United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2000
Authorizes presentation of a gold medal on behalf of Congress to former President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan. Authorizes specified sums to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund for medal costs. Mandates that sale proceeds from duplicate bronze medals be deposited into such Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2000
Hospital Preservation and Equity Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 with regard to the one year sole community hospital payment increase, to reset the applicable percentage increase for FY 2001 and each subsequent fiscal year to the market basket percentage increase for hospitals in all areas for purposes of updating payments to prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals for inpatient hospital services.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2000
Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act - Includes as an employee, for purposes of Federal provisions authorizing enrollment under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: (1) a member of the armed forces who began service before June 7, 1956, and retired after a minimum of 20 years of such service or by reason of a service-connected disability; and (2) the surviving widow or widower of such member. Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management to provide FEHB coverage to the following eligible beneficiaries: (1) a member or former member entitled to military retired or retainer pay; (2) an unremarried former spouse who was married to a member for at least 20 years, during which such member performed at least 20 years of retirement-creditable military service; (3) a dependent of a deceased qualifying member or former member; (4) a dependent of a living member or former member; and (5) a family member of such member. Repeals a provision prohibiting coverage under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services for persons entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2000
Recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, and expresses the gratitude of the American people for the service of members of the armed forces during such War.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2000
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a congressional gold medal to John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, in recognition of his accomplishments as a priest, a soldier, and a humanitarian. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2000
Designates the Army missile testing range at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands as the Ronald Reagan Strategic Defense Initiative Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2000
Pope John Paul II Congressional Gold Medal Act - Authorizes the presentation of a gold medal to Pope John Paul II in recognition of his contributions to peace and religious understanding. Authorizes appropriations. Mandates that proceeds from duplicate bronze medal sales be deposited in the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2000
Religious Broadcasting Freedom Act - Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from establishing, expanding, or otherwise modifying requirements relating to the service obligations of noncommercial educational television stations except by means of Federal agency rulemaking procedures. Terminates the additional guidance contained in the FCC's memorandum opinion and order in WQED Pittsburgh (FCC 99-393), except as such guidance is prescribed in accordance with the above rulemaking procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2000
Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to make the Act inapplicable to employment performed in a workplace through the use of a telephone, computer, or other electronic device which is located in the employee's residence.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1999
Wireless Telecommunications Sourcing and Privacy Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to add provisions relating to State and local taxation on mobile telecommunications services (mobile services) and sets forth exceptions. States that all charges for mobile services provided by the customer's home service provider (provider) are authorized to be subject to tax, charge, or fee by the taxing jurisdictions whose territorial limits encompass such customer's place of primary use, regardless of where the mobile services originate, pass through, or terminate. Prohibits any other taxing jurisdiction from imposing a tax, charge, or fee for such mobile services. Provides tax limitations. Authorizes a State to provide an electronic database to a provider, or allows a designated database provider to provide such database to a provider. Requires such database to designate the appropriate taxing jurisdiction identified by one nationwide standard numerical code. Outlines additional database requirements. Requires a State or database provider to provide notice of the availability of such database in that taxing jurisdiction. Holds a provider harmless if neither a State nor designated database provider provides such a database, as long as the provider employs an enhanced zip code to assign each street address to a specific taxing jurisdiction for each appropriate level of taxation and exercises due diligence to ensure that such information is correct. Outlines procedures to be undertaken by a provider when the enhanced zip code overlaps boundaries of taxing jurisdictions. Terminates the exclusion from liability of a provider acting in such manner on the later of: (1) 18 months after the nationwide standard numeric code has been approved; or (2) six months after that State or designated database provider provides the database for such use. Authorizes a taxing jurisdiction, or a State acting on behalf of any taxing jurisdiction within such State, to take appropriate action to correct erroneous data concerning a customer's place of primary use. Makes a provider responsible for obtaining and maintaining each customer's place of primary use for tax purposes. Allows the provider, for two years after the enactment of this Act with respect to existing service contracts, to treat the customer billing address as that customer's place of primary use. Excludes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from jurisdiction over the interpretation, implementation, or enforcement of this Act. (Sec. 4) Directs the U.S. Comptroller General to review the annual regulatory fees collected by the FCC to determine whether such fees have been accurately assessed since their inception, and report review results to Congress. (Sec. 5) - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit modifying any electronic communication device, equipment, or system in a manner which causes it to fail to comply with regulations governing electronic eavesdropping devices. Directs the FCC to prescribe regulations (and review and revise them when necessary in response to changes in technology and behavior) denying equipment authorization for any scanning receiver capable of: (1) receiving transmissions in frequencies allocated to the domestic cellular or personal communications service; (2) being readily altered to receive such transmissions; (3) being equipped with decoders that convert domestic cellular or personal communications service or protected specialized mobile radio service transmissions to analog voice audio, or which convert protected paging service transmissions to alphanumeric text; or (4) being equipped with devices that otherwise encode encrypted radio transmissions for purposes of unauthorized interception. Directs the FCC, with respect to scanning receivers capable of receiving transmissions in frequencies used by commercial mobile services and that are shared by public safety users, to examine methods and prescribe regulations to enhance the privacy of users of such frequencies. Requires tampering prevention measures and warning labels to be considered by the FCC in prescribing such regulations. (Sec. 6) Applies penalties for the unauthorized publication or use of electronic communications to the unauthorized receipt, intentional interception, or intentional divulgence of any such communication. Directs the FCC to investigate alleged violations and proceed to initiate action to impose forfeiture penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1999
Competitive Broadband Telecommunications Rooftop Access Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the owner of an occupied multitenant building, within 15 days of a telecommunications carrier request, to permit such carrier reasonable, standardized, and nondiscriminatory access: (1) to install, maintain, and operate telecommunications transmission and reception antennas on top of such buildings and related receiver equipment in mechanical rooms or closets; and (2) to vertical and horizontal building risers, for the provision of telecommunications or information service to such tenants. Provides required and permissible conditions for such access. Allows such owners to charge reasonable compensation for such access. Provides civil penalties for refusal to provide such access.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1999
Child Sex Crimes Wiretapping Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications in the investigation of child pornography, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution or other illegal sexual activity, and transportation of minors to engage in prostitution or other illegal sexual activity.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1999
Wealth Through the Workplace Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish requirements relating to certain stock purchase arrangements maintained by employers for at least 50 percent of their employees. Requires employers to provide annual descriptions of disclosure statements regarding such stock to employees granted an option to purchase it. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for special treatment of stock options meeting such ERISA requirements. Permits employees to defer payment of taxes at a special rate on the stock obtained through the options until they sell the stock. Allows employers a limited tax deduction for such stock transfers to employees. Sets forth certain restrictions on disposition of transferred shares.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1999
Telecommunications Development Fund Improvement Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require any down payment that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may require any bidder to submit before issuance of a station license or construction permit in a system of competitive bidding to be deposited in an interest-bearing account at a financial institution designated by the FCC. Requires, within 45 days following the issuance of such a license or permit: (1) the down payments of successful bidders be paid to the Treasury; and (2) the interest accrued to the account be transferred to the Telecommunications Development Fund to be used for purposes designated under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1999
Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 1999 - Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from prescribing any rules authorizing the operation of new, low power FM radio stations, or establishing a low power radio service, as currently proposed. Terminates previously prescribed rules which would violate such prohibition and voids licenses issued pursuant to such rules.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1999
Telehealth Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 with regard to telehealth services to: (1) extend Medicare reimbursement for such services to all Medicare services furnished in all rural areas, including those by physical, occupational, and speech therapists; (2) revise related payment methodology; and (3) add additional congressional reporting requirements pertaining to the telehealth services program. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Office of Advancement of Telehealth, to make grants to eligible recipients for the purpose of expanding access to health care services for individuals in rural areas, frontier areas, and medically underserved areas through the use of telehealth. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Joint Working Group on Telemedicine to ensure that individuals representing the interests of rural areas and medically underserved areas are members of the Group. Establishes the mission of the Joint Working Group, among other things, as identifying, monitoring, and coordinating Federal telehealth projects and programs. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Northwest Territory of the Great Lakes National Heritage Area Act of 1999 - Establishes the Northwest Territory of the Great Lakes National Heritage Area, composed of specified historically significant areas, as defined by the Northwest Territory of the Great Lakes National Heritage Area Authority, within Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Declares the Authority the Area's management entity, which shall: (1) develop a management plan; (2) help ensure the conservation, interpretation, and development of the historical, cultural, natural, and recreational resources related to the Northwest Territory of the Great Lakes during the period from 1785 through 1835; and (3) develop an Internet web site and other marketing programs, as well as visitor centers and interpretive facilities. Subjects the plan to approval by the Governors of the States involved. Authorizes appropriations, with a maximum 50 percent Federal match for the total cost of any assistance or grant provided or authorized.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1999
Communications Satellite Competition and Privatization Act of 1999 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to add a new chapter concerning communications satellite competition and privatization. Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from issuing a license or construction permit to any separated entity (an entity that has been privatized under this Act), renewing or assigning any such license or permit, or authorizing such entity to use its space segment unless the FCC determines that such issuance, renewal, assignment, or use will not harm competition in the U.S. telecommunications market. Requires the FCC to substantially limit, deny, or revoke the authority of any U.S. entity to use any space segment owned, leased, or operated by INTELSAT (the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization) or Inmarsat (the International Maritime Satellite Organization) or any successor entities to provide non-core satellite services to, from, or within the United States, unless the FCC finds that INTELSAT and Inmarsat and their successor entities, by specified dates, have been privatized in a manner that will not harm competition in the U.S. telecommunications markets. Outlines competition requirements, including that users of non-core services currently provided by such entities are able to obtain such services from other providers at competitive rates, terms, and conditions. States that, unless the FCC determines appropriate privatization by INTELSAT or Inmarsat, then: (1) the President shall oppose any registration for new orbital locations for such entities after specified dates; and (2) the President and the FCC shall preclude procurement, registration, development, or use of new satellites which would provide non-core services (with an exception for replacement or currently-contracted satellites). Authorizes the FCC to issue an authorization, license, or permit for any provider of services using any INTELSAT or Inmarsat space segment for additional services or additional areas of business during the privatization period, subject to specified requirements, including three annual findings that substantial progress has been made in achieving pro-competitive privatization and that neither INTELSAT nor Inmarsat are hindering competitor access to the satellite services market. Provides an exception with respect to existing INTELSAT or Inmarsat contracts. Directs the President and the FCC, applying specified criteria, to secure a pro-competitive privatization of INTELSAT and Inmarsat. Requires each entity to be privatized as soon as practicable, but no later than April 1, 2001, for INTELSAT, and April 1, 2000, for Inmarsat. Requires successor and separated entities of INTELSAT and Inmarsat to be independent entities. Prohibits the preferential treatment currently provided to INTELSAT and Inmarsat from being extended to such successor and separated entities. Outlines transitional requirements during the privatization period. Requires INTELSAT, Inmarsat, and any successor and separated entities to return satellite orbital locations that were unused as of March 25, 1998. Includes as specific criteria for INTELSAT privatization: (1) a sufficient number of competitors to create a fully competitive market; and (2) the prevention of expansion during privatization. Includes as specific criteria for INTELSAT separated entities: (1) a public offering of the securities of such an entity within one year after its creation; (2) no privileges and immunities previously granted to INTELSAT; (3) a prohibition against interlocking directors and employees; and (4) a 15-year prohibition against the merger or ownership arrangements between a privatized INTELSAT or successor entity and any separated entity. Includes as specific criteria for Inmarsat privatization: (1) multiple signatories and direct access to Inmarsat; (2) the prevention of expansion during privatization; (3) a sufficient number of competitors to create a fully competitive market; (4) a 15-year prohibition against merger or ownership arrangements between Inmarsat or any of its successor or separated entities and ICO Global Communications, Inc.; and (5) a prohibition against Inmarsat and ICO interlocking directors or employees. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to transmit to the FCC a list of member countries of INTELSAT and Inmarsat that are not members of the World Trade Organization and that: (1) impose barriers to market access for private satellite systems; or (2) are not supporting pro-competitive privatization of INTELSAT and Inmarsat. Authorizes the FCC to prohibit U.S. carriers from paying to overseas carriers an amount for international message telephone services in excess of a cost-based settlement rate. Permits current users or providers of telecommunications services to obtain direct access to INTELSAT telecommunications services and space segment capacity through purchase of such capacity or services from, or investments in, INTELSAT. Requires the FCC to complete a rulemaking to determine whether such users or providers have sufficient opportunity to access such services and capacity directly from INTELSAT. Authorizes the FCC to restrict foreign ownership of an entity representing the United States in INTELSAT or Inmarsat (a U.S. signatory) if to not do so would constitute a threat to national security. States that no U.S. signatories shall be required after privatization is achieved. Revises the privileges and immunities currently provided to the Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT). Terminates specified provisions of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962. Requires annual reports from the President and the FCC to specified congressional committees on progress made in achieving the objectives and carrying out the purposes of this Act. Directs the President and the FCC to consult with such committees prior to each meeting of the INTELSAT or Inmarsat Assembly of Parties, the INTELSAT Board of Governors, the Inmarsat Council, or appropriate working groups. Prohibits the FCC from assigning by competitive bidding orbital locations or spectrum used for the provision of international or global satellite communications services. Directs the President to oppose any such assignment in international fora. Prohibits any satellite operator from acquiring or enjoying the exclusive right of handling telecommunications to or from the United States and any other country by reason of any arrangement to which such operator or any persons or companies controlling or controlled by the operator are parties (with an exception for existing services).
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of State (the Secretary), as part of the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, to include information to address the status of trafficking in persons, including: (1) a list of foreign countries that are countries of origin, transit, or destination for a significant number of victims of "severe forms of trafficking" (defined as sex trafficking in which either a commercial sex act or any act or event contributing to such act is effected or induced by force, coercion, fraud, or deception, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained age 18, and the purchase, sale, recruitment, harboring, transportation, transfer, or receipt of a person for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, or slavery, or slavery-like practices which is effected by force, coercion, fraud, or deception); (2) a description of the nature and extent of severe forms of trafficking in persons in each country (descriptive information); (3) an assessment of the efforts by such governments to combat severe forms of trafficking (assessment information); and (4) descriptive information and, where appropriate, assessment information, on a country-by-country basis. (Sec 5) Requires the President to establish an Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, chaired by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to establish within the Department of State an Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, which shall assist the Task Force and be administered by a Director. Directs the Task Force to: (1) coordinate the implementation of this Act; (2) measure and evaluate progress of the United States and other countries in trafficking prevention, protection of and provision of assistance to trafficking victims, and prosecution and enforcement against traffickers; (3) expand interagency procedures to collect and organize data (and respect the confidentiality of trafficking victims); (4) engage in efforts to facilitate cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination; (5) examine the role of the international "sex tourism" industry in the trafficking of women and children and in the sexual exploitation of women and children around the world; and (6) make recommendations on appropriate measures to combat this industry. (Sec. 6) Directs the President: (1) acting through the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) and the heads of other appropriate agencies, to establish and carry out initiatives to enhance economic opportunity for potential victims of trafficking as a method to deter trafficking; (2) acting through the Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and State, and through the Attorney General, to establish and carry out programs to increase public awareness, particularly among potential victims, of the dangers of trafficking and the protections that are available for victims; and (3) to consult with appropriate nongovernmental organizations with respect to the establishment and conduct of initiatives under this section. (Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary and the Administrator to establish and carry out programs and initiatives in foreign countries to assist in the safe integration, reintegration, or resettlement of victims of trafficking and their children and to take appropriate steps to enhance cooperative efforts among foreign countries, including countries of origin of victims, to assist in such integration, reintegration, or resettlement. Directs the Attorney General, the Secretaries of HHS and Labor, and the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation, subject to the availability of appropriations, to expand existing services to provide assistance to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons within the United States, without regard to such victims' immigration status. Makes such victims eligible, without regard to their immigration status, for any benefits that are otherwise available under the Crime Victims Fund. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian tribes, units of local government, and nongovernmental victims' service organizations to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs for trafficking victims, subject to specified conditions. Provides trafficking victims a civil right of action for violations of Federal criminal code (the code) provisions (established by section 12 of this Act) regarding trafficking into slavery-like conditions or sex trafficking of children by force, fraud, or coercion. Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary to promulgate regulations for law enforcement personnel, immigration officials, and State Department officials to provide that: (1) victims of severe forms of trafficking, while in Federal custody, shall be housed in appropriate shelter, receive prompt medical care, food, and other assistance, and be provided protection if a victim's safety is at risk; (2) such victims shall not be jailed, fined, or otherwise penalized due to having been trafficked, and shall have access to legal assistance, information about their rights, and translation services; (3) Federal law enforcement officials shall act to ensure an alien's continued presence in the United States if, after an assessment, it is determined that such alien is a victim of trafficking or a material witness; and (4) appropriate personnel of the Departments of State and Justice shall be trained in identifying such victims and providing for their protection. Amends the code to make funds derived from the sale of assets seized from and forfeited by trafficking available for victims assistance programs under this Act. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow the Attorney General to: (1) grant non-immigrant visas to certain victims of severe forms of trafficking who are in the United States and who would face a significant possibility of retribution or other harm if they were removed from the United States; and (2) adjust to lawful permanent resident status the status of victims who have been in the United States continuously for three years since admission, who have remained of good moral character, who have not unreasonably refused to assist in trafficking investigations or prosecutions, and who would face a significant possibility of retribution or other harm if removed from the United States. (Sec. 8) Establishes minimum standards applicable to countries that have a significant trafficking problem. Urges such countries to prohibit severe forms of trafficking in persons, to punish such acts, and to make serious and sustained efforts to eliminate such trafficking. (Sec. 9) Authorizes the Secretary and the Director of AID to provide assistance to foreign countries for programs and activities designed to meet the minimum international standards for the elimination of trafficking. (Sec. 10) Declares that it is U.S. policy to withhold non-humanitarian foreign assistance to countries which do not meet the minimum standards. Requires the Secretary to report annually to specified congressional committees regarding the status of severe forms of trafficking in persons, including a list of any countries that do not meet applicable minimum standards. Permits interim reports. Requires the President, for FY 2002 and subsequent fiscal years, for each country that fails to meet the standards, to make one of the following determinations: (1) to withhold U.S. non-humanitarian assistance; (2) to not provide funding for participation of employees of such country's governments in educational and cultural exchange programs; (3) to instruct the U.S. executive director of each multilateral development bank and the International Monetary Fund to vote against non-humanitarian assistance to such country; (4) that such country has come into compliance with the minimum standards; or (5) that the provision of non-humanitarian assistance to a country not meeting minimum standards is in the U.S. national interest. (Sec. 11) Authorizes: (1) the Secretary to compile and publish a list of foreign persons who play a significant role in a severe form of trafficking in persons, directly or indirectly in the United States, who materially support such persons, or who are owned or controlled by such persons; and (2) the President to impose sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, including the freezing of assets located in the United States. Directs the President, upon exercising such authority, to report to specified congressional committees: (1) identifying publicly the foreign persons that the President determines are appropriate for sanctions; and (2) detailing publicly the sanctions imposed. Permits non-disclosure of persons on the list for intelligence and law enforcement reasons, and requires that Congress be notified of such exclusions on an annual basis. Excludes significant traffickers, and those who knowingly assist them, from entry into the United States. (Sec. 12) Amends the code to: (1) double the current maximum penalties for peonage, enticement into slavery, and sale into involuntary servitude to 20 years imprisonment; and (2) add the possibility of life imprisonment for such violations resulting in death or involving kidnaping, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill. Prohibits, and sets penalties for: (1) trafficking into involuntary servitude, peonage, or slavery-like conditions; (2) sex trafficking of children by force, fraud, or coercion; and (3) unlawfully possessing or destroying the identification or immigration documents of another in the course of a trafficking violation or in an attempt to impair a trafficking investigation or restrict a victim's movement. Requires that convicted traffickers provide full restitution to their victims. Directs courts to order the forfeiture to the United States of any of the trafficker's property that was used for or derived from violations of these laws. Makes victims of these crimes eligible for the Federal witness protection program. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review, and if appropriate amend, the sentencing guidelines to ensure that they are sufficiently stringent with respect to such trafficking offenses. Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act to add the new trafficking offenses to the list of covered activities. (Sec. 13) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for: (1) the Interagency Task Force; (2) the Secretary of HHS; (3) the Secretary; (4) the Attorney General; (5) the President (for foreign victim assistance and assistance to foreign countries to meet the minimum standards); and (6) the Secretary of Labor.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Internet Tax Elimination Act - Amends the Internet Tax Freedom Act to make permanent the prohibition on State and local taxation of Internet access and electronic commerce. Includes within such prohibition sales or use tax on electronic commerce-purchased domestic or foreign goods. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should seek a global consensus supporting a permanent ban on electronic commerce tariffs.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1999
Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the FCC to modify current cross-ownership limitations by eliminating provisions limiting the granting or renewal of an AM, FM, or TV broadcast station license to any party on the basis of the ownership, operation, or control of a daily newspaper. Disallows the FCC to prohibit or limit a person or entity from holding any form of ownership or other interest in a broadcast station and a cable system serving the same community. Directs the FCC to permit a TV broadcast station to affiliate with a person or entity that maintains two or more networks of TV broadcast stations, with a limited exception. Provides that, in calculating the national audience reach limitations, UHF stations shall be attributed with no more than 50 percent of the TV households in their market. Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to direct the FCC to modify its rules for multiple ownership of TV broadcast stations to increase to 45 (currently 35) percent the national audience reach limitations for TV stations owned by the same entity or person. Revises provisions prohibiting the granting of radio station licenses to aliens or foreign entities to allow the granting of such a license to the same manner and extent to which such alien's or entity's country allows the granting of such a license to a U.S. person or entity.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1999
Education for Democracy Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to revise provisions for Civic Education, under part F of title X (Programs of National Significance). (Sec. 2) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to or contracts with: (1) the Center for Civic Education (CCE) to carry out civic education activities under the We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution program and The Project Citizen program, and under Cooperative Educational Exchange programs; and (2) the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) to carry out economic education activities under Cooperative Educational Exchange programs. Revises requirements for CCE implementation of the We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution program and The Project Citizen program. Sets forth requirements for the Cooperative Educational Exchange programs of civic education by CCE and economic education by NCEE. Makes eligible for such programs Central European countries, an Eastern European country, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the independent states of the former Soviet Union. Allows such program eligibility also for the Republic of Ireland, the province of Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom, and any developing country as defined under the Education for the Deaf Act. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2004 for: (1) the We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution program and The Project Citizen program; and (2) the Cooperative Educational Exchange programs. (Sec. 3) Repeals title VI (International Education Program) of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1999
Telecommunications Merger Review Act of 1999 - Amends the Clayton Act to repeal the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve telecommunications industry mergers. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 (the Act) to mandate that the FCC has no authority to review a merger or other transaction (merger), or to impose any term or condition on the assignment or transfer of any license or other authorization (license) issued under the Act that is proposed to be assigned or transferred in the course of a merger, while that merger is subject to review by either the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Empowers DOJ and FTC with primary authority to review mergers involving the proposed assignment or transfer of any license issued under the Act. Authorizes the FCC to file comments in any such proceeding. States that, if DOJ or FTC reviews a merger and issues either a written decision of approval or a written statement of nonintervention in such merger, then the FCC shall authorize the assignment or transfer of any license involved therein. Prohibits the FCC from imposing any other term or condition on the assignment or transfer of such license, or imposing any other obligation on any party to such merger. Prohibits the FCC from reviewing any application for assignment or transfer of a license issued under the Act in connection with a merger unless neither DOJ nor the FTC issues a decision or statement in connection with such merger. Requires the FCC to conclude any review so conducted within 60 days after DOJ or FTC issues such a decision or statement.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1999
Telemarketing Victims Protection Act - Amends the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act to require the Federal Trade Commission to include in rules respecting abusive telemarketing acts or practices requirements that telemarketers: (1) notify consumers who are called that they have the right to be placed on either the Direct Marketing Association's or the appropriate State's do-not-call list; (2) notify the Association or State if a consumer elects to be placed on such a list; (3) obtain and reconcile such lists on a regular basis; (4) not make any calls during the hours of 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM; and (5) not block the identity of the telephone from which they are making a telemarketing call. Directs the Commission to study and report to Congress on the violations of the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, especially of repeated violations by a single telemarketer and of the provisions for penalizing telemarketers for such violations, including new provisions which would allow appropriate Federal action against telemarketers.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1999
Employment Security Financing Act of 1999 - Title I: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1996 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Chapter 23 to revise Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) employer excise tax rate requirements. (Sec. 101) Repeals the 0.2 surtax for calendar years after 1999. (Ends the current FUTA employer tax rate of 6.2 percent of total employee wages after 1999, and begins a 6.0 rate in 2000). (Sec. 103) Sets forth additional requirements for approval of State laws. (Sec. 105) Revises the definition of State unemployment funds. (Sec. 106) Defines a State Employment Security Administration Account (State ESAA) as a special account within the Unemployment Trust Fund (the Fund) to provide administrative funds to pay the cost of services performed by the State agency in accordance with FUTA and the Social Security Act. (Sec. 107) Provides for collection of FUTA taxes by, as well as payment of FUTA taxes to, State agencies. (Sec. 109) Amends the IRC to repeal the prohibition against assessment of unpaid FUTA taxes. Title II: Unemployment Trust Fund Accounts - Amends title IX (Employment Security Administrative Financing) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish in the Fund: (1) a State Employment Security Administration Account (State ESAA) for each State; (2) a Supplemental Employment Security Administration Account (Supplemental ESAA) for the administration of employment security programs, under FUTA and SSA titles IX and III (Grants to States for Unemployment Compensation Administration), by States whose average civilian labor force populations number less than one million; and (3) the Secretary of Labor Employment Security Administration Account (Labor Secretary ESAA) for the Secretary to carry out administrative duties under such SSA and FUTA provisions. Makes appropriations to the Fund for credit to such accounts according to specified formulas. (Sec. 201) Authorizes to be made available from State ESAAs, upon State request and subject to appropriation by the legislative body of each State, in addition to amounts otherwise appropriated by the Congress, special administrative funds. (Sec. 202) Amends SSA title IX to repeal authority for the Employment Security Administration Account (the ESAA) in the Unemployment Trust Fund. (Sec. 203) Authorizes, for FY 2005 and thereafter, certain administrative expenditures from State ESAAs for: (1) State administration of unemployment compensation laws; (2) public employment services under the Wagner-Peyser Act; (3) certain veterans' programs; (4) collection of amounts due under FUTA; and (5) administration of statistical programs essential for development of estimates of the gross domestic product and other national statistical series, including those related to employment and unemployment. Provides for such expenditures upon State request, subject to appropriation by the State legislative body, in amounts up to 140 percent of the amount appropriated to the State agency from Federal employment security funds for the previous fiscal year. Authorizes $5 million out of the Supplemental ESAA for each of FYs 2005 and beyond expenditures by States whose average civilian labor force populations number less than one million for allocation by the Council of States with Lesser Populations. Establishes such Council. Authorizes, for FY 2005 and thereafter, expenditures from the Labor Secretary ESAA, in amounts up to 140 percent of that appropriated for the prior year, for the Department's performance of functions for the same administrative purposes for which expenditures from State ESAAs are authorized, plus: (1) establishment and maintenance of the employment security system under the Wagner-Peyser Act; and (2) payments of the Federal share of annual amortization costs of the unfunded liability for the State employment security agencies with independent retirement plans as determined by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, for FY 2005 and thereafter, to pay from the Labor Secretary ESAA into the Treasury the amount determined by the Secretary of Labor to be allocated to the Department of the Treasury to cover its costs for performing its functions under: (1) SSA titles III (Unemployment Insurance), IX (Employment Security), and XII (Advances to State Unemployment Funds), including the expenses of banks for servicing unemployment benefit payment and clearing accounts which are offset by the maintenance of balances of Treasury funds with such banks; (2) FUTA; and (3) any Federal unemployment compensation law with respect to which responsibility for administration is vested in the Secretary of Labor. (Sec. 204) Provides for transfer of amounts attributable to reduced credits to State ESAAs. (Sec. 205) Provides for advances from a revolving fund within the Federal Unemployment Account (FUA) to State ESAAs. (Sec. 206) Provides for treatment of excess amounts in State ESAAs. (Sec. 207) Requires that excess amounts in the Federal Unemployment Account (FUA) be transferred to State ESAAs according to a State allocation formula. (Sec. 208) Repeals a reporting requirement relating to transfers between FUA and the ESAA. (Sec. 209) Revises treatment of certain amounts in the Extended Unemployment Compensation Account (EUCA). Transfers, at the end of FY 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter, excess EUCA amounts to State ESAAs, as specified. (Sec. 210) Provides for treatment of amounts elected by ineligible States. (Sec. 211) Revises SSA requirements relating to State use of certain funds (known as Reed Act funds) transferred to a State unemployment benefit account. (Sec. 212) Revises SSA provisions for the Unemployment Trust Fund (the Fund). Requires deposit into: (1) the State's Unemployment Compensation Benefit Account (UCBA) of contributions and payments in lieu of contributions under the State law; (2) the State ESAA of State agency collections under FUTA and of certain other transfers or deposits under SSA and FUTA; and (3) the Transition ESA of IRS collections under FUTA after January 1, 2001. (Sec. 213) Provides as separate book accounts in the Fund: (1) the Transition ESA; (2) each State UCBA; (3) each State ESAA; (4) the Supplemental ESAA; (5) the Labor Secretary ESAA; (6) the FUA; (7) the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Account; and (8) the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Administration fund. (Sec. 214) Revises SSA provisions for the Extended Unemployment Compensation Account (EUCA) to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to use a specified formula to determine the excess in EUCA at the close of FY 2004 and each subsequent fiscal year. Sets forth the terms of transfer of such excess EUCA funds to State UCBAs. (Sec. 215) Amends SSA title IX to repeal interfund borrowing authority with respect to the ESAA, FUA, EUCA, and other Federal accounts. Title III: Grants to States for Employment Security Administration - Repeals requirements for use and payments of specified available funds to assist States in administering their unemployment compensation laws, under SSA title III (Grants to States for Unemployment Compensation Administration). (Sec. 302) Revises requirements relating to: (1) certification of State laws; (2) limitations on use of State UCBA funds; and (3) proper use of administrative funds, and replacement of such fund expended for other purposes. (Sec. 303) Provides that States shall not be required to comply with the Secretary of Labor's interpretations of methods of administration requirements under SSA title III, if such interpretations impose additional administrative burdens on them, unless the Congress enacts legislation approving such an interpretation. Title IV: Extended Unemployment Compensation - Amends the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 to: (1) eliminate certain requirements relating to State laws; and (2) provide that payments to the States go to their Unemployment Compensation Benefit Accounts (UCBAs). Title V: Federal Employment Security Service - Amends the Wagner-Peyser Act (WPA) to direct the U.S. Employment Security Service (USESS), as of October 1, 2000, to assist in coordinating public employment services throughout the country and assure that the requirements of SSA titles III and IX and of FUTA are met. (Eliminates current functions of the USESS as of such date.) (Sec. 503) Revises WPA requirements for: (1) transfer of USESS property to States; and (2) State use of public employment service funds. (Sec. 504) Repeals, as of October 1, 2004, WPA provisions for: (1) Federal appropriations authority; (2) Federal use of funds; (3) State and Federal planning, fiscal controls, and accounting procedures; (4) the Secretary's authority to make rules and establish performance standards; and (5) authorization of appropriations to the Secretary to provide funds for reimbursable agreements with the States to operate certain statistical programs for estimates of gross national product and other national statistical series, including those related to employment and unemployment. Title VI: Advances to State Unemployment Compensation Benefit Accounts - Amends SSA title XII (Advances to State Unemployment Funds) to revise requirements for: (1) transfers from the Federal Unemployment Account (FUA) to State UCBAs; (2) State use of such transferred funds; (3) determination of interest rate on such advances to States.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1999
Recognizes and honors Payne Stewart and expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives to his family on his death and to the families of those who died with him.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1999
Health Care Restoration Act of 1999 - Title II (sic): Provisions Relating to Part B - Subtitle A: Payment for Physician Services - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with regard to payment for physicians' services to provide for: (1) an update to the specified conversion factor for years beginning with 2001; (2) modification of requirements concerning conversion factors, updates, and sustainable growth rate; and (3) inclusion of a limitation on application of the practice expense site-of-service differential and of a revision to 1997 relative value units (RVUs) under provisions for computation of RVUs for components. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), for a report to Congress, to use data collected or developed by entities and organizations other than HHS to supplement its data in determining the practice expense component used for purposes of determining relative values for payment for physicians' services under the Medicare fee schedule. (Sec. 203) Directs the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration to study and report to Congress on the physician and non-physician clinical resources necessary to provide safe outpatient cancer therapy services and the appropriate payment rates for such services under Medicare. Subtitle B: Hospital Outpatient Services - Amends SSA title XVIII part B with regard to the prospective payment system (PPS) for hospital outpatient department (OPD) services to require the Secretary to provide for outlier adjustment and for transitional pass-through payment for additional costs of innovative medical devices, drugs, and biologicals. Provides for application of such new adjustments on a budget neutral basis. Limits judicial review for such new adjustments. (Sec. 211) Includes medical devices as covered OPD services. Limits variation of costs of services classified within a group. (Sec. 212) Adds a transitional adjustment to limit decline in payment for certain covered OPD services furnished before January 1, 2002 and during 2002 and 2003, pursuant to specified guidelines. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on whether the PPS for covered OPD services furnished under Medicare should apply to various specified providers of outpatient items and services for which payment is made under Medicare, including rural health clinics and rural referral centers. (Sec. 213) Adds to the special rules for certain hospitals rules for cancer and small rural hospitals pertaining to the amount of PPS payment for covered OPD services furnished before January 1, 2005. (Sec. 214) Revises provisions on periodic review and adjustments components of PPS, mandating at least an annual review by the Secretary, among other changes. Subtitle C: Other - Amends SSA title XVIII part B to place a two-year moratorium on the caps for certain physical and occupational therapy services. Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA '97) to modify congressional reporting requirements pertaining to HHS recommendations on the establishment of a revised coverage policy for outpatient physical and occupational therapy services. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on utilization patterns for such services, and speech-language pathology services covered under Medicare. (Sec. 222) Provides that if the Secretary implements a revised PPS for services of ambulatory surgical facilities under Medicare part B before incorporating data from the 1999 Medicare cost survey, such system shall be implemented consistent with specified principles, such as the principle of budget neutrality. (Sec. 223) Amends BBA '97 to expand coverage to direct services for Medicare beneficiaries participating in certain demonstration projects. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the use of telemedicine. (Sec. 224) Amends part D (Miscellaneous) of SSA title XVIII with regard to determination of facility specific per diem rates under the PPS for skilled nursing facilities for routine service costs. (Sec. 225) Directs the Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research to provide for a study and report to Congress that compares the differences in quality of ultrasound and other imaging services (including error rates and resulting complications) furnished under the Medicare and Medicaid (SSA title XIX) programs between such services furnished by individuals who are credentialed by private entities or organizations and by those who are not so credentialed. Requires the study to examine and evaluate differences in error rates and patient outcomes as a result of the differences in credentialing. (Sec. 226) Requires the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPac) to study and report to Congress on the regulatory burdens placed on all classes of health care providers under Medicare parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) to determine the costs these burdens imposed on the nation's health care system. (Sec. 227) Amends part D of SSA title XVIII to eliminate the time limitation on Medicare benefits for immunosuppressive drugs. Title III: Provisions Relating to Parts A and B - Subtitle A: Home Health Services - Directs the following officials to do the following: (1) the Secretary to report to Congress and the Comptroller General (CG) on specified matters with respect to the data collection requirement of patients of Medicare home health agencies under the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) standard as part of the comprehensive assessment of patients; and (2) the CG to conduct an independent audit for a report to Congress on the costs incurred by such agencies in complying with such requirement. (Sec. 302) Amends BBA' 97 to limit OASIS data collection requirements to Medicare and Medicaid patients. (Sec. 303) Amends part D of SSA title XVIII to provide for a phase-in and partial elimination of the 15 percent reduction in payments under the PPS for home health services. (Sec. 304) Amends part B of SSA title XVIII with regard to home health agency consolidated billing for durable medical equipment. (Sec. 305) Amends part D of SSA title XVIII to include under the PPS for home health services provisions on use of PPS payments for costs associated with the use of telecommunications systems. Subtitle B: Other - Amends part D of SSA title XVIII to permit the reclassification of certain urban hospitals as rural hospitals. (Sec. 312) Directs the MEDPac to study and report to Congress on Medicare payment policy with respect to graduate clinical training of different classes of non-physician health care professionals and the basis for any differences in treatment among such classes. Title V: Provisions Relating to Part C (Medicare+Choice Program) - Subtitle A: Medicare+Choice - Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of SSA title XVIII to provide for the phase-in of a new risk adjustment methodology under provisions for payments to Medicare+Choice organizations. (Sec. 502) Directs the Secretary to provide for the computation and the publication, on an annual basis at the time of publication of the annual Medicare+Choice capitation rates, of information on the level of the average annual per capita costs for each Medicare+Choice payment area. (Sec. 503) Makes various specified changes in Medicare+Choice special election period rules and associated Medicare supplemental health insurance (Medigap) policies provisions permitting enrollment in alternative Medicare+Choice plans in case of involuntary termination of Medicare+Choice enrollment. (Sec. 504) Allows variation in premium waivers within a service area if Medicare+Choice payment rates vary within the area. (Sec. 505) Delays to not later than July 1 (currently, not later than May 1) of each year the submission by each Medicare+Choice organization to the Secretary of adjusted community rate, proposed premium, and related information. Modifies provisions with respect to provision of notice and list of plans and comparison of plan options. (Sec. 506) Revises treatment of accreditation provisions under the Medicare+Choice quality assurance program, directing the Secretary to determine, within 90 days after receiving an application by a private accrediting organization, whether its process meets certain requirements considering the factors described under provisions on the effect of accreditation. (Sec. 507) Reduces from 0.5 to 0.3 percentage points the adjustment in national per capita Medicare+Choice growth percentage for 2001 and 2002. (Sec. 508) Allows the Secretary to extend or renew a reasonable cost reimbursement contract beyond December 31, 2005. (Sec. 509) Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of SSA title XVIII to reduce from five to two years the re-entry period after a contract with a Medicare+Choice organization. (Sec. 510) Directs MEDPac to: (1) study and report to Congress on risk adjustment; and (2) report to Congress on specific legislative changes that should be made to make Medicare Medical Savings Account plans a viable option under the Medicare+Choice program. (Sec. 512) Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of SSA title XVIII to permit religious fraternal benefit societies to offer a range of Medicare+Choice plans. Subtitle B: Other Managed Care Provisions - Amends BBA '97 to provide for a delay in implementation of the Medicare prepaid competitive pricing demonstration project. (Sec. 522) Amends part D of SSA title XVIII to make OASIS inapplicable to a PACE (program of all-inclusive care for the elderly) program. Title VI: Medicaid - Amends BBA '97 to: (1) make the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) transitional rule permanent; (2) increase the DSH allotment for the District of Columbia, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Wyoming for FY 2000 through 2002; (3) establish a new PPS for Federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics; and (4) revise the formula used by the Secretary to determine payment amounts to each State which has an approved Medicaid plan. Title VII: State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) - Amends SSA XXI (Children's Health Insurance) (CHIP) to: (1) modify provisions on allotments, among other changes replacing provisions on floor for States with provisions on floors and ceilings in State allotments; and (2) increase appropriations for described territories and commonwealths under CHIP.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1999
Condemns the use of children as soldiers by governmental and nongovernmental armed forces worldwide. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should not oppose efforts to negotiate an optional international agreement to raise the international minimum age for military service to age 18; (2) the Secretary of State should address this issue in the next session of the United Nations working group relating to child soldiers before this process is abandoned by the international community; and (3) the President and the Congress should work together to enact a law that establishes a fund for the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of child soldiers.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1999
Unsolicited Electronic Mail Act of 1999 - Authorizes any person, on his or her own behalf or on behalf of his or her children, to file with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a statement that he or she desires to receive no unsolicited commercial electronic mail (e-mail), unsolicited pandering (erotically arousing or sexually provocative) e-mail, or both. Directs the FCC to: (1) maintain and keep a current list of such filers; and (2) make such list available to any person, upon reasonable terms and conditions, including a service charge for such list. Prohibits any person from initiating the transmission of any unsolicited commercial or pandering e-mail to an individual whose name and e-mail address has been on such list for more than 30 days. Prohibits any other use of such list. Prohibits any person from sending an unsolicited commercial or pandering e-mail message unless the message contains a conspicuous reply e-mail address to which a recipient may send notice of a desire not to receive further messages. Subjects to an FCC order to discontinue any person who transmits such a message after such an objection. Directs the FCC, upon request, to include in such an order the names and e-mail addresses of any children of an objecting recipient. Provides a private right of action, or an action by the FCC, against an e-mail initiator who violates the above requirements. Authorizes an interactive computer service provider to establish and enforce policies that are nondiscriminatory on the basis of content regarding unsolicited commercial e-mail. Authorizes such provider to decline to transmit such messages to subscribers without compensation from the sender. Requires a provider to notify the violator of such policy in writing and request compliance. Makes subject to the same FCC order as above a violator who sends such messages after provider notification. Provides a private right of action by a provider, or an action by the FCC, upon an e-mail initiator who violates such requirements. Requires the FCC to report to Congress on the effectiveness and enforcement of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 1999
Medicare Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 - Title I: Provisions Relating to Part A - Subtitle A: PPS Hospitals - Amends SSA title XVIII part D (Miscellaneous), as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA '97), to provide for a one-year delay in the transition of the indirect teaching adjustment factor (under the prospective payment system (PPS) for hospital outpatient department (OPD) services) to its permanent value on or after October 1, 2001 (currently, on or after October 1, 2000) used in determining an additional payment amount for certain hospitals with indirect costs of medical education. Subtitle B: PPS Exempt Hospitals - Amends SSA title XVIII part D to: (1) limit the target amount for described hospitals that are exempt from PPS payment; and (2) direct the Secretary to provide for an appropriate wage adjustment with regard to such hospitals. (Sec. 112) Provides for increased target amounts in computing payments for long-term care and psychiatric hospitals until development of a PPS for those hospitals. (Sec. 113) Directs the Secretary to develop, implement, and report to Congress on: (1) a per discharge PPS for payment for inpatient hospital services of Medicare long-term care hospitals; and (2) develop a per diem PPS for payment for inpatient hospital services of Medicare psychiatric hospitals. Subtitle C: Adjustments to PPS Payments for Skilled Nursing Facilities - Directs the Secretary, for purposes of computing prospective payments for covered skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), to temporarily increase payments for covered skilled nursing facility services for certain high cost patients. (Sec. 122) Amends SSA title XVIII part D to revise provisions on payment to hospitals for inpatient hospital services to: (1) increase for FY 2001 the SNF unadjusted federal per diem rate; (2) permit a SNF to waive a three year transition period and elect to have the amount of payment for all covered facility costs determined pursuant to the adjusted Federal per diem rate applicable to it; (3) exclude certain additional items and services from being covered facility items and services (thus providing for Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) pass-through payment for such items and services, including certain ambulance services and chemotherapy items) while ensuring budget neutrality for FY 2001; (4) apply to facilities participating in the Nursing Home Case-Mix and Quality Demonstration Project requirements for determining base payments on a per diem basis; and (5) modify requirements for the first cost reporting period update that is used in determining facility specific per diem rates. Title II: Provisions Relating to Part B - Subtitle A: Adjustments to Physician Payment Updates - Amends SSA title XVIII part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) to modify provisions on: (1) payment for physicians' services with regard to updates to provide for new guidelines for determining updates for years beginning with 2000; and (2) sustainable growth rate with regard to publication and with regard to the data to be used in determining such updates. Subtitle B: Hospital Outpatient Services - Amends SSA title XVIII part B to revise requirements for the PPS for hospital OPD services to: (1) require the Secretary to provide for a specified outlier adjustment for covered OPD services, as well as transitional pass-through payments for additional costs of "innovative" medical devices, drugs, and biologicals, while ensuring budget neutrality; (3) include medical devices as covered OPD services; (4) allow the Secretary to elect to establish relative payment weights based on mean hospital costs for covered OPD services; (5) limit, generally, the variation of costs of covered OPD services classified within a group for purposes of comparable treatment with respect to the use of resources; (6) change the Secretary's optional periodic review of PPS components to a mandatory annual review; and (7) establish a transitional adjustment in the amount of PPS payment for covered OPD services to limit declining payments under Medicare for such services. Subtitle C: Other - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) application of separate currently existing caps for speech-language pathology and for other outpatient physical therapy services on a per beneficiary, per facility basis; (2) optional, limited exemption of certain therapy services facilities from any applicable caps for 2000 and 2001; (3) mandatory annual increases in end stage renal disease dialysis composite rate payment amounts; and (4) revised annual covered item updates for 2001 and 2002 for certain durable medical equipment. Title III: Provisions Relating to Parts A and B - Subtitle A: Home Health Services - Provides, in the case of a home health agency that furnishes home health services to a Medicare beneficiary, that for each beneficiary furnished such services during the agency's cost reporting period beginning in FY 2000, the Secretary shall, in accordance with specified restrictions, pay the agency a specified amount out of the Medicare trust funds in addition to any other amount of payment to defray agency costs attributable to data collection and reporting requirements under the Outcome and Assessment Information (OASIS) required under BBA '97. (Sec. 302) Amends BBA '97 and Medicare with regard to the PPS for home health services to delay for one year the application of the 15 percent reduction in payment rates for home health services. Subtitle B: Direct Graduate Medical Education - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for the use of national average per resident payment system in computing payments for direct graduate medical education (DGME) costs. Title IV: Rural Provider Provisions - Amends SSA title XVIII to permit the reclassification of certain urban hospitals as rural ones. (Sec. 402) Ties the standards applied for geographic reclassification of certain rural hospitals to the most recently available census data. (Sec. 403) Revises the critical access hospital program, permitting for-profit hospitals to qualify for designation as a critical access hospital. Provides for an all-inclusive payment option for outpatient critical access hospital services. Eliminates coinsurance payments for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests furnished by a critical access hospital on an outpatient basis. Allows certain currently excluded hospitals to be providers of extended care services. (Sec. 404) Extends for five years the Medicare-dependent, small rural hospital program. (Sec. 405) Mandates rebasing for certain sole community hospitals that elect such treatment, in accordance with specified guidelines with respect to select fiscal year discharges. (Sec. 406) Revises provisions on payments for direct and indirect graduate medical education costs to expand current graduate medical education training programs for hospitals located in rural areas, and to encourage the training of physicians in underserved rural areas. (Sec. 407) Eliminates the requirement for State certification of need and certain restrictions on a hospital with more than 49 beds that provides extended care services. (Sec. 408) Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to assist eligible small rural hospitals in meeting the costs of implementing data systems required to meet Medicare requirements established by BBA '97. (Sec. 409) Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to study and report to Congress on rural providers under Medicare. Title V: Provisions Relating to Part C (Medicare+Choice Program) - Subtitle A: Medicare+Choice - Amends SSA title XVIII part C (Medicare+Choice) and D (Miscellaneous) to provide for: (1) phased-in new risk adjustment methodology under provisions for payments to Medicare+Choice organizations; (2) increased monthly payments under such provisions for a limited period to encourage the offering of Medicare+Choice plans in certain areas where such a plan has either not been offered or is offered but slated for termination; (3) modification of the five-year reentry rule for Medicare+Choice organizations whose contracts have been terminated; (4) continued annual computation and publication of county-specific per capita fee-for-service expenditure information; (5) enrollment in alternative Medicare+Choice plans and Medicare supplemental health insurance policy (Medigap) coverage in case of involuntary termination of Medicare+Choice enrollment; (6) authorized variation in premium values within a service area if the annual Medicare+Choice capitation rates vary within the area; (7) a delayed deadline for submission of adjusted community rates and related information; (8) extension of Medicare reasonable cost reimbursement contracts under provisions for payments to health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and competitive medical plans; and (9) permission for religious fraternal benefit societies to offer a range of Medicare+Choice plans. (Sec. 510) Directs MEDPAC to report to Congress on specific legislative changes that should be made to make Medicare medical savings account plans a viable option under the Medicare+Choice program. Subtitle B: Social Health Maintenance Organizations (SHMOs) - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to: (1) extend social health maintenance organization (SHMO) demonstration project authority; and (2) replace the current limit on the number of individuals who may participate in a SHMO I or II project site with an aggregate limit for all sites.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1999
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to remove the limit on the amount of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments for certain hospitals in Ohio.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1999
Truth in Telephone Billing Act of 1999 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct a telecommunications carrier that is required to contribute to, or is assessed for, any universal service support mechanism, fund, tax, or program to identify on each subscriber's bill: (1) the identity of such mechanism, fund, tax, or program, as well as the governmental authority whose rules require or authorize the contribution or assessment; (2) the basis for such contribution or assessment; and (3) the dollar amount that is being attributed to and collected from such subscriber for such mechanism, fund, tax, or program.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1999
Budget Responsibility and Efficiency Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to revise the Federal and congressional budget processes by establishing a two-year budgeting and appropriations cycle and timetable. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Sets forth a special timetable for any first session that begins in any year immediately following a leap year and during which the term of a President begins (except one who starts a second successive term). (Sec. 2) Devotes the first session of any Congress to the budget resolution and to appropriations decisions, retaining current deadlines in most cases. Changes certain deadlines to conform to the biennial scheme. Devotes each second session to authorization activity, subject to specified deadlines. (Sec. 4) Sets forth revised pay-as-you-go provisions for the Senate to conform with the biennial framework. (Sec. 5) Conforms provisions governing the President's budget to the biennial framework. (Sec. 6) Requires all Acts making regular appropriations for the support of the Government to be enacted for a biennium and to specify the amount of appropriations provided for each fiscal year in that period. (Sec. 7) Amends CBA to provide that it shall not be in order in the House or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that authorizes appropriations for a period of less than two fiscal years, unless the program, project, or activity for which the appropriations are authorized will require no further appropriations and will be completed or terminated after the appropriations have been expended. (Sec. 8) Changes to a biennial basis specified requirements for certain Government strategic and performance plans, performance reports in budget submissions, and program performance reports. Requires congressional committee reviews of such plans and reports. (Sec. 9) Provides that it shall not be in order in the House or the Senate in any odd-numbered year to consider any regular bill providing new budget authority or a limitation on obligations under the jurisdiction of any Appropriations subcommittee for only the first fiscal year of a biennium unless the program, project, or activity for which such authority or limitation is provided will require no additional authority beyond one year and will be completed or terminated after the amount provided has been expended.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1999
Urges the President to: (1) seek a global consensus supporting a permanent international ban on tariffs on electronic commerce, including a ban on special, multiple, and discriminatory taxation of electronic commerce and the Internet; (2) instruct the U.S. delegation to the November 1999 World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting in Seattle, Washington, to seek to make permanent the moratorium on tariffs on electronic transmissions adopted by the WTO in May 1998; (3) seek adoption by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development of an international ban on special, multiple, and discriminatory taxation of electronic commerce and the Internet; and (4) oppose any proposal by any country, the United Nations, or any other multilateral organization to establish a "bit tax" on electronic transmissions.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1999
Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act - Amends Federal employee provisions to include the following as an employee, for purposes of authorized enrollment under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: (1) a member of the armed forces who began service before June 7, 1956, and retired after a minimum of 20 years of such service or by reason of a service-connected disability; and (2) the surviving widow or widower of such member. Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management to provide FEHB coverage to the following eligible beneficiaries: (1) a member or former member entitled to military retired or retainer pay who is also entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; (2) an unremarried former spouse who was married to a member for at least 20 years, during which such member performed at least 20 years of retirement-creditable military service; (3) a dependent of a deceased qualifying member or former member; (4) a dependent of a living member or former member who is entitled to Medicare hospital insurance benefits; and (5) a family member of such member. Repeals a provision prohibiting coverage under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services for persons entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
Comprehensive Access and Responsibility in Health Care Act of 1999 - Title I: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Subtitle A: Patient Protections - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group coverage, from imposing on a health professional any restriction on advice provided to a participant or beneficiary. (Sec. 101) Requires a plan or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, if it provides benefits for: (1) emergency or ambulance services, to cover emergency services, including emergency ambulance services, without preauthorization and without regard to whether or not the health care provider is a participating one, among other specified conditions; (2) gynecological or obstetric specialist care benefits, to provide those benefits without authorization or referral by a primary care provider; or (3) routine pediatric specialist care benefits, to allow designation of a pediatric specialist as the primary care provider. Outlines rules permitting continuity of care for scheduled surgery, pregnancy, and terminal illness during specified transition periods because of provider termination as well as rules governing individual participation in approved clinical cancer trials. Requires a Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) study of, and report to Congress with regard to, cancer clinical research and its cost implications for managed care. (Sec. 102) Amends ERISA to require certain plan disclosures to network providers under specified conditions. Subtitle B: Patient Access to Information - Requires plans to include specified information in summary plan descriptions and to include certain information with adverse coverage decisions. Mandates advance notice of exclusion from a drug formulary of a drug or biological that is used in the treatment of a chronic illness or disease. Subtitle C: Group Health Plan Review Standards - Amends ERISA to require group health plans, in the case of included group health benefits, to: (1) provide written notice to participants or beneficiaries and providers of adverse coverage decisions; and (2) meet specified time limits for responding to requests for benefit payments, accelerated need requests, advance coverage determinations, medical necessity determinations, and experimental treatment determinations. Provides for internal and, in certain circumstances, external review of initial coverage decisions. Establishes certain review requirements. (Sec. 121) Outlines sanctions, which include civil monetary penalties, cease and desist orders, and removal (in the case of a fiduciary) for review violations. Provides for: (1) expedited court review; (2) awarding of attorney fees; and (3) concurrent Federal-State court jurisdiction for actions relating to certain amendments made by this Act. (Sec. 122) Amends ERISA to: (1) establish a special rule for access to specialty care; and (2) set out requirements for treatment of prescription drugs and medical devices as experimental or investigational. (Sec. 124) Exempts health care response information from any disclosure requirement, in connection with a civil or administrative proceeding under Federal or State law, to the same extent as specified other information developed by a health care provider, including internal review, to reduce mortality, morbidity, or for improving patient care or safety. Subtitle D: Small Business Access and Choice for Entrepreneurs - Amends ERISA to define "association health plan" to mean a group health plan meeting specified requirements, including being sponsored by a bona fide trade, industry, or professional association, or a chamber of commerce (or a similar bona fide business association) organized and maintained for substantial purposes other than that of obtaining or providing medical care. Provides for association and self-insured association plan certification and mandates a class certification procedure for association plans. (Sec. 131) Regulates association plans' boards of trustees and sponsors. Prohibits, for plans in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, a sponsor's affiliated members from being offered coverage unless the member: (1) was affiliated on the certification date; or (2) did not maintain or contribute to a group health plan during the 12 months before the offering of coverage. Prohibits a participating employer from providing health coverage in the individual market for any employee who is eligible for plan coverage if the exclusion from plan coverage is based on health status. Prohibits excluding an employer from an association plan if the employer and plan each meet specified requirements. Prohibits contribution rates for any participating small employers from varying on the basis of claims experience or type of business. Requires, if any plan benefit option does not consist of health coverage, that the plan have at least 1,000 participants and beneficiaries. Requires, if a benefit option consisting of health coverage is offered under the plan, that State-licensed insurance agents be used to distribute to small employers coverage that is not health coverage in a manner comparable to the manner in which those agents are used to distribute health coverage. Requires that a plan consist only of health coverage or, if the plan provides any additional benefit options, that the plan meet certain reserve and excess stop loss insurance and solvency indemnification requirements regarding the additional benefit options for which risk has not yet been transferred. Requires that all plans maintain a specified minimum surplus. Requires association plans providing additional options to make annual payments to the Association Health Plan Fund. Requires that, when there is or will be a failure to maintain such reserves, excess stop loss insurance, and indemnification, the Secretary of Labor pay amounts as necessary to maintain the excess stop loss insurance or indemnification. Establishes the Fund. Directs the applicable authority to establish a Solvency Standards Working Group to make appropriate recommendations. Mandates advance notice to participants and beneficiaries of voluntary certified plan termination. Requires either corrective action or plan termination whenever it is determined that a plan has failed or will fail to maintain required reserves, excess stop loss insurance, and indemnification. Provides for court appointment of the Secretary as trustee to administer a plan during insolvency. Allows a State to impose a contribution tax on an association plan providing additional options if the plan began operations in the State after enactment of this Act. Makes the requirements for certification under this subtitle with regard to association health plans applicable only in connection with included group health plan benefits provided under the plan. Declares that the provisions of this subtitle supersede certain related State laws. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress the effect association health plans have had (if any) on reducing the number of uninsured individuals. (Sec. 132) Modifies the circumstances in which two or more trades or businesses must be deemed a single employer. (Sec. 133) Excludes from the definition of "multiple employer welfare arrangement" any arrangement: (1) established or maintained under specified Federal (or similar State) labor relations provisions; or (2) meeting certain collective bargaining and other requirements. (Sec. 134) Imposes criminal penalties for falsely representing any plan or other arrangement providing certain benefits as: (1) being a certified association plan; or (2) having been established or maintained under certain collective bargaining agreements. (Sec. 135) Allows a State to enter into an agreement with the Secretary for delegation to the State of some or all of the Secretary's enforcement or certification authority. Subtitle E: Health Care Access, Affordability, and Quality Commission - Amends ERISA to establish the Health Care Access, Affordability, and Quality Commission to: (1) conduct studies of certain critical areas, which include independent expert external review programs and consumer friendly information programs; (2) develop a form for remittance of claims to providers; (3) evaluate existing and proposed benefit requirements for group health plans, upon appropriate congressional request; and (4) submit to appropriate congressional committees written comments on certain reports by the Secretary to such committees. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Amendments to Public Health Service Act - Subtitle A: Patient Protections and Point of Service Coverage Requirements - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to prohibit a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group coverage, from imposing on a health professional any restriction on advice provided to a participant or beneficiary. (Sec. 201) Requires a plan or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, if it provides benefits for: (1) emergency or ambulance services, to cover emergency services, including emergency ambulance services, without preauthorization and without regard to whether or not the health care provider is a participating one, among other specified conditions; (2) gynecological or obstetric specialist care benefits, to provide those benefits without authorization or referral by a primary provider; or (3) routine pediatric specialist care benefits, to allow designation of a pediatric specialist as the primary care provider. Outlines rules on continuity of care and individual participation in approved clinical cancer trials that are similar to those outlined above in title I of this Act. Requires, as well, a similar HHS Secretary study of, and report to, Congress concerning cancer clinical research and managed care. (Sec. 202) Requires health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that provide coverage under a group health plan only if services are furnished exclusively through members of a closed panel to make available to the plan sponsor an option covering services without regard to whether the providers are panel members. Requires HMOs, when a plan sponsor declines that option, to make optional supplemental coverage available in the individual market to each plan participant. Subtitle B: Patient Access to Information - Amends PHSA to require disclosure by health insurance issuers of group health plans to plan administrators of information necessary to: (1) provide participants and beneficiaries with information in a manner and to an extent consistent with that above under subtitle B of title I of this Act; and (2) include a similar mandate for advance notice with regard to drug formularies that is also under such subtitle. (Sec. 212) Details requirements for treatment of prescription drugs and medical devices as experimental or investigational. Subtitle C: HealthMarts - Amends PHSA to require that HealthMarts: (1) be legal entities composed of small employers, employees of small employers, certain other individuals, health care providers, and entities that underwrite or administer health benefits coverage; and (2) make available health coverage to all small employers and eligible employees and their dependents and to certain other individuals at rates established by the insurance issuer on a policy or product specific basis. Deems HealthMarts group health plans for purposes of specified provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. Requires that any coverage made available to an eligible employee or individual in a geographic area be offered to all eligible employees or individuals in the same area. (Sec. 221) Declares that the HealthMart: (1) provides coverage only through contracts with issuers and does not assume insurance risk; (2) provides administrative services for purchasers; and (3) collects and disseminates consumer information on all coverage options offered through the HealthMart. Requires that HealthMart coverage provide full portability of creditable coverage for individuals who remain members of the same HealthMart notwithstanding that they change employers. Allows HealthMart coverage to include: (1) coverage through an HMO, a preferred provider or licensed provider-sponsored organization, an insurance company, or a medical savings or flexible spending account; (2) coverage that includes a point-of-service option; or (3) any combination of those coverages. Requires a HealthMart to permit employers or certain individuals, if coverage is offered through the HealthMart for such an employer or individual, to contract for such coverage. Prohibits the HealthMart from varying eligibility conditions (including premium rates and membership fees). Prohibits the purchaser from obtaining or sponsoring coverage other than through the HealthMart. Prohibits a HealthMart from denying enrollment to eligible individuals based on health, except as otherwise permitted. Supersedes certain related State laws and makes them inapplicable, except with regard to coverage option availability, with respect to coverage through a HealthMart. Provides for the application of: (1) certain existing ERISA and PHSA requirements; and (2) renewability requirements when the contract between a HealthMart and an issuer is terminated. Directs the HHS Secretary to administer this subtitle. Subtitle D: Community Health Organizations - Amends PHSA to allow a community health organization to offer health coverage in a State in spite of not being licensed in that State if the organization has received a licensure waiver from the HHS Secretary and other requirements are met. (Sec. 231) Mandates the establishment of Federal financial solvency and capital adequacy standards. Title III: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Subtitle A: Patient Protections - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to prohibit a group health plan from imposing on a health professional any restriction on advice provided to a participant or beneficiary. (Sec. 301) Requires a plan, if it provides benefits for: (1) emergency or ambulance services, to cover emergency services, including emergency ambulance services, without preauthorization and without regard to whether or not the health care provider is a participating provider, among other specified conditions; (2) gynecological or obstetric specialist care benefits, to provide those benefits without authorization or referral by a primary care provider; or (3) routine pediatric specialist benefits, to allow designation of a pediatric specialist as the primary care provider. Outlines rules on continuity of care and individual participation in approved clinical cancer trials that are similar to those outlined above in titles I and II of this Act. Provides for associated study and reporting requirements similar to those in titles I and II of this Act. Subtitle B: Medical Savings Accounts - Amends IRC to repeal provisions limiting the number of individuals having medical savings accounts. Allows all employers to offer the accounts. Modifies requirements regarding: (1) the monthly limitation on related deductions; (2) coordination with the exclusion for employer contributions; and (3) the deductible amounts that will qualify as a high deductible plan. Allows the accounts to be included in cafeteria plans. Subtitle C: Tax Incentives for Health Care - Amends the IRC to provide, among other changes, for: (1) a graduated tax deduction for health and long-term care insurance coverage costs of an individual, with such deduction increased to100 percent of the amount paid during a taxable year for such coverage costs for taxable years after calendar year 2006, while disallowing such tax deduction for coverage costs under certain subsidized employer plans; (2) a limited, refundable tax credit for qualified health insurance coverage costs of an individual taxpayer, his spouse, and dependents; (3) a requirement that any person who conducts a trade or business and receives payments during any calendar year from any individual for coverage of such individual or any other individual under creditable health insurance shall make a prescribed tax return relating to such payments; (4) advance payment of health insurance credit for purchasers of qualified health insurance; and (5) carryover of unused benefits from cafeteria plans and flexible spending or similar arrangements to later taxable years. (Sec. 323) Directs the HHS Secretary to provide for a study and report to Congress on State safety-net health insurance programs for the medically uninsurable. Title IV: Health Care Lawsuit Reform - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Declares that this title applies to any health care liability action in any State or Federal court, except actions: (1) relating to vaccine-related injury to which PHSA title XXI (Vaccines) applies; or (2) under ERISA. Preempts State laws inconsistent with this title, but not those that impose greater restrictions than those in this title. Excludes non-economic or punitive damages and attorneys' fees or costs from the determination of the amount in controversy. Subtitle B: Uniform Standards for Health Care Liability Actions - Establishes a statute of limitations for bringing a health care liability action. (Sec. 412) Limits non-economic damages that may be awarded to an injured claimant. Substitutes any different level set by a State after enactment of this Act. Makes defendants liable only for the proportion of the non-economic damages due to the defendant's fault. Allows limited punitive damages, to the extent permitted by State law, if the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's conduct intended to cause harm or manifested a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of others. Prohibits punitive damages against a manufacturer or product seller of a drug or medical device where the drug or device was subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) premarket approval or the drug is generally recognized as safe and effective by the FDA. Prohibits punitive damages relating to packaging or labeling of a drug that is required to have tamper-resistant packaging unless the packaging or labeling is found by clear and convincing evidence to be substantially out of compliance. Prohibits requiring lump-sum payment of future economic and non- economic damages over $50,000. Allows any defendant to introduce evidence of collateral source payments. Prohibits any collateral source payments provider from recovering any amount against the claimant, receiving any lien or credit against the recovery, or being subrogated to the claimant's rights. (Sec. 413) Limits contingent fees. Requires any alternative dispute resolution used to resolve a health care liability action or claim to contain provisions consistent with this title. (Sec. 414) Requires the General Accounting Office to report to specified congressional committees on the compliance of: (1) the Department of Justice and all U.S. Attorneys with a specified guideline relating to false claims in civil health care matters; and (2) the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services with specified protocols and best practice guidelines.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
Urges the Department of Education, States, and local educational agencies to work together to ensure that at least 95 percent of all funds appropriated for elementary and secondary education programs administered by the Department of Education is spent to improve the academic achievement of children in classrooms.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1999
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Act - Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, founded in 1995, to pay the Federal share (20 percent) of the costs of authorized Center activities. Authorizes the Secretary to assist in the construction of the Center facility and the development of programs and exhibits related to the history of the Underground Railroad on property owned by the city of Cincinnati and the State of Ohio. Authorizes appropriations. Requires annual reports from the Center to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1999
Adopted Orphans Citizenship Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the acquisition of U.S. citizenship (as of the date of birth) by certain foreign-born children adopted by a U.S. citizen parent or parents.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1999
Competitive Access to Federal Buildings Act - Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to authorize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to: (1) implement policies for federally-owned buildings and structures for providing non-discriminatory access to such buildings and structures for the provision of telecommunications or information services by telecommunications carriers; and (2) advise the Federal Communications Commission on the development of such policies for commercial property. Prohibits a Federal agency from entering into a contract to rent or lease commercial property unless the property owner or operator permits such non-discriminatory access for a carrier that has obtained, where required, a Federal or State certificate of public convenience and necessity for the provision of such services and that seeks to provide such services to tenants. Allows such owner or operator to: (1) charge a reasonable fee for such access; and (2) impose other reasonable, non-discriminatory requirements in connection with such access. Prohibits a Federal agency from entering into a contract with an owner or operator unless such owner or operator agrees to resolve disputes regarding such access. Authorizes the waiver of this Act's prohibitions on a case-by-case basis: (1) by a Federal agency head when such agency would be unable to obtain any suitable space in that area; and (2) by the President for national security reasons. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Telecommunications and Information, to promulgate final rules to apply the requirements of this Act to all Federal buildings and structures.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1999
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to insert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the District of Columbia a suitable plaque to commemorate the speech of Martin Luther King, Jr., known as the "I Have A Dream" speech.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1999
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present congressional gold medals to astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, in recognition of their monumental and unprecedented feat of space exploration, as well as their achievements in the advancement of science and promotion of the space program. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates. Requires receipts from such sales to be deposited in the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1999
Certified Nurse Midwifery Medicare Services Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for the coverage of and payment for the following under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance): (1) certified midwife services (currently only certified nurse-midwife services are covered); and (2) freestanding birth center services. Declares that nothing precludes certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives from teaching or supervising an intern or resident-in-training.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make a determination with respect to telecommunications mergers, acquisitions, and other license transfers within 60 days after their submission. Authorizes a single extension of 30 days if approved by the FCC. Provides a 45-day deadline with respect to certain acquisitions involving small local exchange carriers. Deems as approved any such application not approved or denied within the prescribed periods. Requires applications pending for more than 60 days as of the enactment of this Act to be approved or denied within 30 days thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Federal Employees Adoption Assistance Act - Directs the head of each executive agency and the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to carry out a program under which an agency employee may be reimbursed for up to $2,000 of qualifying expenses incurred with the adoption of any one child (including if both adopting parents are employees). Makes such adoption expenses reimbursement provisions applicable to the U.S. Postal Service and the Postal Rate Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Brownfields Remediation Waste Act - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act (the Act) to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide alternative requirements for management of remediation waste in lieu of restrictions under the Act or this Act. Defines "remediation waste" as all solid and hazardous wastes and all media and debris that contain listed hazardous wastes or that themselves exhibit a hazardous characteristic and are managed for implementing cleanup. Provides that such requirements shall be protective of health and the environment and remove disincentives to remediation, streamline regulation, and achieve greater flexibility for State remediation programs. Deems specified rules regarding hazardous remediation waste management promulgated by the Administrator on November 30, 1998, to be alternative requirements and to remain in effect unless the Administrator takes action to modify such rules. Prohibits the Administrator from publishing any proposal to modify such rules before reporting to Congress on problems associated with their implementation. Provides that placement of remediation waste in temporary units, staging piles, or corrective action management units designated under Federal or State authorities shall not be deemed to be engaging in land disposal and shall not be subject to specified requirements under the Act regarding hazardous waste management. Authorizes, notwithstanding the rules of November 30, 1998, and where protective of health and environment, the designation of: (1) temporary units and staging piles at another location owned or operated by a person engaged in remediation at the first location to facilitate consolidated waste management; (2) corrective action management units at one remediation waste management site to receive remediation waste from another such site; and (3) a staging pile to allow for mixing or blending for the primary purposes of subsequent waste consolidation or enhancement. Allows remediation waste management units or activities to be authorized through permits, interim status, orders, or other authorization available under the Act. Permits States to administer and enforce remediation waste management programs pursuant to programs authorized under the Act or this Act. Sets forth required elements of such programs. Authorizes States with approved programs to carry out such programs in lieu of the Federal program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) all Americans, and above all women, should take an active role in the fight against breast cancer by using all the means available to them; (2) the role played by national and community organizations and health care providers in promoting awareness of the importance of regular clinical and self-examinations, regular mammograms, and biopsies (when appropriate), and in providing information, support, and access to services, should be recognized and applauded; and (3) the Federal Government has a responsibility, among other things, to continue to fund research so that the causes of, and improved treatment for, breast cancer may be discovered.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999
National Law Enforcement Museum Act - Authorizes the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to construct a National Law Enforcement Museum in the District of Columbia. Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from permitting construction of the Museum unless sufficient amounts are available to complete construction. Provides that the United States shall pay no expense incurred in the establishment or construction of the Museum. Terminates construction authority seven years after this Act's enactment date unless construction begins before such date.
![Official portrait of Rep. Oxley, Michael G. [R-OH-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/o000163_200.jpg)