Rep. Schiff, Steven [R-NM-1]

An amendment to remove the provisions of the bill which require states to implement specific policies as a condition for receiving prison grants, such as adopting alternative sentencing programs; prisoner screening and security classification; prisoner rehabilitation and treatment programs; prisoner work activities and job skills programs.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment (numbered 1 as printed in the Congressional Record of Feb. 7, 1995) to permit recipients to use their block grants to enhance security measures at facilities and locations considered to be especially "at risk" to crime.

United States · United States Congress

Amendment sought to extend for one year, rather than the permanent extension contained in the bill, the 75% Federal match for the Edward Byrne Memorial grant program for State and local governments to develop new and innovative anticrime programs.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment to reduce the salaries and expenses account for the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department by $5,497,150 from $75,655,000 to $70,157,850.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment to increase the authorized funds for the National Science Foundation by $41.2 million for basic scientific research.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment to delete the provisions of the bill that establish a Commission on Unfunded Federal Mandates and to direct the currently existing Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to review the effects of unfunded federal mandates and their effects upon the states. (The amendment was printed as amendment No. 156 in the Congressional Record of January 20, 1995.).

United States · United States Congress

Radiation Workers Justice Act of 1998

United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1998

Radiation Workers Justice Act of 1998 - Amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund to 22 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 3) Includes within the purview of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act those parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico composing the Navajo National Reservation which were subjected to fallout from nuclear weapons testing conducted in Nevada. (Sec. 4) Prescribes eligibility guidelines for claims relating to: (1) uranium milling; (2) any State in which uranium was either milled or mined; (3) a mine located above ground; (4) an open pit mine worked by uranium miners; and (5) a uranium mill. Extends the timeframe for filing claims to include the period from January 1, 1942, to December 31, 1990. Identifies claims eligibility criteria for uranium employees who: (1) were exposed to 40 or more working level months of radiation; (2) worked in uranium mines or mills for at least one year; and (3) submit written medical documentation of either lung cancer or a nonmalignant respiratory medical condition associated with uranium mining or milling. Provides for up to $200,000 for such a claim. Mandates money damages of $50,000 for any uranium mine or mill employee: (1) who was exposed to radiation (without knowledge or informed consent) by a Federal agency for human use research purposes; or (2) who suffered death from nonradiological causes arising out of or in the course of employment. Mandates money damages of $20,000 for injury or disability from nonradiological causes arising out of or in the course of employment. (Sec. 5) Modifies claims payment procedures to mandate that: (1) all reasonable doubt whether a claim meets the requirements of this Act be resolved in favor of the claimant; (2) the Attorney General permit the introduction and use of affidavits and other documentary or medical evidence to the same extent as permitted by the Federal Rules of Evidence; (3) specified radiograph interpretive reports be considered conclusive; (4) with respect to Native Americans' claims, the Attorney General establish procedures that incorporate (where feasible) Native American law and mores; (5) when determining the pulmonary impairment of a claimant, the Attorney General evaluate the degree of impairment based on ethnic-specific pulmonary function standards; and (6) upon tribal request, the Attorney General establish claims determination procedures for Native American uranium miners and millers in consultation with the affected Indian tribe. Authorizes the Attorney General, upon tribal request, to enter into a self-determination contract with a tribal organization to process tribal members' claims. (Sec. 7) Revises the statute of limitations for filing a claim to require such filing within 20 years of the date of enactment of this Act. Makes the amendments made by this Act retroactive to October 5, 1990.

Celebrating the "New Mexico Cuartocentenario", the 400th anniversary commemoration of the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico.

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1998

Commemorates the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico and expresses support for the events to be held in New Mexico and the Southwest in observance of the New Mexico Cuartocentenario.

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should renegotiate the extradition treaty with Mexico so that the possibility of capital punishment will not interfere with the timely extradition of criminal suspects from Mexico to the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1998

Urges the President to renegotiate the Extradition Treaty Between the United States and Mexico so that the possibility of capital punishment will not interfere with the timely extradition of criminal suspects from Mexico to the United States.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to tax limitations.

United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1998

Constitutional Amendment - Requires that a bill to increase the internal revenue shall laws shall require for final adoption in each House the concurrence of two-thirds of the whole of the number of that House, unless the bill does not increase the internal revenue by more than a de minimis amount. Permits the waiver of such requirement, for up to two years, if there is a declaration of war or if the United States is engaged in a military conflict which causes an imminent and serious threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution which becomes law.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt auxiliary power units from the excise tax imposed on heavy trucks.

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1998

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt auxiliary power units from the excise tax imposed on heavy trucks and trailers.

Urging international cooperation in recovering children abducted in the United States and taken to other countries.

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1998

Urges international cooperation in working to resolve cases in which children in the United States are abducted by family members who are foreign nationals and taken to foreign countries, and in seeing that justice is served by holding the abductors accountable for criminal law violations.

Tax Code Termination Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1998

Tax Code Termination Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2001; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2001. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be a simple and fair system.

To prohibit spending Federal education funds on national testing without explicit and specific legislation.

United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997

Amends the General Education Provisions Act to prohibit the use of funds provided to the Department of Education, or to an applicable program, to develop, plan, implement, or administer any national testing program. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a similar prohibition against use of certain funds (from the Fund for the Improvement Education) for any national testing program. Exempts from such funding prohibitions the Third International Mathematics and Science Study.

Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 1998

United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1997

Rhino and Tiger Product Labeling Act - Amends the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 to prohibit the sale, import, or export of any product labeled as containing any substance from a rhinoceros or tiger. Prescribes penalties for knowing violations of this Act.

Superfund Recycling Equity Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1997

Superfund Recycling Equity Act of 1997- Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to absolve persons (other than owners or operators) who arranged for the recycling of recyclable material from liability for environmental response actions. Deems transactions involving scrap paper, plastic, glass, textiles, or rubber (other than whole tires) to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that the following criteria were met: (1) the recyclable material met a commercial specification grade and a market existed for the material; (2) a substantial portion of the material was made available for use as a feedstock for the manufacture of a new saleable product; (3) the material (or product to be made from the material) could have been a replacement for a virgin raw material; and (4) with respect to transactions occurring 90 days after this Act's enactment, the person exercised reasonable care to determine that the facility where the material would be managed by another was in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations. Deems transactions involving scrap metal to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; (2) he or she complied with applicable standards regarding activities associated with the recycling of scrap metals; and (3) the scrap metal was not melted prior to the transaction. Deems transactions involving spent lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or other batteries to be arranging for recycling if the person involved demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; and (2) he or she complied with applicable Federal environmental regulations or standards regarding such batteries. Makes the exemptions from liability under this Act inapplicable if the person: (1) had an objectively reasonable basis to believe at the time of the recycling transaction that the recyclable material would not be recycled or would be burned as fuel or for energy recovery or incineration or that the consuming facility was not in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations; (2) had reason to believe that hazardous substances had been added to the material for purposes other than processing for recycling; or (3) failed to exercise reasonable care with respect to the management of the material. Makes such exemptions inapplicable if the recyclable material contained polychlorinated biphenyls in excess of 50 parts per million or any new Federal standard or if such material is an item of scrap paper containing, at the time of recycling, a concentration of a hazardous substance determined to present a significant human health or environmental risk.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the citizens of the United States must remain committed to combat the distribution, sale, and use of illegal drugs by the Nation's youth.

United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1997

Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) all schools should be drug-free; (2) all Federal, State, and local drug fighting agencies should work together with schools and parents to ensure that a renewed effort is made to fight the distribution, sale, and use of illegal drugs in our schools and to America's youth; (3) all governmental leaders and parents share a role in raising awareness of this issue and offering constructive alternatives to illegal drug use; and (4) the Congress and the President should set a goal and work with local communities and parents to end the distribution, sale, and use of illegal drugs in the Nation's schools by the year 2000.

Disapproving the cancellations transmitted by the President on October 6, 1997, regarding Public Law 105-45.

United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1997

Disapproves the President's cancellations (line item veto) of appropriations for 38 military construction projects in the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1998.

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit smoking in rooms and corridors leading to the House floor and in the Rayburn room.

United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1997

Amends rule XIV (decorum and debate) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to ban smoking in rooms or corridors leading to the House floor or in the Rayburn room.

Congressional Pay Integrity and Accountability Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1997

Congressional Pay Integrity and Accountability Act of 1997 - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to eliminate automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress. Requires the annual rate of pay for Members to be the rate payable as of the enactment of this Act, until such rate is adjusted under provisions of the Federal Salary Act of 1967 or other provision of law.

Expressing support for the goals of National Mammography Day.

United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1997

Supports National Mammography Day and urges all American women to take an active role in the fight against breast cancer by all means available to them. Calls for recognition of the role played by community organizations and health care providers in promoting awareness of the importance of regular mammograms and in helping to expand the availability of low-cost mammograms.

To terminate the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1997

Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2001; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2001. Declares that any new Federal tax system should be a simple and fair system.

To terminate the taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 other than Social Security and railroad retirement-related taxes.

United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1997

Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2000; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2000. Prohibits the provisions of the preceding sentence from applying to taxes imposed by the following chapters of the Code: (1) two (relating to the tax on self-employment income); (2) 21 (Federal Insurance Contributions Act); and (3) 22 (Railroad Retirement Tax Act).

International Religious Freedom Act of 1998

United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1997

Freedom From Religious Persecution Act of 1997 - Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the Office of Religious Persecution Monitoring, whose Director, appointed by the President, with Senate consent, shall: (1) consider the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom presented in certain annual reports on human rights by the Department of State and by independent human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations; (2) make policy recommendations to the President regarding U.S. policies toward governments engaged in religious persecution; and (3) maintain lists of religious persecution facilitating goods and services, and the responsible entities within countries engaged in religious persecution. (Sec. 3) Distinguishes between category 1 religious persecution (conducted by government officials or agents) and category 2 religious persecution (conducted by non-government entities or persons, but which the government fails to undertake serious and sustained efforts to eliminate). (Sec. 5) Requires the Director to report to specified congressional committees on countries and entities engaged in religious persecution, identifying the category of persecution and listing persecution facilitating products, good, and services. (Sec. 7) Prohibits: (1) Federal agencies and U.S. persons from exporting goods, including religious persecution facilitating goods and services, to countries and responsible entities engaged in religious persecution; and (2) U.S. and multilateral assistance to such countries. Declares that no consular officer shall issue a visa to, and the Attorney General shall exclude from the United States, any alien responsible for carrying out acts of religious persecution. (Sec. 8) Provides for the waiver of such sanctions. (Sec. 9) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (as amended by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996), with respect to eligibility for asylum in the United States, to include under the term "credible fear of persecution" aliens who can claim membership in a community found to be subject to religious persecution. Directs the Attorney General to establish a program to provide training on religious persecution to immigration officers who inspect aliens for admission into the United States. Sets forth procedures for the denial of admission based on religious persecution claims. (Sec. 10) Sets forth requirements with respect to certain State Department human rights reports. Directs the Secretary of State to provide training on the right to religious freedom to chiefs of missions as well as certain Department officials. (Sec. 11) Provides for the termination of sanctions. (Sec. 12) Extends certain existing trade and economic sanctions against Sudan for supporting acts of international terrorism until the Director determines that Sudan has substantially eliminated religious persecution, or no longer supports acts of international terrorism, whichever occurs later. Imposes additional trade, economic, and cultural sanctions against Sudan. Sets forth penalties for violations of certain sanctions. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President, or, at his discretion, the Secretary of State should convene an international conference of the other industrialized democracies to reach an international agreement to bring about an end to religious persecution in Sudan. Prescribes congressional procedures for implementing such an agreement. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations (UN) to propose that the UN Security Council impose measures against Sudan. Makes it U.S. policy to impose additional measures against Sudan if its policy of religious persecution has not ended on or before December 25, 1997.