United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2001
Department of Energy Advanced Scientific Computing Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to support a program to advance the Nation's computing capability across a diverse set of grand challenge computationally based science problems. Amends the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to instruct the Secretary to include as part of the National High-Performance Computing Program an integrated program of research, development, and provision of facilities to develop and deploy to scientific and technical users the high-performance computing and collaboration tools needed to fulfill the statutory missions of the Department of Energy in conducting basic and applied energy research. Directs the Secretary to ensure that such program is integrated and consistent with the National Nuclear Security Agency's Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative and with other national efforts related to advanced scientific computing for science and engineering.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2001
Postmasters Fairness and Rights Act - Amends Federal law to prescribe guidelines within which the Postal Service shall propose changes in pay policies, schedules, and fringe benefit programs affecting postmasters which are to be in effect during the period covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Postal Service and certain recognized bargaining representatives. Grants certain qualified postmasters' organizations the right to participate in program planning and development pertaining to pay policies, schedules, and fringe benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2001
100 Percent Truth-in-Sentencing Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to eliminate credit toward service of sentence for satisfactory behavior ("good time" credits) for prisoners serving a sentence of more than one year for a crime of violence.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2001
Stop Allowing Felons Early Release (SAFER) Act - Modifies Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 provisions regarding truth-in-sentencing grants to direct the Attorney General, beginning three years after the date of this Act's enactment, to reduce the amount allocated by 25 percent for each eligible State that has not enacted a statute that eliminates parole, good time credit release, and any other form of early release for any person convicted of a part 1 violent crime. Permits early release only by approval of the Governor after a public hearing during which representatives of the public, the victims of the crime, and the law enforcement agencies from the jurisdiction in which the crime was committed have had an opportunity to be heard. Requires the total amount from reductions under this Act to be allocated to each eligible State that has enacted such a statute.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2001
Academic Achievement for All Act (Straight A's Act) - Allows States a certain type of flexibility in combining and using specified Federal elementary and secondary education formula program funds for State education priorities and programs, in exchange for being held accountable for meeting, in a five-year period, certain performance goals which they propose. Allows States to opt to enter into such a performance agreement with the Secretary of Education, under which provisions of law relating to specified eligible programs shall not apply to the State, with certain exceptions. Requires such States to provide parents, teachers, and local schools notice and opportunity to comment on any such proposed performance agreement before submission to the Secretary. Includes under the terms of such agreements requirements relating to: (1) use of such funds to improve student achievement; (2) an accountability system; (3) performance goals and measures, and student academic achievement data; (4) fiscal responsibilities; (5) civil rights; (6) private school student and staff participation; (7) State financial participation; and (8) annual reports. Lists such eligible programs, under various provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Department of Education Appropriations Act of 1999, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, and the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2001. Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) within-State distribution of funds; (2) local participation; (3) limitations on State and local educational agency administrative expenditures; (4) performance review and penalties; (5) renewal of performance agreements; (6) achievement gap reduction rewards; and (7) availability of annual State reports to specified congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be issued by the U.S. Postal Service in honor of the U.S.S. Wisconsin and all those who served aboard her; and (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a postage stamp be issued.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts (except those derived from borrowing) for that fiscal year unless Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Bars any surplus of receipts (including interest) over outlays of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Funds from being counted for purposes of this article. Requires any deficit of receipts (including interest) relative to outlays of such trust funds to be counted and to be completely offset by a surplus of all other receipts over all other outlays. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each House. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Hydroelectric Licensing Process Improvement Act of 2001- Amends the Federal Power Act to prescribe mandatory factors for consideration and documentation by Federal agency participants (consulting agencies) in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydroelectric license renewal process when setting forth renewal prerequisites, including the economic impact, and the means to ensure that such prerequisites address only direct project environmental impacts at the lowest project cost. Mandates that each condition be subjected to scientific peer review. Requires a consulting agency to provide a license applicant an opportunity to obtain expedited administrative review of its proposed conditions before filing a FERC application. Empowers the reviewing body to remand the matter to such agency upon finding that the agency's conditions are inconsistent with this Act. Sets a one-year deadline by which a consulting agency must file its proposed licensing conditions with FERC. Directs FERC to: (1) conduct an economic analysis of each condition submitted by a consulting agency to determine whether it would render the project uneconomic; (2) conduct a single consolidated environmental review for each licensed project; and (3) consider the need of license applicants for a prompt decision when setting a deadline for the submission of comments by governmental agencies regarding environmental impact statements or assessments. Directs FERC to study and report to certain congressional committees on the feasibility of establishing a separate licensing procedure for small hydroelectric projects with a generating capacity of five megawatts or less.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth a special rule allowing a charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Broadband Internet Access Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the broadband credit which shall be the sum of: (1) the current generation broadband credit; plus (2) the next generation broadband credit. Defines terms.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Open and Accountable Campaign Financing Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to revise reporting requirements, including: (1) changing from quarterly to monthly the additional reports required to be filed with regard to the principal campaign committee of a candidate for the House of Representatives or the Senate in any calendar year during which there is a regularly scheduled election for which such candidate is seeking nomination or election; (2) requiring a national committee of a political party to file the same monthly reports designated for all political committees other than authorized committees of a candidate; and (3) directing the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to make report information available on the Internet and at FEC offices. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a licensee to maintain and make available for public inspection a complete record of certain requests to purchase broadcast time that are related to legally qualified candidates. Amends FECA to require the FEC to develop, and provide at no cost, software for filing FEC reports. Limits to $60,000 the aggregate amount (indexed for inflation) of soft money per calendar year, per contributor that a national committee of a political party, a congressional campaign committee of a national party, or an entity directly or indirectly established, financed, maintained, or controlled by such committee may accept. Increases individual, political committee, and multicandidate political committee contribution limits. Revises indexing provisions. Increases Senate candidate contribution limits for national party committees and senatorial campaign committees. Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit solicitation of soft money in Federal buildings by an officer or employee of the United States. Amends FECA to provide for the indexing of certain penalty and other amounts under enforcement provisions. Outlines provisions for filing of Senate reports with the FEC.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Marriage Tax Penalty Elimination Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise standard deduction amounts and individual income tax rate bracket amounts, including providing that amounts for married filing jointly categories shall be twice that of amounts for single filers.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the definition of wages (with respect to employment taxes) employee stock purchase plan stock options.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2000
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to permit a group of authorized private investors to establish and manage a National Rural Cooperative and Business Equity Fund to raise and provide equity capital for rural businesses. Assists the Fund through direct Federal payments and Federal guarantees of private sector assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2000
Harmful Nonnative Weed Control Act of 2000 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to provide financial assistance through States to eligible weed management entities to control or eradicate harmful, nonnative weeds on public and private land. Prohibits such assistance from being used to carry out projects to control or eradicate aquatic noxious weeds or animal pests.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2000
Integrity of the United States Courts Act of 2000 - Amends the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act to permit a party or person to file with the U.S. Court of International Trade an appeal of an antidumping or countervailing duty determination of a binational panel, alleging that: (1) it was based on a misrepresentation of U.S. law; (2) a member of a binational panel is guilty of gross misconduct, bias, or serious conflict of interest, or the panel seriously departed from a fundamental rule of procedure or exceeded its own authority; and (3) such actions have materially affected such panel determinations and threaten the integrity of the panel review process. Sets forth provisions permitting a party to file an appeal of such determinations with the Court in cases where the panel does not act or is not convened. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to grant the U.S. Court of International Trade jurisdiction over the review of a final determination of such a binational panel. Declares that the amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to goods from Canada and Mexico.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2000
Medicaid Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue a final regulation that provides for application of aggregate upper payment limits to non-State publicly owned or operated hospitals, nursing facilities, and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded under the Medicaid program of title XIX of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2000
National Rural Development Partnership Act of 2000 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish the National Rural Development Partnership composed of the National Rural Development Council (established by this Act) and State and rural development councils (authorized by this Act). Includes among Partnership purposes: (1) enhancement of State and local rural development capacities; and (2) engagement of Federal, State, local, tribal, and private and nonprofit sectors in such efforts. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for State rural development council matching requirements. Terminates the Partnership five years after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2000
Minor Animal Species Health and Welfare Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define: "minor species" as animals other than cattle, horses, swine, chickens, turkeys, dogs, and cats; and (2) "minor use" as use on minor species or on other species for a disease or condition that occurs infrequently or in limited geographic areas. Provides for the designation of new animal drugs as being for minor use and mandates approval exclusivity for seven or ten years. Allows marketing of unapproved drugs for minor species with no human food safety concern. Authorizes grants for minor use drug clinical testing and manufacturing. Modifies new animal drug approval requirements. Establishes the Office of Minor Use Animal Drug Development in the Center of Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business research tax credit (not applicable to grant funds) for minor use clinical research spending.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2000
Commends the city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, for its successful conduct of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games and congratulates the U.S. Olympic Team for its outstanding accomplishments there.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2000
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, with respect to sugars, syrups, and molasses (excluding cane or beet sugar) that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during any fiscal year under certain quantitative import restrictions (tariff-rate quotas), to establish a duty on such articles and other articles if they are subsequently used for the commercial extraction or production of sugar, or such articles are used in any manner that circumvent any quota imposed under the Schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2000
Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) carry out pilot projects in eligible States to increase the number of children participating in the summer food service program for children; (2) evaluate such projects, acting through the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service; and (3) submit interim and final reports to specified congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2000
Boise Laboratory Replacement Act of 2000 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange the Boise (Idaho) laboratory (laboratory) site (as defined by this Act), and use the resultant funds to acquire land and facilities to: (1) colocate the laboratory with one of the Boise-area State institutions of higher learning; (2) replace other laboratory functions; and (3) acquire other land or interests in Idaho. Grants right of first refusal for the laboratory site to the University of Idaho or a related nonprofit organization, and provides, if such option is exercised, for Federal cooperation with the University to develop a multiagency research and education facility at such site.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 2000
Nampa and Meridian Conveyance Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District, Idaho, facilities of the water distribution and drainage system that is operated and maintained by the District for delivery and drainage of water for District land.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2000
Medicare Temporary Drug Assistance Act - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XXII (Outpatient Prescription Drug Assistance Program) to provide funds to enable States to establish a program of assistance (separate from Medicaid under SSA title XIX) to low-income Medicare (SSA title XVIII) beneficiaries and, at State option, Medicare beneficiaries with high drug costs to obtain coverage for outpatient prescription drugs. Makes appropriations. Allows low-income Medicare beneficiaries and Medicare beneficiaries with high drug costs to elect to suspend Medicare supplemental (Medigap) insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program Act of 2000 - Amends specified Federal law to redesignate, as the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, the Peace Corps Fellows-USA Program promoting the work of returning Peace Corps volunteers in underserved U.S. communities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the child tax credit from $500 to $1,000. Repeals the limitation on such credit based on adjusted gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2000
Pediatric Diabetes Research and Prevention Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to develop a system to collect data on type 1 diabetes (or juvenile diabetes), including information with respect to incidence and prevalence, and to establish a national registry for such data. Authorizes appropriations Provides for the conduct or support of long-term epidemiology studies in which individuals with type 1 diabetes (or juvenile diabetes) are followed for 10 years or more. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2000
Disapproves a specified rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to water pollution under the total maximum daily load program. Declares that such rule shall have no effect.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Congratulates: (1) the Mexican people for their struggle for representative democracy and the rule of law: (2) Vincente Fox Quesada for his electoral triumph; and (3) Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon, current President of the United Mexican States, for his commitment to ensure the peaceful and stable transition of power. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should: (1) expand and intensify its cooperation with the newly elected Government of Mexico to promote economic development and to reduce poverty to achieve an improved quality of life for citizens of both countries; (2) confront common threats such as the trafficking in illicit narcotics; and (3) act in solidarity to promote representative democracy and the rule of law throughout the world.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2000
Credit Cost Reduction Act of 2000 - Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to exclude from the definition of "communication" subject to penalties for abusive debt collection practices any action taken pursuant to either State or Federal rules of civil procedure, or a nonjudicial foreclosure. Permits collection activities and communications during the 30-day notice period following initial debt notification to the consumer. Revises civil liability guidelines for a debt collector's noncompliance with the Act with respect to: (1) consumer's attorney's fees; (2) disallowance of certain attorney's fees accruing after a consumer's refusal of a debt collector's settlement offer if a final judgment amounts to the same as or less than such offer; (3) additional factors for consideration by the court in determining the amount of any award; and (4) a debt collector's good faith compliance with State or Federal rules of civil procedure as a shield against liability. Cites conditions under which a servicer of federally related mortgage loans secured by first liens is exempt from certain requirements relating to: (1) debt notification and validation; and (2) failure to disclose that the debt collector is attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Requires such a servicer, if a debt collector is exempt from ordinary debt validation requirements, to provide a consumer, without charge, with a validation statement or a notice of the consumer's right to receive one at least 30 days before any debt acceleration.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2000
Authorizes the President, on behalf of Congress, to present a gold medal to General Wesley K. Clark, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and service as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during the military operations against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2000
Violence Against Women Act of 2000 - Title I: Strengthening Law Enforcement to Reduce Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General (AG) to make grants to provide technical assistance and equipment to police departments, prosecutors, courts, and tribal jurisdictions to facilitate the widespread enforcement of protection orders. Revises provisions of the Federal criminal code governing the full faith and credit of protection orders. Designates State, local, and Indian tribal courts as eligible grantees under the program to combat violent crimes against women. Reauthorizes through FY 2005 various programs which address violence against women, including domestic violence and stalking offenses. Title II: Strengthening Services to Victims of Violence - Authorizes the AG to award grants to increase the availability of legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault. Reauthorizes through FY 2005 various grants and programs under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Title III: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children - Authorizes the AG to make grants to States, local governments, and Indian tribal governments for the provision of supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children by and between parents in situations involving domestic violence, child abuse, or sexual assault. Reauthorizes through FY 2005 runaway and homeless youth grants and programs for victims of child abuse. Title IV: Strengthening Education and Training to Combat Violence Against Women - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for model programs of education and training in appropriate responses to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Title V: Battered Immigrant Women - Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 2000 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide certain protections to battered immigrant women. Title VI: Extension of Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund - Extends through FY 2005 the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2000
Dairy Market Enhancement Act of 2000 - Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program of mandatory dairy product information reporting. Directs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to study and report to Congress respecting dairy product reporting measures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2000
Amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 to revise State agricultural loan mediation program provisions regarding eligibility, mediation services, and grant use. Authorizes permanent appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2000
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) everyone in the United States should have a decent home; (2) Members of the Senate should demonstrate the importance of volunteerism; and (3) Members of the Senate and contributing organizations should sponsor and construct two homes in the District of Columbia, each of which to be known as a "House That the Senate Built."
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2000
Trade Injury Compensation Act of 2000 - Establishes in the Treasury the Beef Industry Compensation Trust Fund. Appropriates and transfers to the Fund (estimated) amounts equal to the amount received as a result of the imposition of additional duties on the products of a U.S. beef retaliation list. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants to a nationally recognized beef promotion and research board to assist U.S. beef producers: (1) improve U.S. beef quality; and (2) promote and develop overseas markets. Terminates the Fund when: (1) the European Union complies with the World Trade Organization ruling allowing U.S. producers access to the European market; and (2) additional duties are no longer imposed on products listed on the beef retaliation list.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2000
Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from taking any action which would permanently close or render or declare as unserviceable any aircraft landing strip located on Federal land under the administrative jurisdiction of either Secretary unless: (1) the head of the aviation department of each State in which the aircraft landing strip is located has approved the action; and (2) certain notice and comment requirements have been met. Requires the Secretaries to adopt a nationwide policy, meeting specified requirements, for governing backcountry aviation issues related to the management of Federal land under their jurisdiction of those Secretaries, and require regional managers to adhere to it. Prescribes requirements for maintenance of such landing strips.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2000
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 - Title I: Wildlife Restoration - Amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act) to specify the amounts authorized to be set aside for FY 2001 and thereafter for administrative expenses of the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) in implementing such Act. Authorizes any administrative portions remaining in a fiscal year to be apportioned among the States for purposes of such Act. Directs the Secretary to: (1) certify to the Secretary of the Treasury the amounts so apportioned as well as amounts obligated for administrative expenses; and (2) publish the amounts so certified in the Federal Register. Specifies authorized administrative uses of such amounts. Prohibits the Secretary from using such amounts to supplement any function for which general appropriations are made for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or any other entity of the Department of the Interior (Department). Requires the Department's Inspector General to procure the performance of biennial audits of such expenditures, and requires an annual expenditure certification report from the Secretary and the Assistant Director for Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs (Assistant Director) (established under this Act). Earmarks funds under such Act other than administrative funds for grants for the enhancement of hunter education programs, hunter and sporting firearm safety programs, and hunter development programs, including the construction or enhancement of firearm shooting and archery ranges. Limits to 75 percent the Federal share of any grant activity. Earmarks funds under such Act for multi-State conservation project grants under which the Secretary makes grants that will benefit at least 26 States for wildlife restoration projects submitted each fiscal year by State fish and game departments acting through the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association). Prohibits grant funds from being used for activities that promote or encourage opposition to regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife. Title II: Sport Fish Restoration - Amends the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act) to specify the amounts authorized to be set aside for FY 2001 and thereafter for administrative expenses of the Secretary in implementing such Act. Authorizes remaining administrative portions in a fiscal year to be apportioned among the States for purposes of such Act. Specifies authorized administrative uses of such amounts. Prohibits the Secretary from using such amounts to supplement any function for which general appropriations are made for the USFWS or another Department entity. Requires the Department's Inspector General to procure the performance of biennial audits of such expenditures, and requires an annual expenditure certification report from the Secretary and the Assistant Director. Makes post-administrative amounts under such Act available each fiscal year to the Secretary for making multi-State (at least 26 States benefitting) project conservation grants for sport fish restoration projects prepared and submitted by State fish and game departments acting through the Association. Prohibits grant funds from being used for activities that promote or encourage opposition to the regulated taking of fish. Earmarks fiscal year grant amounts for specified marine fisheries commissions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) certify to the Secretary of the Treasury and each State fish and game department the amounts so apportioned as well as amounts obligated for administrative expenses; and (2) publish the amounts so certified in the Federal Register. Title III: Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs - Designates the programs established under the amended Acts as the Federal Assistance Program for State Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (Program). Establishes within the USFWS an Assistant Director for Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs to administer, manage, and oversee the Program. Abolishes the position of Chief of the Division of Federal Aid of the Department of the Interior and transfers that position's duties to the Assistant Director. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the steps taken to comply with this Act, including the extent to which compliance has required a reduction in personnel assigned to administer, manage, and oversee the Program.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2000
Medicare Fairness in Reimbursement Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to instruct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a system for making adjustments to payments for items and services provided under the original Medicare fee-for-service program, with specified formulae for States whose average per beneficiary amount is: (1) greater than 105 percent of the national average; or (2) less than 95 percent of the national average. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish procedures for improving methods to collect wage and hour data on hospital employees by occupational category; and (2) revise the methods used to adjust payments to hospitals for different area wage levels to ensure that such data are taken into account.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2000
Immigration and Naturalization Service Data Management Improvement Act of 2000 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 respecting the automated entry-exit control system to: (1) replace the current requirement that information be collected on every entering and exiting alien with the requirement that such system be an integrated entry and exit data system using available data; (2) state that no additional data collection authority is authorized; (3) extend program implementation deadlines; (4) revise reporting provisions; and (5) authorize appropriations. Directs the Attorney General to determine which Department of Justice and other law enforcement personnel may have access to such data. Directs the Attorney General to establish a task force which shall evaluate specified program-related issues. Authorizes appropriations. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretaries of State, Commerce, and the Treasury, should consult with affected foreign governments to improve border management.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2000
Amends the National Nuclear Security Administration Act to direct the Administrator for Nuclear Security to ensure that the operations and activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration are executed in full compliance with Federal and State environmental, safety, and health laws and regulations (including any directives issued thereunder, and waivers of Federal sovereign immunity). States that all environmental protection, safety, and health requirements applicable to Department of Energy functions or facilities immediately before the effective date of this Act shall continue to apply to corresponding functions or facilities of the Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2000
National Energy Security Act of 2000 - Title I: Energy Security Actions Required of the Secretary of Energy - Directs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to report annually to the President and Congress on the progress the United States has made toward obtaining the goal of not more than 50 percent dependence on foreign oil sources by 2010. (Sec. 102) Sets a deadline for the Secretary to submit to the President a certain report of the National Petroleum Council, together with recommendations for administrative or legislative actions. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to establish within the National Economic Council an Interagency Work Group on Natural Gas (the Group), whose function shall be to develop a strategy and comprehensive policy for the use of natural gas as an essential component of overall national objectives of energy security, economic growth, and environmental protection. Title II: Amendments to Energy Policy and Conservation Act and Actions Affecting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to authorize drawdown and distribution of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) if: (1) the President concurs in the determination of the Secretary of Defense that it will not impair national security; and (2) the Secretary of Energy finds that it will not have an adverse effect on the domestic petroleum industry. (Sec. 201) Extends through FY 2003 the availability of FY 2000 appropriations for SPR authorities. Extends the expiration date for authorities related to domestic supply availability from March 31, 2000, to December 31, 2003. (Sec. 202) Extends from FY 1997 through 2003 the authorization of appropriations for the interagency working group that coordinates Federal programs affecting exports of renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services. Extends the expiration date for standby energy authorities from March 31, 2000, to December 31, 2003. (Sec. 203) Instructs the President to establish immediately an Interagency Panel on the Strategic Petroleum Study to study and report to the President and Congress regarding oil markets and estimated future fluctuations in the price, supply, and demand for crude oil, and to determine appropriate SPR capacity and use. Title III: Provisions to Protect Consumers and Low Income Families and Encourage Energy Efficiencies - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to repeal: (1) the requirement that participating States share 25 percent of the cost of weatherization programs as a condition for receiving assistance grants; and (2) the mandate that forty percent of weatherization program funds be spent for weatherization program materials. Instructs the Secretary to establish energy audit procedures and techniques. Increases the financial assistance for labor and weatherization materials expenditures per dwelling unit. Includes among such weatherization materials heating and cooling modification costs, including replacement. (Sec. 301) Repeals the mandate for the Secretary to establish, pursuant to State application, a separate average per dwelling unit limitation. (Sec. 302) Amends the EPCA to direct the Secretary, upon State request, to provide information, technical assistance, and funding for specified actions (summer fill programs) to avoid severe seasonal price increases and supply shortages of kerosene, propane, and heating oil during summer months. (Sec. 303) Authorizes appropriations for an Energy Efficiency Science Initiative, managed by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, for grants for energy efficiency research. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the Secretary to establish, maintain, and operate a Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve (Reserve) (containing no more than two million barrels of petroleum distillate) in the Northeast. States that such Reserve shall not be considered to be an SPR component. Restricts release of Reserve petroleum distillate to: (1) a severe energy supply disruption; (2) a severe price increase; or (3) an emergency affecting the Northeast which the President determines to merit such release. Mandates establishment of the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve Account in the Treasury subsequent to the Secretary's decision to establish the Reserve. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Provisions to Enhance the Use of Domestic Energy Resources - Subtitle A: Hydroelectric Resources - Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and of the Army, respectively, to inventory all dams, impoundments, and other facilities under their jurisdiction and to report to Congress on the potential of such facilities to generate hydroelectric power and on actions planned to do so. (Sec. 402) Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to report to Congress on expedited hydroelectric licensing procedures. Subtitle B: Nuclear Resources - Directs the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to report to Congress on: (1) domestic nuclear power generation and production; and (2) the potential for increasing nuclear generating capacity and production as part of the domestic energy mix. Subtitle C: Development of a National Spent Nuclear Fuel Strategy - Establishes an Office of Spent Nuclear Fuel Research within the Office of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology of the Department of Energy, headed by an Associate Director, to implement an integrated research and development program on technologies for the treatment, recycling, and disposal of high-level nuclear radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, under the general supervision of the Secretary. Confers upon the Secretary grant and contract making authority. Subtitle D: Coal Resources - Directs the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress on the potential for increased generation from existing coal-fired power plants; and (2) provide grants for refinement and demonstration of new technologies for the conversion of coal to liquids. Title V: Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2000 - Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2000 - Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to establish and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program that will: (1) result in an environmentally sound program; (2) not result in significant adverse effects upon fish and wildlife; and (3) ensure the receipt of fair market value by the public for the mineral resources to be leased. (Sec. 503) Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 to repeal the prohibition against production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and any leasing or development leading to such production. States that Congress determines that the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program and activities authorized by this Act are compatible with the purposes for which the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was established, and that no further findings or decisions are required to implement this determination. States this Act is the sole authority for Coastal Plain leasing, and that such Plain is considered "Federal land" for purposes of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) designate up to a specified total of Coastal Plain acreage as "Special Areas" and close them to leasing if the Secretary determines that these Areas require special management and regulatory protection; and (2) permit leasing in those Special Areas by setting lease terms that limit or condition surface use and occupancy by lessees but permit the use of horizontal drilling technology from sites on leases located outside the designated Special Areas. Declares that this Act constitutes the Secretary's sole authority to close Coastal Plain lands to oil and gas leasing and to exploration, development, and production. Instructs the Secretary to convey the surface estate of specified lands to the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation and to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation in order to remove clouds on title and clarify land ownership patterns within the Coastal Plain. (Sec. 505) Declares that the Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement on the Coastal Plain of April 1997 is adequate to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. (Sec. 506) States that lands may be leased to any person qualified to obtain a lease for oil and gas deposits under the Mineral Leasing Act. Requires the Secretary to prescribe lease procedures. (Sec. 507) Authorizes the Secretary to grant to the highest responsible qualified bidder by sealed competitive cash bonus bid any Coastal Plain lands upon payment of such bonus and a royalty which shall not be less than a certain amount. Prescribes lease terms and conditions. Sets forth bonding requirements to ensure financial responsibility of lessee and avoid Federal liability. (Sec. 512) Directs the Secretary to grant rights-of-way and easements across the Coastal Plain for oil and gas transportation. (Sec. 513) Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations to provide for: (1) biannual scheduled onsite inspections for compliance of Coastal Plain facilities with environmental or safety regulations; and (2) annual nonscheduled onsite inspections of such facilities. Title VI: Improvements to Federal Oil and Gas Lease Management - Federal Oil and Gas Lease Management Improvement Act of 2000 - Emphasizes that this Act does not give a State a property right or interest in any Federal lease or land. Subtitle A: State Option to Regulate Oil and Gas Lease Operation on Federal Land - Permits a State to notify either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (depending upon the appropriate jurisdiction) of its intent to accept authority for regulation of certain oil and gas lease operations on Federal land within such State. Declares an automatic transfer of regulatory authority over designated operations from the appropriate Secretary to the State effective 180 days following receipt of such notification. Bars a Federal agency from exercising authority formerly held by such Secretary with respect to oil and gas lease operations on Federal land. Subtitle B: Use of Cost Savings from State Regulation - Prescribes guidelines to compensate a State for the costs of implementing such transferred authority. Subtitle C: Streamlining and Cost Reduction - Bars the appropriate Secretary from recovering costs for applications and other documents relating to oil and gas leases. (Sec. 632) Requires the Secretary to ensure: (1) timely issuance of Federal agency decisions respecting oil and gas leasing and operations on Federal land; and (2) that unwarranted denials and stays of lease issuance and unwarranted restrictions on lease operations are eliminated from the administration of oil and gas leasing on Federal land. (Sec. 635) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to publish a national inventory of oil and gas reserves and potential resources underlying Federal land and the Outer Continental Shelf. Subtitle D: Federal Royalty Certainty - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Mineral Leasing Act pertaining to oil and gas leases to reformulate the payment of their respective lease royalties. Exempts Indian lands from such reformulation. Subtitle E: Royalty Reinvestment in America - Directs the appropriate Secretary, whenever certain crude oil or natural gas prices dip below a specified level, to allow as a credit against the payment of Federal oil and gas production royalties, a specified percentage of expenditures made for capital exploration and development on Federal oil and gas leases. (Sec. 651) Prohibits capital expenditures made on Outer Continental Shelf leases from being credited against onshore Federal royalty obligations. (Sec. 652) Instructs the appropriate Secretary to reduce the royalty rate for marginal oil and gas production following prescribed guidelines whenever certain crude oil or natural gas prices dip below a specified level. (Sec. 653) Prescribes procedural guidelines under which any operator of an oil well leased under specified statutes may notify the Secretary of the Interior of suspension of operation and production at the well. Title VII: Frontier Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Incentives - Frontier Exploration and Development Incentives Act of 2000 - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act governing bidding procedures for oil and gas leases to set a certain net profit royalty share for oil and gas production in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas of Alaska. (Sec. 702) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to reduce any future royalty or rental obligation by a specified percentage after an oil and gas lease has been granted pursuant to the statutory bidding system. Title VIII: Tax Measures to Enhance Domestic Oil and Gas Production - Subtitle A: Marginal Well Preservation - Marginal Well Preservation Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to specify a tax credit for marginal domestic oil and natural gas well production. (Sec. 803) Authorizes taxpayer election to expense geological and geophysical expenditures and to delay rental payments for domestic oil and gas wells. Subtitle B: Independent Oil and Gas Producers - Amends the IRC to: (1) set forth a five-year net operating loss carryback for losses attributable to operating mineral interests of independent oil and gas producers; and (2) suspend through 2004 the limitation on the total amount of the depletion allowance to 65 percent of taxable income. Title IX: Tax Measures to Enhance the Use of Renewable Energy Sources, Improve Energy Efficiencies, Protect Consumers and Conversion to Clean Burning Fuels - Amends the IRC to: (1) set forth placed-in-service rules and special rules for biomass facilities; (2) deny renewable electricity production credit to electricity sold to utilities under certain contracts; (3) exclude from gross income as contributions to capital certain amounts received by electric energy, gas, or steam utilities; (4) extend the credit for electricity produced from steel cogeneration; (5) declare certain expense limitations on depreciable business assets inapplicable to a storage facility used in connection with home heating oil distribution; and (6) establish a tax credit for certain percentages of residential solar energy photovoltaic and solar water heating property expenditures.
![Official portrait of Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000858_200.jpg)