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United States · Official source
3,342 records where Sen. Byrd, Robert C. [D-WV] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1998
Designates May 15, 1998, as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1998
Declares that the Senate: (1) expresses gratitude to, and calls upon all Americans to show their gratitude to, John McCain and the men who were held as prisoners of war during the Vietnam conflict and for the return of Senator McCain to the United States; and (2) will not forget that more than 2,000 members of the armed forces remain unaccounted for from such conflict and will continue to press for the fullest accounting for such members.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1998
Federal Vacancies Compliance Act of 1998 - Amends Federal law provisions commonly referred to as the Vacancies Act to prohibit an individual who performs the duties of an office in any executive agency (other than the General Accounting Office) that has been filled temporarily in excess of any 120-day period time limitation under such Act from receiving pay for each day such duties are performed. Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, on the first day of each month, to submit to the Comptroller General a report containing: (1) the name of each officer filling an office temporarily as described; (2) the date on which each officer named began filling the applicable office temporarily; (3) the date upon which each office being temporarily filled became vacant; and (4) the date upon which any nomination to fill any such vacancy was submitted to the Senate. Requires the Comptroller General, upon making a determination that a violation of any 120-day period time limitation has occurred, to submit a report of such determination to each House of the Congress, the President, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Office of Personnel Management. Prescribes that the provisions of the Vacancies Act shall supersede any other provision of law, except any provision that: (1) specifically cites any such section of the Act; and (2) states that such provision specifically supersedes such section of the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1998
Calls for commemoration of the death of George Washington.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1998
Designates December 13, 1998, as National Children's Memorial Day.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1998
Collegiate Initiative To Reduce Binge Drinking Resolution - Expresses the sense of the Senate that college and university administrators should take specified actions in an effort to change the culture of alcohol consumption on college campuses.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1998
Safety of Imported Food Act of 1998 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to deem imported food adulterated if it has not been prepared, packed, and held under conditions meeting FDCA requirements (or conditions otherwise achieving the protection required) for domestic food. Allows consideration of whether inspection, testing, or other procedures have been refused. Allows importation denial on the basis of such refusal and other relevant factors.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1998
Expresses the sense of the Senate that March 2, 1998, shall be known as Read Across America Day, in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday. Encourages reading with children on that day.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1998
Designates October 18 through 24, 1998, as National Character Counts Week.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1998
Designates the week of May 3, 1998, as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1998
Designates March 25, 1998, as Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1998
Medicare Venipuncture Assessment Act of 1998 - Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to place an 18-month moratorium on the prohibition against payment for home health services consisting of venipuncture solely for purposes of obtaining a blood sample. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to the Congress with respect to the provision of home health services consisting of venipuncture under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Requires the report on the definition of homebound to include specific legislative recommendations to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse (if any) in the determination of whether an individual is homebound without jeopardizing the Medicare services provided to beneficiaries with serious medical conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1998
Condemns the continued threat to international peace and security posed by Iraq's refusal to meet its international obligations and end its weapons of mass destruction programs. Urges the President to: (1) take all necessary and appropriate actions to respond to such threat; and (2) work with the Congress in furthering a long-term policy aimed at definitively ending such threat.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1997
NAFTA Accountability Act - Requires assessment of the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), renegotiation of certain NAFTA provisions, and withdrawal from NAFTA unless specified conditions are met and certified to. Sets forth conditions for continuing U.S. participation in NAFTA, which must be met before the end of 1998. Requires certifications by certain U.S. officials with respect to NAFTA, relating to: (1) overall trade balance between each NAFTA Party (United States, Canada, and Mexico) (by the Secretary of Commerce); (2) currency values (by the Secretary of the Treasury); (3) gains in U.S. jobs and living standards (by the Secretary of Labor); (4) health and environmental standards, with respect to food imports and to U.S.-Mexico border areas (by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of the Food and Drug Administration, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency); (5) flow of illegal drugs from Mexico and Canada (by the Attorney General); (6) NAFTA Party democracy and human freedoms (by the President); (7) U.S. agriculture (by the Secretary of Agriculture); and (8) compliance with U.S. transportation safety standards by Mexican commercial trucks or buses coming into the United States (by the Secretary of Transportation). Requires the President to renegotiate, in specified ways, the terms of NAFTA to: (1) correct trade deficits, currency distortions, loss of U.S. jobs, and agricultural tariff and quota provisions; and (2) ensure the safety of the public health and the environment, provide effective drug interdiction, and ensure compliance with certain U.S. transportation standards. Directs the President to consult regularly with the Congress regarding such renegotiations and certifications. Directs the U.S. Trade Representative to consult with appropriate congressional committees in developing technical and conforming amendments that may be required to carry out this Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that until the conditions set by this Act are met: (1) the President should not engage in negotiations to expand NAFTA to include other countries; and (2) fast-track authority should not be renewed with respect to the approval of any such NAFTA expansion.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Provides for the Senate Committee on the Judiciary to establish a pool of possible Supreme Court nominees for the President to consider, based on suggestions from Federal and State judges, distinguished lawyers and law professors, and specified others.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1997
Silk Road Strategy Act of 1997 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize specified assistance, including humanitarian, economic, migration and refugee, development, security, and technical assistance to the South Caucasus and Central Asia countries to: (1) promote sovereignty and independence with democratic government; (2) assist in the resolution of regional conflicts; (3) promote economic cooperation and market-oriented principles; (4) assist in the development of infrastructure necessary for communications, transportation, and energy and trade on an East-West axis in order to build strong relations and commerce between those countries and the democratic, market-oriented countries of the Euro-Atlantic community; and (5) support U.S. business interests and investments in the region. Prohibits assistance to such countries (unless it is important to the U.S. national interest) if the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that they: (1) are engaged in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights; (2) have knowingly transferred controlled missiles or missile technology to another country, or any equipment or technology that would contribute to the ability of such country to manufacture weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons); (3) have supported acts of international terrorism; (4) are prohibited from receiving such assistance by specified Acts; or (5) have initiated an act of aggression against another state in the region. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should use all diplomatic means to press for an equitable, fair, and permanent resolution to the conflicts in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and the civil war in Tajikistan.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1997
Repeals the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 and the amendments made by such Act. Applies the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 as if the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 had not been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1997
Disapproves the President's cancellations (line item veto) of appropriations for 36 military construction projects in the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1998.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1997
Declares September 26, 1997, to be Austrian-American Day.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1997
Allows an individual with a disability who has or is granted the privilege of the Senate floor to bring necessary supporting aids and services (including service dogs, wheelchairs, and interpreters) on the Senate floor, unless the Senate Sergeant at Arms determines that the use of such supporting aids and services would place a significant difficulty or expense on Senate operations in accordance with the Rules for Regulation of the Senate Wing of the U.S. Capitol.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1997
Ozone and Particulate Matter Research Act of 1997 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) request the National Academy of Sciences to convene an independent panel of scientists with expertise on the health effects of air pollution to establish priorities for research on the health effects of particulate matter; and (2) report the panel's recommendations to the Congress. Requires the President to establish the Particulate Matter Interagency Committee to develop recommendations for, and periodically evaluate, a program to coordinate the activities of Federal agencies engaged in research on health effects of particulate matter that ensures that such research advances the prioritized agenda of the panel. Directs the Administrator to: (1) review the air quality criteria and standards under the Clean Air Act for ozone and particulate matter; and (2) determine whether to retain or revise such standards and criteria or promulgate new ones. Authorizes the Administrator to require State implementation plans under such Act to require ambient air quality monitoring for fine particulate matter. Provides for grants to States to carry out such monitoring. Reinstates the national ambient air quality standards for ozone and particulate matter in effect on July 15, 1997. Bars revision of such standards until the Administrator's scientific review under this Act is completed. Directs the National Institutes of Health to begin a research program to study the health effects of allergens on asthmatics, particularly in inner city areas. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: National Science Foundation Authorization Title II: General Provisions National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1997 - Title I: National Science Foundation Authorization - Sets forth long-term goals and core strategies. Authorizes appropriations to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for FY 1998 and 1999. Title II: General Provisions - Directs NSF to submit to the Congress an annual upgrade and maintenance plan for national research facilities. (Sec. 202) Makes administrative amendments to the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1976, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988, and the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act. (Sec. 203) Directs the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with other relevant agencies the Director deems appropriate, to prepare a certain report analyzing the Federal indirect cost reimbursement rates paid to universities in comparison with Federal indirect cost reimbursement rates paid to other entities, such as industry, government laboratories, research hospitals, and non-profit institutions. Requires that such report be transmitted to the Congress no later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 204) Subjects NSF temporary employees to the same financial disclosure requirements as apply to permanent employees. (Sec. 205) Prohibits the use of any funds authorized under this Act from being used for any lobbying activity, except that the prohibition shall not prevent officers or employees of the Federal Government or of its departments or agencies, from communicating to: (1) Members of Congress on the request of any Member; or (2) to the Congress, through the appropriate procedures, requests for legislation or appropriations which the officers or employees deem necessary for the efficient conduct of the Federal Government. (Sec. 206) Requires that if any funds authorized by this Act are subject to a reprogramming action that requires notice to be provided to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, notice of such action shall concurrently be provided to the House Committee on Science and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Directs the NSF Director to provide notice not later than 15 days before any major reorganization of any NSF program, project, or activity. (Sec. 207) Directs the NSF Director to: (1) donate surplus computers and other research equipment to elementary and secondary schools to enhance the science and mathematics programs of such schools; and (2) report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on the donations made.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1997
Denies Federal veterans benefits to any person who is convicted of a Federal or State capital offense.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1997
National Cemetery Sanctity Act - Adds the following as Federal crimes for which conviction will result in the loss of veterans' benefits, including the right to burial in a national cemetery: (1) murder or attempted murder of certain Federal officers or employees; and (2) terrorism and terrorist-related crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
Landmine Elimination Act of 1997 - Prohibits, beginning on January 1, 2000, funds appropriated or otherwise available to any Federal department or agency from being obligated or expended for new deployments of anti-personnel landmines. Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress on actions and proposals to substitute for new deployments of such landmines on the Korean Peninsula. Allows the President to delay application of the prohibition with respect to the Peninsula if, not later than January 1, 2000, and each year thereafter, the President certifies the Congress that new deployments of anti-personnel landmines on the Peninsula in the event of a Korean war or a period of emergency in Korea declared by the President would be indispensable to the defense of the Republic of Korea in such year.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
Declares that the United States should not be a signatory to any protocol to, or other agreement regarding, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1992, at negotiations in Kyoto in December 1997 or thereafter which would: (1) mandate new commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the Annex 1 Parties, unless the protocol or other agreement also mandates new specific scheduled commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions for Developing Country Parties within the same compliance period; or (2) result in serious harm to the U.S. economy. Calls for any such protocol or other agreement which would require the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification to be accompanied by: (1) a detailed explanation of any legislation or regulatory actions that may be required to implement it; and (2) an analysis of the detailed financial costs which would be incurred by, and other impacts on, the U.S. economy.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1997
Designates July 2, 1997 and 1998 as National Literacy Day.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1997
Authorizes the printing of the publication entitled "Dedication and Unveiling of the Statue of Richard Brevard Russell, Jr." as a Senate document.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1997
Commemorates the 15th anniversary of the construction and dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1997
Customs Enforcement and Market Access Act of 1997 - Directs the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), whenever the United States negotiates a protocol for accession of a country to the World Trade Organization (WTO), to negotiate for inclusion in that protocol: (1) provisions for effective market access to that country's domestic markets for U.S. textile and apparel products; and (2) provisions allowing the suspension or revocation of paragraph 14 (relating to increasing import levels based on growth rates) of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, if the country has failed to enforce such market access provisions. Requires negotiation of bilateral agreements containing similar provisions with countries that are not WTO members. (Sec. 3) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to direct the USTR to identify annually, report to the Congress, and publish in the Federal Register the names of priority foreign countries that deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons producing or selling textile or apparel products. (Sec. 4) Establishes in the Treasury a Textile Global Competitiveness Research Fund, consisting in part of fines levied under this Act, and whose amounts shall be available: (1) for programs aimed at enhancing the international competitiveness of U.S. textile and apparel manufacturers; and (2) to the Customs Service for the enforcement of laws governing trade in textile and apparel goods. (Sec. 5) Directs the USTR to take necessary steps to negotiate a quota agreement with any non-WTO country whose exports to the United States exceed $100 million annually, or are creating serious damage or the actual threat of it to the U.S. textile and apparel industry. States the sense of the Congress that any agreement negotiated with a non-WTO country which already has a textile agreement with the United States should permit imports of textile and apparel products of that country, during each 12-month period, to increase by not more than the percentage of growth in the U.S domestic market for all textile and apparel products in the preceding 12-month period. Specifies provisions for inclusion in the accession protocol of countries acceding to the WTO. (Sec. 6) Requires the USTR to ensure that any protocol under negotiation for accession to the WTO of a non-WTO country with a textile import bilateral agreement with the United States, as well as any subsequent agreement, provides for a reduction in the quantity of that country's textile and apparel goods that may be imported into the United States if the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements determines that the bilateral agreement is being circumvented and that inadequate or no measures are being taken by that country to take action against such circumvention. (Sec. 7) Prescribes specified Customs Service enforcement actions and penalties (including fines, seizure, and forfeiture) for violations of customs laws involving textile and apparel goods. (Sec. 10) Directs the Commissioner of Customs to establish a Division on Textile Enforcement. (Sec. 11) Requires withdrawal of preferential tariff or quota treatment (unilateral trade concessions) from the textile and apparel goods of any country: (1) demonstrating a consistent pattern of circumventing textile agreements with United States; (2) refusing to cooperate in investigations; or (3) failing to provide fair and equitable market access for U.S. textile and apparel goods.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the Highway Trust Fund financing rate for gasoline, special motor fuels, and diesel fuel. Establishes in the Highway Trust Fund the Intercity Passenger Rail Account. Transfers to the Account certain portions of the amounts attributable to taxes imposed between specified dates under provisions relating to gasoline, diesel fuel, special motor fuels, compressed natural gas, methanol and ethanol fuel, and nongasoline noncommercial aviation fuels. Makes amounts in the Account available to finance qualified expenses of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and each non-Amtrak State. Excludes Account payments from the gross income of payment recipients, disallows a deduction to the recipient, and reduces the basis of any property by the portion attributable to the payment.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the Highway Trust Fund financing rate for gasoline, special motor fuels, and diesel fuel. Declares that deposits into the Fund resulting from the amendments made by this Act shall not be: (1) be taken into account for specified provisions of Federal law and of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991; and (2) available without further appropriation under certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1997
Family Television Viewing Information and Empowerment Act of 1997 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting or renewing a license for a broadcast television station unless the license applicant submits to the FCC evidence of: (1) a plan for the implementation of a rating system for the content of programming to be broadcast by such station, in the case of a license grant application; or (2) the current implementation of such a rating system, in the case of application for license renewal. Prohibits the FCC from assigning transitional digital television frequencies to a broadcast television station unless the person licensed to operate such station submits to the FCC evidence of the implementation of a rating system. Directs the FCC to require a person assigned such frequencies, before the enactment of this Act, to surrender them to the FCC if the person does not submit to it evidence of the implementation of a rating system before using the frequencies. Outlines general and specific rating system elements, requiring FCC review of each such system.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1997
ISTEA Reauthorization Act of 1997 - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY 1998 through 2003 for: (1) the National Highway System; (2) the Interstate maintenance program; (3) the surface transportation program; (4) the bridge program; (5) congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program; (6) the minimum allocation program; (7) apportionment adjustments; (8) the Interstate System reimbursement program; (9) certain projects under the Federal lands highways program; (10) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) highway safety programs; and (11) FHWA highway safety research and development. (Sec. 4) Amends Federal-aid highway law to revise the formula for determining the State apportionment of funds for the National Highway System and the surface transportation program. Extends through FY 2003 the set aside of Federal highway funds for discretionary projects for the resurfacing, restoring, rehabilitating, and reconstructing of routes on the Interstate System (4 R projects). (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Transportation, not later than April 1, 2000, to report to specified congressional committees recommended adjustments to the formula used to apportion funds to States for the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program, and to the amount apportioned for the program, to reflect changes since the enactment of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) in: (1) national ambient air quality standards under the Clean Air Act; and (2) the emission control requirements that result from such standards. Directs the Secretary to withhold ten percent of the apportionments if the recommendations are not enacted into law by October 1, 2000. Revises the formula for the apportionment of funds under the program. Adds transportation projects which will have air quality benefits, and consist of certain intercity rail passenger activities, to the eligible projects that a State may obligate congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program and surface transportation program funds. Limits a State's obligation for such projects to no more than 50 percent of the apportioned funds. (Sec. 6) Extends for an additional six-fiscal year period the obligation of a State to allocate surface transportation program funds for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction in urbanized areas with a population over 200,000. (Sec. 7) Increases the minimum amount of apportioned highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program funds that a State shall receive in any fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 through 2003 for the discretionary bridge program. (Sec. 8) Revises for FY 1998 and each fiscal year thereafter the formula for determining the amount of highway funds that would be required to ensure a State's percentage of the total apportionments in each fiscal year and allocations for the prior fiscal year for specified transportation programs is not less than 90 percent of the percentage that the population of the State is of the population of the United States. (Sec. 10) Provides for the adjustment of funds apportioned to States for the surface transportation program. (Sec. 11) Extends through FY 2003: (1) the strategic highway research program; (2) the applied research and technology program; (3) intelligent transportation systems; (4) the scenic byways program; (5) construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities; and (6) the national recreational trails program. (Sec. 15) Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a comprehensive initiative to carry out a comprehensive research program to investigate and understand the relationships between transportation, land use, and the environment; and (2) award transportation and land use planning and policy grants to State, regional, and local agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 16) Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY 1998 through 2003 for construction of the Appalachian development highway system.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1997
Television Improvement Act of 1997 - Exempts from Federal antitrust laws any discussions, reviews, or agreements (action) entered into among persons in the television industry to develop and disseminate voluntary guidelines governing television broadcast material. Makes such exemption inapplicable to action which: (1) results in a boycott of any person; or (2) concerns the purchase or sale of advertising.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1997
End the Trade Deficit Act - Establishes the Emergency Commission To End the Trade Deficit, whose purpose is to develop: (1) a trade policy plan to eliminate the U.S. trade deficit by the year 2007; and (2) a competitive trade policy for the 21st century. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1997
Designates the week of May 4, 1997, as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1997
Designates October 19 through 25, 1997, as National Character Counts Week.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1997
Stop Tax-Exempt Arena Debt Issuance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat certain bonds used directly or indirectly for financing professional sports facilities as private activity bonds and not as qualified bonds, except for certain approved projects, facilities with final bond resolutions, and current refundings.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1997
Prohibits the use of Federal funds for research regarding the cloning of a human individual.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1997
Children's Protection from Violent Programming Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make it unlawful for any person to distribute to the public any violent video programming not blockable by electronic means specifically on the basis of its violent content during hours when children are reasonably likely to comprise a substantial portion of the audience. Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promulgate regulations to implement this Act. Authorizes the FCC, as part of its rulemaking proceeding, to exempt programming (including news programs and sporting events) whose distribution does not conflict with the objective of protecting children from the negative influences of violent video programming. Exempts premium and pay-per-view cable programming. Requires the FCC to immediately revoke the license of any person who repeatedly violates this Act and to consider, in its review of an application for a renewal of a license, whether the licensee has complied with this Act. Directs the FCC to: (1) assess the effectiveness of measures taken by this Act; and (2) report assessment findings to specified congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1997
Designates March of each year as Irish American Heritage Month.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1997
Language of Government Act of 1997 - Declares English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that the Government has an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language. Requires the Government to conduct its official business in English. Prohibits anyone from being denied Government services because he or she communicates in English.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1997
Designates March 25, 1997, as Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1997
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that nothing in the Constitution shall be construed to prohibit or require voluntary prayer in public schools or at public school extracurricular activities.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1997
Designates Alan Scott Frumin as a Parliamentarian Emeritus of the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1997
Appalachian Development Highway System Completion Act - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for FY 1998 through 2003 to fund the Federal share of the total estimated cost of completion of construction of the Appalachian development highway authorized by the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) transfer funds made available for such purpose to the Appalachian Regional Commission, which shall be responsible for administration of the funds; and (2) apportion the funds to the 13 States in the Appalachian region in accordance with each State's portion of the total estimated cost of completion. Makes one-sixth of the funds allocated for construction available for obligation in each of such fiscal years. Sets forth provisions regarding the Federal share (80 percent), delegation of responsibility to the States, advance construction, and contract authority.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1997
Stop Tax-Exempt Arena Debt Issuance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat certain bonds used directly or indirectly for financing professional sports facilities as private activity bonds and not as qualified bonds, except for certain approved projects, facilities with final bond resolutions, and current refundings.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1997
Medicare Diabetes Education and Supplies Amendments of 1997 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of diabetes outpatient self-management training services and blood-testing strips for individuals with diabetes.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Senate Election Spending Limits and Benefits Title II: Reduction of Special Interest Influence Subtitle A: Political Action Committees Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Party Committees Subtitle C: Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties Subtitle D: Contributions Subtitle E: Independent Expenditures Title III: Enforcement Title IV: Miscellaneous Title V: Constitutionality; Effective Date; Regulations Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 1997 - Title I: Senate Election Spending Limits and Benefits - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to set forth Senate election spending limits and benefits. Entitles complying candidates to specified: (1) broadcast discounts and free time; and (2) postage reductions. Directs the Federal Election Commission (Commission) to certify a candidate who has met the requirements of this title as eligible for benefits (under such title). (Sec. 106) Sets forth Senate candidate reporting requirements, including: (1) specification of in-State residents' contributions; and (2) expenditure of (candidate) personal funds. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to: (1) provide for preemption only in situations beyond a station's control; and (2) extend the license revocation provision for failure to provide cable access. Title II: Reduction of Special Interest Influence - Subtitle A: Political Action Committees - Amends FECA to prohibit Federal election contributions by political action committees (as defined by this Act). States that if such ban is not in effect: (1) a committee's contributions to a candidate shall not exceed limits applicable to an individual; and (2) a candidate may not accept more than 20 percent of contributions from committee sources. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Party Committees - Amends FECA with respect to "soft money" to: (1) prohibit a national committee of a political party (including specified related entities) from soliciting or receiving contributions or making expenditures not subject to such Act; (2) require a State, district, or local committee of a political party to make Federal election year expenditures (with exceptions) from funds subject to such Act; (3) prohibit a national, State, district, or local committee from soliciting or donating funds to a tax-exempt organization; and (4) prohibit an incumbent or candidate for Federal office from soliciting or receiving funds not subject to such Act, or to solicit or receive funds for a non-Federal election in excess of certain limits or from prohibited sources (with exceptions for State or local candidates in compliance with State law). (Sec. 212) Establishes aggregate and separate individual contribution limits to State Party Grassroots Funds and all committees established by a State committee of a political party. Increases annual individual contribution limits. Sets forth State Party Grassroots Fund and reporting provisions. Subtitle C: Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties - Amends FECA to require certain persons other than a political party that make aggregate election activity disbursements exceeding $10,000 to file with the Commission. Subtitle D: Contributions - Amends FECA to treat contributions: (1) made through an intermediary or conduit as having been made by the original contributor; and (2) delivered through a bundler as having been made by the bundler to the candidate as well as from the original contributor. Subtitle E: Independent Expenditures - Amends FECA regarding independent expenditure reporting requirements. Title III: Enforcement - Amends FECA to authorize the Commission to: (1) prescribe regulations for computer and facsimile reporting; (2) conduct random post election audits to ensure voluntary FECA compliance; and (3) seek injunctions. (Sec. 304) Reduces the aggregate annual contribution reporting requirement. (Sec. 305) Increases the penalty for knowing and willful violations of such Act. (Sec. 306) Prohibits: (1) contributions by individuals not qualified to vote; and (2) false representations to solicit contributions. (Sec. 309) Sets forth expedited Commission procedures regarding violations of such Act. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Amends FECA to prohibit the personal use of campaign funds. (Sec. 402) Sets forth political advertising provisions for print and broadcast or cablecast communications. (Sec. 403) Prohibits franked mass mailings by a Member in his or her election year, unless such Member will not be a candidate for any Federal office. (Sec. 404) Requires a committee of a political party, before making coordinated expenditures (as defined in this Act) in excess of $5000 for a Federal election, to certify to the Commission that it has not and will not make any independent expenditures (as defined in this Act) in connection with such campaign. (Sec. 406) Defines "express advocacy." Title V: Constitutionality; Effective Date; Regulations - Sets forth provisions regarding severability, review of constitutional issues, effective date, and Commission regulations.