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United States · Official source
2,344 records where Sen. Gramm, Phil [R-TX] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Fast Track Trade Negotiating Authority Act - Amends the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to extend through December 31, 2004: (1) the President's trade agreement negotiating authority; and (2) congressional fast track procedures (no amendments) to implementing bills submitted with respect to trade agreements.
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
Military Voting Rights Act of 2001 - Amends the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 to require that a person who is absent from a State in compliance with military or naval orders shall not, solely by reason of that absence, for purposes of voting for an office of the United States or of a State, be deemed to have: (1) lost a residence or domicile in that State; (2) acquired a residence or domicile in any other State; or (3) become resident in or a resident of any other State. Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to require States, with respect to elections for State and local offices, to permit absentee voting by uniformed services members.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2000
Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 - Title I: Commodity Futures Modernization - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to authorize appropriations for authorities and activities under such Act. Revises specified provisions, including: (1) over-the-counter derivatives; (2) futures exchange regulation; (3) contracts; (4) prohibited transactions; and (5) boards of trade. Title II: Coordinated Regulation of Security Futures Products - Subtitle A: Securities Law Amendments - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 respecting: (1) regulatory relief for markets and intermediaries trading security futures products; and (2) interagency cooperation. Subtitle B: Amendments to the Commodity Exchange Act - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act respecting Securities and Exchange Commission jurisdiction. Title III: Legal Certainty for Swap Agreements - Amends the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Securities Act of 1933, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 respecting swap agreements. Title IV: Regulatory Responsibility for Bank Products - Legal Certainty for Bank Products Act of 2000 - Excludes specified banking products and swap agreements from Commodity Futures Exchange Commission coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2000
American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000 - Title I: Removal of Barriers to Housing Affordability - Housing Affordability Barrier Removal Act of 2000 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to authorize FY 2001 through 2005 appropriations for (consolidated) State and local grants for regulatory barrier removal. Makes consortia of local governments eligible grantees. Requires grant use in coordination with the local comprehensive affordability strategy under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. (Sec. 103) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to state that the regulatory barriers clearinghouse shall be established within the Office of Policy Development of the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the direction of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. Title II: Homeownership for Working Families - Authorizes the Secretary to insure refinancing of home equity conversions for elderly home owners. Provides for: (1) specified transaction disclosures; (2) waiver of counseling under specified conditions; (3) fee limitations; (4) single premium reduction; and (5) an actuarial study to determine insurance premium adequacy. Includes housing cooperatives in the demonstration program of insurance of home equity conversion mortgages for elderly home owners. Directs the Secretary to waive up-front premiums for mortgages used for costs of long-term care insurance or health care. (Sec. 202) Amends the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996 to authorize FY 2001 appropriations for self-help housing providers. Makes certain nongrant fund advances by an organization eligible for reimbursement. Revises fund recapture provisions. Title III: Section 8 Homeownership Option - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide a single grant home ownership downpayment option (in lieu of monthly payments) under the section 8 housing assistance program. (Sec. 302) Authorizes a public housing agency providing tenant-based section 8 housing assistance to provide assistance for a qualifying disabled family that purchases a home which will be owned and occupied by one or more members of such family. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 303) Authorizes FY 2001 appropriations (with a 50 percent matching requirement) for home ownership programs under the section 8 home ownership demonstration program. Title IV: Private Mortgage Insurance Cancellation and Termination - Private Mortgage Insurance Technical Corrections and Clarification Act - Amends the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 with respect to the definition of "cancellation date" to replace "amortization schedules" with, and define, "amortization schedule then in effect" for purposes of adjustable rate mortgages. Includes balloon mortgages within the definition of "adjustable rate mortgages." States that if a residential mortgage loan is modified (with mortgagor-mortgagee agreement) the cancellation date, termination date, or final agreement shall be recalculated to reflect such modifications. (Sec. 404) Extends mortgage insurance cancellation rights beyond the cancellation date for a qualifying borrower who is current on required payments. (Sec. 405) Revises the automatic termination date with respect to a mortgagor who is not current on payments as of the mortgage termination date. States that the cancellation or termination of private mortgage insurance shall not affect the rights of any mortgagee, servicer, or insurer to enforce any accrued obligation for premium payments. (Sec. 406) Revises and defines specified terms. Title V: Native American Homeownership - Subtitle A: Native American Housing - Establishes the Lands Title Report Commission to facilitate home loan mortgages on Indian trust lands. Terminates the Commission one year after its initial meeting. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 502) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to make permanent the Indian housing loan guarantee authority. (Sec. 503) Amends the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 to: (1) restrict the Secretary's authority to waive housing plan requirements to not more than 90 days; (2) permit the Secretary to waive local cooperation requirements upon a good faith showing and agreement to make certain payments in lieu of taxes; (3) permit assistance to Indian families that are not low-income upon a showing of need; (4) eliminate separate housing plan requirements for small tribes; (5) permit the Secretary to waive certain environmental review requirements under specified conditions; (6) permit reservation housing assistance for specified full-time Federal, State, county, or tribal law enforcement officers; (7) revise audit, review, and hearing provisions; (8) prescribe a funding formula for housing authorities operating fewer than 250 units based on an average of FY 1992 through 1997 allocations; and (9) repeal the requirement regarding the certification of compliance with subsidy layering requirements. Subtitle B: Native Hawaiian Housing - Hawaiian Homelands Homeownership Act of 2000 - Amends the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 to add a new Title VIII, Housing Assistance for Native Hawaiians. Directs the Secretary to make block grants to carry out affordable housing activities for Native Hawaiian families on or near Hawaiian Home Lands. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (defined as the agency or department of Hawaii responsible for administration of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920) only if the Director of the Department has submitted a housing plan that meets requirements under this Act, unless otherwise waived by the Secretary. Sets forth plan terms, conditions, and requirements, including a condition that, to the extent practicable, the Department use private nonprofit organizations in the planning and development of such housing. Provides for plan review by the Secretary. Sets forth provisions regarding the treatment of program income, project labor standards, and environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Limits assistance for affordable housing activities under the program to low-income Native Hawaiian families, with specified exceptions for: (1) certain home ownership activities; and (2) assistance to non-Native Hawaiians if the presence of the family in the housing involved is essential to the well-being of Native Hawaiian families and the housing need cannot be met without assistance. Describes eligible affordable housing activities. Sets forth program requirements, including the development of policies governing rents, home buyer payments, eligibility, management, leases, and tenant selection. Sets the maximum monthly rent or home buyer payment at 30 percent of the monthly adjusted family income. Directs the Secretary, in instances of substantial Department noncompliance, to terminate, reduce, or limit payments. Authorizes the Secretary, in addition to such actions, to refer the matter to the Attorney General for civil action. Sets forth review, auditing, and reporting requirements for the Secretary and the Director. Provides for discretionary audits by the Comptroller General. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2005. (Sec. 514) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to authorize the Secretary to guarantee up to $100 million in loans from approved lenders in each of FY 2001 through 2005 to provide access to sources of private financing to Native Hawaiian families who could otherwise not acquire housing financing because of the unique legal status of the Hawaiian Home Lands or as a result of a lack of access to private financial markets. Authorizes loan guarantees of up to 100 percent of unpaid interest and principal. Provides that a loan will be used to construct, acquire, or rehabilitate not more than four-family dwellings that are standard housing and located on Hawaiian Home Lands for which an approved housing plan to provide affordable home ownership housing applies. Sets forth eligible lender categories. Limits loans to 30-year terms. Permits the Secretary to guarantee a loan only upon determining that there is a reasonable prospect of repayment. Establishes a loan guarantee fee. Authorizes loan transfer and assumption, subject to governmental supervision. Provides for lender disqualification for specified violations, and civil monetary penalties for intentional violations. Establishes a Hawaiian Housing Guarantee Fund for the purpose of providing loan guarantees under this Act. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2005. Directs the Secretary to establish safety and quality standards for housing financed under these provisions. Title VI: Manufactured Housing Improvement - Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 - Amends the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 to define specified terms. (Sec. 604) Directs the Secretary to establish manufactured home construction and safety standards in accordance with the consensus standards development process (provided for by this Act). Directs the Secretary to contract with: (1) a temporary administering organization to appoint the initial members of the consensus committee and administer the consensus standards development and related procedural and enforcement processes; and (2) a subsequent administering organization for the development of Federal standards and related procedural and enforcement regulations. Establishes the consensus committee which shall provide the Secretary with periodic recommendations respecting Federal manufactured housing construction and safety standards and related procedural and enforcement regulations. States that committee members shall represent producer, consumer, and general interest and public official interests. Sets forth related administrative provisions. (Sec. 605) Eliminates the National Manufactured Home Advisory Council. Requires manufacturers to provide approved design and installation instructions with each manufactured home. Requires, within specified deadlines: (1) the consensus committee to develop and submit to the Secretary proposed model manufactured home installation standards; and (2) the Secretary to develop model standards. Requires an opportunity for public comment prior to such standards' issuance. Prohibits a State or manufacturer, during the five-year period beginning with the enactment of this Act, from establishing manufactured home installation standards that provide less protection than existing standards. Directs the Secretary, not later than the expiration of such five-year period, to implement in a State that has not adopted a similar program a program which provides for: (1) installation standards and designs and instructions that meet or exceed model standards; (2) installer training and licensing; and (3) installation inspection. (Sec. 606) Directs the Secretary to submit cost information to the consensus committee. (Sec. 607) Includes among research and testing activities: (1) encouraging government-sponsored housing entities to implement secondary market securitization programs for manufactured home loans; and (2) reviewing the programs for Federal Housing Administration manufactured home loans. (Sec. 608) Makes it a prohibited act to fail to comply with the Secretary's installation standards in any State that has not adopted a State installation program. (Sec.609) Authorizes the Secretary to collect manufacturer fees, and sets forth their permitted and prohibited uses. Establishes in the Treasury a Manufactured Housing Fees Trust Fund. Requires inspection and monitoring work to be carried out by independent contractors.. Requires the Secretary to continue funding States with approved plans at levels not less than those existing immediately prior to enactment of this Act. (Sec. 610) Directs the Secretary to establish a dispute resolution program within five years of the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 611) Eliminates the manufactured housing annual reporting requirement. (Sec. 612) Sets forth effective date provisions. (Sec. 613) Sets forth savings provisions, including certain contract duration provisions. Title VII: Rural Housing Ownership - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to direct the Secretary to provide guarantees for rural housing loan refinancing. (Sec. 702) Increases from $2,500 to $7,500 the amount of a rural housing repair loan that needs to be evidenced only by a promissory note. (Sec. 703) Makes limited partnerships eligible for farm labor housing loans. (Sec. 704) Sets forth project accounting and recordkeeping requirements. (Sec. 705) Extends the rural designation of certain areas until the 2010 census. (Sec. 707) Makes Indian tribes (as defined by this Act) eligible for the multifamily rental housing loan guarantee program. (Sec. 708) Establishes civil and criminal penalties for rural housing program equity skimming. Authorizes the Secretary to impose civil monetary penalties and prohibit renewal or extension of loan or assistance agreements for program violations. (Sec. 709) Amends Federal criminal law to include such equity skimming under money laundering provisions. Title VIII: Housing for Elderly and Disabled Families - Affordable Housing for Seniors and Families Act - Subtitle A: Refinancing for Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly - Directs the Secretary: (1) to approve prepayment of indebtedness, including refinancing under specified conditions, provided the project sponsor continues to operate the project on terms at least as advantageous to tenants as required under the original agreement; and (2) upon refinancing, to use at least 50 percent of the resultant savings in a manner that is advantageous to the tenants. Subtitle B: Authorization of Appropriations for Supportive Housing for the Elderly and Persons With Disabilities - Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to authorize FY 2001 through 2003 appropriations for supportive housing for the elderly. (Sec. 822) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to authorize FY 2001 through 2003 appropriations for supportive housing for persons with disabilities. (Sec. 823) Authorizes FY 2001 through 2003 appropriations for: (1) grants for service coordinators for elderly and disabled residents of certain federally assisted multifamily housing; and (2) contracts for congregate services for certain federally assisted housing. Subtitle C: Expanding Public Housing Opportunities for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities - Part 1: Housing for the Elderly - Amends the Housing Act of 1959, with respect to supportive services for the elderly, to make for-profit limited partnerships eligible program participants. (Sec. 832) Permits owners to use mixed funding sources for amenities and other design features. (Sec. 833) Expands acquisition authority. (Sec. 834) Authorizes project reserves to be used to reduce the number of dwelling units by retrofitting unmarketable units. (Sec. 835) States that no provision of law shall be construed to prohibit commercial operations in a project location that benefits project residents. Part 2: Housing for Persons with Disabilities - Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to make certain for-profit limited partnerships eligible recipients under the supportive housing for persons with disabilities program. (Sec. 842) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act with respect to the supportive housing for persons with disabilities program to permit owners to use mixed funding sources for amenities and other design features. (Sec. 843) Provides that tenant-based assistance may be provided through a qualifying public housing agency or a private nonprofit organization. Limits tenant-based assistance to 25 percent of fiscal year program assistance. (Sec. 844) Authorizes project reserves to be used to reduce the number of dwelling units by retrofitting unmarketable units. (Sec. 845) States that no provision of law shall be construed to prohibit commercial operations in a project location that benefits project residents. Part 3: Other Provisions - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to permit service coordinator services to be provided to low-income or elderly persons living in the vicinity of specified federally assisted housing. Includes telemarketing fraud protection among the services provided to elderly residents of federally assisted housing and under the supportive housing program. Directs the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to establish related service coordinator guidelines. Subtitle D: Preservation of Affordable Stock - Amends the National Housing Act, as amended by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, respecting rental and cooperative housing for lower- income families, to eliminate certain restrictions on owner retention of excess charges, including retention and use of certain previously collected excess charges. Title IX: Other Related Housing Provisions - Amends the National Housing Act to extend the insurance-eligible loan term for manufactured home lots to 20 years and 32 days. (Sec. 902) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, respecting enhanced section 8 voucher assistance, to: (1) include within the definition of "eligibility event" any termination or expiration of a contract for rental assistance during any fiscal year after 1994; and (2) provide that a maximum payment adversely affecting assisted families shall not be considered reasonable. (Sec. 904) Permits section 8 assistance to "grand-families." Title X: Federal Reserve Board Provisions - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to authorize the Board to acquire sites or property. (Sec. 1002) Revises the positions of Board members on the Executive Schedule (increasing their salary levels). (Sec. 1003) Revises Federal Reserve System semi-annual reporting requirements. Title XI: Banking and Housing Agency Reports - Federal Reporting Act of 2000 - Makes a specified provision of the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 (reporting requirements included on a list prepared by the Clerk of the House of Representatives for the first session of the 103rd Congress) inapplicable to certain monetary policy, banking, and housing reporting requirements under specified Acts (Sec. 1103) Sets forth specified report coordination requirements respecting: (1) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (2) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (3) the Comptroller of the Treasury; (4) the Export-Import Bank; (5) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (6) the Federal Housing Administration. (Sec. 1104) Amends the: (1) Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to eliminate certain activity and fiscal authority reporting requirements of the Export-Import Bank; and (2) Federal Deposit Insurance Act to eliminate the requirement for a semiannual report on activities and efforts of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Title XII: Financial Regulatory Relief - Financial Regulatory Relief and Economic Efficiency Act of 2000 - Subtitle A: Improving Monetary Policy and Financial Institution Management Practices - Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act (HOLA) to: (1) repeal savings association liquid asset requirements; and (2) permit a savings and loan holding company, with the prior approval by the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, to acquire more than five percent of the voting shares of a non-subsidiary savings association or non-subsidiary savings and loan holding company. (Sec. 1203) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) to repeal deposit broker notification and recordkeeping requirements. (Sec. 1204) Amends the National Bank Consolidation and Merger Act to prescribe expedited procedures permitting a national bank to: (1) reorganize as either a bank holding company, or as a bank holding company subsidiary; or (2) merge with subsidiaries or nonbank affiliates. (Sec. 1205) Amends Federal banking law to increase from one year to three years the term of the national bank director. Amends the Banking Act of 1933 to authorize the Comptroller of the Currency to exempt a national banking association from the 25-member limit on the number of members of an association's governing body. (Sec. 1207) Amends Federal banking law and the FDIA to: (1) repeal the mandate that the purchase or acquisition by a national banking association or depository institution of its own capital stock to prevent loss upon a previously contracted debt be disposed of within six months from the time of purchase; and (2) provide that if an institution acquires its own stock to prevent loss upon a debt previously contracted for in good faith, such transaction shall not be deemed to be a loan or discount on the security of its own capital stock. (Sec. 1208) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 to increase from 90 percent to 100 percent of fair market value the permissible valuation of readily marketable purchased mortgage servicing rights that may be included in calculating an insured depository institution's tangible capital, risk-based capital, or leverage limit, if the Federal regulatory agencies jointly find that such an increase will not adversely affect the deposit insurance funds or the safety and soundness of insured depository institutions. Subtitle B: Streamlining Activities of Institutions - Requires that Federal banking agencies work jointly to develop: (1) electronic filing and public dissemination of depository institution status reports (call reports); and (2) uniform formats and simplified filing instructions for such reports. Subtitle C: Streamlining Agency Actions - Amends the FDIA to: (1) repeal the mandate that Federal banking agencies develop jointly a method for supplemental disclosures in required Federal filings of the estimated fair market value of depository institution assets and liabilities; (2) authorize the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to establish the interest rate for or make post-insolvency interest payments to creditors' claims against the receivership estates of insured Federal or State depository institutions following satisfaction by the receiver of the principal amount of all creditor claims; and (3) mandate that Federal banking agencies jointly submit an annual report to certain congressional banking committees regarding differences in accounting and capital standards used by such agencies (currently such reports must be filed by the agencies individually). (Sec. 1224) Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to extend the deadline for the Finance Board's issuance of regulations respecting Federal home loan bank capital standards. Subtitle D: Technical Corrections - Makes technical corrections to related Acts. (Sec. 1233) Amends Federal banking law to: (1) authorize the Comptroller of the Currency to waive the citizenship requirement for a minority of the total number of directors sitting on the board of a national bank; (2) declare it is unlawful for the Comptroller to hold an interest in any national bank; and (3) repeal specified capital and surplus requirements for national banking associations. (Sec. 1234) Amends the International Bank Act of 1978 to modify examination requirements pertaining to establishment and operation by a foreign bank of Federal branches and agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2000
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should bring about compliance with the 1944 treaty on water utilization in order that the full requirement of water shall be available for U.S. use during the next full crop season; and (2) the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission should work to bring about full compliance with such treaty and should not accept any water debt or deficit repayment plan that does not provide for the full repayment of water owed.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2000
Peace Through Negotiations Act of 2000 - Declares it to be U.S. policy to oppose the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state, to withhold diplomatic recognition of any Palestinian state that is unilaterally declared, and to encourage other countries and international organizations to withhold diplomatic recognition of any Palestinian state that is unilaterally declared. Sets forth certain measures that shall be applied in the event that a Palestinian state is unilaterally declared, including: (1) to make it unlawful for the government of any unilaterally declared Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), or any successor entities to establish an office in the United States; (2) to bar of U.S. assistance to the government of any unilaterally declared Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority (or to any successor entity), and any programs or projects in the West Bank or Gaza (except humanitarian assistance); (3) to withhold a specified percentage of the U.S. contribution to any international organization that recognizes a unilaterally declared Palestinian state; and (4) to oppose such state's membership in any international financial institution or the extension by such institution of any loan or other financial assistance to it. Authorizes the President to suspend, for one year, the application of a specified number of such measures provided he determines and certifies to specified congressional committees that such suspensions are in the national security interests of the United States or the application of such measures would significantly hinder the prospects for a negotiated peace agreement in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2000
Commends the men and women of the 49th Armored Division of the Texas Army National Guard for their contributions to the success of the Multinational Stabilization Force in Bosnia- Herzegovina. Expresses gratitude for the sacrifices made by those men and women, their families, and their civilian employers in support of U.S. peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia- Herzegovina.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2000
Medicaid Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue a final regulation that provides for application of aggregate upper payment limits to non-State publicly owned or operated hospitals, nursing facilities, and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded under the Medicaid program of title XIX of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2000
National Rural Development Partnership Act of 2000 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish the National Rural Development Partnership composed of the National Rural Development Council (established by this Act) and State and rural development councils (authorized by this Act). Includes among Partnership purposes: (1) enhancement of State and local rural development capacities; and (2) engagement of Federal, State, local, tribal, and private and nonprofit sectors in such efforts. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for State rural development council matching requirements. Terminates the Partnership five years after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2000
Welcomes the constitutional transition of power in Mexico on December 1, 2000. Congratulates the Mexican people and their elected representatives for this historic change. Expresses the intent of the Senate to continue to work cooperatively with Mexican authorities to promote the health and welfare of U.S. and Mexican citizens endangered by international drug trafficking, use, and production. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the incoming new governments in both Mexico and the United States must develop and implement a counter-drug program that more effectively addresses the official corruption, increase in drug traffic, and lawlessness that has resulted from illegal drug trafficking, and that a one-year waiver of the requirement that the President certify Mexico is warranted to permit both new governments time to do so.
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 · 12 September 2000
Designates October 20, 2000, as National Mammography Day.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2000
Provides that the certification of cooperation of Mexico with U.S. counterdrug efforts shall not be required in FY 2001 in order that certain limitations on bilateral and multilateral development assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 shall not apply to Mexico in FY 2001.
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 · 6 September 2000
Designates September 8, 2000, as Galveston Hurricane National Remembrance Day.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program Act of 2000 - Amends specified Federal law to redesignate, as the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, the Peace Corps Fellows-USA Program promoting the work of returning Peace Corps volunteers in underserved U.S. communities.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Just Opportunities in Bidding Act of 2000 - Prohibits certain regulations relating to Federal contractor responsibility from taking effect and being enforced. Sets a limitation on the issuance of regulations on the same subject matter. Provides for a review by the Comptroller General of Federal contractor compliance with applicable Federal laws that affect the rights and responsibilities of contractors and the administration of Federal contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include distributions from publicly traded partnerships as qualifying income of regulated investment companies. Excludes such distributions from the source-based inclusion limitation applicable to other partnerships. Applies specified passive activity provisions for publicly traded partnerships to regulated investment companies.
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 · 25 July 2000
Homeowners Rebate Act of 2000 - Amends the National Housing Act to provide for partial rebates to mortgagors of certain Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund surplus reserves. Requires the General Accounting Office to report respecting the adequacy of Fund capital ratios.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2000
Designates the week beginning September 17, 2000, as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2000
Designates December 10, 2000, as National Children's Memorial Day.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2000
Consumer Empowerment and Electricity Deregulation Act of 2000 - Title I: Consumer Choice and Competition for Electric Suppliers - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to set forth retail electric competition parameters for State-regulated local distribution systems and for nonregulated local distribution systems, including the authority to recover stranded costs. (Sec. 101) Empowers the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)to enforce compliance with this Act. (Sec. 102) Terminates the requirement that electric utilities enter into new contracts for the sale or purchase of electric energy or capacity. Amends the Federal Power Act to: (1) declare that bundled and unbundled electric energy transmission service falls within the purview of the Act, including the sale of electric energy at wholesale in interstate commerce; and (2) grant FERC jurisdiction over facilities used to provide bundled and unbundled electric energy transmission services in interstate commerce, make sales of electric energy intended for resale, or establish and enforce bulk power system reliability standards implemented by a regional transmission organization. Title II: Public Utility Holding Companies - Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2000 - Repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. (Sec. 205) Prescribes procedural guidelines for Federal and State access to records of a holding company (including subsidiaries, associates, and affiliates) of a public utility or natural gas company. (Sec. 206) Precludes such State access to any person that is a holding company solely by reason of ownership of one or more qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. (Sec. 207) Instructs FERC to promulgate a final rule to exempt such holding companies, as well as exempt wholesale generators and foreign utility companies, from such access requirements. Requires FERC also to exempt from such access requirements any person or class of transactions that is not relevant to the jurisdictional rates of a public utility or natural gas company. (Sec. 208) Retains the jurisdiction of FERC and State commissions to determine whether a public utility company or natural gas company may recover in rates any costs of affiliate transactions. (Sec. 209) Declares this Act inapplicable to: (1) the United States; (2) a State or its political subdivision; and (3) a foreign governmental authority not operating in the United States. (Sec. 211) Grants FERC certain Federal Power Act enforcement powers. (Sec. 214) Transfers from the Securities and Exchange Commission to FERC all books and records that relate primarily to the functions vested in FERC by this Act. (Sec. 215) Amends the Federal Power Act to repeal its conflict of jurisdiction guidelines. (Sec. 216) Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code regarding tax-exempt bond financing of certain electric facilities, to exclude specified open access transactions from the definition of "private business use" (and thus from qualification for tax-exempt status) in connection with an electric output facility owned by a governmental unit. (Sec. 301) Permits certain bond issuers to make an irrevocable election to terminate certain tax-exempt financing for electric output facilities. (Sec. 302) Revises IRC special rules for nuclear decommissioning costs to repeal the limitation placed on deposits paid into the Nuclear Decommissioning Reserve Fund. (Sec. 303) Revises the 85-percent income test for qualification of a mutual or cooperative electric company for tax-exempt status, which requires that 85 percent or more of income consists of amounts collected from members for the sole purpose of meeting losses and expenses. Declares that, to meet such test, no income shall be taken into account from revenues received from nonmembers solely as a result of conforming transmission and distribution operations to meet provisions of a Federal or State plan designed to provide customer choice in electric power supply.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2000
Expresses the condolences of the Senate on the death of Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2000
Disapproves a specified rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to water pollution under the total maximum daily load program. Declares that such rule shall have no effect.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Congratulates: (1) the Mexican people for their struggle for representative democracy and the rule of law: (2) Vincente Fox Quesada for his electoral triumph; and (3) Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon, current President of the United Mexican States, for his commitment to ensure the peaceful and stable transition of power. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should: (1) expand and intensify its cooperation with the newly elected Government of Mexico to promote economic development and to reduce poverty to achieve an improved quality of life for citizens of both countries; (2) confront common threats such as the trafficking in illicit narcotics; and (3) act in solidarity to promote representative democracy and the rule of law throughout the world.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2000
Boll Weevil Eradication Equity Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide specified funding amounts for boll weevil eradication. Authorizes appropriations.
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 · 14 June 2000
Southwest Border Judgeship Act of 2000 - Directs the President to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, specified: (1) permanent judgeships (three additional district judges for the southern district of California, one additional district judge for the district of New Mexico, and two additional district judges each for the southern and western districts of Texas); and (2) temporary judgeships (three additional district judges for the district of Arizona, one additional district judge for the southern district of California, and one additional district judge for the district of New Mexico). Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2000
Declares that the Senate: (1) recognizes the need to encourage active involvement of fathers in the rearing and development of their children and that while there are millions of fathers who serve as a wonderful caring parent for their children, there are children on Father's Day who will have no one to celebrate with; (2) urges fathers to participate in their children's lives both financially and emotionally and to understand the level of responsibility required when fathering a child and to fulfill that responsibility; (3) encourages fathers to devote time, energy, and resources to their children; (4) is committed to assist absent fathers become more responsible and engaged in their children's lives; (5) designates June 18, 2000, as National Responsible Father's Day; and (6) calls on fathers around the country to use the day to reconnect and rededicate themselves to their children's lives, to spend such day with them, and to express their love and support for their children.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2000
Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to authorize appropriations for authorities and activities under such Act. Revises specified provisions, including: (1) over-the-counter derivatives; (2) futures exchange regulation; (3) contracts; (4) prohibited transactions; and (5) boards of trade.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2000
Designates August 16, 2000, as National Airborne Day.
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
Designates October 2000 as Children's Internet Safety Month.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Water Pollution Program Enhancements Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize appropriations for grants to States and interstate agencies for pollution control programs for FY 2001 through 2007. Makes $50 million of such funds available to States for the: (1) collection of reliable monitoring data; (2) the improvement of specified lists regarding waters with insufficient controls and maximum daily loads; (3) preparation of total maximum daily load allocations for such waters; and (4) development of watershed management strategies. Reauthorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2007 for grants to States for: (1) implementation of nonpoint source pollution control management programs; and (2) groundwater quality protection activities to advance States toward implementation of comprehensive nonpoint source pollution control programs. Makes $200 million available from funds appropriated for such management programs for States to provide grants to landowners to develop and implement nonpoint source control projects to restore or improve water quality of impaired waters that have been identified as a priority for restoration. Limits such grants to 90 percent of project costs. (Sec. 4) Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct a study on the: (1) scientific basis underlying the development and implementation of total maximum daily loads; (2) costs of implementing measures to comply with such loads; and (3) availability of alternative programs or mechanisms to reduce the discharge of pollutants from point sources and nonpoint source pollution to achieve water quality standards. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator to submit such study to specified congressional committees. (Sec. 5) Directs the Administrator to establish jointly with the States a watershed management pilot program to evaluate the relative water quality improvements resulting from up to five State watershed management programs or strategies that incorporate non-Federal water quality control programs, innovative technologies, and incentives to reduce the discharge of pollutants or total maximum daily load allocations under the Act. Provides that a strategy, to be eligible for consideration in the program, must be expected to achieve environmental results comparable to those of the Federal total maximum daily load program. Requires reports to Congress on the program. Terminates the program after three years after a State is accepted in the program. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 6) Requires the Administrator, prior to finalizing the Proposed Revisions to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program and Federal Antidegradation Policy and the Proposed Revisions to the Water Quality Planning and Management Regulations Concerning Total Maximum Daily Loads of August 1999, to: (1) review the NAS study prepared under this Act; and (2) take into consideration NAS recommendations in issuing any final regulations. Directs the Administrator, if provisions are included in any final regulation that are not consistent with NAS recommendations, to publish an explanation with the final rule of why such recommendations were not included in the regulation.
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 · 11 April 2000
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2000 - Amends the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act to extend for an additional two years the authority under which postal patrons may contribute to funding for breast cancer research through the voluntary purchase of certain specially issued U.S. postage stamps.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Designates the Federal building located at 500 Pearl Street in New York City, New York, as the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Expresses support for the Day of Honor 2000 to honor and recognize the service of minority veterans in the U.S. armed forces during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2000
Conservation Reserve Program Tax Fairness Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat conservation reserve program payments as real estate rentals for self-employment earnings purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal Subchapter B (Communications) of Chapter 33 (Facilities and Services) of Subtitle D (Miscellaneous Excise Taxes).
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2000
Worker Economic Opportunity Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt employee stock option, stock appreciation right, stock purchase, and similar employer-provided grants or rights programs from being included in overtime pay calculations, under specified conditions. Provides that employers have no overtime pay liability because of any employee stock options or similar programs prior to enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2000
Expresses support for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. eastern standard time on each Memorial Day in honor of the men and women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2000
Authorizes the President to extend nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of China, provided, prior to such determination, the President certifies to Congress that the terms and conditions for China's accession to the World Trade Organization are at least equivalent to those agreed between the United States and China on November 15, 1999.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2000
Marginal Well Preservation Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth provisions relating to domestic oil and gas production which: (1) establish a credit for producing oil and gas from marginal wells; and (2) permit a taxpayer to expense geological and geophysical expenditures and to delay rental payments in connection with oil and gas development.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2000
National Museum of the American Indian Commemorative Coin Act of 2000, or American Buffalo Coin Commemorative Coin Act of 2000 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue a maximum of 500,000 $1 dollar coins in commemoration of the opening of the Museum of the American Indian of the Smithsonian Institution. Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States Mint Facility in Denver, Colorado, should strike such coins unless the Secretary determines that it would be technically or cost-prohibitive. Mandates that the proceeds from sales surcharges be paid promptly to the National Museum of the American Indian of the Smithsonian Institution to: (1) commemorate the opening of the Museum; and (2)supplement the Museum's endowment and educational outreach funds. Subjects the Museum to certain Federal audit requirements. Instructs the Secretary to take actions to ensure that coin minting and issuance will not result in any net cost to the Government.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2000
Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2000 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management, to: (1) establish and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program for the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas resources in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Alaska); (2) ensure that such program does not result in significant adverse effects upon either fish, wildlife, or the environment; and (3) ensure receipt of fair market value by the public for the mineral resources to be leased. (Sec. 3) Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 to repeal the proscription against the leasing or development for oil or gas production on the Coastal Plain. Declares that: (1) Congress has determined that such oil and gas leasing activities are compatible with the purposes for which the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was established; and (2) no further findings or decisions are required. Authorizes the Secretary to designate up to a total of 45,000 acres of the Coastal Plain as Special Areas closed to leasing, but within which the Secretary may permit: (1) restrictive lease terms with respect to surface use and occupancy; and (2) the use of horizontal drilling technology from sites located outside the designated Special Areas. States that this Act constitutes the Secretary's sole authority to close lands to oil and gas exploration and production within the Coastal Plain. Directs the Secretary to convey: (1) the surface estate of specified Coastal Plain lands to the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation; and (2) the subsurface estate beneath such surface estate to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. (Sec. 6) Prescribes procedural guidelines for lease sales on the Coastal Plain, including lease terms, conditions, and bonding requirements. Provides for expedited judicial review in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia with respect to actions of the Secretary. (Sec. 12) Directs the Secretary to grant rights of way and easements across the Coastal Plain for oil and gas transportation. Mandates that all revenues received by the Federal Government from competitive transactions and charges derived from Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing be deposited into the Treasury. Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay semiannually to the State of Alaska the same percentage of such revenues as is set forth in specified law.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2000
Competitive Market Supervision Act - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to: (1) eliminate the general revenue fees on securities for the cost of the securities registration process; (2) set a uniform and higher rate for the offsetting collection fee schedule for FY 2001 through 2006; and (3) set a permanent rate for FY 2007 and thereafter (presently such rates phase out after FY 2006). (Sec. 3) Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to revise the filing fees related to the purchase of securities by issuers and to preliminary proxy solicitations to reflect such modified offsetting collection fee schedule. Mandates that fees collected during any fiscal year be deposited and credited as offsetting collections. (Sec. 4) Replaces the statutory transaction fee formula for either a national securities exchange or national securities association with a transaction offsetting collection rate which is the uniform rate required to reach a specified transaction fee cap for the fiscal year. (Sec. 5) Prescribes guidelines for adjustments to fee rates, including: (1) estimates of collections; (2) a floor for total fee collections; and (3) a cap on total fee collections. Instructs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to explain to certain congressional committees the methodology used to make its estimates of collections. Shields SEC determinations and actions from judicial review. Requires the SEC to notify each national securities exchange or national securities association prior to taking action with respect to either a total fee collection floor or a total fee collection cap. (Sec. 7) Revises guidelines governing SEC employee appointment and compensation to include conformance with guidelines covering Federal agency employees under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2000
Launching Our Communities' Access to Local Television Act of 2000 - Establishes the Local Television Loan Guarantee Board to approve or disapprove loan guarantees under this Act. Allows loan guarantees to be approved only to the extent provided for in advance in appropriations Acts. Requires such loans to be used to finance the means by which local television broadcast signals will be delivered to an unserved or underserved area, with a loan priority for unserved areas. Prohibits the Board from approving a loan which will serve one of the 40 most populated designated market areas. Limits: (1) each loan guarantee to 70 percent of the total cost of a project; and (2) the aggregate value of all loan guarantees to$1.25 billion. Requires the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service to administer all loan guarantees approved under this Act. Requires loan applicants to enter into stipulated performance schedules with respect to the local television signals to be provided through the project. Outlines procedures governing loan application and credit requirements, default procedures, and recovery of payments for breach of conditions. Authorizes the Board to charge and collect a loan guarantee fee and use such fee to cover administrative costs. Requires an annual audit and report concerning the loan guarantee program. Prohibits any loan guarantee from being approved after December 31, 2006. Subjects all loan applicants to Federal copyright provisions relating to the required retransmission of local television stations. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2006.