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United States · Official source
2,523 records where Rep. Roukema, Marge [R-NJ-5] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Mortgage Servicing Clarification Act - Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to exempt a servicer of federally related mortgage loans secured by first liens from certain debt collection disclosure requirements if such servicer is a debt collector whose primary function is servicing such loans.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
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; (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.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity Amendments of 2001 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code, and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit group and individual health plans from imposing treatment limitations or financial requirements on the coverage of mental health benefits, or substance abuse and chemical dependency benefits, if similar limitations or requirements are not imposed on medical and surgical benefits. Amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1986 to provide for coordination in implementation of such amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Younger Americans Act - Sets forth a national youth policy to assure that all youth have access to the full array of core resources, including: (1) ongoing relationships with caring adults; (2) safe places with structured activities in which to grow and learn; (3) services that promote healthy lifestyles, including those designed to improve physical and mental health; (4) opportunities to acquire marketable skills and competencies; and (5) opportunities for community service and civic participation. Establishes in the Executive Office of the President: (1) the Office of National Youth Policy ; (2) a Director of the Office; and (3) the Council on National Youth Policy within the Office. Directs the Associate Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services to make block grant allotments to States for State and community programs for youth to assure access to the five core resources listed in the national youth policy. Provides for reservations of funds for Native American organizations, outlying areas, and Federal discretionary programs to respond to needs of youth in correctional and other out-of-home settings, high poverty areas, rural areas, and other high-risk situations. Sets forth requirements for State agencies, planning and mobilization areas, distribution of funds for State activities and local allocations, community boards and area agencies on youth, area plans, grants and contracts to eligible entities, and youth development program activities. Authorizes awarding of grants and contracts to eligible entities for specified evaluation, education and training, research, and dissemination activities. Directs the Associate Commissioner to: (1) develop and establish systems for evaluating activities under this Act, and for providing education and training of personnel of States, area agencies, and community boards to work with youth; and (2) conduct an independent biennial evaluation of the impact of programs assisted under this Act and other initiatives to promote positive youth development.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Community Protection Act of 2001- Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize qualified law enforcement officers (including qualified retired officers) carrying the photographic identification issued by the governmental agency for which the individual is, or was, employed as a law enforcement officer, notwithstanding State or local laws, to carry a concealed firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Specifies that this Act shall not be construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that: (1) permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed firearms on their property; or (2) prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on any State or local government property, installation, building, base, or park.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Self-Employed Health Affordability Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the deduction allowed for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals to 100 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Acid Rain Control Act - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a Nitrogen Oxide Allowance Program under which the contiguous States and the District of Columbia will be allocated allowances, beginning in 2004, to emit limited monthly amounts of nitrogen oxides. Makes it unlawful, after January 1, 2002, for: (1) the owner or operator of an affected facility to emit nitrogen oxides exceeding the amount of allowances held; or (2) any person to hold, use, or transfer such allowances, except as provided under this Act. Repeals the nitrogen oxides emission reduction program under the Clean Air Act. Imposes penalties for emissions in excess of allowances. Requires offsets of allowances in the calendar year following the one in which excess emissions occurred. Decreases the amount of sulfur dioxide authorized to be emitted under an existing allowance program for 2007 and subsequent years. Provides for regulations to: (1) protect specified regional ecosystems, including those modifying nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide allowance allocations; and (2) control electric utility and industrial source mercury emissions. Directs the Administrator to establish a competitive grant program to fund research related to the effects of nitrogen deposition on sensitive watersheds and coastal estuaries in the eastern United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Surviving Spouse Fairness Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a $500,000 exclusion of gain on certain sales of a principal residence by a surviving spouse.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude, subject to a $3,000 maximum exclusion (double for a joint return), from gross income a capital gain dividend which is: (1) distributed by a regulated investment company; and (2) automatically reinvested by the company in the stock of such company with respect to which the dividend is distributed.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the credit for increasing research activities. Increases the alternative incremental credit rates.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
IRA Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the annual limitation on deductible individual retirement account contributions to $5000.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a Mental Health Advisory Committee should be established to probe the serious national dimensions of the mentally ill.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that a commemorative postal stamp should be issued honoring Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Declares the sense of Congress that the Federal income tax deduction for interest paid on debt secured by a first or second home should not be further restricted.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2000
Expresses the condolences of Congress on the death of the Honorable Henry Barbosa Gonzalez on November 28, 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2000
Armed Services Vote Rescue Act - Prohibits a State from refusing to count a ballot submitted in a Federal election by an absent uniformed services voter on the grounds that the ballot was improperly or fraudulently cast, unless the State finds clear and convincing evidence of fraud in the preparation or casting of the ballot by the voter.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2000
Expresses the solidarity of Congress with the state and people of Israel at this time of crisis. Condemns the Palestinian leadership for encouraging the violence and doing so little for so long to stop it. Calls upon the Palestinian leadership to: (1) refrain from exhortations to public incitement; and (2) vigorously use its security forces to act immediately to stop all violence, to show respect for all holy sites, and to settle all grievances through negotiations. Commends successive Administrations on their continuing efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. Calls upon: (1) the current Administration to use its veto power at the United Nations Security Council to ensure that the Security Council does not again adopt unbalanced resolutions addressing the uncontrolled violence in the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority; and (2) all involved parties to make all possible efforts to reinvigorate the peace process.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2000
Denounces the abstention by the United States from voting on Resolution 1322 (which condemns Israel for acts of violence and cites excessive force by Israelis against Palestinians and which was adopted by the United Nations (UN) Security Council on October 7, 2000). Calls upon the President to declare such resolution null and void as a matter of national policy. Condemns the UN Security Council for its one-sided condemnation of Israel. Urges: (1) the UN member states to vigorously oppose efforts to manipulate the Fourth Geneva Convention for the sole purpose of attacking Israel; and (2) Israeli and Palestinian leaders to seek a secure future for all citizens of the Middle East through a full and thorough peace process.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2000
Medicare Mental Illness Nondiscrimination Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to eliminate copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2000
Renames the Stewart B.McKinney Homeless Assistance Act as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2000
Veterans Commemoration Act of 2000 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue a maximum of 500,000 $1 coins to commemorate the service of veterans of the United States armed forces. Mandates that the proceeds from sale surcharges be paid promptly to the Disabled American Veterans to fund the transportation of veterans to and from hospitals administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2000
Protection of the American Dream Act - Amends the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 to replace the definition of "private mortgage insurance" with a definition of "qualified mortgage insurance" which includes National Housing Act (FHA) mortgage insurance. Amends the National Housing Act to provide for cancellation of single family home mortgage insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2000
Younger Americans Act - Title I: Short Title; Policy; Findings; Definitions - Sets forth a national youth policy to assure that all youth have access to the full array of core resources, including: (1) ongoing relationships with caring adults; (2) safe places with structured activities in which to grow and learn; (3) services that promote healthy lifestyles, including those designed to improve physical and mental health; (4) opportunities to acquire marketable skills and competencies; and (5) opportunities for community service and civic participation. Title II: Coordination of National Youth Policy - Establishes in the Executive Office of the President: (1) the Office of National Youth Policy (the Office); (2) a Director of the Office; and (3) the Council on National Youth Policy within the Office. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Grants for State and Community Programs - Authorizes appropriations for the Associate Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services to make block grant allotments to States for State and community programs for youth to assure access to the five core resources listed in the national youth policy. Provides for reservations of funds for Native American organizations, outlying areas, and Federal discretionary programs to respond to needs of youth in correctional and other out-of-home settings, high poverty areas, rural areas, and other high-risk situations. (Sec. 304) Sets forth requirements for State agencies, planning and mobilization areas, distribution of funds for State activities and local allocations, community boards and area agencies on youth, area plans, grants and contracts to eligible entities, and youth development program activities. Title IV: Training, Research, and Evaluation - Authorizes awarding of grants and contracts to eligible entities for specified evaluation, education and training, research, and dissemination activities. (Sec. 402) Directs the Associate Commissioner to: (1) develop and establish systems for evaluating activities under this Act, and for providing education and training of personnel of States, area agencies, and community boards to work with youth; and (2) conduct an independent biennial evaluation of the impact of programs assisted under this act and other initiatives to promote positive youth development. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2000
Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act - Revises the bloodborne pathogens standard, in effect under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA), to include safer medical devices, such as sharps with engineered sharps injury protections and needleless systems, as examples of engineering controls designed to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens through needlestick and other percutaneous injuries. Requires certain employers to: (1) review and update exposure control plans to reflect changes in technology that eliminate or reduce such exposure, and document their consideration and implementation of appropriate commercially available and effective safer medical devices for such purpose; (2) maintain a sharps injury log, noting the type and brand of device used, where the injury occurred, and an explanation of the incident (exempting employers who are not required to maintain specified OSHA logs); and (3) seek input on such engineering and work practice controls from the affected health care workers (exempting employers who are not required to establish exposure control plans). Requires such modifications of the standard to: (1) be in force until superseded by regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Labor under OSHA; and (2) take effect without regard to specified procedural requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2000
Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation Act - Amends Federal transportation law to require a manufacturer, not later than five days after determining (or after receiving notification that the government of a foreign country has determined) to conduct a safety recall or other safety campaign in a foreign country on a motor vehicle, tire, or motor vehicle equipment that is also offered for sale in the United States, to report such determination to the Secretary of Transportation. Sets forth similar requirements with respect to the reporting of possible defects in such vehicle or equipment that have resulted in a significant number of serious injuries or fatalities in a foreign country. Directs the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to promulgate a rule requiring manufacturers of tires to report periodically to the Administration data on claims submitted to it for personal injury (including death) and property damage from alleged defects in the manufacturer's tires. Declares that a remedy provided without charge by a dealer of new motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment does not apply if such vehicle or replacement equipment was bought by the first purchaser more than eight years, or the tire (including an original equipment tire), was bought by the first purchaser more than five years (currently, three years), before notice of a defect or of noncompliance with motor vehicle safety standards with respect to such equipment is given by the manufacturer to the Secretary or an order is issued by the Secretary with respect to such defect or noncompliance, whichever is earlier. Revises provisions to increase civil penalties for a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer who violates requirements prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or importation of motor vehicles and equipment that do not comply with Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Sets forth a civil penalty for such persons who violate certain inspection, investigation, and records requirements with respect to such standards. Requires the Administrator to conduct a rulemaking to revise and update the tire standard published at 49 CFR 571.109 and 49 CFR 571.119. Authorizes appropriations to the Office of Defects and Investigation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2000
Recognizes the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. Acknowledges the contributions of children with disabilities, their parents, teachers, related services personnel, and administrators. Reaffirms support for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act so that all children with disabilities have access to a free public education.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2000
Veterans Comprehensive Hepatitis C Health Care Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, during the first year after the enactment of this Act, to provide a blood test for the Hepatitis C virus to: (1) each veteran who served on active military duty during the Vietnam era, is enrolled to receive veterans' medical care, and requests such care or is otherwise receiving a physical examination or any other care or treatment from the Secretary; and (2) any other veteran who so requests. Requires the Secretary, after such period, to provide such test to any veteran who presents one or more risk factors for such virus and who requests the test. Requires the Secretary to provide appropriate treatment protocol for any veteran who tests positive, without regard to whether the virus is determined to be service-connected and without regard to the veteran's priority group categorization. Prohibits a copayment from being charged for such treatment. Requires the Secretary to: (1) perform a liver biopsy test on a positive-testing veteran as a follow- up test; (2) upon request, provide a Hepatitis C genotype test before beginning virus treatment; (3) employ at each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center at least one full-time gastroenterologist or hepatologist to conduct such tests; and (4) ensure that each center has at least one staff member assigned to coordinate treatment options and provide information to positive-testing patients. Provides funding for Department Hepatitis C detection and treatment programs, beginning with FY 2001. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement a standardized Department policy with respect to such virus; and (2) annually take appropriate outreach actions to notify untested veterans. Directs the Secretary to establish at least one and no more than three Hepatitis C centers of excellence within the Department health care network. Provides centers' funding.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2000
National Media Campaign to Prevent Underage Drinking Act of 2000 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop, implement, and conduct a national media campaign for the purpose of reducing and preventing underage drinking in the United States. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Mental Health Early Intervention, Treatment, and Prevention Act of 2000 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish programs for the treatment of mental illness. Directs the creation of a national anti-stigma and suicide prevention campaign to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. Provides for award grants to States, their political subdivisions, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to train teachers and school personnel to recognize and respond to symptoms of adolescent mental disorders. Authorizes grants to support the designation of emergency mental health centers. Provides for a program of up to 125 grants to develop programs to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system to community-based services. Establishes grant programs for: (1) reduction of suicide deaths; (2) outreach screening to identify and refer persons with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance abuse disorders; (3) expansion of community-based mental health services; and (4) establishment of centers of excellence on psychological trauma response. Requires establishment, through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, of a research program to determine factors contributing to noncompliance with outpatient treatment plans and to design innovative methods to enhance compliance. Directs the creation of Centers for Excellence in Translational Research, and programs to increase the supply of basic and clinical researchers in the mental health field. Creates a grant program to provide integrated child welfare and mental health services for children and adolescents under age 19 in the child welfare system or at risk of becoming part of the system, and parents or caregivers with mental illness or mental illness and a co-occurring substance abuse disorder. Provides for grants for accredited primary care residency training programs and continuing education programs to identify and refer persons with a mental illness. Establishes a commission to study mental health issues research and develop model State legislation based on such research results. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to direct the Attorney General to make grants for mental health court programs: (1) to provide training of law enforcement and judicial personnel in addressing the unique needs of individuals with a mental illness who come in contact with the criminal justice system; and (2) to coordinate criminal adjudication, supervision, and delivery of mental health treatment for preliminarily qualified individuals. Establishes a mental health screening and treatment grant program for persons in jails and prisons. Directs that grants be made to train State and local law enforcement officers in identification of and resources available to individuals with a mental illness.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2000
Designates the post office and courthouse located at 2 Federal Square, Newark, New Jersey, as the Frank R. Lautenberg Post Office and Courthouse.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2000
Recognizes the importance of youth to the future of the United States. Supports the goals and ideas of American Youth Day. Encourages the people of the United States to participate in local and national activities that seek to fulfill the Five Promises to America's youth, as established by America's Promise--The Alliance for Youth.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2000 - Title I: Amendments to the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to increase benefits to railroad employees and their beneficiaries and to revise financing of the pension part (tier II) of the railroad retirement system. (Sec. 101) Increases benefits for widows and widowers by guaranteeing to them all of the tier II annuity the employee was entitled to at the time of the death. (Sec. 102) Makes employees with 30 years of service eligible to retire at age 60 with unreduced tier I and tier II annuities. Makes spouses of such employees eligible for unreduced annuities at age 60. (Sec. 103) Reduces the vesting requirement for tier II retirement annuities from ten years to five years of service after December 1995. Makes employees with at least five years of such service, but less than ten years of total service, eligible for a tier I disability annuity if their combined railroad retirement and social security earnings credits would satisfy social security eligibility requirements. Makes spouses, divorced spouses, and survivors of employees with at least five years of such service, but less than ten years of total service, eligible for a tier I annuity if they would have been entitled to a social security benefit based on combined service. (Sec. 104) Repeals a limit on the total amount of monthly railroad retirement benefits payable to an employee and spouse at the time the employee's annuity begins. (Sec. 105) Establishes a Railroad Retirement Trust Fund (the Fund) and a Railroad Retirement Investment Trust (RRIT) to manage and invest the assets of the Fund. Declares that RRIT is not an agency, department, or instrumentality of the U.S. Government. Requires RRIT to be administered by a Board of Trustees (the Trustees) with seven members (three representing labor, three representing employers, and one representing the general public) with experience and expertise in the management of financial investments and pension plans. Requires the Trustees to be appointed by a unanimous vote of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Prohibits RRB members from being Trustees. Applies specified reporting requirements and fiduciary standards to the RRIT. Requires the Trustees to diversify investments so as to minimize the risk of large losses. Authorizes the Trustees to invest Fund assets in non-Governmental assets. (Sec. 106) Abolishes the Railroad Retirement Supplemental Annuity Account and provides for transfer of its funds to the Fund. (Sec. 107) Requires the RRB, upon the establishment of the Fund, to determine the portion of the Railroad Retirement Account not needed to pay current administrative expenses and direct the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer that amount into the Fund. Requires the Fund to transfer the necessary amount of funds to pay benefits and related administrative expenses to the disbursing agent. Transfers to the Fund Social Security Equivalent Benefit account funds not needed to pay current benefits, but requires that such funds only be used to pay benefits or to invest in U.S. Government or Government-guaranteed securities. Transfers to the disbursing agent from the Dual Benefit Account the amount necessary to make dual benefit payments. Requires the Trustees to consult with the Secretary of the Treasury to develop an appropriate method for transferring or converting existing account obligations. (Sec. 108) Requires the RRB to calculate the ratio of assets to benefits to determine annual tier II tax rates for employers, employee representatives, and employees. Establishes schedules for: (1) decreasing tax rates if the average account benefits ratio, based on the ratios for the ten most recent fiscal years, is above six; and (2) increasing employer and employee representatives' tax rates if the ratio is below four. Title II: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt the Railroad Retirement Trust Fund (the Fund) from taxation. (Sec. 203) Repeals a supplemental annuity tax that railroad employers pay to finance a benefit for long-time rail employees. (Sec. 204) Provides for adjustments to railroad employers, employee representatives, and employee tier II tax rates. Decreases such rates in 2001 and in 2002 for employers and employee representatives. Provides in the years after 2002 for tax rate schedules, based on the ten-year average account benefit ratio, for employers, employee representatives, and employees.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Federal Property Campaign Fund-raising Reform Act of 2000 - Rewrites provisions of the Federal criminal code regarding Federal political fund-raising activities to: (1) prohibit a person from soliciting or receiving by any means any election contribution in, to, or from any room or building used for the discharge of official duties; (2) extend the exception to the receipt of contributions by persons on the staff of the Executive Office of the President; (3) define "contribution" to mean specified contributions under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and any other gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value which is made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for State or local office, for any Federal, State, district, or local political party, political committee of a political party, or subordinate party or committee thereof, for any political committee or connected organization, or for any person expending funds for the purpose of influencing through advertising, polling, or other means any election for Federal, State, or local office or any ballot initiative; and (4) make such definition applicable to the prohibition against contributions by Federal employees to employers.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2000
Family Opportunity Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) give States the option of allowing families of disabled children to purchase Medicaid coverage for such children; and (2) provide for treatment of inpatient psychiatric hospital services for individuals under age 21 under waivers allowing for payment for part or all of the cost of home or community-based services. Authorizes a State to apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for approval of a demonstration project to provide Medicaid coverage to up to a specified maximum number of children with a potentially severe disability. Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to make appropriations to the Secretary for special projects of regional and national significance for development and support of family-to-family health information centers. Amends SSA title XIX to provide for the restoration of Medicaid eligibility to certain SSI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSA title XVI) beneficiaries under age 21.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2000
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Turkey should: (1) withdraw all its armed forces from the island of Cyprus; and (2) negotiate for the reunification of the Republic of Cyprus on the basis of existing United Nations Security Council resolutions.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2000
Homeowners Rebate Act of 2000 - Amends the National Housing Act to provide for partial rebates to mortgagors of certain Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund surplus reserves. Requires the General Accounting Office to report respecting the adequacy of Fund capital ratios.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2000
John H. Chafee Environmental Education Act of 2000 - Amends the National Environmental Education Act to rename it the John H. Chafee Environmental Education Act (the Act). (Sec. 4) Requires the Office of Environmental Education (OEE), within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to: (1) develop and support balanced and scientifically sound programs; and (2) provide for implementation of the Act through the headquarters and regional offices of the EPA. Eliminates provisions for: (1) OEE administration of environmental internship and fellowship programs (internship programs are eliminated and fellowship program administration is transferred elsewhere later in this Act); (2) an OEE Director who is a member of the Senior Executive Service; and (3) a minimum of six full-time equivalent employees on the OEE headquarters staff (retains the maximum of ten). Authorizes the EPA Administrator to carry out OEE activities directly or through awards of grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts. (Sec. 5) Requires the environmental education and training program funded under the Act to be of sufficient intensity and duration to have a positive and lasting impact on program participants. (Sec. 6) Revises requirements for environmental education grants to authorize design, demonstration, or dissemination of: (1) education and training programs to support the development of more environmentally effective business practices and employees; and (2) employ the environment as an integrating context for education in science, mathematics, social studies and language arts. Requires that 25 percent of program funds be for grants of not more than $10,000 (currently $5,000). Prohibits environmental education grants from being used to support lobbying activities. Requires the EPA Science Advisory Board to review and approve the guidance before the EPA Administrator issues any guidance to grant applicants. (Sec. 7) Directs the EPA Administrator to establish and administer the John H. Chafee Memorial Fellowship Program for the award and administration of five annual one-year graduate education fellowships in environmental sciences. (Eliminates provisions for OEE-administered environmental internships and fellowships.) Provides that such Fellowships are to stimulate innovative graduate level study and the development of expertise in complex, relevant, and important environmental issues and effective approaches to addressing those issues through organized programs of guided independent study and environmental research. Requires each $25,000 Fellowship to be made available to individual candidates to attend a sponsoring institution of higher education through an annual competitive selection process. Requires each Fellowship to focus on: (1) resource management; (2) open space preservation; (3) international environmental issues such as global climate change and sustainable marine resources; or (4) any other environmental issue that a sponsoring institution determines to be appropriate. Directs the National Environmental Education Advisory Council to establish selection process criteria, receive and review applications, and select Fellowship recipients. (Sec. 8) Revises and renames certain national environmental education awards. (Eliminates awards named for Theodore Roosevelt, Henry David Thoreau, Rachel Carson, and Gifford Pinchot.) Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of the EPA Administrator to establish the (renamed) President's Environmental Education Youth Achievement Awards program, for young people in grades six through 12 (currently kindergarten through grade 12). Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality to establish the (renamed) President's Environmental Education Teacher Achievement Awards program, for elementary and secondary school teachers and their local educational agencies (and continues to authorize cash awards under such program). Directs the EPA Administrator to establish a new program of President's Environmental Education Business Achievement Awards, to recognize outstanding achievements by a business or industry in improving business environmental performance through training and education programs. (Sec. 9) Revises requirements for the National Environmental Education Advisory Council and for the Federal Task Force on Environmental Education. Directs the EPA Administrator to appoint to the Advisory Council a representative of the National Environmental Learning Foundation, and up to ten additional members to represent specified sectors of education. Revises requirements for Advisory Council meetings and reports. Opens membership on the Task Force to representatives of any Federal agency actively engaged in environmental education. (Sec. 10) Renames the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation as the National Environmental Learning Foundation. Increases the number of directors on the Foundation's Board. Allows the Foundation to acknowledge receipt of donations by listing the names of donors (including a logo, letterhead, or other commercial symbol) in materials it distributes; but prohibits such acknowledgment from appearing in educational material presented to students. (Sec. 11) Establishes accountability requirements. Directs the EPA Administrator to establish indicators of program quality, meeting specified minimum requirements, for programs and activities funded under the Act (other than fellowship awards). Requires entities that receive grants or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements under the Act (other than fellowship awards) to establish benchmarks of performance on such indicators of program quality and report annually to the EPA Administrator. (Sec. 12) Extends through FY 2006 the authorization of appropriations to EPA to carry out the Act. Allows funds under the Act to be made available to the National Environmental Learning Foundation to match contributions made by private persons and State and local governments.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2000
Money Laundering Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal criminal code (the code) to provide that, for purposes of proving a violation of provisions involving an illegal money transmitting business, it shall be sufficient for the Government to prove that the defendant knew that the business lacked a license required by State law, failed to comply with money transmitting business registration requirements, or both, but it shall not be necessary to show that the defendant knew that the operation of such business without a license or registration was an offense punishable as a felony or misdemeanor. (Sec. 4) Grants the district courts jurisdiction over any foreign person that commits an offense under civil money laundering provisions involving a financial transaction that occurs in the United States, subject to specified requirements. Authorizes the court to issue a pretrial restraining order or take any other action necessary to ensure that any bank account or other property held by the defendant in the United States is available to satisfy a judgment under such provisions. (Sec. 5) Includes a foreign bank within the definition of "financial institution" for purposes of money laundering provisions. (Sec. 6) Expands the definition of "specified unlawful activity" to cover certain listed offenses, including, with respect to a financial transaction occurring in the United States, an offense against a foreign nation involving: (1) a crime of violence; (2) bribery of a public official; (3) smuggling or export control violations involving munitions listed in the United States Munitions List or technologies with military applications; and (4) an offense under which the United States would be obligated by a multilateral treaty either to extradite the alleged offender or to submit the case for prosecution if the offender were found within U.S. territory. Includes within such activity an offense relating to firearms trafficking, computer fraud and abuse, any felony violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, fraud in the purchase of securities, and certain Lacey Act and Clean Air Act violations. Includes burglary and embezzlement within the scope of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. (Sec. 7) Amends the code to: (1) provide for criminal forfeiture for money laundering conspiracies; and (2) authorize a party to request the Clerk of the Court in the district in which a proceeding for civil or criminal forfeiture is pending to issue a subpoena to a financial institution to produce documents. (Sec. 9) Permits: (1) a person who commits multiple violations of money laundering provisions that are part of the same scheme or continuing course of conduct to be charged in a single count; (2) a prosecution for a money laundering offense to be brought in any district in which the financial or monetary transaction is conducted, or where a prosecution for the underlying specified unlawful activity could be brought, if the defendant participated in the transfer of the proceeds of the specified unlawful activity from that district to the district where the financial or monetary transaction is conducted, with an exception; and (3) the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications where there is a violation of provisions dealing with the reporting and illegal structuring of currency transactions. (Sec. 12) Revises the definition of "knowing that the property involved in a financial transaction represents the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity" for purposes of monetary instrument laundering prohibitions to specify that such knowledge shall not require knowing whether or not the unlawful activity constituted a felony. (Sec. 13) Requires that a person asserting an innocent owner defense: (1) to the forfeiture of currency, monetary instruments, or funds (funds) purchased or received from a money broker be a bona fide purchaser for value without reason to know that the funds were subject to forfeiture; and (2) establish that such person took all reasonable affirmative steps to determine the source of the funds, or to verify that the funds were not derived from illegal activity. (Sec. 14) Considers a transaction, transportation, transmission, or transfer of funds to involve the proceeds of specified unlawful activity if it involves: (1) funds directly traceable to the specified unlawful activity; (2) a bank account in which the proceeds of such activity have been commingled with other funds; or (3) two or more bank accounts, where the proceeds of such activity are deposited into one bank account and there is a contemporaneous, related withdrawal from, or debit to, another bank account controlled by the same person or by a person acting in concert with that person. Defines a "monetary transaction in criminally derived property that is of a value greater than $10,000" to include: (1) a monetary transaction involving the transfer, withdrawal, encumbrance, or other disposition of more than $10,000 from a bank account in which more than $10,000 in proceeds of specified unlawful activity have been commingled with other funds; (2) a series of monetary transactions in amounts under $10,000 that exceed $10,000 in the aggregate and that are closely related to each other in terms of time, the identity of the parties involved, the nature of the transactions, and the manner in which they are conducted; and (3) any financial transaction involving two or more bank accounts, where the proceeds of such activity are deposited into one bank account and there is a contemporaneous, related withdrawal from, or debit to, another bank account controlled by the same person that involves more than $10,000 in proceeds of specified unlawful activity. (Sec. 15) Amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to make: (1) current provisions of the Act regarding the taking of depositions under Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure applicable to the extent that the provisions of the Rule are consistent with the purposes for which discovery is conducted under such provisions; and (2) the provisions of Rule 15 requiring the defendant's consent and presence at the deposition inapplicable. (Sec. 16) Authorizes the court to order: (1) that the defendant return property placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court to the court's jurisdiction; and (2) that the defendant repatriate any property subject to forfeiture pending trial and deposit that property in the registry of the court or with the U.S. Marshals Service or the Secretary of the Treasury in an interest-bearing account. Specifies that failure to comply shall be punishable as a civil or criminal contempt of court and may also result in an enhanced sentence for the offense giving rise to the forfeiture. (Sec. 17) Includes within the definition of "specified unlawful activity" providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations. (Sec. 18) Prohibits knowingly concealing, with intent to evade a currency reporting requirement, more than $10,000 in currency or other monetary instruments on an individual's person or in any conveyance, article of luggage, merchandise, or other container and transporting or transferring such currency or monetary instruments from a place within, to a place outside, the United States, or vice versa. Sets penalties for violations. Sets forth forfeiture provisions. Directs the court, upon a showing by the property owner by a preponderance of the evidence that the currency or monetary instruments involved were derived from a legitimate source and were intended for a lawful purpose, to reduce the forfeiture to the maximum amount that is not grossly disproportional to the gravity of the offense. Revises provisions regarding search and forfeiture of monetary instruments to direct the court, in imposing sentence for any violation of specified currency and monetary instrument reporting requirements, or conspiracy to commit such a violation, to order the defendant to forfeit all property involved in the offense and any property traceable thereto. Sets forth provisions regarding procedures governing forfeiture, civil forfeiture, and proportionality of the forfeiture. (Sec. 19) Provides that any person who conceals more than $10,000 in currency in any vehicle or in any compartment or container within any vehicle and transports such currency in interstate commerce on any public road or highway, knowing that the currency was derived from or intended to be used to promote some form of unlawful activity, shall be punished under prohibitions against engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Allows the defendant's knowledge to be established by proof that the defendant was willfully blind to the source or intended use of the currency. (Sec. 20) Subjects to civil forfeiture property involved in a transaction or attempted transaction in violation of Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provisions regarding returns relating to cash received in trade or business (which include provisions regarding cash receipts of more than $10,000) or any property traceable to such property (see also section 27). (Sec. 21) Modifies civil forfeiture provisions to: (1) subject to civil forfeiture any property within U.S. jurisdiction constituting, derived from, or traceable to certain foreign crimes punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and which would be punishable under U.S. law by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year if such conduct had occurred within U.S. jurisdiction, or any property used to facilitate such offense; and (2) authorize the Attorney General or the Secretary to transfer forfeited personal property or proceeds to a foreign country which participated in the seizure or forfeiture of the property if specified conditions are met whenever property is civilly or criminally forfeited under any provision of Federal law. (Sec. 23) Amends the code and the CSA to provide that to the extent that a forfeiture order includes only an in personam money judgment against the defendant, no proceeding with respect to publication of notice of the order, the Government's intent to dispose of the property, and notice to persons known to have alleged an interest in the property shall be necessary. (Sec. 24) Amends CSA criminal forfeiture provisions to provide that: (1) if property subject to criminal forfeiture is already in U.S. custody, it shall not be necessary to seize or restrain the property for the purpose of criminal forfeiture; and (2) upon application of the United States, the court may enter a restraining order or injunction, require the execution of a satisfactory performance bond, or take any other action to preserve the availability of substitute property, subject to specified requirements. (Sec. 26) Includes tribal governments within the definition of a "financial institution" for purposes of Federal record keeping and reporting requirements regarding monetary transactions. (Sec. 27) Transfers from the Internal Revenue Code to other Federal law governing monetary transactions specified reporting requirements relating to coins and currency (in sums of more than $10,000) received in nonfinancial trade or business. (Sec. 28) Provides for civil and criminal penalties for willful violations of orders the Secretary may issue to financial institutions in a geographic area (geographic targeting orders) or other specified regulations. Increases civil and criminal penalties for violations of specified recordkeeping requirements. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and specified monetary law to increase civil and criminal penalties for violation of recordkeeping requirements. (Sec. 29) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include as an excludable alien (i.e., ineligible to receive a visa and be admitted to the United States) any individual who is engaged in money laundering activities, and the spouse, son, or daughter of such individual, subject to specified requirements. Authorizes the Attorney General, upon the request from a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, to waive such provision in the case of an alien witness, potential witness, person cooperating with an investigation into major criminal activity, or an immediate family member or close associate of a witness, potential witness, or person cooperating with such an investigation, if the Attorney General determines that the alien will not pose a danger to the safety of persons or property. (Sec. 30) Includes within the definition of: (1) "financial institution" a bail bondsman for purposes of provisions concerning records and reports on monetary instruments transactions; and (2) "subpoena for records" (for purposes of code provisions regarding obstruction of criminal investigations) a subpoena issued pursuant to Federal judicial code provisions regarding assistance to foreign and international tribunals and to litigants before such tribunals. (Sec. 31) Amends the CSA to provide that an order of criminal forfeiture: (1) may be enforced in the manner provided for the collection and payment of fines under the code, or in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action; and (2) that has been made part of a criminal sentence shall not abate by reason of the death of any or all defendants, petitioners, or potential petitioners, regardless of any appeal that may be pending at the time of death.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2000
Child Support Distribution Act of 2000 - Title I: Distribution of Child Support - Amends title IV part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) modify the rule requiring that a family member assign support rights to the State as a condition for receiving TANF; (2) revise child support payment and distribution guidelines; and (3) mandate that State plans for child and spousal support ban the use of the TANF program to recover Medicaid costs for the birth of a child for whom support rights have been assigned. Title II: Review and Adjustment of Child Support Orders - Requires State plans to prescribe mandatory triennial review and modification of child support orders for TANF recipients, including certification that the child support enforcement program will receive notice of certain families leaving the TANF program. Title III: Expanded Information and Enforcement - Instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to report to the public separate sets of recommendations regarding participation of certain public and private child support enforcement agencies, including privacy safeguards, data security, and due process rights. Subtitle A: State Option to Provide Information and Enforcement Mechanisms to Public Non-IV-D Child Support Enforcement Agencies - Requires State plans for child and spousal support to set forth a State plan option to provide information and enforcement mechanisms to public non-IV-D child support enforcement agencies, including all information in the State Directory of New Hires and information obtained through certain information comparisons. (Sec. 312) Authorizes a State agency implementing such option to use certain enforcement mechanisms, including: (1) Federal tax refund intercepts; (2) reports of arrearages to credit bureaus, (3) passport sanctions; (4) financial institution data matches; and (5) income withholding for unemployment insurance benefits. Subtitle B: State Option to Provide Information and Enforcement Mechanisms to Private Child Support Enforcement Agencies - Requires State plans for child and spousal support to set forth a State plan option to provide the same information and enforcement mechanisms to private child support enforcement agencies as apply to their public non-IV-D child support enforcement agency counterparts. Title IV: Expanded Enforcement - Reduces the amount of child support arrearages that will trigger passport denial. Provides for the use of the tax refund intercept program to collect past-due child support on behalf of children who are not minors. Title V: Fatherhood Programs - Subtitle A: Fatherhood Grant Program - Prescribes requirements for a fatherhood grant program to promote marriage, parenting, and employment building skills. Subtitle B: Fatherhood Projects of National Significance - Instructs the Secretary to award a grant to a nationally recognized, nonprofit fatherhood promotion organization to develop and promote marriage and responsible fatherhood, including a national clearinghouse to disseminate information regarding media campaigns and fatherhood programs. Title VI: Miscellaneous - Instructs the Secretary to: (1) report to certain congressional committees on undistributed child support payments; (2) disclose to a State unemployment compensation agency the putative employer of an individual listed in the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 604) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) declare that nonimmigrant aliens are ineligible to receive visas and excluded from admission for nonpayment of adjudicated child support; and (2) authorize immigration officers to serve an alien applicant for admission to the United States with legal process with respect to any action to enforce or establish a legal obligation to pay child support.. Makes conforming amendments to SSA title IV part A to: (1) reflect these provisions; and (2) authorize the Secretary to share child support enforcement information in order to enforce Immigration and Naturalization law. (Sec. 605) Amends the Welfare-to-Work Grants Program to: (1) correct errors in conforming amendments in the Welfare-to-Work and Child Support Amendments of 1999; and (2) repeal the set-aside of welfare-to-work funds for successful performance bonus. Title VII: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2000
Stamp Out Domestic Violence Act of 2000 - Amends Federal law to require the Postal Service to establish a special rate of postage for first class mail that is up to 25 percent higher than the regular rate as a voluntary alternative that the public may use to contribute to funding for domestic violence programs. Requires collected amounts to be paid to the Department of Justice. Expresses the sense of the Congress that nothing in this Act should: (1) cause a net decrease in total funds received by the Department or any other Federal agency below the level that would have otherwise been received but for this Act's enactment; or (2) affect first-class or other regular postage rates. Requires special postage stamps to be made available to the public. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the operation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2000
Quality Cheese Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration from: (1) using Federal funds to amend specified regulations to include dry ultra-filtered milk or casein in the definition of "milk" or "nonfat milk" as specified in the domestic natural standards for cheese and cheese products; and (2) amending such regulations and definitions to include wet ultra-filtered milk until 60 days after submission of the study required by this Act. Directs the Commissioner, in conjunction with the Secretary of Agriculture, to study the impact of wet ultra-filtered milk's use on dairy farmers.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2000
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the water boundaries established in the 1923 Lausanne Treaty of Peace, the 1932 Convention and Protocol Between Italy and Turkey, and the 1947 Paris Treaty of Peace, under which the Dodecanese islands and adjacent islets were ceded by Italy to Greece, are the borders between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea; and (2) any party, including Turkey, objecting to such boundaries should seek redress in the International Court of Justice at The Hague.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2000
Commends Israel for its decision to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon and for taking risks for peace in the Middle East. Calls upon the United Nations Security Council to: (1) recognize Israel's fulfillment of its obligations under Security Council Resolution 425 and to provide the necessary resources for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to implement its mandate under that resolution; and (2) insist upon the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanese territory. Urges UNIFIL, in cooperation with the Lebanese armed forces, to gain full control over southern Lebanon, including by taking actions to ensure the disarmament of Hezbollah and all other such groups to eliminate all terrorist activity originating from that area. Appeals to the Government of Lebanon to grant clemency and assure the safety and rehabilitation into Lebanese society of all members of the South Lebanon Army and their families. Calls upon the international community to ensure that southern Lebanon does not once again become a staging ground for attacks against Israel and to cooperate in bringing about the reconstruction and reintegration of southern Lebanon. Recognizes Israel's right to defend itself and its people from attack and reasserts U.S. support for maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge to ensure Israel's long-term security. Urges all parties to reenter the peace process with the Government of Israel to bring peace and stability to all the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2000
Child Support Distribution Act of 2000 - Title I: Distribution of Child Support - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to: (1) modify the rule requiring assignment of support rights to the State as a condition for receiving TANF; (2) revise child support payment and distribution guidelines; and (3) mandate that State plans for child and spousal support ban the use of TANF to recover Medicaid costs for the birth of a child for whom support rights have been assigned. (Sec. 101) Amends the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 to accelerate from September 30, 2001, to September 30, 2000, the repeal of hold harmless provisions governing the increased State share of distribution of collected child support. Title II: Review and Adjustment of Child Support Orders - Requires State plans to prescribe mandatory triennial review and update of child support orders for TANF recipients, including certification that the child support enforcement program will receive notice when certain families leave the TANF program. Title III: Expanded Information and Enforcement - Instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make a public report containing separate sets of recommendations regarding participation of certain public and private child support enforcement agencies in child support enforcement, including privacy safeguards, data security, and due process rights. Subtitle A: State Option to Provide Information and Enforcement Mechanisms to Public Non-IV-D Child Support Enforcement Agencies - Requires State plans for child and spousal support to set forth a State plan option to provide information and enforcement mechanisms to public non-IV-D child support enforcement agencies, including all information in the State Directory of New Hires and information obtained through certain information comparisons. (Sec. 312) Authorizes a State agency implementing such option to use certain enforcement mechanisms, including: (1) Federal tax refund intercepts; (2) reports of arrearages to credit bureaus, (3) passport sanctions; (4) financial institution data matches; and (5) use of income withholding for unemployment insurance benefits. Subtitle B: State Option to Provide Information and Enforcement Mechanisms to Private Child Support Enforcement Agencies - Requires State plans for child and spousal support to set forth a State plan option to provide the same information and enforcement mechanisms to private child support enforcement agencies as apply to their public non-IV-D child support enforcement agency counterparts. Title IV: Expanded Enforcement - Decreases the amount of child support arrearage which will trigger passport denial. Sets forth limitations upon garnishment of compensation paid to veterans for service-connected disabilities in order to enforce child support obligations. (Sec. 403) Authorizes use of the tax refund intercept program to collect past-due child support on behalf of children who are not minors. Title V: Fatherhood Programs - Subtitle A: Fatherhood Grant Program - Sets forth the parameters of a fatherhood grant program to promote marriage, parenting and employment building skills. Subtitle B: Fatherhood Projects of National Significance - Instructs the Secretary to award a grant to a nationally recognized, nonprofit fatherhood promotion organization to develop and promote marriage and responsible fatherhood, including a national clearinghouse to disseminate information regarding media campaigns and fatherhood programs. Title VI: Financing - Amends the Welfare-to-Work Grants Program to repeal the set-aside of welfare-to-work funds for successful performance bonus. Title VII: Miscellaneous - Instructs the Secretary to: (1) report to certain congressional committees on undistributed child support payments; and (2) disclose to a State unemployment compensation agency the putative employer of an individual listed in the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 704) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) declare that nonimmigrant aliens are ineligible to receive visas and excluded from admission for nonpayment of adjudicated child support; and (2) authorize immigration officers to serve an alien applicant for admission to the United States with legal process with respect to any action to enforce or establish a legal obligation to pay child support. Makes conforming amendments to the TANF program to authorize the Secretary to share child support enforcement information to enforce Immigration and Naturalization law. (Sec. 705) Amends the Welfare-to-Work Grants Program to correct errors in conforming amendments in the Welfare-to-Work and Child Support Amendments of 1999. Title VIII: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2000
Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act - Prohibits any person engaged in a gambling business from knowingly accepting in connection with the participation of another person in Internet gambling: (1) credit, or the proceeds of credit, extended to another (including credit card extension of credit); (2) an electronic fund transfer or funds transmitted by or through a money transmitting business, or the proceeds of an electronic fund transfer or money transmitting service, from or on behalf of another; (3) any instrument drawn by or on behalf of another and payable through any financial institution; or (4) the proceeds of any other form of financial transaction involving a financial institution as payor or financial intermediary for another. (Sec. 3) Prescribes judicial guidelines under which the Federal district courts exercise exclusive jurisdiction to prevent or restrain violations of this Act. Provides for civil and criminal penalties, including a permanent injunction against wagering. Shields certain financial intermediaries from liability for either unknowing involvement or unknowing use of their facilities in: (1) any credit transaction, electronic fund transfer, or money transmitting service; or (2) drawing, paying, transferring, or collecting a check or draft instrument. Cites exceptions for knowing participation in a gambling business. (Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Federal government, in deliberations with another country on money laundering, corruption, and crime issues, should encourage enactment and enforcement of laws to prevent Internet gambling and the use of financial payment and transfer systems to facilitate such gambling. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of each international financial institution to oppose any loan, disbursement, or other utilization of resources by such institution, other than to address basic human needs, for any country that the Secretary determines: (1) permits a high level of participation in, and the use of the financial payment and transfer systems to facilitate, Internet gambling by U.S. citizens and residents; and (2) is not effectively implementing measures to limit such participation and systems use. (Sec. 5) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to provide that if an appropriate Federal banking agency determines that an insured depository institution is engaged in activities proscribed under this Act, such agency may issue an injunction against the violator.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2000
Declares that Federal funding for diabetes research should be increased in accordance with the recommendations of the Diabetes Research Working Group so that a cure for juvenile diabetes can be found.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2000
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Health Care Financing Administration should: (1) consider the unique nature of the emergency medical services (EMS) delivery system in New Jersey when implementing new reimbursement guidelines for paramedics and hospitals under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; and (2) promote innovative EMS systems enacted by States that reduce reimbursement costs to the Medicare program while ensuring that all residents receive quick and appropriate emergency care when needed.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2000
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should: (1) continue to actively support the objectives of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) with regard to combating international money laundering; (2) support the public release of the list naming noncooperative jurisdictions identified by the FATF; (3) exhort the adoption of necessary international action to encourage compliance by the identified noncooperative jurisdictions; and (4) take necessary countermeasures to protect the U.S. economy against money of unlawful origin and encourage other nations to do the same. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the FATF should identify noncooperative jurisdictions expeditiously and publicly release a list directly naming them.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2000
Extends condolences to the family of His Eminence John Cardinal O'Connor and to the Archdiocese of New York upon his death. Recognizes with appreciation and respect his commitment to and example of faith, love, respect, and dignity for all mankind.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
National Science Education Act - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (NSFA) to establish and expand programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education. (Sec. 3) Provides that nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize any Federal department, agency, officer, or employee to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution or school system. (Sec. 4) Requires the NSF Director to make grants to State or local educational agencies (SEAs or LEAs) or private elementary or middle schools to hire master teachers. Requires grant applicants to describe their requirements for master teachers and how professional development will be integrated with their mathematics or science program. Requires such master teachers to: (1) provide support for not more than ten teachers at public and private schools in mathematics, science, engineering, or technology programs for students in kindergarten through the eighth grade; and (2) be responsible for in-classroom assistance and oversight of hands-on inquiry materials, equipment, and supplies, including supplying and repairing such materials. Requires such grants to be made out of funds available for the NSF for Education and Human Resources Activities. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Director to make competitive grants to secondary school and college students working with university faculty, software developers, and experts in educational technology, or to such faculty, developers, and experts working with such students, to develop high-quality educational software and Internet web sites. Requires the Director to: (1) designate official judges to recognize outstanding educational software and Internet web sites, developed with such assistance, that focus on core curriculum areas; (2) issue a certificate signed by the President and Director to each student and faculty member who develops such recognized software and sites; and (3) give priority to awarding grants to develop such software or sites in the areas of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology. (Sec. 6) Establishes in NSF a working group to review and coordinate regular and supplemental curricula in kindergarten through the 12th grade for science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. (Sec. 7) Requires the Director, subject to appropriations, to make demonstration project grants to eligible LEAS, which may use such funds to: (1) develop an information technology program that builds or expands mathematics, science, and information technology curricula; (2) purchase equipment necessary to establish such program; and (3) provide professional development in such fields. Requires such LEAs to enter into conditional agreements with representatives of the private sector which will participate by providing services and funds, including: (1) donating computer hardware and software; (2) establishing internship and mentoring opportunities for student participants in such program; and (3) donating higher education scholarship funds for eligible students who have participated in such program. Sets forth requirements for program applications, guidelines, assessment, study, and report. Authorizes appropriations to NSF for such program. Limits the maximum amount of such a grant award to any eligible LEA. (Sec. 8) Requires the Director, with the Secretary of Education, to compile and disseminate information on: (1) standard prerequisites for middle school and high school students who seek to enter a course of study at an institution of higher education in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology education for purposes of teaching in an elementary or secondary school; and (2) the licensing requirements in each State for science, mathematics, engineering, or technology elementary or secondary school teachers. (Sec. 9) Requires the Director to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for NAS to compile and evaluate studies on the effectiveness of technology in the classroom on learning and student performance, as measured by State standardized tests. Authorizes appropriations to NSF for such study-evaluation. (Sec. 10) Requires the Director to establish a grant program under which grants may be made for instruction of teachers for grades kindergarten through the 12th grade in the use of technology in the classroom. (Sec. 11) Authorizes the Director to award grants to assist States in reaching the goal of making all middle school graduates technology-literate. Requires such grants to be used for teacher training in technology, with an emphasis on programs that prepare one or more teachers in each middle school in the State to become technology leaders who then serve as experts and train other teachers. Requires States to encourage schools that receive such assistance to provide matching funds. (Sec. 12) Requires the Director to convene, as the National Science Education Forum, a conference of representatives from Federal, State, and local governments, private industries, professional organizations, educators, science, mathematics, engineering, and technology educational resource providers, students, and other stakeholders. (Sec. 13) Authorizes the Director to make grants to SEAs or LEAs or private elementary, middle, or secondary schools, under any grant program administered by the Director using funds appropriated for the NSF for Education and Human Resources Activities, for activities in which distance learning is integrated into the education process in kindergarten through the 12th grade. (Sec. 14) Requires the Director to make available through the Internet at no cost a complete field-test version of any curricular program for which the NSF provided development funds. (Sec. 15) Directs the President, acting through the NSF, to provide scholarships to teachers at public and private schools in kindergarten through the 12th grade to participate in Federal, State, or private research programs. Requires the Director to establish an Internet web site which may be used by students and teachers participating in such program to incorporate research knowledge and techniques into the educational process.