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United States · Official source
1,062 records where Rep. Schaffer, Bob [R-CO-4] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2000
Installment Tax Correction Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (as amended by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999) to repeal revisions to the Code (made by the Act) which repealed the use of the installment method of accounting for accrual method taxpayers and modified the pledge rules of installment obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2000
Amends the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to: (1) delete a provision which included modification costs resulting from the nonperformance of reasonable dam structure maintenance as project costs reimbursable to the operating entity; (2) make reimbursable with respect to additional funds authorized to be appropriated by amendments made to the Act in 2000 costs incurred in the modification of structures resulting from new hydrologic or seismic data or changes in dam safety criteria; (3) include as reimbursable those costs allocated to irrigation without regard to the water users' ability to pay; (4) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to pay reimbursable costs pursuant to a repayment contract at any time prior to completion of construction; (5) extend through FY 2000 the authorization of appropriations for the above costs; and (6) decrease from 60 to 30 days after the Secretary has submitted a report on an existing dam the required waiting period before funds can be obligated to carry out actual construction to modify such dam.
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 · 8 February 2000
ADA Notification Act - Amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to deny a court jurisdiction over a civil action with respect to a place of public accommodation or a commercial facility unless: (1) before filing the complaint, the plaintiff provided to the defendant notice of the alleged violation (by registered mail or in person); (2) the notice identified the specific facts that constitute the alleged violation, including identification of the location at which, and the date on which, the violation occurred; (3) at least 90 days have elapsed after the date on which the notice was so provided; (4) the notice informed the defendant that the civil action could not be commenced until the expiration of such 90-day period; and (5) the complaint states that, as of the date on which the complaint is filed, the defendant has not corrected the alleged violation. Directs that, with respect to a civil action that does not meet the criteria: (1) the court shall impose an appropriate sanction upon the attorneys involved; and (2) if the criteria are subsequently met and the civil action proceeds, the court may not allow the plaintiff attorneys' fees or costs.
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 · 3 February 2000
Social Security Right To Know Act - Amends the Social Security Act to require a certain annual report by the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Funds on the operation and status of such Funds to include information on: (1) the unfunded long-term projected liability of the social security system and any change in such amount from the preceding year as well as the deficit or surplus that the system will run in the last year of the long-term projection period, with any aggregate assets or liabilities held by the Trust Funds in that final projected year; and (2) the economic model and relevant data used to make such projections. Requires social security account statements to contain: (1) a comparison of the annual social security tax inflows to the amount paid in benefits annually and a statement whether the ratio will result in a cash flow deficit and what year such deficit will commence as well as the first year in which funds in the Trust Funds will cease to be sufficient to cover the deficit and the percentage of benefits due at that time that could be paid from annual tax inflows; and (2) an explanation of the average rate of return that a taxpayer can expect to receive on old- age insurance benefits as compared to the total amount of social security taxes a taxpayer expects to pay. Makes Social Security Administration Continuous Work History Sample data publicly available for statistical research purposes subject to certain limitations.
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 · 31 January 2000
Supports the goals of Catholic Schools Week and congratulates Catholic schools, students, parents, and teachers for their contributions to education.
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 · 27 January 2000
Home Office Protection Enhancement Act - Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to make the Act inapplicable to employment performed in a workplace which is located in the employee's residence.
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
Home Workplace Preservation Act of 2000 - Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to make the Act inapplicable to employment performed in a workplace which is located in the employee's residence.
United States · United States Congress · 22 November 1999
Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection Act - Amends title IV of the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for the establishment and operation of a national sanctuary system for all surplus federally owned chimpanzees that are no longer needed in research conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, or other Federal agencies. Mandates that any surplus chimpanzee that is not owned by the Federal Government be accepted into the system if the owner transfers title to the chimpanzee to the sanctuary system. Provides for standards for permanent retirement of chimpanzees into the system. Requires such standards to empower the Secretary to authorize imposition of a fee (except in certain circumstances) for accepting a non-Federal chimpanzee into the system. Directs the Secretary to contract with a nonprofit private entity to establish and operate the system. Provides for funding. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants or contracts for the operation of facilities that provide for the retirement of chimpanzees in accordance with the same standards that apply to the sanctuary system.
United States · United States Congress · 22 November 1999
Amends provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to extend the same public safety officer survivor tax benefits to survivors of officers killed in the line of duty before December 31, 1996, as are available to the survivors of officers killed after such date.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1999
Ukrainian American Veterans Charter Act - Grants a Federal charter to the Ukrainian American Veterans, Incorporated (a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York).
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress: (1) commends States and localities, and in particular the Decatur School Board, in their efforts to combat school-based violence, including qualified zero-tolerance policies for violent actions; and (2) urges continued diligence in efforts to create a safe learning environment for our Nation's youth.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a biennial budget process should be enacted in the second session of the 106th Congress.
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 · 10 November 1999
Authorizes the American Battle Monuments Commission to place within the Vietnam Veterans Memorial a plaque to honor those Vietnam veterans who died after service in the Vietnam War, but as a direct result of such service, and whose names are not otherwise eligible for placement on the Memorial wall.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
State's and Parental Rights Improvement Act of 2000 - Prohibits, notwithstanding any other provision of law, considering a State to have violated any term or condition of any Federal health care grant-in-aid program by requiring the consent or notification of a parent or guardian regarding dispensing a prescription drug or device (or any class of drugs or devices specified by the State) to a minor.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1999
Social Security Number Confidentiality Act of 1999 - Amends Federal law, with respect to general authority to issue checks and other drafts, to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to take necessary action to ensure that Social Security account numbers (including derivatives of such numbers) are not visible on or through unopened mailings of Government checks or other drafts.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1999
International Extradition Enforcement Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to Congress on efforts between the United States and a government of a foreign country to extradite to the United States an individual being held in custody by such government and whom the United States: (1) has charged with a major extraditable offense; (2) has found guilty of committing a major extraditable offense; or (3) is seeking to extradite to complete a judicially pronounced penalty of deprivation of liberty for a major extraditable offense. Defines "major extraditable offense" as murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnaping, abduction, or other false imprisonment, or rape. Prohibits the provision of development and security assistance to, or the issuance of a visa to any alien who is a high-ranking official of, a government of a country uncooperative in extradition efforts with the United States. Provides for the waiver of such prohibitions if it is in the vital national interests of the United States. Directs the Attorney General to establish procedures under which a State, which is requesting extradition of one or more individuals from a foreign country failing to comply with such request, may file a formal complaint with the Attorney General for purposes of determining whether or not such country has failed to extradite to the United States during the preceding two- year period five or more individuals (involving unrelated extradition requests) in accordance with this Act. Amends Federal criminal law to increase the criminal penalty for individuals who flee to avoid prosecution or give testimony in the United States. Imposes both civil and criminal penalties for persons who knowingly transfer from the United States anything of value to a person in a foreign country with the intent to assist such person in resisting extradition to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should exercise oversight responsibilities and conduct hearings, and take appropriate steps if necessary, concerning private companies that are involved in the trafficking of baby body parts for profit.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1999
Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to exclude from the definition of "employee," with regard to employment in the United States, an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1999
Common Sense Protections for Endangered Species Act - Title I: Improving Scientific Integrity of Listing Decisions and Procedures - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) to require the Secretary of Commerce or the Interior, as appropriate: (1) to accord greater weight and preference to empirical data rather than extrapolations developed through modeling, when making determinations as to whether a species is endangered or threatened; and (2) consider the future conservation benefits to be provided to the species under species conservation plans or management or conservation agreements in making such determinations. Directs the Secretary to promulgate scientifically valid standards for rendering taxonomic determinations of species and subspecies. Requires such standards to provide that to be eligible for determination as a subspecies under the Act, a subspecies must be reproductively isolated from other subspecific population units and constitute an important component in the evolutionary legacy of the species. Expands provisions which allow petitions for proposed additions to, or removals from, endangered or threatened lists to authorize petitions for changing a species status from a previous determination with respect to such lists. Sets forth minimum requirements for information to be provided by petitions, including: (1) descriptions of available data on the historical and current range, population, and distribution of the species; (2) scientific evidence that the species population is declining or has declined from historic population levels; (3) appraisals of available data on the threats to the species or the causes of its decline; (4) an identification of information contained in the petition that has been peer-reviewed or field-tested; and (5) the reason that the petitioned action is warranted. Sets forth requirements for notification of State Governors and affected tribes to solicit advice as to whether the petitioned action is warranted. Provides for peer review of any determination that an action is warranted if it is in direct conflict with information submitted by a Governor or tribe. Permits any person to intervene as a matter of right in suits under judicial review upon demonstrating that a determination to list a species will have a direct economic effect on the person. Prohibits the Secretary from making a determination that a species is threatened or endangered in a State if a Governor or a tribe provides scientific evidence that a determination is not warranted, unless the Secretary shows by a preponderance of scientific evidence that the information submitted by the State or tribe is incorrect. Requires a public meeting to be held in each State that would be affected by a proposed regulation regarding endangered or threatened species, at the request of any person. Limits the total number of meetings to five. Requires proposed regulations to implement endangered or threatened species determinations to be based on peer-reviewed scientific information that has been, to the maximum extent feasible, verified by field testing. Directs the Secretary, concurrently with a determination that a species warrants listing, to publish an analysis of the economic, social, and other public health, safety, and welfare effects the listing may have. (Sec. 102) Replaces provisions regarding recovery plans with those setting forth requirements for scientific peer review of proposed actions to list a species, remove a species from the list, designate, or revise the designation of, critical habitat, propose alternatives, or establish mitigation obligations. (Sec. 103) Makes data or information considered by the Secretary in making the determination to list subject to the Freedom of Information Act unless the Secretary determines that the information must be kept confidential. Bars the Secretary from publicly disclosing the location of particular private property as habitat for an endangered or threatened species unless the property owner is notified first and consents or the information is otherwise public. Title II: Complying With All Federal Laws and Missions - Authorizes Federal agencies implementing land use or land and resource management plans to authorize, fund, or carry out a site-specific ongoing or previously scheduled action prior to completing consultation with the Secretary if no consultation is required or the Secretary issues a biological opinion and the action satisfies relevant requirements. Requires Federal agencies, upon determining that duties under other Federal laws conflict with those under the ESA, to request the President to resolve the conflict. Authorizes Federal agencies to proceed with proposed actions if consultation is not concluded and the Secretary fails to provide a required statement by the applicable deadline. Provides for the participation of persons who have sought authorization or funding subject to consultation in consultation proceedings. Bars permit or license applicants subject to consultation requirements regarding endangered or threatened species from being subject to new or additional requirements for the specific protection of any species beyond those identified in the Secretary's original statement. (Sec. 202) Permits consultation to be waived by a Federal agency, in response to a natural event or other emergency, for the repair or maintenance of a natural gas pipeline, hazardous liquid pipeline, flood control facility, or electrical distribution transmission or substation facility if the repair or maintenance is necessary to address an imminent threat to human lives or a significant threat to the environment. (Sec. 203) Replaces provisions regarding the Endangered Species Committee (established for the purpose of granting exemptions to consultation requirements) with those authorizing the Secretary to grant exemptions for reasons of national security and the President to grant exemptions for major disaster areas, subject to certain conditions. Eliminates specified requirements for exemptions and judicial review under consultation provisions. Title III: Permitting and Enforcement - Describes conditions under which an activity of a non-Federal person is not a taking of a species, including if it: (1) addresses a critical threat to public health or safety or a natural event; or (2) is incidental to carrying out an otherwise lawful activity such as maintenance, use, or repair of pipelines, flood control facilities, fire breaks, transmission and distribution lines, specified water facilities, and roads and rights-of-way or certain emergency repair. (Sec. 302) Revises provisions regarding citizen suits to permit civil suits by injured parties to enjoin the United States if the violation poses immediate and irreparable harm to a threatened or endangered species. (Current law authorizes suits to enjoin any person alleged to be in violation of the Act.) (Sec. 303) Revises provisions regarding incidental take permits, adding deadlines and administrative requirements for the Secretary on permit actions. Provides that no additional measures to minimize and mitigate impacts on a species that is the subject of such a permit shall be required of a permittee that is in compliance with the permit. Bars any additional restrictions on land or water under the permit without the permittee's consent. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring, as a condition of an incidental take permit, that a permittee for a public project take any measures to minimize or mitigate impacts of a taking: (1) if the costs of implementing such measures will exceed ten percent of the total project costs; or (2) for any activity that occurred prior to the date of permit issuance. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into "safe harbor" agreements with non-Federal persons to benefit the conservation of endangered or threatened species by creating, restoring, or improving habitat or by maintaining currently unoccupied habitat; and (2) provide a grant of up to $10,000 to any individual private landowner to assist the landowner in carrying out such an agreement. Title IV: Recovery Planning - Requires the Secretary, on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available, to develop and implement plans for the conservation and recovery of endangered and threatened species unless a plan will not promote the conservation of the species or an existing plan or strategy for conservation already serves as the functional equivalent of such plan. Gives priority to plans that: (1) address significant and immediate threats to the survival of a species, have the greatest likelihood of achieving species recovery, and will benefit species that are more taxonomically distinct; (2) address multiple species that are dependent on the same habitat as the endangered or threatened species; (3) reduce conflicts with construction, development projects, jobs, agriculture, private property, or other economic activities; and (4) reduce conflicts with military training and operations. Establishes deadlines for the publication of draft and final recovery plans. Sets forth requirements for: (1) recovery teams appointed to develop recovery plans; and (2) recovery plans, including objective, measurable benchmarks to determine whether progress is being made toward the biological recovery goal recommended by the team. Establishes deadlines for the Secretary's review of existing and future plans. Provides for revision of plans if new information indicates that recovery goals will not achieve conservation and recovery. Revises provisions regarding designations of critical habitat. Authorizes the Secretary to designate critical habitat concurrently with the determination that a species is endangered or threatened if such designation is essential to avoid imminent extinction. Sets forth conditions under which States may develop recovery plans. Requires the Secretary to establish the Office of Species Recovery in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to: (1) provide support services to recovery teams to develop recovery plans; (2) seek the recovery of all endangered or threatened species; (3) make all determinations to remove a species from a list; and (4) assist in the designation of critical habitat. Title V: Miscellaneous - Authorizes appropriations to the Departments of the Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture to carry out the ESA.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1999
Amends rule XXI (restrictions on certain bills) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the consideration of a bill, joint resolution, amendment, or conference report that provides for the designation or redesignation of any building, highway, or other structure in honor of an individual who is serving as a Member of Congress.
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 · 7 October 1999
Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to require the appointment of the Chief of the Forest Service by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from persons who have substantial experience and demonstrated competence in forest land management and natural resources conservation.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Federal Government has a responsibility to continue to increase diabetes research funding, endeavor to raise awareness of the importance of the early detection and proper treatment, and consider ways to improve access to, and the quality of, health care services for diagnosing and treating diabetes; (2) all Americans should take an active role in fighting diabetes by using all the means available; and (3) national and community organizations and health care providers should endeavor to promote awareness of diabetes and its complications, and encourage early detection.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1999
Supports National Civility Week, Inc., in its efforts to restore civility, honesty, integrity, and respectful consideration in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1999
Federal Telephone Abuse Reduction Act of 1999 - Directs the Bureau of Prisons to implement and follow recommendations contained in the report entitled "Criminal Calls: A Review of the Bureau of Prisons' Management of Inmate Telephone Privileges" made by the Inspector General of the Department of Justice in August of 1999. Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to establish, operate, and maintain commissaries in Federal penal or correctional facilities, from and through which articles and services authorized by the Director may be procured, sold, rendered, or otherwise provided or made available for the benefit of inmates. Establishes in the Treasury the Prison Commissary Fund. Transfers to the Fund sums currently on deposit in the Treasury's "Commissary funds, Federal prisons" account. Requires: (1) revenues received from the sale of articles through, and from services rendered by, prison commissaries to be deposited into the Fund; and (2) the Fund to be available for the payment of any expenses incurred by the Bureau in establishing, operating, and maintaining prison commissaries. Authorizes the Director to use amounts from the Fund for any purpose that benefits the general welfare of inmates (but no inmate shall be entitled to any portion of the Fund). Specifies that employees compensated by or through the Fund may be assigned additional duties other than those directly related to commissary activities. Makes the Administrative Procedure Act inapplicable to the making of any determination, decision, or order under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1999
Russian Economic Restoration and Justice Act of 1999 - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to use the U.S. vote to urge the IMF to: (1) not provide any assistance to the Russian Federation government until there is in effect a Russian federal law that implements specified economic reforms; and (2) provide assistance to the Russian Federation only to aid in implementation of such reforms. Establishes a Russian-American financial oversight commission to monitor the use of Western resources in Russia. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) there should be established joint United States-Russian business, economics, and agricultural education programs in which Russian Federation students on completion of their studies in the United States be required to return to the Russian Federation and work for the federal or regional government in Russia; and (2) the United States and the government of the Russian Federation should create a program which would link successful U.S. business leaders with their Russian Federation counterparts so that Russian Federation companies will be better able to access a pool of resources and knowledge to assist them in their transition to successfully competing in a market-based economy. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at the IMF to use the U.S. vote to urge the IMF to create a commission, composed of prominent international financial experts, to draw up recommendations for reforming the IMF, with a view to achieving more transparency in the structures of the IMF and increasing the effectiveness of its programs while decreasing financial risk. Establishes a pilot housing loan program (to be administered through a nonprofit corporation) in which the average Russian citizen may attain affordable home ownership.
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 · 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
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 · 23 September 1999
Declares it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the House should: (1) not consider legislation that would spend any of the social security surplus; (2) resist any effort to spend the on-budget surplus should Congress and the administration not reach an agreement on the issue of taxes; and (3) continue to pursue efforts to continue to reduce the $3.618 trillion in debt held by the public.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1999
Sudan Peace Act - Declares that Congress: (1) condemns violations of human rights on all sides of the conflict in Sudan (including the Government of Sudan), the ongoing slave trade there, and the Government's increasing use and organization of "murahalliin", Popular Defense Forces (PDF), and regular Sudanese Army units into raiding and slaving parties in Bahr al Ghazal, the Nuba Mountains, Upper Nile, and Blue Nile regions; and (2) recognizes that the use of raiding and slaving parties is a tool for creating food shortages as a systematic means to destroy the societies, culture, and economies of the Dinka and Nuba peoples in a policy of low-intensity ethnic cleansing. (Sec. 5) Expresses the sense of Congress that it: (1) declares its support for the efforts by U.S. executive branch officials to lead in a reinvigoration of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-sponsored peace process; (2) calls on IGAD member states, the European Union, the Organization of African Unity, Egypt, and other key states to support such process; (3) urges Kenya's leadership in the implementation of the process; and (4) views any such diplomatic efforts toward resolution of the conflict in Sudan are best made through IGAD and that the President must not create any process which could be viewed as a parallel or competing diplomatic track. Authorizes the Secretary of State to utilize Department of State personnel for the support of: (1) the secretariat of IGAD; (2) the ongoing negotiations between the Government of Sudan and opposition forces; (3) any peace settlement planning to be carried out by the National Democratic Alliance and IGAD Partners' Forum (IPF); and (4) other U.S. diplomatic efforts with respect to Sudan. (Sec. 6) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President, acting through the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, should take specified actions to increase pressure on the combatants involved in the war in Sudan. (Sec. 7) Imposes certain trade and financial sanctions against Sudan, subject to waiver on national security grounds, until the President determines, and certifies to Congress, that it has: (1) fully committed to and has made progress toward a peaceful solution to the war or has otherwise committed in a good faith effort with both northern and southern opposition toward a solution to the conflict based on the Declaration of Principles reached in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 20, 1994; (2) made substantial progress in controlling the raiding and slaving activities of all regular and irregular forces, including PDF and other militias and murahalliin; (3) instituted reforms with regard to providing basic human and civil rights to all Sudanese; and (4) ceased aerial bombardment of civilian targets. Declares that it is the sense of Congress that such sanctions should be applied to include the sale of stocks in the United States or to any U.S. person, wherever located, or any other form of financial instruments or derivatives, in support of a commercial, industrial, public utility, or government project or transaction in or with Sudan. (Sec. 8) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should organize and maintain a formal consultative process with the European Union, the United Nations Security Council, and other relevant parties on coordinating an effort within the UN to revise the terms of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) to end the Government of Sudan's veto power over OLS plans for air transport relief flights. (Sec. 9) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should continue to increase the use of non- OLS agencies in the distribution of relief supplies in southern Sudan. (Sec. 10) Directs the President to develop and report to Congress on a contingency plan to provide, outside UN auspices, the greatest amount of U.S. Government and privately donated relief to all affected areas in Sudan, including the Nuba Mountains, Upper Nile, and Blue Nile, in the event the Government of Sudan imposes a ban on OLS air transport relief flights. (Sec.11) Supports the President's ongoing efforts to diversify and increase effectiveness of U.S. assistance to populations in areas of Sudan outside of the control of the Government of Sudan, especially the long-term focus shown in the Sudan Transition Assistance for Rehabilitation (STAR) program with its emphasis on promoting democracy, self-reliance, and actively supporting people-to- people reconciliation efforts. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 12) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should assess the humanitarian needs in the Nuba Mountains, Red Sea Hills, and Blue Nile regions of Sudan, and respond appropriately to those needs. (Sec. 13) Authorizes the President, for purposes of minimizing diversions of food assistance and to insulate noncombatants and the relief operations which serve them from combatants in areas outside the control of the Government of Sudan, to provide such assistance directly to the National Democratic Alliance or other groups engaged in the protection of civilian populations from attacks from regular government forces, associated militias, or other paramilitary groups supported by the Government of Sudan. Sets forth certain limits on, and eligibility requirements with, such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1999
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. Government should: (1) request that the new Government of Panama, under the leadership of President Mireya Moscoso, nullify the lease agreements for the Balboa and the Cristobal port facilities on each end of the Panama Canal and initiate a new bidding process that is both transparent and fair; (2) request that the new Government of Panama investigate charges of corruption related to the granting of the Panama Canal port leases by the previous Balladares administration; and (3) negotiate security arrangements with the Government of Panama that will protect the canal and ensure the territorial integrity of the Republic of Panama.
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 · 14 September 1999
Seniors' Health Care Freedom Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with regard to the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries to eliminate the requirement that non-Medicare physicians and practitioners file affidavits pledging they will not file any Medicare claims for two years with respect to the Medicare beneficiaries with whom they contract.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1999
Federal Lands Improvement Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to dispose of all public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that, as of the enactment date of this Act, have been identified for disposal under the Federal land use planning process under the Federal Land Policy and Management of 1976. Requires the disposal of at least one- third of such lands before the end of the next three years, two-thirds before the end of the next five years, and all such lands within seven years. Prohibits the disposal of: (1) lands located in wilderness areas or wilderness study areas; and (2) parcels of land if the cost of disposal exceeds the amount that would be received for such parcels. Requires the disposal of such public lands in parcels of 160 acres or less. Requires one-third of the proceeds to be deposited in a separate account established by this Act, one-third to be paid to the county in which the lands are located, and one-third to be deposited in the Treasury's general fund and utilized for reducing the public debt. Requires the separate account to be available to the Secretary for paying, subject to specified limitations: (1) costs incurred by the BLM in arranging the disposals; (2) the cost of acquisition from a willing seller of environmentally sensitive land in States in which such public lands are located ; (3) the cost of carrying out any necessary revision or amendment of a current BLM land use plan that relates to such public lands; (4) the cost of projects or programs to restore or protect wetlands, riparian areas, or cultural, historic, prehistoric, or paleontological resources on public lands, including petroglyphs; and (5) the cost of projects, programs, or land acquisition to stabilize or restore water quality for water located or used on public lands. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress each fiscal year on the use of such proceeds.
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
Wildland Firefighters Pay Equity Act of 1999 - Amends Federal Civil Service provisions regarding the computation of overtime pay to provide that: (1) the overtime hourly rate of pay for U.S. Forest Service employees in the Departments of Agriculture and Interior engaged in emergency wildland fire suppression is an amount equal to one and one-half times the hourly rate of such employees' basic pay, whether such pay falls below, equals, or exceeds the minimum rate of basic pay for GS-10; and (2) all that amount is premium pay.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Kristen's Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to public agencies or nonprofit private organizations, or combinations thereof, for programs to: (1) assist law enforcement and families in locating missing adults; (2) maintain a national, interconnected database for the purpose of tracking missing adults who are determined by law enforcement to be endangered due to age, diminished mental capacity, or the circumstances of disappearance, when foul play is suspected or circumstances are unknown; (3) maintain statistical information of adults reported as missing; (4) provide informational resources and referrals to families of missing adults; (5) assist in public notification and victim advocacy related to missing adults; and (6) establish and maintain a national clearinghouse for missing adults. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Home Page Tax Repeal Act - Repeals a provision of the 1998 Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act which ratified that a portion of the fee charged for registration or renewal of an Internet second-level domain name be used for the preservation and enhancement of the Internet intellectual structure under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. States that such provision is not repealed to the extent of its application to amounts, collected pursuant to the authority of such provision, that have been obligated for expenditure before the date of the enactment of this Act. Treats each person who registered (or renewed the registration of) an Internet second-level domain name with Network Solutions, Inc. after September 13, 1995, and before April 1, 1998, and who paid a fee to Network Solutions, Inc. for such registration (or renewal) which has not been refunded, as having made a payment against the tax imposed by chapter 1 (Normal Taxes and Surtaxes) of the Internal Revenue Code for such person's first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1998, equal to 30 percent of the amount of such fee.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area Establishment Act - Title I: Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area - Establishes the Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area in Arizona. (Sec. 103) Requires the administration of the conservation area to be exercised by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management. Prohibits the Secretary from using the National Park Service or the Fish and Wildlife Service to administer the Conservation Area or to include the area as a unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System, except by express congressional authorization. Requires the Secretary to prepare a management plan for administration and use of the conservation area. Establishes the Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area Advisory Committee to advise on the preparation and implementation of the management plan. (Sec. 104) Provides that the designation of the conservation area shall not be construed to alter the existing authorized uses or rights to use Federal lands included in the area. Treats a land use as an existing land use if it was authorized as of January 1, 1999, was a historical or traditional use, or was a right of use as of such date. Permits hunting, trapping, and fishing on conservation area lands and waters. Authorizes grazing within the area to the same extent as was permitted during calendar year 1998. Guarantees grazing permit holders the right to create new improvements for grazing operations. Permits aircraft and helicopter overflights of lands and landings within the area to the same extent as was permitted during calendar year 1998. (Sec. 105) Describes procedures for the acquisition of State or private lands within the conservation area. (Sec. 106) Requires the Secretary to assess the oil, gas, coal, and other mineral potential on Federal lands in the conservation area in order to expand the data base with respect to the mineral potential of the lands. Subjects the mineral assessment program to review and approval by the Arizona State Department of Mines and Mineral Resources. Bars the Secretary from making, modifying, or extending any mineral withdrawal authorized by law within the conservation area after January 1, 1999, until the assessment, consultation with, and review by, the State are completed. Permits the removal of minerals from the conservation area after completion of such requirements. (Sec. 107) Requires the Secretary, subject to the availability of funds, to carry out ecological resources restoration projects within the conservation area. Prohibits such projects from adversely affecting grazing allotments for more than three years unless an extension has been agreed upon by the permittee. Requires the Secretary, to the extent that a project affects such an allotment, to provide alternative allotments within the same grazing district to affected permittees so that the total number of animal unit months is unaltered. Sets forth provisions regarding control of plant growth and road maintenance and improvement within the conservation area. (Sec. 110) Directs the Secretary to conduct a survey of the conservation area, noting all sites of archaeological, historical, or scientific interest. Makes survey results publicly available. (Sec. 111) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title. Title II: Land Restoration and Conveyances - Requires the Secretary of the Interior, to the extent possible, to implement the recommendations contained in the April 1999 report of the Sonoran Institute regarding the Arizona Strip-Southern Utah Restoration Area. Authorizes the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, as a demonstration project, to apply all or a part of the revenues received for timber and other resources removed from lands designated as such restoration area under stewardship end-result contracts as an offset against the costs of stewardship services. Requires the Secretaries to designate an independent scientific review panel to review and approve all projects under this section. Terminates the authority to conduct projects seven years after this Act's enactment date. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey, without consideration, all U.S. right, title, and interest in and to specified lands to Colorado City, Arizona, Fredonia, Arizona, Mohave County, Arizona, and the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians. (Sec. 203) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Small Business Remediation Act of 1999 - Provides that the maximum level of remediation for a dry cleaning solvent in the soil, surface water, groundwater, and other environmental media (other than for water used as a drinking water source) that may be required of a dry cleaner shall be equal to: (1) the soil screening level for inhalation for such solvent determined in accordance with the Soil Screening Guidance Document (Guidance Document) developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); or (2) the generic soil screening level for inhalation for such solvent as set forth in the Guidance Document until such maximum level is determined for a facility. Requires the applicable requirements for dry cleaning solvents under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to be the remediation standards set forth in this Act. Authorizes the EPA Administrator to change such standards in accordance with any revised Guidance Document if necessary to protect health or the environment.