United States · United States Congress · 10 February 2000
Timber and Agriculture Environmental Fairness Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from requiring a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit for discharges composed entirely of agricultural stormwater discharges or for discharges from silviculture operations. Excludes discharges of stormwater runoff from silvicultural operations from the definition of "point source."
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2000
Authorizes presentation of a gold medal on behalf of Congress to former President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan. Authorizes specified sums to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund for medal costs. Mandates that sale proceeds from duplicate bronze medals be deposited into such Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2000
Declares that Congress supports the goals and ideas of National Donor Day. Encourages all Americans to learn about the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation and to discuss such donation with their families and friends.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2000
Hospital Preservation and Equity Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 with regard to the one year sole community hospital payment increase, to reset the applicable percentage increase for FY 2001 and each subsequent fiscal year to the market basket percentage increase for hospitals in all areas for purposes of updating payments to prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals for inpatient hospital services.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 2000
Student Athlete Protection Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to include as unlawful sports gambling a lottery, sweepstakes, or other betting, gambling, or wagering scheme based, directly or indirectly, on one or more: (1) competitive games in which high school or college athletes participate; (2) performances of high school or college athletes in competitive games; or (3) competitive games at the Summer or Winter Olympics.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2000
Recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, and expresses the gratitude of the American people for the service of members of the armed forces during such War.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2000
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a congressional gold medal to John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, in recognition of his accomplishments as a priest, a soldier, and a humanitarian. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2000
Religious Broadcasting Freedom Act - Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from establishing, expanding, or otherwise modifying requirements relating to the service obligations of noncommercial educational television stations except by means of Federal agency rulemaking procedures. Terminates the additional guidance contained in the FCC's memorandum opinion and order in WQED Pittsburgh (FCC 99-393), except as such guidance is prescribed in accordance with the above rulemaking procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1999
Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 1999 - Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from prescribing any rules authorizing the operation of new, low power FM radio stations, or establishing a low power radio service, as currently proposed. Terminates previously prescribed rules which would violate such prohibition and voids licenses issued pursuant to such rules.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
State's and Parental Rights Improvement Act of 2000 - Prohibits, notwithstanding any other provision of law, considering a State to have violated any term or condition of any Federal health care grant-in-aid program by requiring the consent or notification of a parent or guardian regarding dispensing a prescription drug or device (or any class of drugs or devices specified by the State) to a minor.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of State (the Secretary), as part of the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, to include information to address the status of trafficking in persons, including: (1) a list of foreign countries that are countries of origin, transit, or destination for a significant number of victims of "severe forms of trafficking" (defined as sex trafficking in which either a commercial sex act or any act or event contributing to such act is effected or induced by force, coercion, fraud, or deception, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained age 18, and the purchase, sale, recruitment, harboring, transportation, transfer, or receipt of a person for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, or slavery, or slavery-like practices which is effected by force, coercion, fraud, or deception); (2) a description of the nature and extent of severe forms of trafficking in persons in each country (descriptive information); (3) an assessment of the efforts by such governments to combat severe forms of trafficking (assessment information); and (4) descriptive information and, where appropriate, assessment information, on a country-by-country basis. (Sec 5) Requires the President to establish an Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, chaired by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to establish within the Department of State an Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, which shall assist the Task Force and be administered by a Director. Directs the Task Force to: (1) coordinate the implementation of this Act; (2) measure and evaluate progress of the United States and other countries in trafficking prevention, protection of and provision of assistance to trafficking victims, and prosecution and enforcement against traffickers; (3) expand interagency procedures to collect and organize data (and respect the confidentiality of trafficking victims); (4) engage in efforts to facilitate cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination; (5) examine the role of the international "sex tourism" industry in the trafficking of women and children and in the sexual exploitation of women and children around the world; and (6) make recommendations on appropriate measures to combat this industry. (Sec. 6) Directs the President: (1) acting through the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) and the heads of other appropriate agencies, to establish and carry out initiatives to enhance economic opportunity for potential victims of trafficking as a method to deter trafficking; (2) acting through the Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and State, and through the Attorney General, to establish and carry out programs to increase public awareness, particularly among potential victims, of the dangers of trafficking and the protections that are available for victims; and (3) to consult with appropriate nongovernmental organizations with respect to the establishment and conduct of initiatives under this section. (Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary and the Administrator to establish and carry out programs and initiatives in foreign countries to assist in the safe integration, reintegration, or resettlement of victims of trafficking and their children and to take appropriate steps to enhance cooperative efforts among foreign countries, including countries of origin of victims, to assist in such integration, reintegration, or resettlement. Directs the Attorney General, the Secretaries of HHS and Labor, and the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation, subject to the availability of appropriations, to expand existing services to provide assistance to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons within the United States, without regard to such victims' immigration status. Makes such victims eligible, without regard to their immigration status, for any benefits that are otherwise available under the Crime Victims Fund. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian tribes, units of local government, and nongovernmental victims' service organizations to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs for trafficking victims, subject to specified conditions. Provides trafficking victims a civil right of action for violations of Federal criminal code (the code) provisions (established by section 12 of this Act) regarding trafficking into slavery-like conditions or sex trafficking of children by force, fraud, or coercion. Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary to promulgate regulations for law enforcement personnel, immigration officials, and State Department officials to provide that: (1) victims of severe forms of trafficking, while in Federal custody, shall be housed in appropriate shelter, receive prompt medical care, food, and other assistance, and be provided protection if a victim's safety is at risk; (2) such victims shall not be jailed, fined, or otherwise penalized due to having been trafficked, and shall have access to legal assistance, information about their rights, and translation services; (3) Federal law enforcement officials shall act to ensure an alien's continued presence in the United States if, after an assessment, it is determined that such alien is a victim of trafficking or a material witness; and (4) appropriate personnel of the Departments of State and Justice shall be trained in identifying such victims and providing for their protection. Amends the code to make funds derived from the sale of assets seized from and forfeited by trafficking available for victims assistance programs under this Act. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow the Attorney General to: (1) grant non-immigrant visas to certain victims of severe forms of trafficking who are in the United States and who would face a significant possibility of retribution or other harm if they were removed from the United States; and (2) adjust to lawful permanent resident status the status of victims who have been in the United States continuously for three years since admission, who have remained of good moral character, who have not unreasonably refused to assist in trafficking investigations or prosecutions, and who would face a significant possibility of retribution or other harm if removed from the United States. (Sec. 8) Establishes minimum standards applicable to countries that have a significant trafficking problem. Urges such countries to prohibit severe forms of trafficking in persons, to punish such acts, and to make serious and sustained efforts to eliminate such trafficking. (Sec. 9) Authorizes the Secretary and the Director of AID to provide assistance to foreign countries for programs and activities designed to meet the minimum international standards for the elimination of trafficking. (Sec. 10) Declares that it is U.S. policy to withhold non-humanitarian foreign assistance to countries which do not meet the minimum standards. Requires the Secretary to report annually to specified congressional committees regarding the status of severe forms of trafficking in persons, including a list of any countries that do not meet applicable minimum standards. Permits interim reports. Requires the President, for FY 2002 and subsequent fiscal years, for each country that fails to meet the standards, to make one of the following determinations: (1) to withhold U.S. non-humanitarian assistance; (2) to not provide funding for participation of employees of such country's governments in educational and cultural exchange programs; (3) to instruct the U.S. executive director of each multilateral development bank and the International Monetary Fund to vote against non-humanitarian assistance to such country; (4) that such country has come into compliance with the minimum standards; or (5) that the provision of non-humanitarian assistance to a country not meeting minimum standards is in the U.S. national interest. (Sec. 11) Authorizes: (1) the Secretary to compile and publish a list of foreign persons who play a significant role in a severe form of trafficking in persons, directly or indirectly in the United States, who materially support such persons, or who are owned or controlled by such persons; and (2) the President to impose sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, including the freezing of assets located in the United States. Directs the President, upon exercising such authority, to report to specified congressional committees: (1) identifying publicly the foreign persons that the President determines are appropriate for sanctions; and (2) detailing publicly the sanctions imposed. Permits non-disclosure of persons on the list for intelligence and law enforcement reasons, and requires that Congress be notified of such exclusions on an annual basis. Excludes significant traffickers, and those who knowingly assist them, from entry into the United States. (Sec. 12) Amends the code to: (1) double the current maximum penalties for peonage, enticement into slavery, and sale into involuntary servitude to 20 years imprisonment; and (2) add the possibility of life imprisonment for such violations resulting in death or involving kidnaping, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill. Prohibits, and sets penalties for: (1) trafficking into involuntary servitude, peonage, or slavery-like conditions; (2) sex trafficking of children by force, fraud, or coercion; and (3) unlawfully possessing or destroying the identification or immigration documents of another in the course of a trafficking violation or in an attempt to impair a trafficking investigation or restrict a victim's movement. Requires that convicted traffickers provide full restitution to their victims. Directs courts to order the forfeiture to the United States of any of the trafficker's property that was used for or derived from violations of these laws. Makes victims of these crimes eligible for the Federal witness protection program. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review, and if appropriate amend, the sentencing guidelines to ensure that they are sufficiently stringent with respect to such trafficking offenses. Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act to add the new trafficking offenses to the list of covered activities. (Sec. 13) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for: (1) the Interagency Task Force; (2) the Secretary of HHS; (3) the Secretary; (4) the Attorney General; (5) the President (for foreign victim assistance and assistance to foreign countries to meet the minimum standards); and (6) the Secretary of Labor.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Protecting Women's Health Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to: (1) enter into cooperative agreements with States and other entities to conduct sentinel surveillance or other special studies to determine the prevalence in various age groups and populations of specific types of human papillomavirus (HPV) in different sites in various U.S. regions through collection of special specimens for HPV using a variety of laboratory-based testing and diagnostic tools; and (2) develop and analyze data from the HPV sentinel surveillance system. Directs the Secretary to make a progress report to Congress with respect to such requirements. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to conduct prevention research on HPV. Directs the Secretary to make a progress report to Congress on such research and develop a final proposal. Requires such report to outline steps needed to make HPV a reportable disease and the best strategies to prevent future infections. Directs the Secretary to require the Department of HHS and HHS contractors and grantees to specifically state the effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of condoms in preventing the transmission of HPV, herpes, and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in all publicly available informational materials related to condoms or STDs. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem a condom to be misbranded unless its label bears information providing that condoms do not effectively prevent the transmission of HPV and that HPV can cause cervical cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1999
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to recalculate the franchise fee allegedly owed by Fort Sumter Tours, Inc., a concessioner providing service to Fort Sumter National Monument in South Carolina. Provides for: (1) determination of the fee owed through binding arbitration if the recalculation is not acceptable to Fort Sumter Tours, Inc.; (2) mutual agreement on an arbitrator by the Secretary and Fort Sumter Tours, Inc.; and (3) creation of a panel of three arbitrators if the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator. Requires the arbitrator to award Fort Sumter Tours, Inc. reasonable attorney's fees and costs for all proceedings involving the disputed franchise fee.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1999
Declares that a specified final rule relating to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and the equitable and medically effective allocation of organs for transplantation shall have no force or legal effect. Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing or exercising additional regulatory authority regarding the Network, as well as regulatory authority under specified provisions of the Social Security Act (SSA) (relating to general SSA regulations, disclosure of information, organ procurement, and general Medicare regulations), before the enactment of amendments to reauthorize and revise provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to organ transplants.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1999
Duty to Assist Veterans Act of 1999 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with respect to any veterans' benefits claim filed on or after July 14, 1999, to assist such claimant in developing information pertinent to a decision on the claim, including by informing the claimant of any medical or lay evidence needed and by providing a medical examination to determine the current disability of the veteran concerned.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should exercise oversight responsibilities and conduct hearings, and take appropriate steps if necessary, concerning private companies that are involved in the trafficking of baby body parts for profit.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1999
Amends rule XXI (restrictions on certain bills) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the consideration of a bill, joint resolution, amendment, or conference report that provides for the designation or redesignation of any building, highway, or other structure in honor of an individual who is serving as a Member of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1999
National Institutes of Health EPSCoR Program Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise the program for enhancing the competitiveness of entities conducting biomedical and behavioral research in obtaining funds from the National Research Institutes. Establishes a new experimental program to stimulate competitive research (EPSCoR) to enhance the research competitiveness of a non-Federal entity located in an EPSCoR State (as defined in this Act). Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 1999
Discretionary Spending Offsets Act for Fiscal Year 2000 - Title I: Offsets for Discretionary Spending - Subtitle A: Agriculture - Part I: Food Safety Inspection and Enforcement Fees - Amends the Poultry Products Inspection Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to charge, with specified exceptions, user fees for poultry and poultry products inspection and related activities. (Currently inspection costs are federally paid, except for overtime and holiday work performed at poultry establishments.) (Sec. 111) Revises authorization of appropriation provisions to cover only the Safe Meat and Poultry Inspection Panel and Federal-State cooperative activities. Includes fee setting activities within annual reporting requirements. (Sec. 112) Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to direct the Secretary to charge, with specified exceptions, user fees for meat, meat products, and livestock inspection and related activities. Revises authorization of appropriations provisions to cover only the Safe Meat and Poultry Inspection Panel and Federal-State cooperative activities. Amends the Wholesome Meat Act to include fee setting activities within annual reporting requirements. (Sec. 113) Amends the Egg Products Inspection Act to direct the Secretary to charge, with specified exceptions, user fees for egg products inspection and related activities. (Currently inspection costs are federally paid, except for overtime and holiday work performed at official plants.) Removes such activities from covered authorizations of appropriations. Amends the Egg Products Inspection Act to include fee setting activities within annual reporting requirements. (Sec. 114) Makes conforming payment-related amendments to specified Acts. Part II: Assessments Under Tobacco Program - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to require (if price supports are in effect) producer, purchaser, and importer tobacco marketing assessments beginning with the 1999 crop year. Sets forth assessment provisions with respect to: (1) allocations between domestic producers and purchasers of domestically produced tobacco; and (2) required annual collections. Part III: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Cost-Share Fees - Amends the Federal Plant Pest Act to direct the Secretary to charge, with specified exceptions, user fees for biotechnology-related services. (Sec. 132) Amends the Plant Quarantine Act to direct the Secretary to charge, with specified exceptions, user fees for biotechnology-related services. (Sec. 133) Amends the Animal Welfare Act to direct the Secretary to charge, with specified exceptions for registration and licensing, user fees for registration services. Eliminates quarterly authorization of appropriation caps, and excludes user fee-covered activities from such authorization of appropriations. Part IV: Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyard Administration Licensing Fee - Amends the United States Grain Standards Act to state that grain standardization fees shall be collected from persons benefitting from such services, including first purchasers, processors, and grain warehousemen. (Sec. 142) Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to establish license and fee requirements for packers, live poultry dealers, stockyard owners, dealers, and market agencies. Part V: Forest Service Fees - Amends the National Forest Management Act of 1976 to direct the Secretary to implement a timber sale preparation user fee pilot program. (Sec. 152) Requires rental fees for commercial filming on National Forestry System lands to be deposited into a special Treasury fund. Authorizes such fund's use for administration and management of special uses on System lands. (Sec. 153) Amends the National Forest Management Act of 1976 to direct the Secretary to charge fair market value user fees for special products (vegetation or other life forms growing on System lands) collected on System lands. (Sec. 154) Amends the Granger-Thye Act to direct the Secretary to: (1) implement a public-private venture demonstration program to evaluate the feasibility of using non-Federal funds to construct, rehabilitate, and operate federally owned visitor facilities on System lands, and to conduct related environmental analyses; and (2) charge concession fees. Authorizes the Secretary to sell existing System facilities to authorized concessionaires. Provides for the allocation of concession fees and facility sales proceeds on a unit and agency-wide basis. (Sec. 155) Directs the Secretary to charge fair market value user fees for non-ski recreation concessions on System lands and waters. Subtitle B: Commerce - Part I: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Navigation Services Fees - Requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish and adjust user fees for any navigation services provided to commercial marine operators. (Sec. 211) Authorizes a limited amount of offsetting collections from such fees to be appropriated for expenses associated with providing such services. Part II: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Management Fees - Directs the Secretary to establish and adjust user fees associated with the U.S. fishing industry. (Sec. 221) Authorizes a limited amount of offsetting collections from such fees to be appropriated for management and enforcement costs associated with domestic fisheries. Part III: Analog Television Service Signal Lease Fee - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize the Federal Communications Commission to assess and collect lease fees for each fiscal year for the use of an analog television service license by commercial television broadcasters. Requires such fees to be used for upgrading Federal, State, and local public safety wireless communications equipment and facilities. Apportions such fees based upon the population covered by a broadcaster's signal. (Sec. 231) Requires collected fees to be deposited as offsetting receipts in the Treasury and authorizes them to be appropriated. Waives, reduces, or defers fees in any specific instance where such action would promote the public interest. Provides for a penalty of 25 percent of the fee amount for late payment. Subtitle C: Education and Labor - Part I: National Directory of New Hires - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to provide for data matching with respect to individual cases of defaulted loans and obligations to refund overpayments of grants under title IV (Student Assistance). (Sec. 311) Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary for this subtitle) to match such data, through the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), with that in the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) established under the Social Security Act. Allows the Secretary to seek such information only as necessary to improve such debt collection. Authorizes the Secretary to use such information to: (1) collect such debt owed by individuals whose annualized wage level exceeds $16,000; and (2) conduct analyses of student loan defaults, after removal of personal identifiers. Allows data disclosure only to a guaranty agency holding the loan obligation, a contractor or agent of such agency or of the Secretary, and the Attorney General. Directs the Secretary to reimburse HHS for additional costs involved in such data matching. Authorizes the Secretary to impose fees on guaranty agencies for reasonable costs of obtaining such information. Amends the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of HHS to exercise such NDNH data matching and disclosure authority in cooperation with that of the Secretary under HEA. Revises the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998 to make certain penalties for misuse of information applicable to all persons. Part II: Recall of Federal Reserves Held by Guaranty Agencies - Amends HEA title IV to direct the Secretary to recall from the Federal Student Loan Reserve Funds held by guaranty agencies specified minimum amounts in each of FY 2000 through 2004, for deposit in the Treasury. (Sec. 321) Eliminates provisions for guaranty agreements for reimbursing losses. Replaces such provisions with ones for guaranty agreements for paying lenders for default claims. Exempts nonprofit guaranty agencies from the requirements of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to the extent that they are carrying out due diligence activities required by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into voluntary, flexible agreements with any guaranty agency that had one or more prior agreements with the Secretary. Part III: Employer Tax Credit User Fees - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish Work Opportunity Credit (WOC) and Welfare-to-Work Credit (WWC) user fees. (Sec. 331) Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to impose such fees on employers submitting applications for certification of individuals as members of target groups (for WOC) and categories of long-term family assistance recipients (for WWC). Prohibits such fees from being paid, directly or indirectly, by the individual who is the subject of the certification. Bases the amount of such fees on an estimate of what is needed to fully fund administrative costs relating to such certification. Requires a fee for employers with fewer than 100 employees lower than that for employers with 100 or more. Requires such fees to be: (1) collected by designated local agencies; (2) deposited as offsetting receipts in the State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations account of the Treasury; and (3) available to pay administrative costs relating to such certification. Directs the Secretary of Labor to allocate such funds among the States based on their relative workload in processing the certifications. Makes such fees available for obligation only to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations acts. Authorizes the fees to be appropriated to remain available until expended. Subtitle D: Natural Resource, Energy, and Environment - Part I: Nuclear Regulatory Commission User Fees and Annual Charges - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to extend the last assessment of certain Nuclear Regulatory Commission annual charges through FY 2004. Part II: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Fees - Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to assess fees from applicants for pesticide registrations, amendments to registrations, and experimental use permits effective October 1, 1999. (Sec. 421) Permits fee reductions or waivers: (1) in connection with applications for an active ingredient that is contained only in pesticides for which registration is sought solely for agricultural or nonagricultural minor uses; or (2) in other instances determined to be in the public interest. Provides for deposit of such fees in a special fund for environmental services in the Treasury. Authorizes such fees to be appropriated to carry out activities for which the fees were collected. Part III: Toxic Substances Control Act Fees - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to revise provisions regarding fees from persons required to submit data under such Act to remove an upper limit on the amount that may be collected. (Sec. 431) Provides for deposit of such fees in a special fund for environmental services in the Treasury. Authorizes such fees to be appropriated to carry out activities for which the fees were collected. Subtitle E: Revenue - Part I: Reinstate Superfund Taxes - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the environmental tax to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1998, and before January 1, 2010. (Sec. 511) Applies the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate after the date of this Act's enactment and before October 1, 2009. Part II: Tobacco Excise Taxes - Increases the excise taxes on tobacco products. (Sec. 522) Exempts, during 1999, from the requirement to deposit taxes persons required to make deposits with respect to alcohol and tobacco products. Part III: Customs Access Fee - Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, with respect to customs fees, to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to charge and collect for the provision of customs services (in addition to the current fees) a fee for the use of any automated system of the Customs Service for processing commercial operations based on the volume of usage of the system. Requires publication of the fee. Exempts Federal agencies from such fee. Requires the issuance of bills on a monthly basis for such fee. Part IV: Customs Air and Sea Passenger Processing Fee Amendments - Increases the $5.00 passenger arrival fee to $6.40 and declares certain exemptions (which include Mexico, Canada, and U.S. territories and possessions) from such fees inapplicable. Part V: Harbor Services User Fee - Directs the Secretary of the Army to impose specified fees on the owners or operators of commercial vessels for services provided for the use of ports. Sets forth exemptions. (Sec. 552) Establishes a United States Harbor Services Fund into which the section 551 fees shall be deposited. Authorizes Fund expenditures for harbor development, operations, and maintenance costs. Subtitle F: Human Services - Part I: Social Security Administration Claimant Representative Fees - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to impose on attorneys owed a fee from a claimant's past-due benefits an assessment, determined according to a specified formula, for crediting to the OASDI trust funds. Authorizes appropriations. Part II: Temporary Assistance For Needy Families Amendments -Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of SSA title IV to limit the amount of the FY 2000 State TANF supplemental grant for population increases in certain States to the amount of such grant for FY 1999. Part III: Temporary Assistance For Needy Families Contingency Fund - Amends SSA title IV part A with respect to the Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs to provide for: (1) removal of the limit on the amount of deposits into the Contingency Fund; (2) State flexibility for Contingency Fund grants; and (3) revision of annual reconciliation requirements, in particular repealing the adjustment of State remittances for FY 2000 and 2001 that was enacted in the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. Subtitle G: Health Care - Part I: Medicare Savers - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for: (1) a reduction in the clinical diagnostic laboratory test cap from 74 to 72 percent; (2) establishment of a national limit on payment for prosthetics and for orthotics; (3) a reduction in Medicare payment for hospital bad debts and extension of such bad debt payment limitation to other relevant facilities and services providers; (4) a freeze, for FY 2000, in the applicable percentage increase used in determining Medicare payment to hospitals for inpatient hospital services; (5) a payment amount under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) for a covered drug or biological not payable on a cost or prospective payment basis that is set at 83 percent of the average wholesale price for 2000 and each subsequent year; (6) reduced payment for erythropoietin provided during 2000 under Medicare coverage of certain items and services for end stage renal disease patients; (7) a prohibition on the furnishing of partial hospitalization services in residential services; (8) additional specified requirements for community mental health centers; (9) information requirements pertaining to group health plans under Medicare secondary payer provisions; and (10) Centers of Excellence for furnishing services related to surgical procedures and for furnishing other unrelated services as appropriate to hospital inpatients. (Sec. 714) Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to repeal the moratorium on bad debt policy with respect to Medicare hospital services. (Sec. 719A) Provides that not more than $1.1 million of the savings for FY 2000 resulting from enactment of this part may be treated as negative discretionary budget authority and outlays for such fiscal year. Part II: Food and Drug Administration User Fees - Subpart A: Medical Device Fees - Medical Device Fee Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to: (1) direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to assess and collect various specified medical device application and supplement, establishment registration, and periodic premarket application report fees (except from small businesses) to be used for the review of device applications; (2) authorize appropriations; and (3) treat certain unpaid fees as a Federal claim for collection purposes. Subpart B: Fees to Support Costs of Review of Food and Color Additive Petitions - Food and Color Additive Petition Fee Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to: (1) set forth provisions analogous to those under Subpart A with respect to food and color additive petition and producer registration fees; (2) require registration of food ingredient and color additive producers; and (3) make miscellaneous amendments relating to the food and color additive petition review process, including allowing access to outside experts during the review process. Subpart C: Food Contact Substance Notification Fees - Food Contact Substance Notification Fee Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to: (1) set forth provisions analogous to those under Subpart A with respect to food contact substance notification fees; and (2) make a miscellaneous amendment relating to the food contact substance notification process. Part III: Health Care Financing Administration User Fees - Amends SSA title XVIII to: (1) revise the limitation on the amount of fees the Secretary may collect from a Medicare+Choice organization with a contract under SSA title XVIII part C (Medicare+Choice) for enrollment-related costs; (2) direct the Secretary to impose fees for initial Medicare+Choice contract issuance and for renewal of such contracts and ongoing monitoring of Medicare+Choice organization operations; (3) exempt from such mandate entities subject to the requirements of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988; (4) modify provisions on the use of State agencies to determine compliance by service providers with conditions of participation with regard to State agreements; (5) add registration procedures and fees provisions under provisions on agreements with providers of services under Medicare; and (6) subject certain claims under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and B to a specified processing fee for transfer to the Health Care Financing Administration Program Management Account. (Sec. 737) Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to repeal provisions on selection of regional laboratory carriers. Subtitle H: Transportation - Part 1: Federal Aviation Administration Cost-Based User Fees - Amends Federal aviation law to require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator to establish a schedule of new fees (until a permanent schedule is adopted) for the provision of air traffic control services to an air carrier, a commercial air carrier (for compensation or hire), or a foreign air carrier. Provides for the reduction of aviation excise taxes to be credited to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund if such taxes and receipts from fees exceed for FY 2000 the FAA budgetary requirements for FY 2001. (Sec. 811) Provides for the adjustment of certain aviation excise taxes credited to the Trust Fund. Part II: Coast Guard Vessel Navigation Assistance Fee - Amends Federal shipping law to authorize the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to establish annual fees to recover a portion of the costs of navigation services provided by the Coast Guard to commercial vessels. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary out of the collection of such fees. Part III: Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Fees - Amends Federal transportation law to change from discretionary to mandatory the Secretary of Transportation's authority to impose a fee on persons who are required to file a registration statement for the transport of hazardous material in order to pay for the costs of processing such statements. Makes the annual fee to be paid by each person required to file a registration statement a flat $500 (currently, at least $250 but no more than $5,000). Requires the Secretary of Transportation to publish a fee schedule at the beginning of each fiscal year. Declares that registration requirements shall not apply to Indian tribes. Part IV: Commercial Accident Investigation Fees - Authorizes the U.S. Government to collect a fee for service to offset, on an annual basis, the costs of investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of commercial transportation accidents involving air, ocean, and rail carriers. Part V: Surface Transportation Board User Fees - Authorizes appropriations for the Surface Transportation Board, to be derived from fees collected during the fiscal year. Authorizes the Board to assess and collect user fees and annual charges in each fiscal year equal to its costs for such year. Part VI: Rail Safety User Fees - Changes from mandatory to discretionary the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to impose fees on railroad carriers to cover the costs to promote rail safety and Federal Railroad Administration activities related to hazardous material transportation safety. Title II: Budget Provisions - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, upon enactment of this Act, to: (1) reduce any balances of direct spending and receipts legislation for FY 2000 to zero under pay-as-you-go enforcement provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act); and (2) treat the amount of any balances so reduced as negative discretionary budget authority and outlays for FY 2000 under discretionary spending limit enforcement provisions of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1999
Designates the U.S. Post Office located at 4026 Lamar Street in the Eau Claire community of Columbia, South Carolina, as the Mamie G. Floyd Post Office.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1999
Quality Care for the Uninsured Act of 1999 - Title I: Tax-Related Health Care Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to phase-in a 100 percent deduction (for both itemizers and nonitemizers) for the health and long-term care insurance costs of individuals not participating in employer-subsidized health plans. (Sec. 102) Provides for the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals. (Sec. 103) Revises medical savings accounts provisions to: (1) repeal the limitation on the number of accounts; (2) make all employers (currently limited to small employers) eligible to offer accounts; (3) increase contribution deduction amounts; (4) permit employer and employee contributions; (5) reduce high deductible health plan deductibles; and (6) permit accounts to be offered under cafeteria plans. (Sec. 104) Permits offering long-term care insurance under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements. (Sec. 105) Permits a taxpayer an additional exemption for certain elderly family members who need long-term care and who reside with the taxpayer. (Sec. 106) Expands the time frame for human clinical trials qualifying for the orphan drug credit. (Sec. 107) Adds to the list of taxable vaccines any conjugate vaccine of streptococcus pneumoniae. (Sec. 108) Establishes a limited credit for "qualified medical innovation expenses." Defines such expenses as amounts paid by a taxpayer to any qualified academic institution for clinical testing research activities. Title II: Greater Access and Choice Through Association Health Plans - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish rules governing health plans sponsored by certain associations, including requirements for: (1) certification; (2) sponsors and boards of trustees, and treatment of franchised networks and collectively bargained plans; (3) participation and coverage of employers and individuals and of previously uninsured employees; (4) plan documents, contribution rates, and benefit options; (5) maintenance of reserves, excess-stop loss insurance, and solvency indemnification for plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage; (6) applications and related reporting; (7) notice for voluntary termination; (8) corrective actions and mandatory termination; and (9) church plans. (Sec. 201) Directs the Secretary of Labor to apply, to the appropriate Federal district court, to be appointed trustee of certain insolvent association health plans which provide health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage. Allows a State to impose a contribution tax on an association health plan that begins operations in such State after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the effect association health plans have had, if any, on reducing the number of uninsured individuals. (Sec. 202) Revises requirements for treatment of single employer arrangements. (Sec. 203) Revises requirements for certain collectively bargained arrangements. (Sec. 204) Sets forth enforcement requirements relating to association health plans. (Sec. 205) Sets forth State responsibilities, and requirements for cooperation between Federal and State authorities, with respect to association health plans. (Sec. 206) Prescribes special rules for certain existing health benefits programs. Title III: Greater Access and Choice Through Healthmarts - Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new title on HealthMarts. Requires that HealthMarts: (1) be nonprofit entities composed of employers, employees health care providers, and entities that underwrite or administer health benefits coverage; and (2) make available health coverage to all employers and eligible employees at rates established by the insurance issuer on a policy or product specific basis. Deems HealthMarts group health plans for purposes of specified provisions ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. Requires that coverage made available to an eligible employee in a geographic area be offered to all eligible employees in the same area. Declares that the HealthMart: (1) provides coverage only through contracts with issuers and does not assume insurance risk; (2) provides administrative services for purchasers; and (3) collects and disseminates consumer information on all offered coverage options. Requires that HealthMart coverage provide full portability of creditable coverage for individuals who remain members of the same HealthMart notwithstanding that they change employers. Allows HealthMart coverage to include coverage through an HMO, a preferred provider or licensed provider-sponsored organization, an insurance company, a medical savings or flexible spending account, a point-of-service option, a community health organization, or any combination of those coverages. Requires a HealthMart to permit any employer to contract for coverage and prohibits varying eligibility conditions. Prohibits the purchaser from obtaining or sponsoring coverage other than through the HealthMart. Prohibits enrollment discrimination based on health. Requires HealthMarts to make at least two coverage options available. Supersedes certain related State laws. Provides for the application of: (1) certain existing ERISA and Public Health Service Act requirements; and (2) renewability requirements when the contract between a HealthMart and an issuer is terminated. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to administer this subtitle through a separate Health Care Marketplace Division. Title IV: Community Health Organizations - Permits the waiver of State licensure requirements for certain community health organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1999
Redesignates the U.S. Postal Service located at 100 Orchard Park Drive in Greenville, South Carolina, and known as the Orchard Park Station, as the Keith D. Oglesby Station.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
Minimum Wage State Flexibility Act of 1999 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to allow a State to preempt the Federal minimum wage if the State: (1) sets a minimum wage rate of at least $5.15 per hour (the current Federal minimum wage); and (2) applies that rate to as many workers in the State as would otherwise be covered by the Federal minimum wage rate. Authorizes the State Governor to suspend for up to one year State minimum wage rates which exceed $5.15 per hour for all or part of the State if: (1) the State cannot achieve work participation rates or other responsibilities under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996; (2) all or part of the State has experienced an increased rate of unemployment; or (3) the State experienced an economic slowdown as measured by the gross State product.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
Comprehensive Access and Responsibility in Health Care Act of 1999 - Title I: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Subtitle A: Patient Protections - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group coverage, from imposing on a health professional any restriction on advice provided to a participant or beneficiary. (Sec. 101) Requires a plan or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, if it provides benefits for: (1) emergency or ambulance services, to cover emergency services, including emergency ambulance services, without preauthorization and without regard to whether or not the health care provider is a participating one, among other specified conditions; (2) gynecological or obstetric specialist care benefits, to provide those benefits without authorization or referral by a primary care provider; or (3) routine pediatric specialist care benefits, to allow designation of a pediatric specialist as the primary care provider. Outlines rules permitting continuity of care for scheduled surgery, pregnancy, and terminal illness during specified transition periods because of provider termination as well as rules governing individual participation in approved clinical cancer trials. Requires a Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) study of, and report to Congress with regard to, cancer clinical research and its cost implications for managed care. (Sec. 102) Amends ERISA to require certain plan disclosures to network providers under specified conditions. Subtitle B: Patient Access to Information - Requires plans to include specified information in summary plan descriptions and to include certain information with adverse coverage decisions. Mandates advance notice of exclusion from a drug formulary of a drug or biological that is used in the treatment of a chronic illness or disease. Subtitle C: Group Health Plan Review Standards - Amends ERISA to require group health plans, in the case of included group health benefits, to: (1) provide written notice to participants or beneficiaries and providers of adverse coverage decisions; and (2) meet specified time limits for responding to requests for benefit payments, accelerated need requests, advance coverage determinations, medical necessity determinations, and experimental treatment determinations. Provides for internal and, in certain circumstances, external review of initial coverage decisions. Establishes certain review requirements. (Sec. 121) Outlines sanctions, which include civil monetary penalties, cease and desist orders, and removal (in the case of a fiduciary) for review violations. Provides for: (1) expedited court review; (2) awarding of attorney fees; and (3) concurrent Federal-State court jurisdiction for actions relating to certain amendments made by this Act. (Sec. 122) Amends ERISA to: (1) establish a special rule for access to specialty care; and (2) set out requirements for treatment of prescription drugs and medical devices as experimental or investigational. (Sec. 124) Exempts health care response information from any disclosure requirement, in connection with a civil or administrative proceeding under Federal or State law, to the same extent as specified other information developed by a health care provider, including internal review, to reduce mortality, morbidity, or for improving patient care or safety. Subtitle D: Small Business Access and Choice for Entrepreneurs - Amends ERISA to define "association health plan" to mean a group health plan meeting specified requirements, including being sponsored by a bona fide trade, industry, or professional association, or a chamber of commerce (or a similar bona fide business association) organized and maintained for substantial purposes other than that of obtaining or providing medical care. Provides for association and self-insured association plan certification and mandates a class certification procedure for association plans. (Sec. 131) Regulates association plans' boards of trustees and sponsors. Prohibits, for plans in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, a sponsor's affiliated members from being offered coverage unless the member: (1) was affiliated on the certification date; or (2) did not maintain or contribute to a group health plan during the 12 months before the offering of coverage. Prohibits a participating employer from providing health coverage in the individual market for any employee who is eligible for plan coverage if the exclusion from plan coverage is based on health status. Prohibits excluding an employer from an association plan if the employer and plan each meet specified requirements. Prohibits contribution rates for any participating small employers from varying on the basis of claims experience or type of business. Requires, if any plan benefit option does not consist of health coverage, that the plan have at least 1,000 participants and beneficiaries. Requires, if a benefit option consisting of health coverage is offered under the plan, that State-licensed insurance agents be used to distribute to small employers coverage that is not health coverage in a manner comparable to the manner in which those agents are used to distribute health coverage. Requires that a plan consist only of health coverage or, if the plan provides any additional benefit options, that the plan meet certain reserve and excess stop loss insurance and solvency indemnification requirements regarding the additional benefit options for which risk has not yet been transferred. Requires that all plans maintain a specified minimum surplus. Requires association plans providing additional options to make annual payments to the Association Health Plan Fund. Requires that, when there is or will be a failure to maintain such reserves, excess stop loss insurance, and indemnification, the Secretary of Labor pay amounts as necessary to maintain the excess stop loss insurance or indemnification. Establishes the Fund. Directs the applicable authority to establish a Solvency Standards Working Group to make appropriate recommendations. Mandates advance notice to participants and beneficiaries of voluntary certified plan termination. Requires either corrective action or plan termination whenever it is determined that a plan has failed or will fail to maintain required reserves, excess stop loss insurance, and indemnification. Provides for court appointment of the Secretary as trustee to administer a plan during insolvency. Allows a State to impose a contribution tax on an association plan providing additional options if the plan began operations in the State after enactment of this Act. Makes the requirements for certification under this subtitle with regard to association health plans applicable only in connection with included group health plan benefits provided under the plan. Declares that the provisions of this subtitle supersede certain related State laws. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress the effect association health plans have had (if any) on reducing the number of uninsured individuals. (Sec. 132) Modifies the circumstances in which two or more trades or businesses must be deemed a single employer. (Sec. 133) Excludes from the definition of "multiple employer welfare arrangement" any arrangement: (1) established or maintained under specified Federal (or similar State) labor relations provisions; or (2) meeting certain collective bargaining and other requirements. (Sec. 134) Imposes criminal penalties for falsely representing any plan or other arrangement providing certain benefits as: (1) being a certified association plan; or (2) having been established or maintained under certain collective bargaining agreements. (Sec. 135) Allows a State to enter into an agreement with the Secretary for delegation to the State of some or all of the Secretary's enforcement or certification authority. Subtitle E: Health Care Access, Affordability, and Quality Commission - Amends ERISA to establish the Health Care Access, Affordability, and Quality Commission to: (1) conduct studies of certain critical areas, which include independent expert external review programs and consumer friendly information programs; (2) develop a form for remittance of claims to providers; (3) evaluate existing and proposed benefit requirements for group health plans, upon appropriate congressional request; and (4) submit to appropriate congressional committees written comments on certain reports by the Secretary to such committees. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Amendments to Public Health Service Act - Subtitle A: Patient Protections and Point of Service Coverage Requirements - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to prohibit a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group coverage, from imposing on a health professional any restriction on advice provided to a participant or beneficiary. (Sec. 201) Requires a plan or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, if it provides benefits for: (1) emergency or ambulance services, to cover emergency services, including emergency ambulance services, without preauthorization and without regard to whether or not the health care provider is a participating one, among other specified conditions; (2) gynecological or obstetric specialist care benefits, to provide those benefits without authorization or referral by a primary provider; or (3) routine pediatric specialist care benefits, to allow designation of a pediatric specialist as the primary care provider. Outlines rules on continuity of care and individual participation in approved clinical cancer trials that are similar to those outlined above in title I of this Act. Requires, as well, a similar HHS Secretary study of, and report to, Congress concerning cancer clinical research and managed care. (Sec. 202) Requires health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that provide coverage under a group health plan only if services are furnished exclusively through members of a closed panel to make available to the plan sponsor an option covering services without regard to whether the providers are panel members. Requires HMOs, when a plan sponsor declines that option, to make optional supplemental coverage available in the individual market to each plan participant. Subtitle B: Patient Access to Information - Amends PHSA to require disclosure by health insurance issuers of group health plans to plan administrators of information necessary to: (1) provide participants and beneficiaries with information in a manner and to an extent consistent with that above under subtitle B of title I of this Act; and (2) include a similar mandate for advance notice with regard to drug formularies that is also under such subtitle. (Sec. 212) Details requirements for treatment of prescription drugs and medical devices as experimental or investigational. Subtitle C: HealthMarts - Amends PHSA to require that HealthMarts: (1) be legal entities composed of small employers, employees of small employers, certain other individuals, health care providers, and entities that underwrite or administer health benefits coverage; and (2) make available health coverage to all small employers and eligible employees and their dependents and to certain other individuals at rates established by the insurance issuer on a policy or product specific basis. Deems HealthMarts group health plans for purposes of specified provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. Requires that any coverage made available to an eligible employee or individual in a geographic area be offered to all eligible employees or individuals in the same area. (Sec. 221) Declares that the HealthMart: (1) provides coverage only through contracts with issuers and does not assume insurance risk; (2) provides administrative services for purchasers; and (3) collects and disseminates consumer information on all coverage options offered through the HealthMart. Requires that HealthMart coverage provide full portability of creditable coverage for individuals who remain members of the same HealthMart notwithstanding that they change employers. Allows HealthMart coverage to include: (1) coverage through an HMO, a preferred provider or licensed provider-sponsored organization, an insurance company, or a medical savings or flexible spending account; (2) coverage that includes a point-of-service option; or (3) any combination of those coverages. Requires a HealthMart to permit employers or certain individuals, if coverage is offered through the HealthMart for such an employer or individual, to contract for such coverage. Prohibits the HealthMart from varying eligibility conditions (including premium rates and membership fees). Prohibits the purchaser from obtaining or sponsoring coverage other than through the HealthMart. Prohibits a HealthMart from denying enrollment to eligible individuals based on health, except as otherwise permitted. Supersedes certain related State laws and makes them inapplicable, except with regard to coverage option availability, with respect to coverage through a HealthMart. Provides for the application of: (1) certain existing ERISA and PHSA requirements; and (2) renewability requirements when the contract between a HealthMart and an issuer is terminated. Directs the HHS Secretary to administer this subtitle. Subtitle D: Community Health Organizations - Amends PHSA to allow a community health organization to offer health coverage in a State in spite of not being licensed in that State if the organization has received a licensure waiver from the HHS Secretary and other requirements are met. (Sec. 231) Mandates the establishment of Federal financial solvency and capital adequacy standards. Title III: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Subtitle A: Patient Protections - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to prohibit a group health plan from imposing on a health professional any restriction on advice provided to a participant or beneficiary. (Sec. 301) Requires a plan, if it provides benefits for: (1) emergency or ambulance services, to cover emergency services, including emergency ambulance services, without preauthorization and without regard to whether or not the health care provider is a participating provider, among other specified conditions; (2) gynecological or obstetric specialist care benefits, to provide those benefits without authorization or referral by a primary care provider; or (3) routine pediatric specialist benefits, to allow designation of a pediatric specialist as the primary care provider. Outlines rules on continuity of care and individual participation in approved clinical cancer trials that are similar to those outlined above in titles I and II of this Act. Provides for associated study and reporting requirements similar to those in titles I and II of this Act. Subtitle B: Medical Savings Accounts - Amends IRC to repeal provisions limiting the number of individuals having medical savings accounts. Allows all employers to offer the accounts. Modifies requirements regarding: (1) the monthly limitation on related deductions; (2) coordination with the exclusion for employer contributions; and (3) the deductible amounts that will qualify as a high deductible plan. Allows the accounts to be included in cafeteria plans. Subtitle C: Tax Incentives for Health Care - Amends the IRC to provide, among other changes, for: (1) a graduated tax deduction for health and long-term care insurance coverage costs of an individual, with such deduction increased to100 percent of the amount paid during a taxable year for such coverage costs for taxable years after calendar year 2006, while disallowing such tax deduction for coverage costs under certain subsidized employer plans; (2) a limited, refundable tax credit for qualified health insurance coverage costs of an individual taxpayer, his spouse, and dependents; (3) a requirement that any person who conducts a trade or business and receives payments during any calendar year from any individual for coverage of such individual or any other individual under creditable health insurance shall make a prescribed tax return relating to such payments; (4) advance payment of health insurance credit for purchasers of qualified health insurance; and (5) carryover of unused benefits from cafeteria plans and flexible spending or similar arrangements to later taxable years. (Sec. 323) Directs the HHS Secretary to provide for a study and report to Congress on State safety-net health insurance programs for the medically uninsurable. Title IV: Health Care Lawsuit Reform - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Declares that this title applies to any health care liability action in any State or Federal court, except actions: (1) relating to vaccine-related injury to which PHSA title XXI (Vaccines) applies; or (2) under ERISA. Preempts State laws inconsistent with this title, but not those that impose greater restrictions than those in this title. Excludes non-economic or punitive damages and attorneys' fees or costs from the determination of the amount in controversy. Subtitle B: Uniform Standards for Health Care Liability Actions - Establishes a statute of limitations for bringing a health care liability action. (Sec. 412) Limits non-economic damages that may be awarded to an injured claimant. Substitutes any different level set by a State after enactment of this Act. Makes defendants liable only for the proportion of the non-economic damages due to the defendant's fault. Allows limited punitive damages, to the extent permitted by State law, if the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's conduct intended to cause harm or manifested a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of others. Prohibits punitive damages against a manufacturer or product seller of a drug or medical device where the drug or device was subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) premarket approval or the drug is generally recognized as safe and effective by the FDA. Prohibits punitive damages relating to packaging or labeling of a drug that is required to have tamper-resistant packaging unless the packaging or labeling is found by clear and convincing evidence to be substantially out of compliance. Prohibits requiring lump-sum payment of future economic and non- economic damages over $50,000. Allows any defendant to introduce evidence of collateral source payments. Prohibits any collateral source payments provider from recovering any amount against the claimant, receiving any lien or credit against the recovery, or being subrogated to the claimant's rights. (Sec. 413) Limits contingent fees. Requires any alternative dispute resolution used to resolve a health care liability action or claim to contain provisions consistent with this title. (Sec. 414) Requires the General Accounting Office to report to specified congressional committees on the compliance of: (1) the Department of Justice and all U.S. Attorneys with a specified guideline relating to false claims in civil health care matters; and (2) the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services with specified protocols and best practice guidelines.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
Urges the Department of Education, States, and local educational agencies to work together to ensure that at least 95 percent of all funds appropriated for elementary and secondary education programs administered by the Department of Education is spent to improve the academic achievement of children in classrooms.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
Declares it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the House should: (1) not consider legislation that would spend any of the social security surplus; (2) resist any effort to spend the on-budget surplus should Congress and the administration not reach an agreement on the issue of taxes; and (3) continue to pursue efforts to continue to reduce the $3.618 trillion in debt held by the public.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1999
Women and Children's Resources Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make grants to States for programs designed to provide alternative-to-abortion services to eligible individuals. Makes eligible for such services: (1) pregnant individuals; (2) individuals (male or female) who are the parent or legal guardian of an infant under 12 months; or (3) spouses or other partners of such individuals. Requires grants funds to be awarded only to States that assure that the program will: (1) give priority to serving individuals from low-income families; and (2) not impose a charge on such individuals except to the extent that payment will be made by a third party authorized or legally obligated to pay such charge. Sets forth provisions regarding operation of such programs, including contracting and grant expenditure requirements. Requires prime contractors to have a stated policy of actively promoting childbirth instead of abortion. Bars prime contractors or service providers from performing abortions, providing abortion counseling or referrals, or advocating abortions. Requires States applying for grants under this Act to assure that no grant funds will be expended for: (1) performing abortions, providing abortion counseling or referrals, or advocating abortion; or (2) providing, making referrals for, or advocating the use of contraceptives. (Sec. 5) Makes religious organizations eligible to provide services under State programs established under this Act on the same basis as other nongovernmental organizations. Provides certain safeguards to such organizations, including certain rights with respect to employment practices. Requires States to provide an eligible individual with names and addresses of alternative service providers in the case of an objection to an organization's religious character. Bars such organizations from discriminating against an individual with regard to providing services on the basis of religion, a religious belief, or refusal to participate in a religious practice. Prohibits the use of funds obtained pursuant to this Act for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization. (Sec. 7) Bases the allotment of funds to a State on the State-calculated percentage of the total appropriations authorized under this Act. Requires such percentage to be determined by dividing: (1) the number of children born in the State to women who were not married at the time of the birth plus the number of abortions performed in the State; by (2) the number of children born in all States to women who were not married at the time of the birth plus the number of abortions performed in all States as last reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 12) Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that overall funding for the Department of HHS should not be increased under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1999
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. Government should: (1) request that the new Government of Panama, under the leadership of President Mireya Moscoso, nullify the lease agreements for the Balboa and the Cristobal port facilities on each end of the Panama Canal and initiate a new bidding process that is both transparent and fair; (2) request that the new Government of Panama investigate charges of corruption related to the granting of the Panama Canal port leases by the previous Balladares administration; and (3) negotiate security arrangements with the Government of Panama that will protect the canal and ensure the territorial integrity of the Republic of Panama.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Seniors' Health Care Freedom Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with regard to the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries to eliminate the requirement that non-Medicare physicians and practitioners file affidavits pledging they will not file any Medicare claims for two years with respect to the Medicare beneficiaries with whom they contract.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1999
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present congressional gold medals to astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, in recognition of their monumental and unprecedented feat of space exploration, as well as their achievements in the advancement of science and promotion of the space program. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates. Requires receipts from such sales to be deposited in the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Home Page Tax Repeal Act - Repeals a provision of the 1998 Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act which ratified that a portion of the fee charged for registration or renewal of an Internet second-level domain name be used for the preservation and enhancement of the Internet intellectual structure under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. States that such provision is not repealed to the extent of its application to amounts, collected pursuant to the authority of such provision, that have been obligated for expenditure before the date of the enactment of this Act. Treats each person who registered (or renewed the registration of) an Internet second-level domain name with Network Solutions, Inc. after September 13, 1995, and before April 1, 1998, and who paid a fee to Network Solutions, Inc. for such registration (or renewal) which has not been refunded, as having made a payment against the tax imposed by chapter 1 (Normal Taxes and Surtaxes) of the Internal Revenue Code for such person's first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1998, equal to 30 percent of the amount of such fee.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Federal Employees Adoption Assistance Act - Directs the head of each executive agency and the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to carry out a program under which an agency employee may be reimbursed for up to $2,000 of qualifying expenses incurred with the adoption of any one child (including if both adopting parents are employees). Makes such adoption expenses reimbursement provisions applicable to the U.S. Postal Service and the Postal Rate Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999
Electronic Benefit Transfer Interoperability and Portability Act of 1999 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to provide for a national standard of interoperability and portability applicable to electronic food stamp benefit transactions. Requires systems that provide for the electronic issuance, use, and redemption of coupons in the form of electronic benefit transfer cards to be interoperable, and food stamp benefits to be made portable, among all States not later than October 1, 2002.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Grants each individual who is a victim of a crime for which the defendant can be imprisoned for a period longer than one year, or any other crime that involves violence, the following rights: (1) to reasonable notice of, and to not be excluded from, any public proceedings relating to the crime; (2) to be heard, if present, and to submit a statement at all public proceedings to determine a conditional release from custody, an acceptance of a negotiated plea, or a sentence and at a non-public parole proceeding to the extent such rights are afforded to the convicted offender; (3) to reasonable notice of, and an opportunity to submit a statement concerning, any proposed pardon or commutation of sentence; (4) to reasonable notice of a release or escape from custody relating to the crime; (5) to consideration of the interest of the victim that any trial be free from unreasonable delay; (6) to an order of restitution from the convicted offender; (7) to consideration for the safety of the victim in determining any conditional release from custody relating to the crime; and (8) to reasonable notice of the rights established by this amendment. (Sec. 2) Grants the victim or the victim's lawful representative standing to assert such rights. Provides that nothing in this amendment shall: (1) provide grounds to stay or continue any trial, reopen any proceeding, or invalidate any ruling, except with respect to conditional release or restitution or to provide rights guaranteed by this amendment in future proceedings, without staying or continuing a trial; and (2) give rise to or authorize the creation of a claim for damages against the United States, a State, a political subdivision, or a public officer or employee. (Sec. 3) Empowers the Congress to enforce this amendment by appropriate legislation. Allows exceptions to the rights established by this amendment only when necessary to achieve a compelling interest. (Sec. 4) Makes: (1) the right to a restitution order established by this amendment inapplicable to crimes committed before its effective date; and (2) the rights and immunities established by this amendment applicable in Federal and State proceedings, including military proceedings to the extent that the Congress may provide by law, juvenile justice proceedings, and proceedings in the District of Columbia and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Joseph Jefferson "Shoeless Joe" Jackson should be appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball accomplishments.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1999
Taxpayer's Defense Act - Amends Federal provisions concerning discretionary congressional review of agency rules to prohibit a rule that establishes or increases a tax, however denominated, from taking effect before the enactment of a bill specifically authorizing the rule. Exempts a rule promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code. Requires an agency promulgating such a rule to submit to each House of Congress a report containing the text of the part of the rule that establishes or increases a tax, and an explanation of the rule. Outlines procedures for House and Senate consideration of the bill authorizing the rule to take effect.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1999
Certified Development Company Program Improvements Act of 1999 - Amends provisions of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 relating to the certified development company (CDC) program (a program providing loans to State or local development companies for assisting small businesses) to: (1) include within program goals the expansion of women-owned business development; (2) increase to $1 million the authorized amount of a loan from the development company to an identifiable small business; (3) terminate on or after October 1, 2003, the authority of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to charge a fee for such loans; (4) repeal the certified lenders program; and (5) provide for the sale of certain defaulted loans under the CDC program, requiring prior notice of the sale of such a loan to any CDC which has a contingent liability for such loan. Authorizes the SBA to delegate to any qualified State or local development company the authority to foreclose and liquidate defaulted loans that are guaranteed with the proceeds of debentures guaranteed by the SBA. Outlines delegation eligibility requirements and the scope of such delegation authority (all necessary liquidation and foreclosure as well as required litigation). Requires each eligible development company, before carrying out such liquidation and foreclosure, to submit a proposed liquidation plan to the SBA for approval. Provides administrative procedures with respect to the submission and approval of such plan. Authorizes the SBA to suspend or revoke any delegation authority granted for failure to comply with delegation requirements. Requires an annual report from the SBA to the congressional small business committees on the results of the delegation of authority under this section. Terminates on the effective date of final regulations implementing this section the current loan liquidation pilot program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1999
Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to guarantee a general business loan made by a bank or other financial institution to a small business in the amount of: (1) 75 percent of the outstanding balance of such loan, if such balance exceeds $150,000 (currently $100,000); and (2) 80 percent of the outstanding balance of less than $150,000 (also currently $100,000). Prohibits any such loan from being made to a borrower if the total amount outstanding and committed to the borrower from the business loan and SBA investment funds would exceed $1 million (currently $750,000). Makes current provisions requiring the payment of accrued interest on defaulted guaranteed loans inapplicable to loans made on or after October 1, 1999. Requires a borrower who prepays any loan guaranteed by the SBA to remit to the SBA a subsidy recoupment (calculated under this Act) if: (1) the loan is for a period of less than 15 years; (2) the prepayment is voluntary; (3) the amount of prepayment in any calendar year is more than 25 percent of the outstanding loan balance; and (4) the prepayment is made within the first three years after disbursement of the loan proceeds. Revises loan guarantee fee amounts. Authorizes lenders participating in an SBA program to retain no more than 25 percent of such fee with respect to any loan not exceeding $150,000. Authorizes a borrower to permanently lease to one or more tenants not more than 20 percent of any property constructed using guaranteed loan proceeds, as long as the borrower permanently occupies and uses not less than 60 percent of the total business space in the property.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1999
Realistic Tests for Realistic Threats National Security Act of 1999 - Requires the Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization of the Department of Defense to: (1) conduct, no later than September 30, 2001, at least one intercept test of the Navy Theater-Wide defense system and the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system against target missiles with velocities of not less than the maximum velocity of the Taepo Dong I missile of North Korea; (2) take immediate steps to modify plans for managing the development of such systems to meet such deadline. Urges the Director, in order to improve the likelihood that the tests are successful, to review changes in the configuration of the systems to: (1) increase the speed of their interceptor missiles to well in excess of three kilometers-per-second; and (2) allow such missiles to receive and use targeting data provided by a variety of external sensors.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1999
Adoption Awareness Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to national adoption organizations for programs to train the staff of eligible health centers in providing adoption counseling to pregnant women and infertile married couples. Makes it a condition for receipt of such a grant that the national adoption organization involved agree to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the eligible health centers with respect to which training under the grant is provided include centers that: (1) receive grants relating to voluntary family planning projects; (2) receive grants relating to community health centers, migrant health centers, and centers regarding homeless individuals and residents of public housing; (3) receive grants for the provision of services in schools; and (4) do not perform or make referrals for abortions, or provide or make referrals for counseling that presents abortion as an option. Directs the Secretary to require programs providing voluntary family planning services with such a grant to provide nondirective counseling and referrals regarding prenatal care and delivery, infant care, foster care, and adoption. Makes religious organizations eligible for such grants without discrimination and mandates their independence from Federal, State, and local governments, providing certain safeguards to ensure such independence. Provides the beneficiaries of assistance from religious organizations with certain rights, including the right not to be discriminated against by the religious organization. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1999
Open Space Preservation Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income the gain from the sale or exchange of farmland if there is a covenant prohibiting any use other than as farmland. Excludes from the gross estate the value of farmland if there is a covenant prohibiting any use other than as farmland.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Worker Paycheck Fairness Act of 1999 - Requires a labor union accepting payment of any dues or fees from an employee as a condition of employment to secure from each employee a prior, voluntary, written authorization for any portion of such dues or fees which will be used for activities not necessary to performing the duties of exclusive representation in dealing with the employer on labor-management issues. Gives employees a right of civil action against any labor union which violates this requirement. Requires employers to post notice relating to such requirement. Amends the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 to require every labor union to attribute and report expenses by function classification in detail necessary to allow its members to determine whether such expenses were necessary to performing the duties of exclusive representation in dealing with the employer on labor-management issues. Requires disclosure under such Act to employees required to pay any union dues or fees (under a union security agreement) as well as to union members. Makes it unlawful for any labor organization to coerce, intimidate, threaten, interfere with, or retaliate against any employee in the exercise of, or on account of having exercised, any right granted or protected by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Amendments of 1999 - Declares that Congress: (1) recognizes the generous contribution made by each living individual who has donated an organ to save a life; and (2) acknowledges the advances in medical technology that have enabled organ transplantation with organs donated by living individuals to become a viable treatment option for an increasing number of patients. Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend programs relating to organ procurement and transplantation, among other changes requiring the Organ Procurement and Transportation Network to: (1) carry out studies and demonstration projects to improve procedures for organ procurement and allocation; and (2) develop a peer review system to assure that members of the Network comply with appropriate medical and other specified criteria. Mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services establish additional procedures for providing oversight of, and public accountability for, operation of the Network. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants or contracts for: (1) payment of travel and subsistence expenses incurred toward living organ donation; and (2) studies and demonstration projects. Directs the Secretary to carry out a program to educate the public about organ donation. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 1999 - Provides that: (1) whoever engages in conduct that violates specified provisions of the Federal criminal code, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or specified articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (conduct constituting certain Federal violent crimes), and thereby causes the death of, or bodily injury to, a child who is in utero, shall be guilty of a separate offense; and (2) the punishment for that separate offense shall be the same as that provided under Federal law for that conduct had that injury or death occurred to the unborn child's mother, except that the death penalty shall not be imposed. Bars prosecution under this Act for conduct relating to an abortion: (1) for which the consent of the pregnant woman has been obtained or for which such consent is implied by law in a medical emergency; (2) for conduct relating to any medical treatment of the pregnant woman or her unborn child; or (3) of any woman with respect to her unborn child.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the people of the United States should review their own conduct, take all reasonable steps to use freedom of speech to build up and not destroy, advance public morality, restrain the growth of illegal sexual speech and activity, and create an environment in which children will learn to do good and oppose evil; (2) the President, Congress, and the States should review their laws, executive orders, and policies to determine and effectuate what may be done to end the use of individuals and their images as sexual objects or tools; and (3) the President and the Attorney General should vigorously enforce Federal obscenity laws and aggressively pursue violations of laws involving the interstate movement of individuals for illegal sexual purposes.
![Official portrait of Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000595_200.jpg)