United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1998
Hospital Length of Stay Act of 1998 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require that group and individual health insurance coverage, as well as Medicare supplemental insurance policies and managed care plans under Medicaid, provide coverage for hospital lengths of stay as determined by the attending health care provider in consultation with the patient.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1998
Defense Jobs and Trade Promotion Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the limitation on the amount of receipts attributable to military property which may be treated as exempt foreign trade income.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1998
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to extend through FY 2001 the authorization of appropriations for: (1) the Federal Council on the Aging; (2) administration; (3) grants for State and community programs on aging; (4) the availability of surplus commodities; (5) training, research, and discretionary projects and programs; (6) community service employment for older Americans; (7) grants for Native Americans; (8) allotments for Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection activities; and (9) the Native American program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1998
Women's Progress Commemoration Act - Establishes the Women's Progress Commemoration Commission to, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior and other appropriate Federal, State, and local public and private entities, prepare and submit to the Secretary a report that: (1) identifies sites of historical significance to the women's movement; and (2) recommends actions, under the National Historic Preservation Act and other law, to rehabilitate and preserve the sites and provide to the public interpretive and educational materials and activities at the sites. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary, after receipt of the Commission's report, to report to the Congress on the actions that have been taken to preserve the sites identified in the Commission's report as being of historical significance.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1998
Continued Dumping or Subsidy Offset Act of 1998 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to declare that, whenever continued dumping or subsidization is found to exist by the administering authority or by operation of law, any duties assessed shall be distributed as continued dumping or subsidy offsets to the affected domestic producers for qualifying expenditures on an annual basis. Limits qualifying expenditures to expenditures incurred since the issuance of the antidumping duty finding or order or countervailing duty order in any or all of the categories of plant, equipment, research and development (R&D), personnel training, acquisition of technology, employer-paid employee health care and pension benefits, and environmental equipment, training or technology. Directs the Commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service to prescribe offset disbursement procedures. Sets forth general procedures for notification of eligible parties. Requires the Commissioner to establish a special account in the Treasury to receive all antidumping or countervailing duties, including interest, for distribution according to this Act, within 14 days after an antidumping or countervailing duty order takes effect.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 1998
Directs the Secretary of State to establish a cultural and training program for disadvantaged individuals from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Declares that the purpose of such program is to provide such individuals with the experience of living and working in a multicultural society while obtaining valuable work skills and experience. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize 60-month nonimmigrant visas for an alien having a residence in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland (which the alien has no intention of abandoning) who is coming temporarily to the United States as a participant in a United States-Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland cultural and training program. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to limitations on benefits and contributions under qualified plans to apply to multiemployer plans the same treatment in the adjustment to the $90,000 limit on benefits, where the benefit begins before the social security retirement age, as is accorded to plans maintained by governments and tax-exempt organizations. Exempts multiemployer plans from the alternative benefit limit of 100 percent of the participant's average compensation for his or her high three years. Prohibits a multiemployer plan from being combined or aggregated with any other plan for the purpose of applying limitations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 July 1998
Advancement in Pediatric Autism Research Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of NIH with respect to autism. Requires the Director, among other things to: (1) ensure that at NIH there is a committee to coordinate research on autism; and (2) make awards and grants to public or nonprofit entities for centers of excellence regarding research on autism. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1998
National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 - Amends the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to provide that any gift or bequest made for the benefit of a particular national wildlife refuge or complex of refuges shall be disbursed only for such refuge's or refuges' benefit. Authorizes Federal matching funds. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to conduct a volunteer coordinator pilot project in at least two refuges (but not more than 20 nationwide) in each United States Fish and Wildlife Service region. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce to provide volunteers in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with awards and recognition, including nominal cash awards. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a Senior Volunteer Corps. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with community partnership organizations (private, corporate, academic, or State or local) to implement refuge related programs. Authorizes Federal matching funds. (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to develop guidance for, and programs of, refuge education. (Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1998
Reinstatement of the Medicare Rehabilitation Benefit Act of 1998 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the financial limitation on rehabilitation services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program. Provides that for outpatient physical therapy services, outpatient occupational therapy services, and outpatient speech-language pathology services covered under Medicare and furnished on or after January 1, 2000, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement a new payment methodology based on the classification of individuals by diagnostic category, functional status, and prior use of services in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Requires that such payment methodology be designed so that, taking into account the increased expenditures resulting from this Act, it does not result in any increase or decrease in the expenditures under Medicare on a fiscal year basis.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1998
Federal Research Investment Act - Calls for Federal funding levels for fundamental, scientific, and pre-competitive engineering research to be increased to equal approximately 2.6 percent of the total annual Federal budget. Authorizes appropriations for civilian research and development (R&D) within specified agencies for FY 1999 through 2010. Directs the President to include with the annual budget request a report concerning Federal R&D program funding, future R&D strategies and targets, and an analysis of funding levels across Federal agencies by funding methodology. Requires the Director of the Office of Science Technology Policy (OSTP) to enter in an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study to develop methods for evaluating federally-funded R&D programs. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), based on study results, to promulgate one or more alternative forms for Federal R&D performance goals. Permits an agency head to apply such an alternative form without further authorization by OMB. Requires agency heads carrying out R&D activities, upon updating a strategic plan, to describe the current and future use of methods for determining an acceptable level of R&D success as recommended by the study. Authorizes appropriations for the study. Requires: (1) the OMB Director, based upon program performance reports, to identify the civilian R&D program activities or components which do not meet an acceptable level of success; (2) an agency head to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a concise statement of the steps needed to terminate a program activity or component identified as being below the acceptable level of success for two consecutive fiscal years; (3) such a program to be terminated unless the Directors of OSTP and OMB and the agency head determine that it should be continued; and (4) the statement of termination to recommend disposition of unexpended and unobligated funds from terminated programs.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1998
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) publicly declare that it considers there to be probable cause to believe that Slobodan Milosevic, President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, has committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; (2) make collection of information that can be supplied to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for use as evidence to support his indictment and trial a high priority; (3) provide a fair share of any additional financial or personnel resources that may be required by the Tribunal for the adjudication of Milosevic and others arising from the conflict in the former Yugoslavia; (4) engage in a discussion with other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and interested states of information any such state may hold regarding such matters and of measures to be taken to apprehend persons indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity; (5) urge the Tribunal to promptly review all information relating to Milosevic's possible criminal culpability, with a view toward prompt issuance of a public indictment; (6) upon issuance of such indictment, adopt a policy of having no dealings with Milosevic other than as a defendant before the Tribunal; and (7) support Milosevic's immediate apprehension.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1998
Pet Safety and Protection Act of 1998 - Amends the Animal Welfare Act regarding permissible sources of research facility dogs and cats. Establishes monetary penalties for related violations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1998
Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue one-dollar and half-dollar coins emblematic of the expedition of Lewis and Clark. Allocates surcharges from coin sales between the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council and the National Park Service for activities associated with the bicentennial commemoration of the expedition.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore and make permanent the exclusion from gross income for amounts received under qualified group legal services plans.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1998
Superfund Recycling Equity Act of 1998 - 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.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1998
Children's Development Commission Act - Amends the National Housing Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to insure mortgages for: (1) new or rehabilitated child care and development facilities, including mortgage insurance for fire safety equipment loans; and (2) purchase or refinance of existing child care and development facilities. Establishes the Children's Development Commission which shall: (1) issue facility standards and compliance certifications; and (2) make loans not in excess of $50,000 for facility rehabilitation or renovation. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a study of the availability of child care facility secondary mortgage markets.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1998
Amends the Small Business Act to increase for each of FY 1999 through 2001 the authorization of appropriations for women's business center program projects.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1998
Disapproves the rule submitted by the Health Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, on June 1, 1998, relating to surety bond requirements for home health agencies under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize, in the case of a housing cooperative eligible for the low-income housing tax credit: (1) nonresident shareholders to include such credit and the deduction for certain unpaid acquisition interest allowable to the cooperative proportionally in the calculation of their individual income taxes; and (2) resident shareholders to include the deduction for real estate taxes and interest paid by the cooperative proportionally in the calculation of their individual income taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1998
Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide: (1) a sentencing enhancement of at least two levels for offenses involving counterfeit bearer obligations of the United States; and (2) an additional sentencing enhancement of at least two levels with respect to any such offense involving the use of a computer printer or a color photocopying machine.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1998
Equality for Israel at the United Nations Act of 1998 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States must promote an end to the exclusion of Israel from any of the United Nations regional blocs, including rotating membership on the UN Security Council; and (2) the U.S. Ambassador to the UN should take all steps necessary to ensure Israel's acceptance in the Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG) regional bloc (membership which includes the non-European countries of Canada, Australia, and the United States). Directs the Secretary of State to report to appropriate congressional committees on efforts taken to achieve such goals.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1998
Condemns: (1) the continued human rights violations by all parties and factions in Afghanistan; (2) targeted discrimination against women and girls; and (3) the use of rape or other forms of systematic gender discrimination by any party or faction in Afghanistan as an instrument of war. Calls on all Afghan parties to: (1) respect international norms and standards of human rights; (2) end gender-based discrimination and deprivation of women's human rights; and (3) ensure the effective participation of women in civil, political, and social life throughout the country, the right of women and girls to an education without discrimination, respect for the right of women to physical security, that those responsible for physical attacks on women are brought to justice, respect for freedom of movement of women, and effective access for women to health care and equal access to health facilities. Supports the work of nongovernmental organizations advocating respect for human rights in Afghanistan and an improvement in the status of women and their access to humanitarian and development assistance and programs. Calls on the international community to provide adequate humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and Afghan refugees in neighboring countries pending their voluntary repatriation. Requests all Afghan parties to lift the restrictions imposed on international aid and to cease any action which may prevent or impede the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Welcomes the appointment of Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi as special envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for Afghanistan. Encourages U.N. efforts to produce a durable peace in Afghanistan consistent with the goal of a broad-based national government respectful of human rights. Calls on all warring parties and factions to participate with Ambassador Brahimi in an intra-Afghan dialogue regarding the peace process. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President and the Secretary of State should: (1) work with the U.N. High Commissioner of Refugees to guarantee the safety of, and provide development assistance for, Afghan women's groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan, to increase support for refugee programs in Pakistan providing assistance to Afghan women and children, and to explore options for the resettlement in western countries of Afghan women who fear for their safety or their families' safety; (2) establish an Afghanistan Women's Initiative based on the Bosnian Women's Initiative and the Rwandan Women's Initiative; (3) make a policy determination that recognition of any government in Afghanistan by the U.S. depends on the human rights policies toward women, that the U.S. should not recognize any government which systematically maltreats women, and that any nonemergency economic or development assistance will be based on respect for human rights; (4) call for the creation of a commission to establish an international record of the criminal culpability of any individual or party in Afghanistan employing rape or other crime against humanity considered a grave breach of the Geneva Convention as an instrument of war; and (5) call for the creation by the UN of an ad hoc international criminal tribunal for the purposes of indicting, prosecuting, and imprisoning any individual responsible for crimes against humanity in Afghanistan. Requires submission of a report by the Secretary to the Congress regarding actions that have been taken to implement this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1998
Cuban Solidarity (SOLIDARIDAD) Act of 1998 - Directs the President to: (1) instruct the heads of all relevant U.S. agencies to increase support for democratic opposition groups in Cuba; (2) initiate broadcasting of Radio Marti and Television Marti from the United States Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, or other suitable sites in proximity to Cuba; (3) provide not less than $5 million of funds otherwise available for U.S. voluntary contributions to the Organization of American States (OAS) in FY 1999, solely for the purpose of establishing a fund for the deployment of human rights observers, election support, and election observation in Cuba; (4) direct the Secretary of the Treasury to increase the number of personnel of the Office of Foreign Assets Control having responsibilities with respect to the economic embargo on Cuba in order to enforce the embargo more vigorously and to license expeditiously lawful transactions involving Cuba; and (5) take steps to secure a commitment from the Cuban government to allow the direct delivery of mail from the United States to Cuba. (Sec. 5) Urges the President to instruct: (1) the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) to introduce a resolution in the UN Security Council calling upon the Cuban government to immediately respect all human rights, free all political prisoners, legalize independent political parties, allow independent trade unions, and conduct internationally monitored and freely contested elections; and (2) the Attorney General to seek an indictment of Fidel Castro and-or other Cuban government officials for the willful, premeditated attack on and destruction of two unarmed "Brothers to the Rescue" humanitarian aircraft on February 24, 1996 within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, and the violence against and incapacitation and murder of four individuals on such aircraft, Pablo Morales, Carlos Costa, Mario de la Pena, and Armando Alejandre. Requires specified reports on Cuba. (Sec. 6) Earmarks specified amounts of economic support fund and development assistance funds for individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations to support democracy-building efforts, and to provide humanitarian assistance to victims of political repression, in Cuba. Requires notification of the appropriate congressional committees with respect to such funds. Prohibits the provision of assistance under this Act to the Cuban government, to any organization affiliated with the Cuban government, or to any organization that has violated any U.S. law prohibiting or restricting trade or other financial transactions with Cuba. (Sec. 7) Authorizes the President to authorize air transportation flights directly from the United States to Cuba for a period of six months (including additional six month periods) only if the President certifies to the Congress that: (1) those flights are necessary for, and will be used solely for, the delivery of humanitarian assistance (including medicines and medical supplies) by independent nongovernmental organizations to victims of political repression in Cuba; and (2) adequate monitoring is in place to ensure that such assistance will be delivered by such organizations only to the intended recipients and will not be diverted to ineligible persons.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1998
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States, at the 50th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Oman, should: (1) remain firmly opposed to commercial whaling; (2) initiate and support efforts to ensure that all activities conducted under reservations to the Commission's moratorium or sanctuaries are ceased; (3) oppose the lethal taking of whales for scientific purposes unless specifically authorized by the Commission's scientific committee; (4) seek the Commission's support for specific efforts by member nations to end illegal trade in whale meat; and (5) support the permanent protection of whale populations through the establishment of whale sanctuaries in which commercial whaling is prohibited. Urges the United States to make full use of all appropriate mechanisms to implement such goals.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1998
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through January 1, 2001, the duty on certain shadow mask steel used in making aperture masks for cathode-ray tube video displays.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1998
Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act of 1998 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to give States the option of making medical assistance for breast and cervical cancer-related treatment services available to certain low-income women without creditable coverage during a presumptive eligibility period. Provides for an enhanced match with regard to such treatment services.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1998
Disaster Victim Tax Extension Act of 1998 - Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act to provide for abatement of interest on taxpayer underpayments in presidentially declared disaster areas if a filing and payment extension is granted.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1998
Recognizes the historic significance of the 50th anniversary of the reestablishment of the State of Israel. Commends the Israeli people for their achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East. Reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. Extends congratulations and best wishes to the State of Israel and her people for a peaceful, prosperous, and successful future.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1998
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Commerce should ensure that: (1) the 2000 decennial census of population include the administration of a long-form questionnaire; (2) the content of such questionnaire include, at a minimum, specified subjects sent to the Congress by the Census Bureau on March 31, 1997; and (3) a sufficient number of households receive such questionnaire to ensure the availability of reliable data for small geographic areas.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1998
Federal Home Loan Bank System Regulatory Restructuring Act of 1998 - Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to abolish the Federal Housing Finance Board and transfer its oversight functions for safety and soundness to the Director of Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, and its mission oversight to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Federal Housing Enterprise Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1998
Consumer Access to Travel Information Act of 1998 - Amends Federal aviation safety law policy to direct the Secretary of Transportation to consider it in the public interest, and consistent with public convenience and necessity, to ensure that consumers may obtain unbiased comparative information from travel agents and other independent sources about air transportation passenger services and fares in an efficient and convenient manner. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on the availability of such information to consumers. Requires the Secretary, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, to issue a cease and desist order to any air carrier or other party engaged in any practice or policy which constitutes a predatory, unfair, or deceptive practice or unfair method of competition which restricts the widespread, convenient, and efficient access by the public to unbiased comparative air transportation passenger service and fare information or the sale, booking, or distribution of air transportation passenger services or products.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1998
Expresses congratulations and gratitude to the participants in, and supporters of, the negotiations resulting in the Northern Ireland Peace Agreement, particularly British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, President Clinton, and Senator George Mitchell.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 1998
Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 1998 - Amends the Small Business Act to require each participating Federal agency (the Internal Revenue Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Labor), the Assistant Administrator for Small Business Development Centers of the Small Business Administration, and representatives of an association representing a majority of small business development centers (SBDCs) to agree to a small business regulatory compliance assistance plan. Directs the Assistant Administrator to develop and publish guidelines for the establishment by SBDCs of a system of small business voluntary regulatory compliance (system), with specified guideline requirements. Outlines the assistance to be provided to participating small businesses, with an exception concerning legal services. Requires annual reports from: (1) each SBDC to the Assistant Administrator on assistance provided; and (2) the Assistant Administrator to the House and Senate Small Business Committees and the Regulatory Fairness Board concerning the assistance provided under this Act, the level of outreach to small businesses achieved by SBDCs, and recommendations for improvements in the regulation of small businesses participating in the system. Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate the system and submit findings to such Committees. Provides State funding limits for such assistance, with exceptions and an exemption from matching requirements. Prohibits the Assistant Administrator from providing any funds to an SBDC after September 30, 2000, unless such SBDC has been approved for funding under a certification requirement (with a waiver for a good faith effort to achieve such certification). Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2002.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1998
Technical Workers Fairness Act of 1998 - Amends the Revenue Act of 1978, as amended by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, with respect to the standards that a taxpayer must apply to treat certain individuals as not being employees for employment tax purposes. Repeals the exception to such standards for an individual who, pursuant to an arrangement between the taxpayer and another person, provides services for such other person as an engineer, designer, drafter, computer programmer, systems analyst, or other similarly skilled worker (technical worker) engaged in a similar line of work. (Thus, restores the standards used for determining whether technical workers are not employees as in effect before the Tax Reform Act of 1986.)
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1998
Managed Care Fair Payment Act of 1998 - Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, with respect to the formula for the annual area-specific Medicare+Choice capitation rate. Revises such formula for years beginning with 1999 to exclude from the adjusted average per capita rate of Federal payment for 1997 any payments attributable to disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments. Requires the Secretary, for any such 1997 payment rate that reflects payments covered under a State hospital reimbursement system, to estimate a payment adjustment comparable to the adjustment that would have been made if the hospitals had not been reimbursed under such system. Directs the Secretary, for portions of cost reporting periods occurring on or after January 1, 1999, to provide for an additional payment for each DSH discharge of any managed care enrollee: (1) enrolled under a risk-sharing contract with an eligible organization who is also entitled to Medicare part A benefits; or (2) enrolled with a Medicare+Choice organization. (Thus requires that DSH payments be made directly to a DSH in which a managed care enrollee actually receives care, and not to the enrollee's Medicare+Choice organization for subsequent payment to such DSH.)
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1998
Working Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable tax credit to individuals for the real estate taxes paid or accrued on their principal residence, up to a maximum applicable dollar amount ranging from $100 for taxable years beginning in 1999 to $500 in taxable years beginning in 2003 and thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1998
Calls upon the Government of Japan to: (1) live up to the standards it has set for open competitive markets; and (2) fully implement the representations that it made to a dispute settlement panel of the World Trade Organization regarding deregulation, transparency, nondiscrimination, open distribution systems, and vigorous enforcement of competition laws with respect to consumer photographic film and paper as well as other sectors, such as autos and auto parts, glass, and telecommunications, that face similar market access barriers there. Urges the President, the United States Trade Representative, and other appropriate officers of the executive branch to exercise fully existing authority to achieve these objectives. Requests the President to report periodically to the Congress on progress in eliminating market restrictions in Japan for consumer photographic film and paper.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
U.S. Holocaust Assets Commission Act of 1998 - Establishes the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States to: (1) study and develop an historical record of the collection and disposition of specified assets of Holocaust victims if they came into the possession or control of the Federal Government, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and any Federal reserve bank, at any time after January 30, 1933; (2) coordinate its activities with those of private and governmental entities; (3) review comprehensively research conducted by other entities regarding such assets in the United States; and (4) report its recommendations to the President. Instructs the President to report recommendations for action to the Congress. Provides for funding of Commission activities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Prohibits the President from transferring a veterans memorial object that was brought to the United States as a memorial of combat abroad to a foreign country or entity controlled by a foreign government, or to any person for ultimate transfer or conveyance to such a country or entity, unless specifically authorized by law.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Constitutional Amendment - Grants victims of crimes of violence the right to: (1) reasonable notice of, and to not be excluded from, all public proceedings relating to the crime; (2) be heard, if present, and to submit a statement at all public proceedings to determine a release from custody, an acceptance of a negotiated plea, or a sentence (grants such rights at a non-public parole proceeding to the extent they are afforded to the convicted offender); (3) reasonable notice of a release or escape from custody relating to the crime; (4) consideration for the interest of the victim in a trial free from unreasonable delay; (5) an order of restitution from the convicted offender; (6) consideration for the safety of the victim in determining any release from custody; and (7) reasonable notice of the rights established by this amendment. Grants the victim or the victim's representative standing to assert such rights. Provides that nothing in this amendment shall: (1) provide grounds for the victim to challenge a charging decision or a conviction, to overturn a sentence or negotiated plea, to obtain a stay of trial, or to compel a new trial; and (2) give rise to a claim for damages against the United States, a State, a political subdivision, or a public official. Empowers the Congress and the States to implement and enforce this amendment within their respective jurisdictions by appropriate legislation, including by enacting exceptions when necessary to achieve a compelling interest.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a limited credit for qualified medical innovation expenses for clinical testing research expenses attributable to academic medical centers and other qualified hospital research organizations.
![Official portrait of Sen. D'Amato, Alfonse [R-NY]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000018_200.jpg)