United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2001
Water Resource Study Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to provide assistance to the State of Tennessee to conduct studies on emerging water supply needs as described under this Act. Requires, as a condition of receiving such assistance, the State to: (1) select a geographic area within the State having consistent, emerging, water supply needs; and (2) conduct a study on such needs. Requires that such a study conducted under this Act: (1) identify Federal and State resources, assistance programs, regulations, and sources of funding for water supply development and management that are applicable to the geographic areas selected; (2) identify potential weaknesses, redundancies, and contradictions; and (3) conduct a water resource inventory in the geographic study area to determine specified considerations and conditions with respect to such area's water supply needs. Requires the Corps of Engineers, for each study, to: (1) be the lead Federal agency; and (2) consult with the State for guidance in the development of the study. Provides for: (1) participation by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Tennessee Valley Authority in the study; and (2) selection by the State of additional entities to participate in such study. Permits the University of Tennessee to elect to participate in such study.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
WISEWOMAN Expansion Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to permit the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through a competitive review process, to award grants to States to provide additional specified preventive health services, screenings, education, and referrals under PHSA provisions concerning preventive health measures with respect to breast and cervical cancers.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2001
A Million Quality Teachers Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to establish new programs for recruitment, retention, and retraining of teachers. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to eligible applicant States for recruitment, retention, and retraining of high-quality teachers through one or more specified types of activities. Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of student loan forgiveness, as an incentive for entering the teaching profession and teaching in a public school, for individuals who have majored or obtained graduate degrees, and excelled, in core academic subjects, as opposed to education as a subject. Authorizes the Secretary to pay stipends to such individuals to cover certain costs incurred in obtaining certification through an alternative route for employment as an elementary or secondary school teacher. Requires such individuals to teach in a public school for two years after their certification. Directs the Secretary to carry out certain notification, public awareness, and advertising activities.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2001
Sudan Peace Act - Declares that Congress: (1) condemns violations of human rights on all sides of the conflict in Sudan (including the Government of Sudan), the ongoing slave trade there, and the Government's use and organization of "murahalliin" (or "mujahadeen"), Popular Defense Forces (PDF), and regular Sudanese Army units into raiding and slaving parties in Bahr al Ghazal, the Nuba Mountains, Upper Nile, and Blue Nile regions; and (2) recognizes that the use of raiding and slaving parties is a tool for creating food shortages as a systematic means to destroy the societies, culture, and economies of the Dinka, Nuer, and Nuba peoples in a policy of low-intensity ethnic cleansing. Authorizes the Secretary of State to utilize Department of State personnel for the support of ongoing negotiations, and eventual implementation of a peace settlement, between the Government of Sudan and opposition forces. Expresses the sense of Congress that the United Nations (UN) should be used as a tool to facilitating peace and recovery in Sudan. Directs the President to develop a contingency plan to provide, outside UN auspices, the greatest amount of U.S. Government and privately donated relief to all affected areas in Sudan, including the Nuba Mountains, Upper Nile, and Blue Nile, in the event the Government of Sudan imposes a ban on Operation Lifeline Sudan air transport relief flights.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2001
National Youth Smoking Reduction Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give the Secretary of Health and Human Services regulatory authority over tobacco products. Amends the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act to revise tobacco and smokeless tobacco label and advertising warning requirements. Makes any advertising that violates this Act an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2001
Academic Achievement for All Act (Straight A's Act) - Allows States a certain type of flexibility in combining and using specified Federal elementary and secondary education formula program funds for State education priorities and programs, in exchange for being held accountable for meeting, in a five-year period, certain performance goals which they propose. Allows States to opt to enter into such a performance agreement with the Secretary of Education, under which provisions of law relating to specified eligible programs shall not apply to the State, with certain exceptions. Requires such States to provide parents, teachers, and local schools notice and opportunity to comment on any such proposed performance agreement before submission to the Secretary. Includes under the terms of such agreements requirements relating to: (1) use of such funds to improve student achievement; (2) an accountability system; (3) performance goals and measures, and student academic achievement data; (4) fiscal responsibilities; (5) civil rights; (6) private school student and staff participation; (7) State financial participation; and (8) annual reports. Lists such eligible programs, under various provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Department of Education Appropriations Act of 1999, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, and the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2001. Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) within-State distribution of funds; (2) local participation; (3) limitations on State and local educational agency administrative expenditures; (4) performance review and penalties; (5) renewal of performance agreements; (6) achievement gap reduction rewards; and (7) availability of annual State reports to specified congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Public Safety Medal of Valor Act- Authorizes the President to award, and present in the name of the Congress, a Medal of Valor to a public safety officer cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Medal of Valor Review Board, for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. States that the Public Safety Medal of Valor is the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer. Establishes a Medal of Valor Review Board to select candidates to receive the Medal from among applications received by the National Medal Office. Establishes within the Department of Justice a National Medal Office to support the Board and establish criteria and procedures for the submission of nominee recommendations for the Medal. Repeals provisions of the Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 establishing the President's Award for Outstanding Public Safety Service and the Secretary of Commerce's Award for Distinguished Public Safety Service.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Marriage Tax Penalty Elimination Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise standard deduction amounts and individual income tax rate bracket amounts, including providing that amounts for married filing jointly categories shall be twice that of amounts for single filers.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
National Electricity and Environmental Technology Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) identify technology costs and associated performance goals that would permit continued cost-competitive use of coal for electricity generation, chemical feedstocks, and transportation fuel; (2) implement research and development programs that include demonstration and commercial application of coal-based technologies; and (3) implement a power plant improvement initiative program demonstrating commercial applications of advanced coal-based technologies applicable to new or existing power plants including co-production plants, which must advance the effectiveness, environmental performance, and cost competitiveness well beyond that which is in operation or has been demonstrated on the date of enactment of this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits for investment in: (1) a qualifying clean coal technology unit in an existing coal-based electricity generation facility; and (2) early commercial applications of qualifying advanced clean coal technologies. Sets forth formulae for determining tax credits for unit production of both kinds of technologies. Exempts the installation of a qualifying system of continuous emission control from new source review requirements under the Clean Air Act. Grants a ten-year exemption from any new or increased emission control requirements for the specific pollutant controlled by such a system to any existing coal-based electricity generating unit on which it has been installed, if the system meets or exceeds the specified standard of performance for new stationary sources. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a financial risk pool for a limited time to offset the modification costs resulting from the failure of qualifying advanced clean coal technology to achieve its design performance. Cites conditions under which credits for emission reductions and efficiency improvements in existing coal-based generating facilities of electric cooperatives or publicly owned electric utilities may be treated as offset credits. Entitles the Tennessee Valley Authority to aggregate certain clean coal technology credits and apply them as a credit against obligations for annual returns on the appropriations investment and annual repayment sums.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Careers to Classrooms Act of 2001 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a Careers to Classrooms program. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to States for: (1) teacher recruitment, education, training, referral, placement, and retention activities to place eligible individuals as certified teachers in public schools through State-approved alternative certification programs; (2) stipends for eligible individuals enrolled in programs who agree to seek certification through teacher certification programs in that State and teach in a high-need school in that State, with preference for those individuals needing such assistance; (3) grants to high-need elementary or secondary schools to offset the teacher mentoring, alternative certification, and other direct costs associated with accepting eligible individuals under this Act; (4) grants to accredited institutions of higher education to develop alternative certification programs, with preference given to programs tailored to eligible individuals; and (5) other activities determined by the State to be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Requires preference for such grants to be given to States that have developed, or are developing, alternative certification programs that: (1) rapidly place quality certified teachers into the classroom; (2) emphasize subject matter content; and (3) lead to the certification and placement of a large number of teachers in relation to the number of public elementary school and secondary school teachers in the State.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Self-Employed Health Insurance Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for 100 percent of a self-employed individual's health insurance costs for himself or herself, spouse, and dependents, unless such individual participates in an employer-maintained health plan. (Current law provides for a phased-in 100 percent deduction and disallowance upon participation eligibility.)
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2000
Community Renewal and New Markets Act of 2000 - Title I: Incentives for Distressed Communities - Subtitle A: Designation and Treatment of Renewal Zone s- Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide for the designation of up to 30 renewal zones. Treats a renewal zone as an empowerment zone. Subtitle B: Modification of Incentives for Empowerment Zones - Revises provisions concerning empowerment zones, including: (1) extending empowerment zone treatment through 2009; (2) a 15 percent employment credit for all empowerment zones; (3) increased expensing under section 179 (election to expenses certain depreciable assets); (4) exclusion from gross income of limited amounts capital gain from the sale or exchange of a qualified empowerment zone asset; and (5) funding. Subtitle C: Modification of Tax Incentives for DC Zone - Extends and expands IRC District of Columbia Enterprise Zone provisions. Subtitle D: New Markets Tax Credi t- Establishes a new markets tax credit. Subtitle E: Modification of Tax Incentives for Puerto Rico - Revises the of Puerto Rico economic activity tax credit. Subtitle F: Individual Development Accounts - Permits any qualified financial institution, qualified nonprofit organization, or Indian tribe to establish one or more qualified individual development account programs. Defines such an account as an account established for an eligible individual as part of a qualified individual development account program. Sets forth provisions concerning such accounts, including: (1) the structure and administration of account programs; (2) procedures for opening an account and qualifying for matching funds; (3) account contributions and withdrawals; and (4) disregarding account funds of program participants for purposes of certain means-tested Federal programs. Subtitle G: Additional Incentives - Provides for, among other things: (1) the exclusion of certain amounts received under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program; (2) the extension of enhanced deduction for corporate donations of computer technology; (3) the extension of the adoption tax credit; and (4) the treatment of Alaska Native Settlement Trusts and Indian tribal governments under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. Title II: Tax Incentives for Affordable Housing - Subtitle A: Low-Income Housing Credit - Modifies the low-income housing credit. Subtitle B: Historic Homes - Establishes a credit equal to 20 percent of the qualified rehabilitation expenditures made by a taxpayer with respect to a qualified historic home. Subtitle C: Forgiven Mortgage Obligations - Excludes from gross income certain forgiven residential mortgage obligations. Subtitle D: Mortgage Revenue Bonds - Provides: (1) for an increase in the purchase price limitation under mortgage subsidy bond rules based on median family income; (2) revised rules for residences located in presidentially declared disaster areas. Subtitle E: Property and Casualty Insurance - Exempts from income tax State-created organizations providing property and casualty insurance for property for which such coverage is otherwise unavailable. Title III: Tax Incentives for Urban and Rural Infrastructure - Increases the State ceiling on private activity bonds. Modifies the expensing of environmental remediation costs. Provides credits for: (1) broadband internet access; and (2) holders of qualified Amtrak bonds. Includes customer connection fees (including fees to connect a customer's line to or extend a main water or sewer line) as an excludable corporate income item within the definition of "contribution in aid of construction." Includes qualified leasehold improvement property as 15 year property for purposes of the accelerated cost recovery depreciation rules. Title IV: Tax Relief for Farmers - Set forth provisions concerning farmers, including: (1) providing specified deductions and credits (including a deduction for cash paid to a Farm, Fishing, and Ranch Risk Management Accounts; (2) exempting agricultural bonds from the State volume cap; and (3) income averaging. Title V: Tax Incentives for the Production of Energy - Sets forth provisions concerning the production of energy, including: (1) expensing geological and geophysical expenditures; (2) a credit for marginal domestic oil and natural gas well production; and (3) the definition of "foreign base company oil related income." Title VI: Tax Incentives for Conservation - Sets forth provisions concerning conservation, including: (1) the exclusion of 50 percent of gain on certain sales of land or interests in land or water to qualified entities for conservation purposes; (2) a deduction for the certain energy efficient commercial property expenditures; (3) modification of the credit for electricity produced from biomass; and (4) a credit for certain hybrid automobiles. Title VII: Additional Tax Provisions - Revises provisions concerning: (1) the nonaccrual experience method of accounting; (2) the exemption from personal holding company tax for lending or finance companies; (3) a deduction for certain expenses incurred in support of Native Alaskan subsistence whaling; and (4) an excise tax on persons who acquire structured settlement payments in factoring transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2000
Municipal Utility Fairness Act of 2000 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions concerning arbitrage to exclude from the definition of "investment property" a prepayment by an issuer of bonds in order to ensure the supply of a necessary commodity to a governmental unit.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2000
Criminal Justice Integrity and Law Enforcement Assistance Act - Title I: Post-Conviction DNA Testing in Federal Court - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize an individual imprisoned for conviction of a criminal offense to make a motion for the performance of forensic DNA testing on evidence that was: (1) secured in relation to the investigation or prosecution that resulted in such conviction; and (2) not subject to the DNA testing requested because the testing technology was not available at the time of trial. Provides an exception when there is no reasonable possibility that such testing will produce exculpatory evidence. Prohibits the destruction of biological material during the 30-month period authorized for such testing. Title II: Convicted Offender DNA Index System - Convicted Offender DNA Index System Support Act - Requires the: (1) Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to develop and implement a plan to assist eligible States in performing DNA analyses of samples collected from convicted offenders and to pay for such analyses, in order to eliminate the backlog of convicted offender DNA samples awaiting analysis in State or local forensic laboratory storage; and (2) Attorney General to develop and implement a plan to assist eligible States in performing DNA analyses of crime scene evidence in casework for which there are no suspects, in order to eliminate that backlog. Requires the FBI Director to develop and implement a plan to eliminate the backlog of crime scene evidence awaiting DNA analysis in FBI forensic laboratory storage. Authorizes the Director to expand the combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS) to include information on missing persons. Provides for the DNA identification of Federal, District of Columbia, and military felony offenders.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2000
Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act of 2000 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the use of drug control and system improvement (Byrne) grants to improve the quality, timeliness, and credibility of forensic science services for criminal justice purposes. Conditions such use on the State's grant application including a certification that the State has an established a forensic science laboratory or forensic science laboratory system or a medical examiner's office that meets specified requirements, including accreditation requirements. Establishes a forensic sciences improvement grant program. Directs the Attorney General to award such grants if specified conditions are met, including that any forensic science laboratory system, medical examiner's office, or coroner's office funded uses generally accepted laboratory practices and procedures. Sets forth requirements regarding applications, allocation of funds, permissible uses of grants, and administrative and reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations for the elimination of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) convicted offender database sample backlogs and for other related purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2000
Recognizes the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. Acknowledges the contributions of children with disabilities, their parents, teachers, related services personnel, and administrators. Reaffirms support for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act so that all children with disabilities have access to a free public education.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2000
Medicare Renal Dialysis Payment Fairness Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for an update in the renal dialysis composite rate.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2000
Medicare Temporary Drug Assistance Act - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XXII (Outpatient Prescription Drug Assistance Program) to provide funds to enable States to establish a program of assistance (separate from Medicaid under SSA title XIX) to low-income Medicare (SSA title XVIII) beneficiaries and, at State option, Medicare beneficiaries with high drug costs to obtain coverage for outpatient prescription drugs. Makes appropriations. Allows low-income Medicare beneficiaries and Medicare beneficiaries with high drug costs to elect to suspend Medicare supplemental (Medigap) insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Millennium National Commission on Space Act - Directs the President to establish and appoint the members of a National Commission on Space to study existing and proposed space activities and formulate an agenda for the U. S. civilian space program. Requires the Commission to identify long range goals, opportunities, and policy options for U.S. civilian space activity for the next 20 years and to develop options and recommendations for a long range national civilian space policy plan. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2000
Middle East Peace Process Support Act - Prohibits U.S. assistance to any unilaterally-declared Palestinian state. Directs the President to instruct the U.S. Representative to the United Nations to oppose admission to the United Nations of a unilaterally-declared Palestinian state or formal recognition by the United Nations of such a state.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Children's Public Health Act of 2000 - Title I: Injury Prevention - Subtitle A: Traumatic Brain Injury - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a national education and awareness campaign regarding prevention of traumatic brain injury. Modifies requirements and authorizes appropriations regarding a currently-mandated study of traumatic brain injury. Authorizes an existing trauma research program to include research on cognitive disorders and neurobehavioral consequences of traumatic brain injury. Authorizes appropriations for that program. (Sec. 104) Authorizes grants for projects (currently, for demonstration projects) to improve access to health and other services regarding traumatic brain injury. Allows required matching funds to be in cash or in kind (currently, in cash). Regulates the use of grant funds. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Child Care Safety and Health Grants - Directs the Secretary to make allotments to States to establish programs to improve the health and safety of children receiving child care outside the home. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Maternal and Infant Health - Subtitle A: Safe Motherhood and Infant Health Promotion - Pregnant Women and Infants Health Protection Act - Directs the Secretary to carry out programs relating to prenatal and postnatal smoking and alcohol and illegal drug use. Authorizes grants and contracts. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) establish and implement a national surveillance program regarding investigation of deaths and severe complications during pregnancy; (2) expand the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System; and (3) expand the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Healthy Start Initiative - Healthy Start Initiative Continuation Act - Directs the Secretary to continue the Healthy Start Initiative (to reduce infant mortality and improve perinatal outcomes) and authorizes carrying it out on a national basis. Authorizes, if funding increases, additional grants. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to provide other health services (including ultrasound, prenatal care, genetic counseling, and fetal and other surgery) for pregnant women or infants that are medically appropriate to prevent or mitigate congenital defects or other serious obstetric complications. Allows using grant funds for paying transportation and subsistence expenses to assist the woman in obtaining health services from the grantee involved. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities - Establishes the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities to: (1) collect, analyze, and make available date on birth defects and developmental disabilities; and (2) conduct applied epidemiological research, and provide information and education to the pubic, on prevention of such defects and disabilities. Transfers to such Center all activities, budgets, and personnel of the National Center for Environmental Health that relate to birth defects, folic acid, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, child development, newborn screening, autism, Fragile X syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, pediatric genetics, disability prevention, and other activities. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Folic Acid Education Program - Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of professional and public education and training, research, and epidemiological activities regarding folic acid and birth defects. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Pediatric Public Health Promotion - Subtitle A: Asthma - Directs the Secretary to make grants to provide comprehensive asthma-related services for children and other individuals. Authorizes appropriations. Allows preventive health and health services block grant funds to be used for projects to reduce the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related illnesses among urban populations, especially children, by reducing exposure to cockroach allergen or other known asthma triggers through pest management that minimizes or avoids pesticide chemicals through a combination of site maintenance, cleaning, and monitoring. Directs the Secretary to: (1) identify all Federal programs carrying out asthma-related activities; (2) develop a Federal plan for responding to asthma; and (3) submit recommendations to Congress on ways to strengthen and improve Federal coordination of such activities. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) to: (1) conduct local asthma surveillance activities to collect data on the prevalence and severity of asthma and the quality of asthma management; and (2) compile and annually publish data on the prevalence of children suffering from asthma in each State and the childhood mortality rate associated with asthma nationally and in each State. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Childhood Obesity Prevention - Directs the Secretary to award grants for the development and implementation of State and community-based intervention programs promoting good nutrition and physical activity in children and adolescents. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct research on physical activity, diet, health, health-related behaviors, and childhood obesity and its effects in adulthood; (2) develop and evaluate strategies to prevent and treat obesity and eating disorders; (3) identify obesity behaviors and risk factors; (4) evaluate materials and programs providing nutrition education to parents, teachers, and food service staff of child care and pre-school entities; and (5) evaluate materials and programs designed to educate and encourage physical activity in child care and pre-school facilities. Directs the Secretary to develop a national public campaign to promote and educate children and parents regarding health risks associated with obesity, inactivity, and poor nutrition, ways to incorporate physical activity into daily living, the benefits of good nutrition, and strategies to improve eating habits. Directs the Secretary to develop and carry out a program to educate and train health professionals in effective strategies to identify and assess patients with, or at risk for, obesity or an eating disorder, counsel, refer, or treat patients with obesity or an eating disorder, and educate patients and their families about strategies to improve dietary habits and establish appropriate levels of physical activity. Subtitle C: Early Detection and Treatment Regarding Childhood Lead Poisoning - Modifies application and reporting requirements for existing grants regarding lead poisoning. Directs the Secretary to develop national guidelines for the uniform and complete reporting of all blood lead test results to State and local health departments. Requires the CDCP Director to assist with the improvement of data links between local and State health departments and the CDCP, help States with the development of data management systems for the surveillance of children with lead poisoning, and take other actions regarding lead poisoning. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 322) Directs the Secretary to: (1) make grants where data suggests that at least five percent of preschool-age children have an elevated blood level; and (2) conduct education and training programs for health care providers regarding childhood lead poisoning. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Oral Health - Directs the Secretary to support: (1) community-based research on the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of pediatric oral, dental, craniofacial diseases and conditions and their sequelae in high risk populations; (2) demonstrations of preventive interventions in those populations; and (3) the development of clinical approaches to assess individual patients for the risk of pediatric dental disease. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 332) Directs the Secretary to establish a program of repayment of oral health professionals' educational loans in return for the professionals agreeing to conduct pediatric oral, dental, and craniofacial disease and condition research or training. (Sec. 333) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to increase the resources available for community water fluoridation. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 334) Directs the Secretary to establish a demonstration project to assist rural water systems in implementing the CDCP's water fluoridation guidelines. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 335) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for the development of programs to improve children's school-based access to sealants. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 336) Directs the Secretary to: (1) fund innovative oral health activities that improve the oral health of children under six years who are eligible for services under a Federal health program; and (2) make grants or contracts to increase training of oral health services providers or to increase children's use of dental services. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Pediatric Research - Subtitle A: Pediatric Research Initiative - Mandates the establishment of a Pediatric Research Initiative to conduct and support research and coordination directly related to illnesses and conditions of children. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary to make available enhanced support for extramural activities relating to the training and career development of pediatric researchers. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to repay the educational loans of pediatricians in return for conducting pediatric research. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Autism - Requires the NIH Director to expand, intensify, and coordinate NIH activities regarding autism. Requires the Director, among other things, to make grants and contracts for centers of excellence regarding autism research. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 412) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and cooperative agreements for the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on autism and pervasive developmental disabilities. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish, through grants or cooperative agreements, at least three regional centers of excellence in autism and pervasive developmental disabilities epidemiology to collect and analyze information on autism and developmental disabilities; (2) establish a clearinghouse for the collection and storage of data generated from the monitoring programs created by this title; (3) coordinate the Federal response to requests for assistance from State health department officials regarding potential or alleged autism or developmental disability clusters. Authorizes appropriations; and (4) establish a program to provide information and education on autism to health professionals and the public. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 414) Directs the Secretary to establish an Autism Coordinating Committee. Subtitle C: Long-Term Child Development - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to establish a consortium of Federal agency representatives to: (1) plan and implement a prospective cohort study of the effects of chronic and intermittent exposures on human development; and (2) investigate basic mechanisms of developmental disorders and environmental factors that influence growth and developmental processes. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Research on Rare Diseases in Children - Requires the NIH Director to report to Congress on NIH activities regarding children's rare diseases. Subtitle E: GME Programs in Children's Hospitals - Extends the mandate to make annual payments to each children's hospital for the direct and indirect expenses of operating graduate medical residency training programs. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Foreign Assistance Reform and Democracy Support Act of 2000 - Title I: Phase-Out of Development Assistance - Directs the President to: (1) report biannually to Congress on the level of economic freedom in countries receiving U.S. development assistance; and (2) certify to Congress with respect to each country proposed to receive such assistance whether it is free, mostly free, mostly unfree, or repressed in light of the level of economic freedom determined in that country with respect to trade, tax, and price control policies, government intervention in the economy, and other specified factors. Prohibits U.S. development assistance for countries that have been certified: (1) mostly unfree after FY 2005 (with a limit on such assistance in FY 2006 and thereafter); (2) repressed countries after FY 2004 (with a limit on such assistance in FY 2005 and thereafter). Requires certain actions with respect to countries that have been certified free or mostly free, including: (1) programs by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the Trade and Development Agency to encourage, finance, or otherwise support private investment from U.S. sources (especially health, education, transportation, financial, and communications infrastructure projects); and (2) a review by the Secretary of the Treasury of the feasibility of restructuring, rescheduling, or eliminating debt owed by the country to any U.S. agency, and a proposal by the U.S. Executive Director of each international financial institution to which the United States is a member for a similar review. Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of each international financial institution to use the U.S. vote to oppose any assistance to the government, any citizen, or entity of any country to which U.S. development assistance is not provided under this Act. Requires the withholding of U.S. assistance from any such institutions that provide assistance to the government, citizen, or entity of any country ineligible to receive U.S. development assistance under this Act. Title II: Procurement Reform in Development Lending and Assistance - Directs the Secretary to report to the President and to the appropriate congressional committees on a strategic plan for requiring the use of independent third-party procurement monitoring and other international procurement reforms relating to the U.S. participation in multilateral development banks and other lending institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Congratulates: (1) the Mexican people for their struggle for representative democracy and the rule of law: (2) Vincente Fox Quesada for his electoral triumph; and (3) Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon, current President of the United Mexican States, for his commitment to ensure the peaceful and stable transition of power. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should: (1) expand and intensify its cooperation with the newly elected Government of Mexico to promote economic development and to reduce poverty to achieve an improved quality of life for citizens of both countries; (2) confront common threats such as the trafficking in illicit narcotics; and (3) act in solidarity to promote representative democracy and the rule of law throughout the world.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2000
Authorizes the President, on behalf of Congress, to present a gold medal to General Wesley K. Clark, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and service as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during the military operations against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2000
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2000 - Title I: Medicare Management and Administration - Subtitle A: Establishment of the Competitive Medicare Agency - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XXII (Medicare Competition and Prescription Drugs) to establish, as an independent agency in the executive branch, a Medicare Competition Agency, headed by a Commissioner, to administer the Medicare Prescription Drug and Supplemental Benefit Program (program) under part B (established by title II of this Act) and the Medicare+Choice program under part C (Medicare+Choice) of SSA title XVIII (Medicare). (Sec. 101) Establishes a Medicare Competition and Prescription Drug Advisory Board. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 102) Amends SSA title XVIII to make the Commissioner a member of the Board of Trustees of the Medicare trust funds. (Sec. 103) Amends Federal civil service law to provide for a salary increase for the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). Subtitle B: Redefined Medicare Solvency Measures - Amends SSA title XVIII to require the Board of Trustees to make a separate annual report on the operation and status of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and on the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under Medicare part B (Supplementary Insurance), including the Medicare Prescription Drug Account (created by title II of this Act) within it. (Sec. 151) Expresses the sense of Congress that the committees of jurisdiction shall hold hearings on such reports. Title II: Medicare Prescription Drug and Supplemental Benefit Program - Amends SSA title XXII to add a new part B (Medicare Prescription Drug and Supplemental Benefit Program) requiring the Commissioner to establish the Medicare Prescription Drug and Supplemental Benefit Program under which an eligible beneficiary may voluntarily enroll in, and receive access to covered outpatient prescription drugs and other benefits through, a Medicare Prescription Plus plan (plan) offered by a private entity or by a Medicare+Choice plan. Makes the costs of providing program benefits payable from the Medicare Prescription Drug Account. (Sec. 201) Outlines program procedures, including procedures for: (1) enrollment; (2) a Commissioner study and report to Congress on permitting individuals enrolled under Medicare part B but not entitled to benefits under Medicare part A to buy into the program; (3) plan election; (4) beneficiary outreach; (5) application of Medicare+Choice secondary payor requirements to the program in the same manner as they apply under the Medicare+Choice program; (5) alternative coverage requirements; (6) access to negotiated prices; (7) actuarial valuation and determination of annual percentage increases; (8) beneficiary protections, including grievance resolution; (9) requirements for entities offering plans, including licensure; (10) submission and approval of plans; (11) payments to plans for benefits; (12) computation and collection of beneficiary share of premium; (13) additional prescription drug subsidies through reinsurance; (14) plan fees for administrative costs; and (15) creation and use of the Medicare Prescription Drug Account. (Sec. 202) Revises requirements for the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund to comply with this Act. (Sec. 203) Amends SSA title XVIII part C to prohibit a Medicare+Choice organization from offering prescription drug coverage to a Medicare+Choice plan enrollee unless such drug coverage is at least qualified prescription drug coverage under this Act, and unless specified requirements for such coverage are met. (Sec. 204) Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to require a State, as a condition for receiving Federal financial assistance for its Medicaid plan, to make Medicare prescription drug benefit eligibility determinations for low-income premium and cost-sharing subsidies. Mandates specified increases in applicable Federal matching rates for State expenditures for additional administrative costs. Provides for phased-in Federal assumption of Medicaid prescription drug costs in the case of an individual dually entitled to qualified prescription drug coverage under a Medicaid plan or under a Medicare+Choice plan under Medicare part C. (Sec. 205) Prohibits any new Medigap policy covering prescription drugs from being issued, on or after January 1, 2003, to an individual unless it replaces a Medigap policy that was issued to that individual and that provided some coverage of expenses for prescription drugs. Prohibits the issuer of a Medigap policy from denying or conditioning Medigap coverage for an individual who terminates certain kinds of Medigap policies and applies for certain other kinds. Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to establish Medigap protections for individuals who lose Medicare prescription plus plan coverage. (Sec. 206) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the extent to which reimbursement for drugs and biologicals under the current Medicare payment methodology overpays for the cost of such drugs and biologicals compared to the average acquisition cost paid by physicians or other drug suppliers. Title III: Medicare+Choice Reforms - Amends Medicare part C with respect to: (1) increasing in national per capita Medicare+Choice growth percentage in 2001 and 2002; (2) removing application of budget neutrality beginning in 2002; (3) payments to Medicare+Choice organizations based on risk-adjusted bids; (4) premium reduction and Medicare+Choice monthly supplemental beneficiary premium; (5) rules relating to premiums owed by Medicare+Choice enrollees; (6) allowing plans to include described reductions and other benefits in their basic benefits; (7) a special rule for end-stage renal disease; (8) information comparing plan premiums; (9) national coverage determinations; (10) disclosure requirements; (11) geographic adjustment; (12) Medicare+Choice monthly basic beneficiary premium; (13) a freeze of the health risk adjuster at 20 percent after 2002; and (14) adjustment in payment to include the Commissioner's estimate of the amount of additional payments that would have been made in the area involved if individuals entitled to Medicare+Choice benefits had not received services from facilities of the Departments of Veterans Affairs or of Defense for purposes of calculating annual Medicare+Choice capitation rates. Title IV: Medicare Beneficiary Outreach and Education - Amends SSA title XXII to add a new part C (Medicare Consumer Coalitions) authorizing the Commissioner of the Competitive Medicare Agency to establish Medicare Consumer Coalitions to conduct information programs comparing the original Medicare fee-for-service program, available Medicare+Choice plans, and available Medicare Prescription Plus plans. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2000
Violence Against Women Act of 2000 - Title I: Strengthening Law Enforcement to Reduce Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General (AG) to make grants to provide technical assistance and equipment to police departments, prosecutors, courts, and tribal jurisdictions to facilitate the widespread enforcement of protection orders. Revises provisions of the Federal criminal code governing the full faith and credit of protection orders. Designates State, local, and Indian tribal courts as eligible grantees under the program to combat violent crimes against women. Reauthorizes through FY 2005 various programs which address violence against women, including domestic violence and stalking offenses. Title II: Strengthening Services to Victims of Violence - Authorizes the AG to award grants to increase the availability of legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault. Reauthorizes through FY 2005 various grants and programs under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Title III: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children - Authorizes the AG to make grants to States, local governments, and Indian tribal governments for the provision of supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children by and between parents in situations involving domestic violence, child abuse, or sexual assault. Reauthorizes through FY 2005 runaway and homeless youth grants and programs for victims of child abuse. Title IV: Strengthening Education and Training to Combat Violence Against Women - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for model programs of education and training in appropriate responses to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Title V: Battered Immigrant Women - Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 2000 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide certain protections to battered immigrant women. Title VI: Extension of Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund - Extends through FY 2005 the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2000
Patient Safety and Errors Reduction Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to: (1) support research, evaluations and training, and demonstration projects, provide technical assistance, and support partnerships to determine the causes of medical errors and other threats to the quality and safety of patient care; (2) identify and evaluate interventions and strategies for preventing or reducing such errors and threats; (3) develop reporting requirements to provide consistency throughout the errors reporting system; (4) develop approaches for the clinical management of complications from such errors; and (5) establish mechanisms for the rapid dissemination of identified interventions and strategies for which there is scientific evidence of effectiveness. Requires the Director to establish a Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety to: (1) assist the Director in carrying out the preceding requirements; (2) provide national leadership for research and initiatives to improve the quality and safety of patient care; (3) develop public-private sector partnerships to improve such care; and (4) serve as a national resource for research and learning from medical errors. Specifies other Center duties. Requires the Director, to enhance the ability of the U.S. health care community to learn from medical errors and close calls, to take certain steps to increase scientific knowledge with respect to such errors and error reporting systems, including developing a confidential national safety database of medical errors reports to be known as the National Patient Safety Database. Permits reports of medical errors and close calls in the database to be used only for research to improve the quality and safety of patient care. Requires the Director to: (1) identify public and private sector patient safety reporting systems and build scientific knowledge regarding those systems and related topics; (2) support training initiatives to build the capacity of the U.S. health care community to analyze patient safety data and to act on such data to improve patient safety; and (3) recommend strategies for measuring and evaluating the national progress made in implementing safe practices identified by the Center and through a voluntary reporting system. Provides for certification of entities that collect and analyze information on medical errors and to collaborate with health care providers in collecting information about, or evaluating, certain medical events (certain adverse events or close calls, including those that involve death or injury, associated with the provision of health care). Requires such entities to report periodically to the Director. Provides for termination of certifications after three years, with renewals at the Director's discretion. Sets forth system requirements for providers of health services that elect to participate in a medical error reporting system. Prescribes confidentiality requirements for information regarding medical events collected pursuant to this Act. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2000
Public Health Threats and Emergencies Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, upon determining that a disease or disorder presents a public health emergency or that a public health emergency otherwise exists, to take appropriate action to respond, including conducting and supporting investigations into the cause, treatment, or prevention of the disease or disorder. Establishes the Public Health Emergency Fund to support such activities. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish reasonable capacities appropriate for national, State, and local public health systems and their work forces to detect and respond effectively to significant public health threats; (2) award grants to determine the extent to which States or local public health agencies can achieve such capacities; and (3) award grants to address core public health capacity needs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2010 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for defending and combating public health threats of the 21st century. Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) an Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force to coordinate Federal programs relating to antimicrobial resistance; and (2) a joint interdepartmental working group on preparedness and readiness for the medical and public health effects of a bioterrorist attack. Requires: (1) research and development of new antimicrobial drugs and diagnostics; (2) educational programs for medical and health personnel in the use of antibiotics; and (3) grants to establish demonstration programs promoting the judicious use of antimicrobial drugs and the control of the spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2000
Combined Fund Stability and Fairness Act - Amends chapter 99 (Coal Industry Health Benefits) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to redefine the term "coal wage agreement" to include only the 1988 agreement which became effective on February 1, 1988, and any predecessor to the 1988 agreement. Redefines the term "signatory operator" in a similar manner (as a 1988 operator). Provides for a reduction in health benefit premiums to coal miners if there is a surplus in the Combined Benefit Fund. Provides for the transfer of certain amounts of interest from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to the Combined Fund. Reduces Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund fees. Extends the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fee program for an additional six years. Authorizes appropriations for the transfer of $38 million from the 1950 United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan annually to the Combined Fund to cover any shortfall in the premium account of the Combined Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2000
International Parental Kidnapping Grandparents' Rights Act of 2000 - Amends the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act of 1993 to expand coverage of the Act to include removal of, or retaining, a child (who has been in the United States) outside the United States with intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of grandparental rights. Defines "grandparental rights" to mean, with respect to a child, visiting rights granted to a grandparent, whether arising by operation of law, court order, or legally binding agreement of the parties. Makes it an affirmative defense that the defendant acted within (current law) and is in compliance with the provisions of a valid court order granting the defendant legal custody or visitation rights that was obtained pursuant to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2000
Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2000 - Title I: Brownfields Revitalization Funding - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish programs to provide grants to eligible entities (including local government units, redevelopment agencies, States, and Indian tribes) for: (1) inventorying, characterizing, assessing, and conducting planning related to brownfield sites; and (2) remediating brownfield sites through loans. Defines a "brownfield site," with exceptions, as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which is complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance or pollutant. Includes within such definition a site contaminated by a controlled substance or mine-scarred land. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Brownfields Liability Clarifications - Exempts from liability under CERCLA certain owners of real property contiguous to property on which there has been a hazardous substance release or threatened release that is not owned by such persons. (Sec. 202) Absolves from liability for response actions bona fide prospective purchasers to the extent liability at a facility for a release or threat thereof is based solely on ownership or operation of a facility. Gives a lien upon a facility to the United States for unrecovered response costs in any casefor which the owner is not liable by reason of this section and the facility's fair market value has increased above that which existed before the action was taken. (Sec. 203) Deems a person, with respect to defenses to liability of an owner of after-acquired property, to have undertaken appropriate inquiry into the property's previous ownership and uses if the person demonstrates that inquiries were undertaken in accordance with specified requirements (for property purchased after May 31, 1997, compliance with an American Society for Testing and Materials standard until standards are issued by the Administrator). Deems the appropriate inquiry requirements to be satisfied by a facility inspection and title search that reveal no basis for further investigation in the case of property for residential or similar use purchased by a nongovernmental or noncommercial entity. Title III: State Response Programs - Adds CERCLA provisions authorizing the Administrator to provide grants to States or Indian tribes to establish or enhance response programs comprised of elements including survey and inventory of brownfield sites, public participation opportunities, oversight and enforcement authorities, and certification mechanisms. Authorizes appropriations. Restricts authority to take enforcement actions under CERCLA in cases of hazardous substance releases addressed by a State response plan. Authorizes the President to bring enforcement actions in certain instances, including cases where a State requests assistance, there is migration of contamination across State lines or onto Federal property, or there is an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment and additional response actions are likely to be necessary. Makes restrictions on the President's authority to take such actions applicable only at sites in States that maintain, update at least annually, and make publicly available a record of sites at which response actions have been completed in the previous year and are planned to be addressed under the State response program in the upcoming year. Applies enforcement action requirements only to response actions conducted after June 8, 2000. (Sec. 302) Requires the President to defer final listing of an eligible response site on the National Priorities List if the State is conducting a response action in compliance with a State response program that will provide long-term health and environmental protection or is actively pursuing an agreement to perform such an action with a capable person. Requires reasonable progress toward completion of actions for deferral of listing. Permits the President to decline to defer, or discontinue a deferral if: (1) deferral would be inappropriate because the State, as an owner, operator, or significant contributor is a potentially responsible party; (2) the criteria under the National Contingency Plan for issuance of a health advisory have been met; or (3) the other conditions under this section for deferral are no longer being met.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2000
Zimbabwe Democracy Act of 2000 - Declares it is U.S. policy to support the people of Zimbabwe in their struggles to effect peaceful, democratic change, achieve broad-based and equitable economic growth, and restore the rule of law. (Sec. 3) Prohibits: (1) U.S. assistance for the Government of Zimbabwe; and (2) cancellation or reduction of any indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the U.S. Government. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of each international financial institution to oppose and vote against: (1) extension of any assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe, except to meet basic human needs and for good governance; and (2) any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the institution. Prescribes conditions for restoration of Zimbabwe's eligibility for assistance and debt relief, including that: (1) the rule of law has been restored, including respect for ownership and title to property held before January 1, 2000, freedom of speech and association, and an end to the lawlessness, violence, and intimidation sponsored, condoned, or tolerated by the Government of Zimbabwe, the ruling party, and their supporters or entities; (2) Zimbabwe has held parliamentary and presidential elections widely accepted by the participating parties and the duly elected are free to assume their offices (or, before a presidential election, the government has sufficiently improved the pre-election environment to a degree consistent with accepted international standards for security and freedom of movement and association); (3) the Government of Zimbabwe has demonstrated a commitment to an equitable, legal, and transparent land reform program meeting specified criteria; (4) the Government of Zimbabwe is making a good faith effort toward an expeditious removal of its forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and ending all other support for any of the parties to the conflict in that country; and (5) the Zimbabwean Armed Forces and the National Police of Zimbabwe are responsible to and serve the elected civilian government. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the President to use certain appropriations under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to finance the legal and related expenses of: (1) individuals and democratic institutions challenging restrictions to free speech and association in Zimbabwe and electoral outcomes or restrictions to their pursuit of elective office or democratic reforms; and (2) victims of torture or political violence. Directs the Broadcasting Board of Governors to further the communication of information and ideas through the increased use of radio broadcasting to Zimbabwe. Authorizes the President, during FY 2001, to use certain funds for democracy and governance programs in Zimbabwe. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should provide support, including through the National Endowment for Democracy, for international election observers to the Zimbabwean parliamentary elections in 2000 and the presidential election scheduled for 2002, including assessments of the pre-electoral environment in each case and the electoral laws of Zimbabwe. (Sec. 5) Authorizes certain funds for support for alternative schemes under the Inception Phase of the Land Reform and Resettlement Program. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to review the feasibility of restructuring, rescheduling, or eliminating the sovereign debt of Zimbabwe held by any Federal agency. Requires the Secretary to direct the U.S. Executive Director of each international financial institution to which the United States belongs to propose that such institution: (1) review the feasibility of restructuring, rescheduling, or eliminating the sovereign debt of Zimbabwe it holds; and (2) undertake financial and technical support for Zimbabwe, especially for its economic recovery and development. Establishes a Southern Africa Finance Center in Zimbabwe that will co-locate regional offices of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the Trade and Development Agency in order to facilitate development of commercial projects in Zimbabwe and the southern Africa region.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2000
WISEWOMAN Expansion Act of 2000- Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to permit the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through a competitive review process, to award grants to States to provide additional specified preventive health services, screenings, education, and referrals under PHSA provisions concerning preventive health measures with respect to breast and cervical cancers. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2000
Urges the U.S. Government to do all in its power to help ensure that the Revolutionary United Front and its leaders, as well as other groups committing human rights abuses in Sierra Leone, are held accountable for the crimes and abuses committed against the people of Sierra Leone. Declares that the U.S. Government should not: (1) condone, support, or be a party to, any agreement that provides amnesty to those responsible; and (2) provide incentives to regional supporters of the Front until all support from them to the Front has ceased.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2000
Amends the Federal Power Act (FPA) to repeal: (1) hearing, notice and review requirements relating to interconnection or wheeling orders to determine whether they would result in illegal electric power sales or delivery outside the Tennessee Valley Region; and (2) certain requirements for equitability within territory restricted electric systems (transmission within the Tennessee Valley Region). (Sec. 2) Amends the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 to repeal restrictions placed upon the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to sell or deliver power beyond the area for which it was the primary source of power on July 1, 1957. (Sec. 3) Authorizes TVA to sell electric power at retail to electric consumers that either already have a contract with TVA or consume the electric power within a distributor service area in which a non-TVA regulatory authority permits other suppliers to sell electric power to retail consumers. Waives application of certain requirements to any TVA sale of excess electric power for use outside the Tennessee Valley Region. (Sec. 4) Requires TVA to furnish distributors with detailed information on plans and projections for the potential acquisition of new electric generating facilities and to grant them notice and opportunity to comment. (Sec. 5) Directs TVA and its distributors make good faith efforts to renegotiate existing long-term contracts. Prescribes guidelines for a distributor, in the event negotiations fail, to: (1) terminate the existing contract to purchase wholsesale electric energy from TVA; or (2) reduce the quantity of wholesale power requirements under the existing contract by up to ten percent. Prohibits TVA from discriminating unduly against a distributor for exercising such rights or for being a partial requirements customer. (Sec. 6) Subjects TVA transmission and local distribution of electric power to FPA jurisdiction to the same extent as a public utility transmission of electric power in interstate commerce is subject to such jurisdiction. (Sec. 7) Permits a distributor to elect to avoid certain TVA regulatory authority regarding certain future TVA wholesale electric power sales. Replaces TVA regulatory authority over distributors with that of the distributor's own governing body. Amends the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act to redefine "State regulatory authority" so as to remove TVA as a State agency with ratemaking authority over sales of electric energy by any electric utility. (Sec. 8) Prescribes procedural guidelines for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval of TVA plans for recovery of its stranded costs. Authorizes TVA to recover wholesale stranded costs that may arise from renegotiation of power contracts with distributors to the extent authorized by FERC. Prohibits recovery of any such costs related to loss of sales revenues. Bars TVA use of such recovered proceeds to pay for additions to TVA generating capacity. Requires TVA stranded cost recovery charges to be stated separately on customer billing. Mandates that the annual TVA management report to Congress include: (1) long-range financial plans; (2) source of funds used for TVA capacity additions; and (3) reduction of publicly-held TVA debt. (Sec. 9) Subjects TVA to Federal antitrust jurisdiction with respect to its electric power and transmission systems.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2000
National Youth Smoking Reduction Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give the Secretary of Health and Human Services regulatory authority over tobacco products. Amends the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act to revise tobacco and smokeless tobacco label and advertising warning requirements. Makes any advertising that violates this Act an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2000
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act of 2000 - Finds that civilian employees who performed duties in the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons production program over the last 50 years should have efficient, uniform, and adequate compensation for beryllium-related health conditions and radiation-related health conditions in order to assure fairness and equity. Title I: Compensation and Benefits for Illnesses Related to Beryllium Exposure - Directs the Secretary of Labor, for allowed claims, to pay compensation for disability or death, reimburse covered employees for costs and medical expenses, and take other actions regarding exposure to beryllium in the performance of duty. Allows a covered employee or their survivor to elect an alternative compensation of $200,000 plus specified benefits. Establishes the Energy Employees' Beryllium Compensation Fund. Title II: Compensation and Benefits for Illnesses Related to Exposure to Ionizing Radiation, Silica, and Hazardous Substances - Subtitle A: Cancer and Related Illnesses - Directs the Secretary of Labor, for allowed claims, to pay compensation for disability or death, reimburse covered employees for costs and medical expenses, and take other actions regarding exposure to ionizing radiation, a hazardous substance, or silica in the performance of duty. Allows a covered employee or their survivor to elect an alternative compensation of $200,000 plus specified benefits. Subtitle B: Other Illnesses - Allows any covered employee (or their survivor) who can establish that exposure to a hazardous substance at a facility of the Department of Energy (DOE) or of a DOE contractor or uranium vendor was a contributing factor to an illness or disease other than certain illnesses to submit a claim for compensation and benefits under subtitle A. Directs the Secretary of Labor, if the Secretary is unable to make an affirmative claim determination, to refer the claim to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish physicians panels for evaluation of referred claims. Creates an advisory group to establish a list of illnesses and diseases that are presumed to be attributable to work at a facility of the DOE or of a DOE contractor or uranium vendor. Subtitle C: General Provisions - Establishes the Nuclear Employees' Radiation Compensation Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2000
Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, construct, and equip laboratory, administrative, and support space to house base operations for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Submillimeter Array located on Mauna Kea at Hilo, Hawaii. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2000
Imported Perishable Product Safety Improvement Act - Title I: Improvements to the Safety System for Imported Perishable Products - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a system to deny the importation of any perishable product if the Secretary makes and publishes: (1) a determination that such product has been associated with repeated outbreaks of disease or has been repeatedly determined to be adulterated, presents a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death, and is likely to cause disease or be adulterated again; or (2) an emergency determination that such product has been strongly associated with a single outbreak of disease that has caused such consequences or death. Prohibits the distribution of perishable products designated by the Secretary for examination until authorized by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to hold a perishable product in a secure storage facility until such a determination can be made. Requires the destruction of products adversely designated. Prohibits: (1) port shopping when a product has been refused admission; and (2) imports of perishable products by debarred persons. Authorizes the Secretary to require the owner of a refused product to clearly label such product as having been refused entry. Title II: Enforcement and Penalties for Importing Contaminated Perishable Products - Provides for the promulgation and enforcement of regulations governing, and the imposition of penalties against, the importing of contaminated perishable products. Authorizes the debarment of repeat offenders. Title III: Improvements to Public Health Infrastructure and Awareness - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to: (1) make grants or agreements with, and provide technical assistance to, eligible agencies to enhance their capacity to carry out activities relating to surveillance and prevention of pathogen-related disease borne in a perishable product; and (2) conduct related research, training, education, and public awareness activities.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 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 · 25 April 2000
Amends Federal law to authorize the payment of rewards to individuals furnishing information relating to persons subject to indictment before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for serious violations of international humanitarian law in Rwanda.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Pope John Paul II Congressional Gold Medal Act - Authorizes the presentation of a gold medal to Pope John Paul II in recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions to humanity. Authorizes appropriations. Mandates that proceeds from duplicate bronze medal sales be deposited in the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Preservation Act of 2000 - Requires amounts allotted to a State under title XXI (Children's Health Insurance) of the Social Security Act for FY 1998 and 1999 to remain available through FY 2002, notwithstanding a specified time limitation on the availability of such amounts.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Expresses the sense of the Senate that a specified amount of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Justice for FY 2000 should be reprogrammed for the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist State and local efforts to clean up methamphetamine laboratories.
![Official portrait of Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000439_200.jpg)