, that two percent of that exclusive amount be reserved for supplemental grants to States whose HIV population's need is greater than the quantities available under treatment drug grants from the remaining unreserved 98 percent. Adds the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau to the list of U.S. territories. Adds the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the list of territories for minimum allotment provisions but keeps it in the list of States for other care grant provisions. (Sec. 207) Replaces provisions mandating coordination by specified Federal agencies of Federal HIV programs with provisions directing the Secretary to make grants to States to supplement care grants for comprehensive services for communities that have a severe need for supplemental financial assistance to combat the HIV epidemic. Provides for funding for the supplemental grants. Subtitle B: Provisions Concerning Pregnancy and Perinatal Transmission of HIV - Removes provisions prohibiting (after testing of pregnant women and newborns has become a routine practice in U.S. health care) care grants to a State unless the State meets certain requirements regarding such testing. (Sec. 212) Adds HIV disease treatment services to the uses for which the Secretary may make a grant to a State that is following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding HIV counseling and voluntary testing for pregnant women. Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits using care grant appropriations for grants under this section. (Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary to provide for a study and report to appropriate congressional committees regarding: (1) the number of newborns with HIV born in the United States in the most recent year for which the information is available; (2) barriers that prevent or discourage an obstetrician from routinely offering pregnant women an HIV test and routinely testing newborns when the mother's HIV status is unknown; and (3) recommendations for each State for reducing perinatal HIV transmission. Requires States to make reasonable progress toward meeting the recommendations. Subtitle C: Certain Partner Notification Programs - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States for partner counseling and referral services, provided the State meets certain requirements regarding: (1) partner notification and (for the partner and the infected individual) testing, counseling, and referral; (2) health entity reporting of positive test results to the State; (3) reporting to the CDC regarding partner notification; and (4) State cooperation with the CDC national partner notification. Prohibits grants to a State after fiscal year 2003 unless the State's reporting system for HIV cases produces sufficiently accurate and reliable data. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Early Intervention Services - Subtitle A: Formula Grants for States - Repeals provisions mandating formula grants to States for outpatient early intervention services regarding HIV disease. Subtitle B: Categorical Grants - Requires giving preference to rural or underserved areas in making currently-authorized categorical grants for outpatient early intervention services. Allows planning grants to be used, subject to limitation, to assist the recipients to expand their capacity to provide services, including early intervention services, in low income communities and affected subpopulations that are underserved. Subtitle C: General Provisions - Requires that the counseling that categorical grant recipients are required to provide to HIV-infected individuals emphasize that it is the duty of infected individuals to disclose their status to their sexual and needle-sharing partners, provide advice on how to make the disclosures and emphasize that it is the infected individual's continuing duty to avoid behaviors that expose others to HIV. (Sec. 322) Increases the percentage limit on administrative expenses. Requires recipients to establish a quality management program to assess the extent to which medical services are consistent with Public Health Service guidelines for treatment of HIV disease and related opportunistic infections. Title IV: Other Programs and Activities - Subtitle A: Certain Programs for Research, Demonstrations, or Training - Replaces a requirement that, with regard to grants for providing opportunities for women, infants, children, and youth to participate in HIV research and for providing to those groups outpatient health care and additional services, that a significant number of individuals in those groups be participating in research with a requirement that the grant applicant demonstrate linkages to research and how access to research is being offered to patients. Directs the Secretary to examine the distribution and availability of research regarding grantees to enhance and expand HIV-related research, especially in underrepresented communities. Requires grantees to implement a quality management program. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 402) Includes, as a use of currently-authorized grants and contracts for training health personnel: (1) training in prenatal and other gynecological care for women with HIV disease; and (2) developing protocols for the medical care of such women. Directs the Secretary to implement a strategy for the dissemination of HIV treatment information to care providers and patients. Adds accredited dental hygiene programs as possible recipients of currently-authorized grants with respect to oral health care to (sic) patients with HIV disease. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes grants to dental schools, post-doctoral dental education programs, and accredited dental hygiene programs that partner with community-based dentists to provide care to HIV patients in underserved areas. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations for grants and contracts to assist public and nonprofit private entities and schools and academic health science centers to train health personnel, train faculty, and develop and disseminate curricula and resource materials regarding the care of HIV patients and prevention of HIV infection among at risk individuals. Subtitle B: General Provisions in Title XXVI - Extends the authorization of appropriations for grants and contracts to evaluate programs carried out under title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act (HIV Health Care Services Program). (Sec. 412) Authorizes appropriations for collecting and providing data for program planning and evaluation under title XXVI. (Sec. 413) Adds the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Health Care Financing Administration to the list of agencies (currently, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) charged with coordinating the planning, funding, and implementation (currently, coordinating the planning of the funding) of Federal HIV programs to enhance continuity of care and prevention services (currently, continuity of care). Requires that State, local, or private entities receiving title XXVI funds enhance continuity of care and prevention services (currently, continuity of care). (Sec. 414) Directs the Secretary to develop and submit to Congress a plan for the medical case management of and the provision of support services to individuals who had HIV disease on their date of release from the Federal or State penal system. (Sec. 415) Authorizes the Secretary to reduce title XXVI grants to a State or political subdivision if the State or subdivision fails to prepare audits. (Sec. 416) Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and submit to Congress a plan for coordinating the disbursement of appropriations for substantial need grants with the disbursement for care grants; (2) within two years after enactment of this Act, implement the disbursement plan, notwithstanding any title XXVI provision inconsistent with the plan; (3) determine whether administration of those grants by the Secretary and grantee compliance efficiency would be improved by requiring biennial rather than annual applications; (4) develop and submit to Congress a plan for simplifying the application process for those grants; and (5) within two years after enactment of this Act, implement the simplified application plan, notwithstanding any title XXVI provision inconsistent with the plan. (Sec. 417) Removes provisions directing the Secretary to develop and implement a method for adjusting the percentages allocated to substantial need grants and care grants to account for substantial need grants to new areas and other relevant factors. Authorizes appropriations for substantial need and care grants. Title V: General Provisions - Directs the Secretary to provide for studies, and report to the appropriate congressional committees, on: (1) whether the surveillance system of each State provides for the reporting of HIV infection cases in a way that provides information on the number and demographic characteristics of the cases that is sufficiently accurate for the formula grants under substantial need and care grant provisions and, if not, recommendations for improvements; and (2) the appropriate epidemiological measures and their relationship to the financing and delivery of primary care and health related support services for low income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals with HIV disease. (Sec. 502) Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand, intensify, and coordinate research and other NIH activities regarding development of reliable and affordable HIV tests that can be rapidly administered and whose results can be rapidly obtained (rapid HIV tests). Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary: (1) to report to appropriate congressional committees on the progress made toward, and barriers to, the premarket review and commercial distribution of rapid HIV tests; and (2) promptly after rapid HIV test commercial distribution begins, to establish or update guidelines for States, hospitals, and other entities regarding the availability of those tests for administration to pregnant women in labor or late stage pregnancy and whose HIV status is unknown. (Sec. 503) Directs the Secretary, of the amounts available to the Secretary for program management at the Health Resources and Services Administration, to spend amounts necessary to ensure at least a 20 percent increase in fiscal year 2001 over fiscal year 2000 of full- time-equivalent staff of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS who administer programs under title XXVI. Title VI: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective dates for this Act and its amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2000
Victims of Stalkers Equality Act of 2000 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit the transfer of a firearm or ammunition to, and the receipt of a firearm or ammunition by, a person subject to a court order that restrains the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an individual or engaging in other conduct that would place an individual in reasonable fear of bodily injury (currently, such prohibition applies to a person subject to restraining order on conduct toward an intimate partner or child of such person).
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2000
Classroom Modernization Act of 2000 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to revise and rename title XII as Classroom Modernization. (Currently it is named School Facilities Infrastructure Improvement, or the Education Infrastructure Act of 1994.) Directs the Secretary of Education to make formula grants to States to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) with the expenses of complying with Federal education statutory requirements and priorities relating to infrastructure, technology, and equipment needs for public elementary and secondary schools, including charter schools and schools on or near Indian lands. Bases State allotments on: (1) relative numbers of children age five through 17 from families with incomes below poverty; and (2) relative proportions of ESEA title I allotments. Requires reservation of specified funds for grants to account for children residing on Indian lands. Requires States to distribute such funds to LEAs or consortia of LEAs, through forms consistent with State law for school infrastructure financing, including grants, loans, and aid to issue bonds or other obligations. Considers as such distributed amounts: (1) aid to refund or refinance outstanding obligations; and (2) amounts used to establish a reserve fund for State loan guarantee program. Allows any State that establishes such a program including a loan guarantee for at least one charter school to use a specified portion of grant funds to administer such program. Sets forth objective data categories which a State may consider in determining distribution of such funds. Sets the Federal share at 100 percent for: (1) renovation, construction, acquisition, and start-up needs related to the building infrastructure of a charter school (or, in the case of schools on Indian lands, renovation and construction needs related to building infrastructure); (2) school facilities modifications necessary to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (3) purchase, lease, or other acquisition of assistive technology devices for children with disabilities; (4) asbestos abatement or removal from school facilities; and (5) ancillary renovation to complete such projects. Sets the Federal share at 50 percent for: (1) school facility wiring and associated infrastructure improvements that enhance students' academic experiences and are necessary for use of the Internet or related emerging technologies or better equip schools for modern educational technologies; (2) science laboratories and equipment, and vocational education laboratories and equipment, that are of significant cost or are related to emerging technologies; (3) school facility renovations undertaken for compliance with fire and safety codes; (4) school facilities renovations to prevent traumatic crisis events on school property that would disrupt the learning environment, such as school shootings or other major acts of violence, if the renovations are undertaken in direct response to, or in anticipation of, such events; and (5) ancillary renovation to complete such projects. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the impact of Federal conditions of aid on school construction projects.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2000
Community Economic Adjustment Act of 2000 - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish in the Economic Development Administration (EDA) an Office of Community Economic Adjustment to coordinate the Federal Government's response to communities experiencing sudden economic distress caused by a loss of jobs due to plant closures, significant layoffs, or significant relocation of jobs to other communities for any reason, including shifting patterns in international trade, natural disasters, or other problems, by: (1) identifying relevant programs and resources to ensure that communities are aware of all available Federal resources that complement or support state and local resources and programs; (2) working with specified departments and agencies to ensure that communities receive Federal assistance in a targeted, integrated manner; and (3) assigning a project manager to work with an affected community. Directs such Office to: (1) provide technical assistance, planning grants, and other assistance to help communities organize themselves, develop, and carry out economic adjustment strategies for replacing industry and jobs that have been lost or are threatened by the economic downturn; and (2) help eligible applicants in completing applications for other assistance that may be useful in alleviating the economic distress in such communities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2005 for community adjustment assistance under the economic adjustment program of the EDA, including specified amounts for such Office and for communities successfully completing planning grants to implement their approved plans.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2000
Medicare Rx 2000 Act - Title I: Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) to entitle each individual enrolled under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) to obtain qualified prescription drug coverage as outlined. Sets forth general election procedures. (Sec. 101) Prohibits an individual eligible to elect qualified prescription drug coverage under a prescription drug plan or under a Medicare+Choice (Medicare part C) plan from being denied enrollment based on any health status-related factor under the Public Health Service Act or under any other factor. Extends the same prohibition to the case of an individual who maintains continuous prescription drug coverage since first qualifying to elect it, and includes any limitation or conditioning of coverage, or any increased premium based on any such health status-related factor. Allows a prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsor or Medicare+Choice organization, in the case of an individual who does not maintain such continuous prescription drug coverage, to increase the otherwise applicable premium, or to impose a pre-existing condition exclusion, with respect to qualified prescription drug coverage in a manner that reflects additional actuarial risk involved. Sets forth requirements for qualified prescription drug coverage, standard coverage, and alternative coverage. Outlines requirements for access to negotiated prices, actuarial valuation and determination of annual percentage increases, and protections for individuals eligible to enroll under a qualified PDP, such as guaranteed issue and nondiscrimination. Sets out requirements for PDP sponsors as well as financial solvency and capital adequacy standards for non-licensed PDP sponsors. Directs the Medicare Benefits Administrator by regulation to establish other standards for PDP sponsors and plans. Directs the Medicare Benefits Administrator to: (1) establish a process for the selection of the prescription drug plan or Medicare+Choice plan which offers qualified prescription drug coverage; and (2) assure that each individual enrolled under part B has available a choice of enrollment in at least two qualifying plans in the area in which the individual resides, at least one of which is a prescription drug plan. Outlines premium requirements, including those governing submission of premium-related information to the Medicare Benefits Administrator for approval or disapproval, premium rates in the same service area, terms and conditions for imposing premiums, and premium and cost-sharing subsidies for low-income individuals and for Medicare beneficiaries. Creates within the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) the Medicare Prescription Drug Account for subsidy-related and other payments under new part D. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 102) Amends SSA title XVIII part C to provide for prescription drug benefits by Medicare+Choice organizations, including premium and cost-sharing subsidies for low-income enrollees, and reinsurance subsidy payments for Medicare+Choice organizations. (Sec. 103) Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to: (1) require State Medicaid plans to provide for making eligibility determinations for premium and cost-sharing subsidies with regard to the Medicare prescription drug benefit for low-income Medicare beneficiaries; (2) provide for phased-in Federal assumption of Medicaid prescription drug costs for dually-eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries; (3) require continued Medicaid payment for such an individual to the extent payment is not made under the PDP or the Medicare+Choice plan selected by the individual; and (5) provide for Medicaid prescription drug coverage by territories. (Sec. 104) Prescribes conditions and limitations for prescription drug coverage by new Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policies. Title II: Modernization of Administration of Medicare - Subtitle A: Medicare Benefits Administration - Amends SSA title XVIII to establish within the Department of Health and Human Services the Medicare Benefits Administration, headed by an Administrator charged with carrying out Medicare parts C and D. (Sec. 201) Directs the Secretary to establish within the Medicare Benefits Administration an Office of Beneficiary Assistance to carry out functions relating to Medicare beneficiaries, including benefit eligibility determinations and dissemination of information on benefits and appeals rights. Establishes within the Office a Medicare Ombudsman to: (1) receive complaints, grievances, and requests for information submitted by a Medicare beneficiary concerning any aspect of the Medicare program; (2) provide assistance with respect to such complaints, grievances, and requests; and (3) coordinate with State medical Ombudsman programs, and with State and community-based consumer organizations, to provide information and conduct outreach to educate Medicare beneficiaries with respect to the manner for resolving or avoiding Medicare problems. Establishes within the Medicare Benefits Administration the Medicare Policy Advisory Board. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Oversight of Financial Sustainability of the Medicare Program - Amends SSA title XVIII part A (Hospital Insurance) with regard to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund to require its Board of Trustees to report to Congress on the operation and status of such Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, including the total amounts obligated during the preceding fiscal year from the General Revenues of the Treasury to the Trust Funds for Medicare payments and ten-year and 50-year projections of such required benefit obligations. (Sec. 211) Expresses the sense of Congress that the committees of jurisdiction shall hold hearings on such reports. Subtitle C: Changes in Medicare Coverage and Appeals Process - Amends Medicare part D to revise the Medicare appeals process with respect to: (1) a time limit for appeals; (2) expedited reconsideration of an initial determination; (3) local coverage determinations; (4) Internet publication of hearing decisions by the Secretary; and (5) conduct of reconsiderations by independent contractors. (Sec. 222) Limits the liability of an individual for repayment of claims incorrectly paid by the Secretary. Prescribes a procedure for waiver of such liability protection and the individual's right to an appeal. Requires inclusion in the explanation of Medicare benefits of beneficiary liability information, including a specified toll-free telephone number. (Sec. 223) Amends SSA title XI with respect to civil money penalties for improperly filed claims, including offers or transfers of remuneration to influence a beneficiary's choice of provider, practitioner, or item or service supplier. Revises the exclusion from the meaning of remuneration of any waiver of coinsurance and deductible amounts to: (1) make the current conditions for such an exclusion alternative instead of collectively necessary; and (2) add as a new alternative condition for exclusion that such a waiver is offered as a part of a supplemental insurance policy or retiree health plan. (Sec. 224) Amends SSA title D to repeal the Secretary's authority to review, reverse, affirm, or modify decisions of the Provider Reimbursement Review Board. Title III: Medicare+Choice Reforms; Preservation of Medicare Part B Drug Benefit - Subtitle A: Medicare+Choice Reforms - Amends Medicare part C with respect to Federal payments to Medicare+Choice organizations to: (1) reduce the national per capita Medicare+Choice growth percentages for 2001 and 2002; (2) remove application of the budget neutrality factor beginning in 2002 with respect to calculation of both the blended and the national standardized annual Medicare+Choice capitation rates; (3) specify $450 as the minimum payment amount for 2002; (4) allow a Medicare+Choice organization to elect to apply an area-specific percentage of 50 percent and a national percentage of 50 percent for 2002 (currently, only after 2002); (5) increase from 102 percent to 102.5 percent the minimum percentage increase for Medicare+Choice payment areas with only one, or no, Medicare+Choice contracts entered into as of July 1 before the beginning of the year during 2002 through 2005; (6) permit higher annual rates through negotiation between an Medicare+Choice organization and the Medicare Benefits Administration for each year beginning with 2004 in Medicare+Choice payment areas for which the Medicare+Choice capitation rate would otherwise be less than the U.S. per capita cost; and (7) phase-in over a ten-year period beginning in 2004 a risk adjustment methodology based on data from all settings. Subtitle B: Preservation of Medicare Coverage of Drugs and Biologicals - Amends SSA title XVIII part D (Miscellaneous Provisions) with regard to coverage of drugs and biologicals under Medicare part B to modify the specification of drugs and biologicals which cannot be self-administered to drugs and biologicals which are not usually self-administered by the patient.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2000
Recognizes that the Birmingham Pledge has made a significant contribution in fostering racial harmony and reconciliation in the United States and around the world. Commends the people involved with the Pledge's creation and signatories to it for the steps they are taking to make the Nation and the world a better place for all people. Expresses the sense of Congress that a National Birmingham Pledge Week should be established.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2000
Accountability and Disclosure Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and the Communications Act of 1934 to require sponsors of certain election-related communications to disclose their identities and sources of funds used to make the communications.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2000
Debt Reduction Reconciliation Act of 2000 - Amends Federal public finance provisions to establish the Public Debt Reduction Payment Account in the Treasury. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to use amounts in the Account to pay at maturity, or redeem or buy before maturity, any Government obligation held by the public and included in the public debt. Provides that any obligation which is paid, redeemed, or bought with amounts from the Account shall be canceled and retired and prohibits its reissuance. Provides that if the Congressional Budget Office estimates an on-budget surplus for FY 2000 in a report submitted to the congressional budget committees pursuant to the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that exceeds the amount of the surplus for such fiscal year set forth in the concurrent resolution on the budget for FY 2001 (H. Con. Res. 290, 106th Congress), then an amount equal to that excess is appropriated into the Account for FY 2000. Prohibits such appropriation from being considered as direct spending for purposes of pay-as-you-go provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Reduces the public debt limit by the amount appropriated into the Account. Bars Account receipts and disbursements from being counted as new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficit or surplus for purposes of : (1) the Federal Government budget as submitted by the President; (2) the congressional budget; or (3) the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the Account.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2000
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) public memorials that commemorate U.S. military conflicts and the service of individuals in the armed forces should be maintained in good condition; and (2) Federal, State, and local agencies responsible for the construction and maintenance of these memorials should cooperate in cataloging them and providing the resulting information to the Department of the Interior. Urges the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to: (1) collect and maintain information on such memorials; (2) coordinate efforts at collecting and maintaining this information with similar efforts by other entities, such as Remembering Veterans Who Earned Their Stripes; and (3) make such information available to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2000
Club Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal judicial code to direct the United States Sentencing Commission to amend the sentencing guidelines regarding any offense relating to the manufacture, importation, or exportation of, or trafficking in, 3-4 methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA, or Ecstasy), 3-4 methylenedioxy amphetamine, 3-4 methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine, paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMA), or any other controlled substance that is marketed as a club drug and that has either a chemical structure substantially similar to, or an effect on the central nervous system substantially similar to or greater than that of, MDMA or PMA. Directs the Commission: (1) to review and amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide for increased penalties comparable to the base offense levels for offenses involving any methamphetamine mixture; and (2) to ensure that the Federal sentencing guidelines reflect the need for aggressive law enforcement action regarding offenses involving such controlled substances and the dangers associated with unlawful activity involving such substances. (Sec. 4) Sets forth similar provisions with respect to offenses relating to the manufacture, importation, or exportation of, or trafficking in, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and its salts (GHB), or the List I chemical gamma-butyrolactone. (Sec. 5) Directs the Commission to promulgate amendments under this Act as soon as practicable after this Act's enactment date in accordance with a procedure set forth in the Sentencing Act of 1987 (emergency guidelines promulgation authority), as though the authority under that Act had not expired. (Sec. 6) Amends the CSA to prohibit any person from teaching, demonstrating, or distributing information pertaining to the manufacture of: (1) a controlled substance with the intent that the teaching, demonstration, or information be used for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a crime; or (2) a controlled substance to any person knowing that such person intends to use the teaching, demonstration, or information for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes an offense. Sets penalties for violations. (Sec. 7) Requires the head of each Federal department, agency, and establishment (department) to place anti-drug messages on appropriate Internet websites controlled by such department which shall contain an electronic hyperlink to the Internet website of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. (Sec. 8) Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to make grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, public and nonprofit private entities to carry out: (1) school-based programs concerning the dangers of abuse of and addiction to MDMA, PMA, or related drugs, using methods that are effective and science-based, including initiatives that give students the responsibility to create their own anti-drug abuse education programs for their schools; and (2) community-based abuse and addiction prevention programs relating to MDMA, PMA, or related drugs that are effective and science-based. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) permissible uses of grant funds; (2) priorities for grants; (3) a specified annual allocation to support and conduct periodic analyses and evaluations of effective prevention programs for abuse of and addiction to MDMA, PMA, or related drugs and the development of strategies for disseminating information about and implementing such programs; and (4) reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in conducting the national media campaign under the Drug-Free Media Campaign Act of 1998, to ensure that such campaign addresses the reduction and prevention of abuse of MDMA, PMA, or related drugs among young people in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2000
Commends Israel for its decision to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon and for taking risks for peace in the Middle East. Calls upon the United Nations Security Council to: (1) recognize Israel's fulfillment of its obligations under Security Council Resolution 425 and to provide the necessary resources for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to implement its mandate under that resolution; and (2) insist upon the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanese territory. Urges UNIFIL, in cooperation with the Lebanese armed forces, to gain full control over southern Lebanon, including by taking actions to ensure the disarmament of Hezbollah and all other such groups to eliminate all terrorist activity originating from that area. Appeals to the Government of Lebanon to grant clemency and assure the safety and rehabilitation into Lebanese society of all members of the South Lebanon Army and their families. Calls upon the international community to ensure that southern Lebanon does not once again become a staging ground for attacks against Israel and to cooperate in bringing about the reconstruction and reintegration of southern Lebanon. Recognizes Israel's right to defend itself and its people from attack and reasserts U.S. support for maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge to ensure Israel's long-term security. Urges all parties to reenter the peace process with the Government of Israel to bring peace and stability to all the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2000
Live Long and Prosper Act of 2000 - Title I: Tax Incentives to Enhance Long-Term Care - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a: (1) deduction for qualifying long-term care insurance costs of a taxpayer and his or her spouse and children; and (2) personal exemption for certain elderly family members with long-term care needs residing in a taxpayer's home. Title II: National Summit on Long-Term Care - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to direct the President to convene a National Summit on Long-Term Care. Title III: Federal Outreach Efforts to Promote Long-Term Care - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to direct the Secretary of Labor to: (1) maintain an outreach program to promote financing and purchase of long-term care insurance by the American workforce; (2) establish a long-term care insurance Internet site. Authorizes appropriations for additional State outreach to seniors. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide outreach on long-term care issues, including establishment of an Internet site. Amends the Social Security Act to require social security account statements to provide information relating to medicare, medicaid, and long-term care.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2000
Amends Federal law to direct the Postal Service to establish a special (semipostal) postage rate for first-class mail in order to afford the public a convenient way to contribute to funding for the establishment of the World War II Memorial. Expresses the sense of Congress that nothing in this Act should: (1) directly or indirectly cause a net decrease in total funds received by the American Battle Monuments Commission below the level that would otherwise have been received but for the enactment of this section; or (2) affect regular first-class rates of postage or any other regular rates of postage.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2000
Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. policy should: (1) support the restoration of democracy in Burma, including implementation of the results of the 1990 elections; (2) continue to call upon the military regime in Burma known as the State Peace and Development Council to guarantee freedoms of assembly, movement, speech, and the press for all Burmese citizens, to accept a political dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy, and ethnic leaders to advance peace, to release all detained Members elected to the 1990 parliament and other political prisoners, and to uphold the terms and conditions of all human rights and related resolutions passed by the United Nations General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights, the International Labor Organization, and the European Union; and (3) sustain current economic and political sanctions against Burma as the appropriate means of securing the restoration of democracy, human rights, and civil liberties and of supporting U.S. national security counternarcotics interests.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2000
Honors the service and sacrifice during periods of war by members of the U.S. merchant marine. Recognizes the critical role played by vessels of the U.S. merchant marine fleet, such as the S.S. LANE VICTORY, in transporting equipment, supplies, and personnel necessary to support war efforts. Calls for ceremonies and activities to recognize and commemorate the U.S. merchant marine.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2000
Medicare Access to Technology Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for: (1) annual reports to Congress by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with regard to national coverage determinations; (2) inclusion on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) of individuals with expertise in new medical devices; and (3) annual adjustments to Medicare payment systems for changes in technology and medical practice. (Sec. 3) Amends SSA title XI to revise the Medicare advisory committee process to require assurance of full participation of nonvoting members in committee deliberations. (Sec. 6) Amends SSA title XVIII to direct the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress on elimination of barriers to the use of new medical devices in hospital outpatient departments (HODs). Requires MEDPAC to: (1) monitor Medicare beneficiary access to medical devices in HODs, assess the impact in making new devices available in HODs, and the impact of including or excluding a device under the prospective payment system (PPS) on beneficiary access to such device; and (2) make any recommendations MEDPAC determines would increase the availability of such devices to individuals entitled to Medicare benefits. (Sec. 7) Amends SSA title XVIII to prohibit the exclusion of a drug or biological from Medicare coverage because it is not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member, if such drug or biological has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is prescribed for an FDA-approved use or a use supported in medical compendia. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to: (1) assign a temporary code to an FDA-reviewed drug or device after receiving a written request of a product sponsor; (2) accept recommendations from the public throughout the year for Health Care Financing Administration Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) level II code modifications; (3) cause determinations on recommendations to be made within 30 days after receipt of the recommendation; and (4) incorporate modifications to HCPCS level II codes that are approved during the three months preceding the last month of a calendar quarter into the payment systems established under Medicare not later than the first day of the following calendar quarter. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring a minimum period of marketing experience with respect to a drug or device as a condition of consideration or approval of a recommendation for an HCPCS level II code modification. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the feasibility and desirability of opening meetings of the HHS Alpha-Numeric Editorial Panel to the public. (Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to maintain and continue the use of HCPCS level III codes (as in effect on June 1, 1999), and to make them available to the public. (Sec. 10) Outlines provisions for establishing: (1) a process for the stated purpose of making and implementing ICD-9-CM coding modifications with respect to payment to hospitals for inpatient hospital services into the payment systems established under Medicare; (2) procedures for Medicare coding and payment determinations for new clinical diagnostic laboratory tests for which payment is made on a fee schedule basis; and (3) payment rates for new clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring a minimum period of marketing experience with respect to an item, service, or device for which payment is made under the system for payment to hospitals for inpatient hospital services as a condition of consideration or approval of a recommendation for an ICD-9-CM modification. Prohibits the Secretary from assigning a code for a new clinical diagnostic laboratory test that differs from that recommended by the American Medical Association Common Procedure Terminology Editorial Panel and results in lower payment than would be made under certain conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2000
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Preservation Act of 2000 - Requires amounts allotted to a State under title XXI (Children's Health Insurance) of the Social Security Act for FY 1998 and 1999 to remain available through FY 2002, notwithstanding a specified time limitation on the availability of such amounts.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2000
See summary of: H.Res. 157
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
National Science Education Act - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (NSFA) to establish and expand programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education. (Sec. 3) Provides that nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize any Federal department, agency, officer, or employee to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution or school system. (Sec. 4) Requires the NSF Director to make grants to State or local educational agencies (SEAs or LEAs) or private elementary or middle schools to hire master teachers. Requires grant applicants to describe their requirements for master teachers and how professional development will be integrated with their mathematics or science program. Requires such master teachers to: (1) provide support for not more than ten teachers at public and private schools in mathematics, science, engineering, or technology programs for students in kindergarten through the eighth grade; and (2) be responsible for in-classroom assistance and oversight of hands-on inquiry materials, equipment, and supplies, including supplying and repairing such materials. Requires such grants to be made out of funds available for the NSF for Education and Human Resources Activities. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Director to make competitive grants to secondary school and college students working with university faculty, software developers, and experts in educational technology, or to such faculty, developers, and experts working with such students, to develop high-quality educational software and Internet web sites. Requires the Director to: (1) designate official judges to recognize outstanding educational software and Internet web sites, developed with such assistance, that focus on core curriculum areas; (2) issue a certificate signed by the President and Director to each student and faculty member who develops such recognized software and sites; and (3) give priority to awarding grants to develop such software or sites in the areas of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology. (Sec. 6) Establishes in NSF a working group to review and coordinate regular and supplemental curricula in kindergarten through the 12th grade for science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. (Sec. 7) Requires the Director, subject to appropriations, to make demonstration project grants to eligible LEAS, which may use such funds to: (1) develop an information technology program that builds or expands mathematics, science, and information technology curricula; (2) purchase equipment necessary to establish such program; and (3) provide professional development in such fields. Requires such LEAs to enter into conditional agreements with representatives of the private sector which will participate by providing services and funds, including: (1) donating computer hardware and software; (2) establishing internship and mentoring opportunities for student participants in such program; and (3) donating higher education scholarship funds for eligible students who have participated in such program. Sets forth requirements for program applications, guidelines, assessment, study, and report. Authorizes appropriations to NSF for such program. Limits the maximum amount of such a grant award to any eligible LEA. (Sec. 8) Requires the Director, with the Secretary of Education, to compile and disseminate information on: (1) standard prerequisites for middle school and high school students who seek to enter a course of study at an institution of higher education in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology education for purposes of teaching in an elementary or secondary school; and (2) the licensing requirements in each State for science, mathematics, engineering, or technology elementary or secondary school teachers. (Sec. 9) Requires the Director to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for NAS to compile and evaluate studies on the effectiveness of technology in the classroom on learning and student performance, as measured by State standardized tests. Authorizes appropriations to NSF for such study-evaluation. (Sec. 10) Requires the Director to establish a grant program under which grants may be made for instruction of teachers for grades kindergarten through the 12th grade in the use of technology in the classroom. (Sec. 11) Authorizes the Director to award grants to assist States in reaching the goal of making all middle school graduates technology-literate. Requires such grants to be used for teacher training in technology, with an emphasis on programs that prepare one or more teachers in each middle school in the State to become technology leaders who then serve as experts and train other teachers. Requires States to encourage schools that receive such assistance to provide matching funds. (Sec. 12) Requires the Director to convene, as the National Science Education Forum, a conference of representatives from Federal, State, and local governments, private industries, professional organizations, educators, science, mathematics, engineering, and technology educational resource providers, students, and other stakeholders. (Sec. 13) Authorizes the Director to make grants to SEAs or LEAs or private elementary, middle, or secondary schools, under any grant program administered by the Director using funds appropriated for the NSF for Education and Human Resources Activities, for activities in which distance learning is integrated into the education process in kindergarten through the 12th grade. (Sec. 14) Requires the Director to make available through the Internet at no cost a complete field-test version of any curricular program for which the NSF provided development funds. (Sec. 15) Directs the President, acting through the NSF, to provide scholarships to teachers at public and private schools in kindergarten through the 12th grade to participate in Federal, State, or private research programs. Requires the Director to establish an Internet web site which may be used by students and teachers participating in such program to incorporate research knowledge and techniques into the educational process.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Digital Divide Access to Technology Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that computers and Internet access provided by an employer to employees shall be treated as a "de minimis fringe" benefit (and thus excluded from gross income) provided specified requirements are met.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
National Science Education Incentive Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permit an eligible science, engineering, math, or technology teacher a limited credit for undergraduate tuition; and (2) permit an elementary and secondary science, mathematics, engineering, and technology credit (SMET) credit for qualified contributions of property or service to qualified elementary and secondary schools.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to limit the documentation or electronic information an importer of record must file with the U.S. Customs Service to that alone necessary to enable the Customs Service to determine whether the merchandise may be released from customs custody. Specifies such information. (Sec. 1) Revises the condition for delivery from customs custody of imported merchandise to repeal the requirement that such merchandise has been inspected, appraised, or examined and is reported by the Customs Service to have been truly and correctly invoiced and found to comply with the requirements of U.S. law. Permits delivery from custody if: (1) the merchandise has been determined through inspection, examination, or other method to pose no threat to the public health, safety, or welfare; and (2) the merchandise description and origin are correctly stated. Revises the definition of electronic entry to conform to such revised requirement. (Sec. 2) Requires a National Customs Automation Program participant qualifying for remote location filing to be capable of providing, on an entry-by-entry basis, for an electronic import activity summary statement of required information (or, as currently, for an electronic entry summary). (Sec. 3) Revises the filing requirement for entry of imported merchandise to allow filing of declared value, classification, and applicable duty rate as part of an entry summary, or, in the alternative, an import activity summary statement. Declares that information filed as part of an import activity summary statement shall be sufficient for such purposes if the monthly activity is totaled by tariff number, country of origin, and any relevant special duty program indicators. Requires any variances of such information from the information contained in the underlying documents, electronically transmitted information, or written or oral statements for individual shipments, in the absence of fraud, to be considered clerical errors. Allows import activity summary statement information to be electronic. Declares that importer activity summary statement information: (1) may be provided in the aggregate by tariff numbers, country of origin, and any relevant special duty program indicators; and (2) need not be related to specific entries or shipments. (Sec. 4) Changes from discretionary to mandatory the Secretary of the Treasury's authority to prescribe an alternative mid-point interest accounting methodology with respect to the assessment of interest due to an underpayment of duties, fees, or interest. (Sec. 5) Revises requirements for the filing of a reconciliation with regard to entry of merchandise elements. Declares that a party shall not be required to indicate on an individual import entry, entry summary, or import activity summary statement basis whether a reconciliation will be filed, except to the extent that the party wishes to allocate information specifically to an import entry, entry summary, or importer activity summary statement. (Sec. 6) Revises the exception of clerical errors or mistakes of fact from the prohibition of fraud, gross negligence, or negligence. Declares that, absent fraud, variances between any document or electronically transmitted information, or written or oral statements, with respect to individual shipments and the aggregate information properly filed as part of an entry summary, an import activity summary statement, or a reconciliation shall be considered to be clerical errors. Provides that, with regard to violations that are material incorrect statements and omissions, to the extent that the effect of incorrect information presented or information omitted by a person in an entry, entry summary, import activity summary statement, or reconciliation is reduced by other information in or relating to the same or other such documents during the relevant period, the violation shall be material only to the extent of the net error or omission. Limits the Customs Service to collecting only the net underpayment to the extent that any deprivation of duties, taxes, or fees owed the United States as a result of a violation of the prohibition against fraud, gross negligence, or negligence is offset by overpayments of duties, taxes, or fees during the relevant period. (Sec. 7) Requires that, for purposes of determining the transaction value of imported merchandise, and whether the circumstances of the sale of the imported merchandise indicate that the relationship between the buyer and seller did not influence the price actually paid or payable, there shall be taken into account other sales during a representative timeframe in the normal course of trade in merchandise of the same class or kind. (Sec. 8) Prohibits a drawback (refund) of customs duties on imported merchandise for Customs Service destruction of an article manufactured or produced in the United States with the use of such merchandise, unless the completed article is destroyed by the Customs Service within five years after importation of the merchandise involved. Qualifies for a drawback only an article completely destroyed so that no valuable waste or scrap results. Provides that, if waste or scrap resulting from the destruction of merchandise or articles has commercial value, then drawback is allowable based on the quantity of merchandise or articles destroyed, reduced by an amount equal to the quantity of the destroyed merchandise or articles that the value of the waste or scrap would replace. (Sec. 9) Extends the exemption of instruments of international traffic from application of the customs laws to all types of containers and shipping devices such as lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, racks, boxes, materials for stuffing containers, and other similar items. Excludes such items also from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. (Sec. 10) Amends the General Notes of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to authorize the classification, at the importer's option, of importations of any part or component for complete or finished dies or machinery tools and equipment under the specific heading or subheading for the complete or finished article with which it is to be used, installed, or assembled, if the importer files, in a specified manner, an election that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Customs Service a preexisting binding agreement for the purchase by the importer of the complete article for which the part or component is being imported.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
National Science Education Enhancement Act - Provides that nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize any Federal department, agency, officer, or employee to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution or school system. Title I: Amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 - Revises the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) with respect to teacher professional development activities to include support for mentoring activities for science, mathematics, engineering, and technology teachers. (Sec. 101) Includes information on model science, mathematics, engineering, and technology teacher mentoring programs among the information which the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education (Clearinghouse) is required to disseminate. Requires States, in their plans in applications for teacher professional development grants, to describe how they will: (1) administer a mentoring system to ensure consistent implementation of mentoring programs for science, mathematics, engineering, and technology teachers; (2) provide a structure for local mentoring program evaluation; (3) provide technical assistance to local mentoring programs; (4) ensure compliance by local mentoring programs with State teacher training requirements; and (5) provide incentives for local educational agencies (LEAs) to take mentoring into consideration in assessing instructional staff hiring needs. Requires local activities under the teacher professional development program to include mentoring programs for novice teachers of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Requires States to include, in their accountability reports under the teacher professional development program, the impact of State and local mentoring programs on teaching quality and teacher retention rates. (Sec. 102) Revises ESEA provisions for the allocation and use of funds for the Clearinghouse. Requires such funds to be used to: (1) solicit and gather qualitative and evaluative materials and programs, review their evaluation, rank their effectiveness, and distribute results of reviews, as well as excerpts of materials and links to Internet sites and information on on-line communities of users to teachers; and (2) establish an Internet site offering a search mechanism to assist site visitors in identifying information on science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education instructional materials and programs, including electronic links to information on classroom demonstrations and experiments, teachers who have used materials or participated in programs, vendors, curricula, and textbooks. Directs the Clearinghouse to give particular attention to the effective use of materials and technology in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education. Directs the National Academy of Sciences to study and report on the Clearinghouse. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make competitive grants, from specified ESEA funds, for summer professional development institutes for teachers. Provides for such grants to be awarded to State agencies for higher education, working in conjunction with the State educational agency (if such agencies are separate). Requires the grantees to: (1) make subgrants to or cooperative agreements with various entities working in conjunction with an LEA or consortium of LEAs; and (2) give priority to applicants assuring use of a curriculum recognized by the working group established under specified provisions of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950. Sets forth requirements relating to such institutes and their activities and curricula. Requires peer review of grant applications under a process established by the Director of the National Science Foundation. Requires participants in such institutes to earn credit toward State continuing education requirements for teachers or a post-baccalaureate degree program at an institution of higher education. Revises provisions for allocation of certain appropriated amounts. Reserves specified funds for the summer institute program. (Sec. 104) Includes providing technology training software and instructional materials to teachers among local uses of ESEA school technology resource grants. (Sec. 105) Requires grant applicants, under the ESEA 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, to assure that they will use at least five percent of the grant amount to provide after-school day care services that focus on science activities. (Sec. 106) Includes after-school day care services that focus on science activities for children in kindergarten through sixth grade among uses of grants under the ESEA 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. Title II: Other Provisions - Revises the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to treat technology training, tutoring teachers in the uses of classroom technology, as community service by college students under the work-study program. Increases funding for such program and reserves the amount of such increase to compensate students employed in technology training or tutoring teachers in the uses of classroom technology. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to study: (1) the feasibility and effectiveness of various incentives, including tax credits, for businesses to provide personnel with regular compensation for time spent as volunteers engaged in the technological training of teachers and facilities for such training; (2) alternative methods of providing financial support, through income tax credits, loan forgiveness, or otherwise, to individuals seeking training or retraining in mathematics, science, and technology education; (3) the effectiveness of higher education institutions in training teachers who can use technology and integrate it into lesson plans, curricula, and distance learning; (4) methods to coordinate working alliances at various levels of government between the business and academic community; and (5) other means of improving the efficiency of the technological training of teachers. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress on such study, including proposals for a comprehensive approach to providing technologically competent teachers to the Nation's schools.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Clinton Administration should: (1) condemn the arrest and continued prosecution of the 13 Iranian Jews arrested in 1999 by the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and accused of spying for the United States and Israel; (2) demand that such charges be dropped and such individuals be released; and (3) ensure that Iran's treatment of this case is a benchmark for determining the nature of current and future U.S.-Iran relations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2000 - Title I: Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise provisions for student loan forgiveness for teachers under the Federal Family Loan Program. Provides for such forgiveness for borrowers employed as full-time teachers in public elementary or secondary schools. Directs the Secretary of Education to repay, for each year of four years of such teaching service, up to one-fourth of the aggregate loan obligation outstanding at the beginning of the first year of service, so that the entire obligation is repaid at the end of such four years. Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide that such student loan forgiveness shall not be included in an individual's gross income for income tax purposes. Title II: Tax Credits for Teaching - Amends IRC to provide a tax credit of $1,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers. Reduces the amount of such credit in cases of student loan forgiveness for teachers.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
Working and Reacting (WAR) Against Meth Act of 2000 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (CSIEA) to make current penalties with respect to violations involving the manufacturing, distribution, importation, and exportation of specified amounts of methamphetamine applicable to such amounts of amphetamine. (Sec. 4) Modifies CSA provisions regarding endangering human life while illegally manufacturing a controlled substance to: (1) set penalties for harm to the environment, if the controlled substance consists of methamphetamine; (2) provide for imprisonment for up to 40 years, as well as a possible fine, for violations; and (3) make any penalty under provisions regarding the establishment of controlled substance manufacturing operations in addition to any penalty under such provisions regarding harm to human life or to the environment. Specifies that in any case where the conduct at issue is, relates to, or involves the manufacture of amphetamine or methamphetamine, such conduct shall, by itself, be rebuttably presumed to constitute the creation of a substantial risk of harm to human life or to the environment. (Sec. 5) Provides that the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) and the Los Angeles County Regional Criminal Information Clearinghouse (LA Clearinghouse), at the direction of the Attorney General, shall jointly and in concert constitute the National Center for Methamphetamine Clandestine Laboratory Information. Requires: (1) EPIC's National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure Intelligence database to provide for the nationwide electronic reporting, capture, and retrieval of clandestine laboratory seizure information; and (2) such information to be analyzed by the LA Clearinghouse, in concert and coordination with EPIC, and disseminated to appropriate law enforcement agencies in a timely manner. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2000
Gun Traffickers Pretrial Threat Assessment Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal criminal code to include certain firearms-related crimes (such as violation of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act prohibition against receiving or selling a stolen firearm or ammunition or against transferring a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime, or violation of the Internal Revenue Code prohibition against obliterating a serial number on a firearm) to the list of crimes giving rise to a presumption of dangerousness for purposes of hearings on the release of defendants before trial.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Home Health Fairness Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate a specified 15 percent reduction in cost and per beneficiary limits with respect to payment rates for home health services under the Medicare prospective payment system. Makes this Act effective as if included in the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Preparedness Against Terrorism Act of 2000 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Act) to include acts of terrorism or other catastrophic events within its definition of "major disaster" for purposes of authorized disaster relief. (Sec. 4) Requires the President (currently authorizes the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA Director)) to be responsible for carrying out Federal emergency preparedness plans and programs. Includes as a covered hazard a domestic terrorist attack involving a weapon of mass destruction or cybertechnology. (Sec. 6) Requires the FEMA Director to ensure that Federal response plans and programs are adequate to respond to the consequences of terrorism directed against a target in the United States, including both weapons of mass destruction and cybertechnology. Includes the development of equipment, clothing, and facilities within authorized preparedness measures. (Sec. 7) Repeals provisions of the Act which: (1) allow State preparedness funds to be used to prepare for hazards and for providing emergency assistance in response to hazards; and (2) require the FEMA Director to establish emergency preparedness security regulations. (Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2003 to carry out emergency preparedness plans and programs. (Sec. 9) Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the Office of Terrorism Preparedness, to be headed by a Director who shall: (1) establish Federal policies, objectives, and priorities for enhancing State and local emergency preparedness and response capabilities, including with regard to early detection and warning of and response to domestic terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction or cybertechnology; and (2) publish a Domestic Terrorism Preparedness Plan and an annual strategy for carrying out such Plan. Requires the Plan and its annual strategy to be transmitted to the President and Congress. Requires the Director to develop for each fiscal year a consolidated budget proposal to implement the Plan, and to submit such proposal to the President and Congress. Requires budget submissions from each Federal department or agency with responsibilities under the Plan. Requires the Director to review and certify such budget submissions, or to notify the Director of the Office of Management and Budget of inadequate submissions. Directs the Secretary to review, and either certify or deny certification with respect to, each training and exercise program being conducted by a Federal department or agency to enhance the capabilities of State and local emergency preparedness and response personnel with respect to terrorist attacks. Requires recertification every three years. Requires consultation with the Director, to determine consistency with the Plan, from each Federal department or agency wishing to establish a new program or office to enhance such capabilities. Requires the Director to establish voluntary minimum standards for preparedness programs in order to provide guidance in the development and implementation of such programs. Authorizes the Director to make grants to a State or local governmental entity to offset the costs of participation in any certified training or exercise program. Authorizes the Director to attend meetings of the National Security Council pertaining to domestic terrorist attack preparedness matters, subject to the direction of the President. Requires cooperation with the Director from each Federal department and agency with responsibilities under the Plan. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2005.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Consumer Mortgage Protection Act of 2000 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to: (1) reformulate annual percentage rates and total points and fees in connection with certain credit transactions secured by to the consumer's principal dwelling (high-cost mortgage); (2) repeal disclosure requirements with respect to prepayment penalties; (3) revise requirements for permissible prepayment penalties; (4) prohibit mandatory prepaid payments on such mortgages; (5) place limitations upon the charging of closing costs; and (6) proscribe creditor encouragement of consumer's default. (Sec. 3) Requires a creditor to report a consumer's mortgage payment history to a nationally recognized credit bureau at least quarterly. Prohibits creditor profit from the sale at foreclosure of property securing a high-cost mortgage. Requires a high-cost mortgage creditor to respond within three business days to a request for a written statement setting forth the amounts necessary to fully satisfy the debt obligation. Redraws creditor liability guidelines. (Sec. 4) Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act to revise guidelines for: (1) standard Federal forms for the statement of settlement costs; and (2) information booklets that advise the consumer of certain sources of mortgage broker compensation. (Sec. 5) Establishes Federal preemption of State law concerning subject matter under this Act. Empowers the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to interpret Federal preemption issues under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Tax Refund Statute of Limitation Extension Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the filing period for individual income tax refunds or credits.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Constitutional Amendment - Requires any legislative measure changing the internal revenue laws to require the concurrence of two-thirds of the Members of each House voting and present, unless the legislative measure is determined not to increase the internal revenue by more than a de minimis amount. States that for the purposes of determining any increase in the internal revenue, there shall be excluded any increase resulting from the lowering of an effective rate of any tax. Permits Congress to waive such requirements when: (1) a declaration of war is in effect; or (2) the United States is engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and serious threat to national security and is so declared by an adopted joint resolution. Prohibits any increase in the internal revenue enacted under such a waiver from being effective for longer than two years.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2000
See summary of: H.R. 4109
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2000
Keep the Colorado River Clean Act - Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to direct the United States to convey to the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation all Federal lands within the exterior boundaries of NOSR-2 (Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 2), both surface and mineral rights, without retaining any management authority over the conveyed lands or tribal activities thereon, but reserving to the United States: (1) a nine percent royalty interest in the value of any oil, gas, other hydrocarbons, and all other minerals produced, saved, and sold from such lands, the payments to be made by the Tribe to the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) when produced, saved, or sold during the period minerals are being extracted; (2) that portion of the bed of Green River contained entirely within NOSR-2; (3) the lands, including surface and mineral rights, to the west of the river within NOSR-2; and (4) a 1/4 mile scenic easement on the east side of the river within NOSR-2. Provides that such lands conveyed to the Tribe shall not revert to the United States for management in trust status. Revokes all existing withdrawals on NOSR-2. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to administer the lands and interests in lands reserved from such conveyance and to prepare and submit to Congress a land use plan for the management of these lands and interests in lands within three years after the enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for the Tribe to pay the royalty interest reserved from conveyance free of all development, production, marketing, and operating expenses. Requires the United States to bear and pay gross production taxes, pipeline taxes, and allocation taxes assessed against the gross production. Requires the Tribe to: (1) report annually to the Secretary and Congress on its resource development and other activities concerning the property transferred; and (2) submit every five years to a financial audit of such activities, with the first audit taking place five years after the date of transfer and the results of each audit being included in the next annual report after completion. Requires the Tribe to: (1) manage its lands adjacent to and within a 1/4 mile of the Green River in a protected status and in a manner consistent with the provisions contained in a government-to-government agreement and a specified memorandum of understanding as agreed to by the Tribe and the Secretary of the Interior; (2) protect any plant species listed as endangered or threatened that is located on the NOSR-2 lands conveyed to the Tribe in a manner consistent with the then current levels of legal protection, and this protection to be performed fully under tribal jurisdiction and in accordance with a government-to-government agreement between the Tribe and the Secretary of the Interior; and (3) manage the horses not owned by the Tribe or tribal members that are located or found on such lands in a manner consistent with then current Federal protections granted such animals, provided that the management, control, and protection of such horses will be performed fully under tribal jurisdiction and in accordance with a government-to-government agreement between the Tribe and the Secretary of the Interior. Requires the Secretary to: (1) prepare a plan to commence, within one year following preparation of such plan, remedial action, including groundwater restoration, at the uranium milling site near Moab, Utah; and (2) retain the amounts received as royalties under this Act (and such amounts shall be available to carry out such remedial action). Requires upon completion of such remedial action all such royalty amounts to be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 to designate the Moab uranium milling site as a processing site, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2000
Amends Federal retirement provisions to include members of the uniformed services as employees who may participate in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Entitles such a member to the balance in his or her TSP account in addition to any benefits or pay to which such member is entitled to under Federal armed forces provisions.