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United States · Official source
5,887 records where Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce from $18 to $9 (its pre-1991 level) the per-barrel tax on beer.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1999
National Monument Public Participation Act of 1999 - Amends the Antiquities Act to require the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to promulgate regulations that establish procedures to ensure that Federal, State, and local governments and the public have the right to participate in the formulation of plans relating to the declaration of a national monument on Federal land. Requires the Secretaries, prior to making any recommendations for declaration of a national monument in an area, to: (1) ensure compliance with all applicable Federal land management and environmental laws; (2) cause mineral surveys to be conducted by the Geological Survey to determine the mineral values that may be present in the area; (3) cause an assessment of the land's surface resource values to be completed and made available by the appropriate agencies; (4) identify all existing rights held on Federal land contained within such area; and (5) identify all State and private land contained within such area. Requires: (1) either Secretary, on completion of such reviews and mineral surveys, to submit to the President recommendations as to whether any area on Federal land warrants declaration as a national monument; and (2) no later than two years after the receipt of such a recommendation, the President to advise the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the President's recommendations and provide them with maps and descriptions of the boundaries of those areas evaluated for declaration.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Asbestos Resolution Corporation Title II: Medical Eligibility Determinations Title III: Alternative Dispute Resolution Title IV: Civil Actions Title V: Rules Applicable to Arbitrations and Civil Actions Title VI: Funding Title VII: Applicability; Pending Civil Actions Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions Fairness in Asbestos Compensation Act of 1999 - Title I: Asbestos Resolution Corporation - Establishes the Asbestos Resolution Corporation which shall: (1) have exclusive authority to adopt rules for cost recovery, physician qualifications, alternative dispute resolution, exceptional medical cases, and disease eligibility; and (2) appoint a Medical Advisory Board. Title II: Medical Eligibility Determinations - Sets forth claimant medical eligibility determination criteria for: (1) nonmalignant conditions; (2) mesothelioma; (3) lung cancer; and (4) other cancer. (Sec. 205) Sets forth procedures for Corporation determination of a claimant's certificate of medical eligibility. (Sec. 206) Directs the Corporation to establish one or more exceptional medical claims panels. Sets forth application and acceptance provisions. (Sec. 207) Provides for: (1) confidentiality; and (2) U.S. district court review of Corporation determinations of eligibility. Title III: Alternative Dispute Resolution - Directs the Board to establish procedural rules for an alternative dispute resolution process. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) motions officers; (2) respondent notification; (3) additional respondents; (4) grace period; (5) mediation and arbitration; and (6) subpoena powers. Title IV: Civil Actions - Prohibits: (1) a civil asbestos action unless the plaintiff has obtained a certificate of medical eligibility and release from mediation; and (2) a class action or other collective action without the consent of each defendant. (Sec. 404) Requires a penalty for a final offer made by a respondent in mediation if such offer is below a certain amount assigned by the jury or fact-finder. Title V: Rules Applicable to Arbitrations and Civil Actions - Sets forth arbitration and civil action rules with respect to: (1) issues to be decided; (2) relief; (3) timeliness defenses; (4) attorney's fees; and (5) nonpreclusion of nonmalignant claims upon subsequent malignancy claims. Title VI : Funding - Directs the Corporation to estimate its annual medical review and administrative and overhead costs and allocate proportionate cost shares among the previous year's respondents. Provides monetary penalties for noncooperation with the Corporation. (Sec. 602) Provides for mediation and arbitration costs to be charged on a per capita basis to participating respondents. (Sec. 603) Directs the Corporation to establish procedures for informal resolution of cost assessment disputes. Provides for U.S. district court review of cost assessment disputes. (Sec. 606) Establishes the Asbestos Resolution Corporation Trust Fund and transfers to it amounts received under this title and other amounts. Authorizes obligation of Fund amounts consistent with this Act, to remain available without fiscal year limitation. Title VII: Applicability; Pending Civil Actions - Makes this Act applicable to any civil asbestos action that has not resulted in a final, nonappealable judgment, with specified conditions applicable to pending civil actions. Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Defines specified terms. (Sec. 803) Makes this Act inapplicable to existing asbestos trusts, with an elective trust exception. (Sec. 804) States that nothing in this Act shall prohibit a claimant from entering into a settlement agreement concerning a claim covered under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1999
Y2K Regulatory Amnesty Act of 1999 - Requires a defendant who wishes to establish the affirmative defense of Year 2000 (Y2K) upset to demonstrate, through relevant evidence, that: (1) the defendant previously made a good faith effort to remediate Y2K problems; (2) a Y2K upset occurred as a result of a Y2K system failure or other Y2K emergency; (3) noncompliance with the applicable federally enforceable requirement was unavoidable in the face of such an emergency or was intended to prevent the disruption of critical functions that could result in the harm of life or property; (4) the defendant began immediate action to remediate any violation of federally enforceable requirements upon identification of noncompliance; and (5) the defendant submitted notice to the appropriate Federal regulatory authority of a Y2K upset within 72 hours of becoming aware of the upset. Defines "a Y2K upset" as an exceptional incident involving temporary noncompliance with applicable federally enforceable requirements because of factors related to a Y2K failure that are beyond the reasonable control of the defendant. Excludes from such definition: (1) noncompliance with such requirements that constitutes or would create an imminent threat to public health or safety; (2) noncompliance caused by operational error or negligence; or (3) lack of reasonable preventative maintenance or preparedness for Y2K. Makes the Y2K defense a complete defense to any action brought as a result of noncompliance with federally enforceable requirements for any defendant who meets the conditions described by this Act. Sets the maximum allowable length of a Y2K upset at 30 days unless granted specific relief by the appropriate regulatory authority. Provides for criminal penalties for fraudulent use of the Y2K defense.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1999
Amends Federal aviation law, with respect to the automatic stay of administrative orders pending appeal, to provide for the immediate application, upon determination of an emergency by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, of orders relating to the amendment, modification, suspension, or revocation of aviation safety certificates, unless the Administrator, upon inquiry by the National Transportation Safety Board, cannot prove the existence of an emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1999
Amends provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act concerning regulations for State programs for protection of underground sources of drinking water to exclude from the definition of "underground injection" the underground injection of fluids or propping agents pursuant to hydraulic fracturing operations for purposes of reservoir stimulation related to oil or gas production activities. Grants the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency the sole authority to determine whether an activity not regulated as underground injection before October 11, 1995, shall be regulated under such provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1999
Taiwan Security Enhancement Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments should make every effort to reserve additional positions for Taiwan military officers at the National Defense University, the senior war colleges, and the military academies. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should, when considering foreign military sales to Taiwan, take into account Taiwan's special status and make every effort to ensure it has full and timely access to price and availability data for defense articles and defense services. Directs the President, upon the request of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, to use Department of Defense funds for the assignment of additional technical staff to the American Institute in Taiwan. Directs the President to report annually to Congress with respect to Taiwan's defense needs. Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan for the enhancement of programs for operational training and exchanges of personnel between U.S. armed forces and Taiwanese armed forces for work in threat analysis, doctrine, force planning, operational methods, and other areas. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish secure direct communications between the U.S. Pacific military command and the Taiwan military command. Authorizes the President, subject to the Arms Export Control Act, to make available for sale to Taiwan, at reasonable cost, theater missile defense equipment and related items, satellite early warning data, modern air-defense equipment, and naval defense systems.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1999
Brady Act Amendments of 1999 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to limit the coverage of the Act to handguns (as opposed to firearms).
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1999
Expresses support for the U.S. military personnel who are engaged in military operations against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and recognizes their professionalism, dedication, patriotism, and courage.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permanently extend the credit for increasing research activities; and (2) increase the incremental rates for the alternative research credit.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1999
Designates the month of May in 1999 and 2000 as National ALS Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1999
Declares that it is the sense of the Senate that Congress should reject the President's proposed tax increase on the investment income of non-profit trade associations and professional societies like business leagues, chambers of commerce, real-estate boards, boards of trade, and certain professional football leagues.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1999
Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report, that includes a retroactive Federal income tax rate increase.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1999
Child Custody Protection Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit transporting an individual under age 18 across a State line to obtain an abortion and thereby abridging the right of a parent under a law in force in the State where the individual resides requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision. Makes an exception if the abortion was necessary to save the life of the minor. Specifies that neither the minor transported nor her parent may be prosecuted or sued for a violation of this Act. Makes it an affirmative defense to a prosecution for, or to a civil action based on, such a violation that the defendant reasonably believed that before the individual obtained the abortion, the parental consent or notification or judicial authorization that would have been required had the abortion been performed in the State where the individual resides, took place. Authorizes any parent who suffers legal harm from a violation to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action. Defines "parent" to include a guardian, legal custodian, or person standing in loco parentis who has care and control of the minor, and with whom the minor regularly resides, who is designated by such law as a person to whom notification, or from whom consent, is required.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1999
Medical Savings Account Expansion Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal: (1) the limitations on the number of taxpayers having medical savings accounts (MSAs); (2) the eligibility requirement that an MSA holder be covered by a high deductible health plan established by the holder's or holder's spouse's small employer, or be a self-employed individual whose high deductible health plan is not established by the self-employed individual or by such individual's spouse's employer; (3) the restriction that a taxpayer's deduction for an MSA contribution not exceed the taxpayer's compensation; and (4) the denial of a taxpayer deduction for contributions to an MSA if the taxpayer's employer's contribution to the MSA is excludable from the employer's gross income. Increases to 100 percent of the annual deductible of an individual's high deductible health plan the amount of annual contributions to an MSA the individual may make (and deduct from gross income). Reduces the high deductible plan minimum annual deductible: (1) from $1,500 to $1,000 for self-only coverage; and (2) from $3,000 to $2,000 for family coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1999
Provides that it shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that includes a retroactive Federal income tax rate increase. Waives such point of order only by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members. Requires the same majority to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on such point of order. Makes this resolution effective January 1, 1999.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1999
National Salvage Motor Vehicle Consumer Protection Act of 1999 - Amends Federal transportation law to require States receiving Federal funds for the compilation of passenger motor vehicle titling information, in licensing a passenger motor vehicle whose ownership has been transferred, to disclose on the certificate of title whenever records indicate that such vehicle was previously issued a title that contained a word or symbol signifying that it was "salvage," "older model salvage," "unrebuildable," "parts only," "scrap," "junk," "nonrepairable," "reconstructed," "rebuilt," or that it has been damaged by flood, and the name of the State that issued the title. (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations requiring each State in licensing such vehicles to apply specified uniform standards, procedures, and methods for the issuance and control of motor vehicle titles and for information to be contained on such titles. Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) a record of the States which are in compliance with the uniform Federal title requirements; and (2) a mechanism to identify to interested parties which States are compliant. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations requiring: (1) a person transferring ownership of a rebuilt salvage vehicle to disclose to the transferee, before the time of transfer, that the motor vehicle is a rebuilt salvage vehicle when such person has actual knowledge of such fact; and (2) that a label containing such information be affixed to the windshield or window of a rebuilt salvage vehicle before its first sale. Prohibits any person from willfully removing, altering, or rendering illegible such label before the vehicle is delivered to the first retail purchaser. Directs the Secretary to report to appropriate congressional committees on whether the costs to States for compliance with the requirements of this Act can be met by user fees for titling, registration, inspection, or other services, or by earmarking moneys collected through law enforcement action to enforce such requirements. Makes it unlawful for any person knowingly to: (1) make false statements on the application for a motor vehicle title or any disclosure with respect to a rebuilt salvage vehicle; (2) fail to apply for a salvage title when such application is required; (3) alter, forge, or counterfeit a certificate of title, a nonrepairable vehicle certificate, a certificate verifying an anti-theft inspection or an anti-theft and safety inspection, a required decal affixed to a passenger motor vehicle, or any disclosure with respect to a rebuilt salvage vehicle; (4) falsify the results of an inspection; (5) offer to sell any salvage vehicle or nonrepairable vehicle as a rebuilt salvage vehicle; (6) fail to give notice to a transferee of a motor vehicle that it has been damaged by flood; (7) fail to make any required disclosure with respect to a rebuilt salvage vehicle; (8) violate a regulation under this Act; (9) move a vehicle or a vehicle title in interstate commerce for the purpose of avoiding the titling requirements of this Act; or (10) conspire to commit any of these acts. Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act. Authorizes the chief law enforcement officer of a State, whenever a person violates a requirement of this Act, to bring an action in district court to restrain the violation, or recover amounts for which a person is civilly liable, or recover the amount of damage suffered by a resident in the State as a result of the knowing commission of the unlawful act by another person. Directs the Secretary to make a grant to each State that demonstrates that it is taking appropriate actions to implement this Act, including such conformance related activities as issuing titles, establishing and administering vehicle theft or salvage vehicles safety inspections, enforcement, and other related purposes. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 3) Requires the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System to permit a user to establish instantly and reliably, among other things, whether: (1) an automobile known to be titled in a particular State is or has been a nonrepairable vehicle, a rebuilt salvage vehicle, or a flood vehicle; and (2) an automobile bearing a known vehicle identification number has been reported as a nonrepairable vehicle, a rebuilt salvage vehicle, or a flood vehicle. Limits to States receiving certain Federal grants for the compilation of passenger motor vehicle titling information the current requirement that every State make such information available for use in operating the System. (Sec. 4) Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Secretary to develop and implement a program to notify U.S. dealers and distributors of the prohibition on the sale or delivery of any vehicle for use as a schoolbus that does not meet prescribed standards.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1999
Tax Code Termination Act Declares that no tax (except the tax on self-employment income and the taxes relating to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and the Railroad Retirement Tax Act) shall be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for any taxable year beginning after, or on any taxable event or for any period after, December 31, 2003. Declares that any new Federal tax system should be: (1) simple and fair; (2) apply a low rate to all Americans; (3) provide tax relief for working Americans; (4) protect the rights of taxpayers and reduce tax collection abuses; (5) eliminate the bias against savings and investment; (6) promote economic growth and job creation; (7) not penalize marriage or families; and (8) receive congressional approval in its final form by July 4, 2003.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1999
Commends U.S. Senator J. Robert Kerrey of Nebraska, on the 30th anniversary of the events giving rise to his receiving the Medal of Honor, for service to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Domestic Oil and Gas Production Preservation Provisions Title II: Domestic Oil and Gas Industry Crisis Tax Relief Subtitle A: Credits to Cash Provisions Subtitle B: Hard Times Tax Relief Subtitle C: Oil-for-Food Program Compensating Tax Benefits Title III: Foreign Oil Reliance Reversal Provisions Title IV: National Security Emergency Provisions Domestic Oil and Gas Crises Tax Relief and Foreign Oil Reliance Reversal Act of 1999 - Title I: Domestic Oil and Gas Production Preservation Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a marginal oil and gas well production credit. Excludes from gross income certain income attributable to independent producer oil from a recovered inactive well. Extends the enhanced oil recovery credit to include certain nontertiary recovery methods. Title II: Domestic Oil and Gas Industry Crisis Tax Relief - Subtitle A: Credits to Cash Provisions - Provides a ten-year carryback for: (1) unused energy minimum tax credits; (2) percentage depletion for oil and gas recovery; and (3) losses attributable to oil servicing companies and mineral interests of oil and gas producers. Provides for a waiver of limitations. Subtitle B: Hard Times Tax Relief - Provides, as a general rule, that in computing the alternative minimum taxable income of any taxpayer which is an integrated oil company for any taxable year beginning after 1998, there shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to the alternative tax energy preference deduction (as defined). Makes the depreciation adjustment inapplicable to property used in the active conduct of the trade or business of exploring for, extracting, developing, or gathering crude oil or natural gas. Repeals specified adjustments. Allows using the enhanced oil recovery credit and the credit for producing oil from a nonconventional source against the minimum tax. Subtitle C: Oil-for-Food Program Compensating Tax Benefits - Increases the percentage depletion for stripper wells. Repeals the net income limitation on percentage depletion for oil and gas properties. Permits a taxpayer to treat geological and geophysical expenses incurred in connection with the exploration for, or development of, oil or gas within the United States as expenses which are not chargeable to capital account. Doubles from the 90th to the 180th day the time allowed under the "spudding rule." Title III: Foreign Oil Reliance Reversal Provisions - Establishes a crude oil and natural gas exploration credit. Title IV: National Security Emergency Provisions - Directs the President to: (1) establish a National Security Energy Independence Ceiling which shall represent a ceiling beyond which foreign crude and oil product imports as a share of U.S. crude and oil product consumption shall not rise; (2) report to Congress annually with a national security projection for energy independence; and (3) certify whether such imports will exceed the ceiling. Provides for review of each projection by Congress. Requires the President, if the ceiling level will be exceeded, to submit a National Security and Oil production policy to Congress which shall prevent such imports from the exceeding the National Security Energy Independence Ceiling.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1999
Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 1999 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit the use of appropriated funds for: (1) any system to implement the Act that does not require and result in the immediate destruction of all information submitted by or on behalf of any person who has been determined not to be prohibited from owning a firearm; and (2) the implementation or collection of any tax or fee by any Federal officer, agent, or employee, or by any State or local officer or agent acting on behalf of the United States, in connection with such implementation. Authorizes any person aggrieved by a violation of this Act to bring an action in Federal district court and, if successful, to receive damages, punitive damages, and such other remedies as the court may determine to be appropriate, including a reasonable attorney's fee.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1999
Stealth Tax Prevention Act - Amends Federal law relating to congressional review of agency rulemaking to include in the definition of "major rule" any rule that is promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service and whose implementation and enforcement the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget finds has resulted in (or is likely to result in) any net increase in Federal revenues.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1999
Designates July 2, 1999, and July 2, 2000, as National Literacy Day.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to award a gold medal to Rosa Parks, in recognition of her contributions to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to disregard certain Native American housing assistance in determining whether a building is federally subsidized for low-income housing credit purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1999
Amends the Clean Air Act to repeal the Federal-aid highway sanctions available to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in cases of failure of State implementation plans for air quality nonattainment areas.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1999
Advancement in Pediatric Autism Research Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of NIH with respect to autism. Requires the Director, among other things, to make awards of grants and contracts to public or nonprofit entities for centers of excellence regarding research on autism. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to: (1) make awards of grants and cooperative agreements for the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on autism and pervasive developmental disabilities to public or nonprofit private entities; (2) establish up to five regional centers of excellence in autism and pervasive developmental disabilities epidemiology, through grants or cooperative agreements, for purposes of collecting and analyzing information on autism and developmental disabilities; (3) establish a clearinghouse within the Center for the collection and storage of data generated from the monitoring programs created by this Act; and (4) coordinate the Federal response to requests for assistance from State health department officials regarding potential or alleged autism or developmental disability clusters. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to establish a program to provide information and education on autism to health professionals and the general public. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to establish an Autism Coordinating Committee to coordinate HHS efforts concerning autism.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1999
Protect Social Security Benefits Act of 1999 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it a point of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any concurrent resolution on the budget that would set forth or cause a Federal budget deficit (excluding social security trust funds receipts and disbursements), unless the Congress declares war or if a joint resolution is enacted under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) directing the President to modify the most recently issued order for enforcing pay-as-you-go requirements. Provides that if no concurrent resolution on the budget is adopted by September 1 of any year, this Act shall apply to any appropriation bill or joint resolution for that year or any subsequent year. Requires this Act to be waived in the Senate only upon a supermajority vote.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1999
Small Employer Nest Egg Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth provisions for: (1) a small employer (100 or fewer employees) retirement plan; (2) a credit for the expenses of establishing such a plan; and (3) a model small employer retirement plan.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the tax increase on social security benefits and tier 1 railroad retirement benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1999
State and Local Investment Opportunities Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the State ceiling on private activity bonds. Provides for inflation adjustment.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1999
Federal Home Loan Bank System Modernization Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLBA) to instruct the Federal Housing Finance Board (the FHF Board) to divide the States into not fewer than one Federal Home Loan Bank district (currently 8 to 12 districts). (Sec. 4) Amends Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) membership parameters to make a Federal savings association's membership in the FHLB system voluntary instead of mandatory. (Sec. 5) Modifies guidelines governing long-term advances to: (1) allow advances to any community financial institution for small businesses, agricultural, rural development, or low-income community development lending; (2) make the cash (as well as the deposits) of an FHLB eligible collateral for securing a bank's interest in a loan or advance; and (3) repeal the 30 percent of capital cap on the aggregate amount of outstanding advances secured by real estate related collateral. Includes within the categories of collateral eligible for a bank loan secured loans for small business, agriculture, rural development, or low-income community development, or securities representing a whole interest in such secured loans in the case of any community financial institution. Authorizes the FHF Board to review certain collateral standards and require an increase in such standards for safety and soundness purposes. Authorizes an FHLB to renew certain advances on its own determination without concurrence by the FHF Board. Requires an FHLB member with an advance secured by insufficient eligible collateral to reduce its level of outstanding advances according to a schedule determined by the FHLB (currently, by the FHF Board). (Sec. 6) Revises eligibility criteria to permit certain community financial institutions to gain FHLB membership regardless of the percentage of total assets represented by residential mortgage loans. (Sec. 7) Repeals certain requirements for advances to qualified thrift lenders (QTLs) and to FHLB members that are not QTLs. Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to repeal the ineligibility of a non-QTL savings association to obtain new advances from a FHLB bank (thus making such savings associations eligible for such advances). Declares that, beginning three years after a savings association should have become or ceases to be a QTL, the savings association shall not retain any investment (including an investment in any subsidiary) or engage, directly or indirectly, in any activity unless that investment or activity would be permissible for the savings association if it were a national bank, and is also permissible for the savings association as a savings association. (Sec. 8) Amends the FHLBA to establish the Federal Home Loan Bank Finance Corporation (Corporation) as a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States to issue and service consolidated debt obligations of the Federal Home Loan Banks. Vests management of the Corporation in a board of directors. Prescribes procedural guidelines for Corporation issuance of voting capital stock to each member Bank. Transfers to the Corporation the functions of the Office of Finance of the Federal Home Loan Banks. (Sec. 9) Permits an FHLB to include as part of its capital structure plan provisions establishing a structure for its elective and appointive directors other than the structure prescribed by the FHLBA. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Corporation to issue consolidated bonds. (Sec. 11) Modifies mergers and consolidations guidelines to permit: (1) voluntary mergers, combinations, or consolidations of FHLB banks; and (2) FHLBs to establish, subject to FHF Board approval and supervision, a subsidiary or holding company to perform administrative or operational functions. (Sec. 12) Terminates the Housing Opportunity Hotline program. Repeals the requirement that an FHLB receive prior approval of the FHF Board for the purchase, construction, or leasing of buildings. Specifies the FHF Board's power to issue notices of violations to any FHLB, and to take affirmative action to correct resulting conditions. Repeals: (1) the FHF Board's authority to approve FHLB advances; and (2) the attendant loan limitation restriction. Requires each Federal home loan bank to contribute annually ten percent of the preceding year's net income or the prorated sums required to assure that the aggregate contribution of the banks shall not be less than $100 million for each such year, to support subsidies, including subsidized advances, through the Affordable Housing Program. Declares that no FHLB dividends shall be paid except out of previously retained earnings or current net earnings (currently, net earnings) remaining after certain reductions. Repeals the FHF Board's authority to levy a special one-time assessment upon FHLBs for its estimated transitional expenses. (Sec. 13) States that FHLB payments to the Resolution Funding Corporation to cover interest payments on obligations shall be a specified percentage of net earnings (currently an aggregate sum certain). (Sec. 14) Revamps FHLB capital structure parameters to direct: (1) the Finance Board to issue uniform capital standards regulations governing FHLB leverage limitation and risk-based capital requirements; and (2) each FHLB board of directors to submit for FHF Board approval a capital structure plan determined to be best suited for the bank's condition and operation as well as for the interests of its shareholders. Prescribes plan contents.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1999
Veterans' Equal Access to Medicare Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretaries of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Veterans Affairs (VA) (the administering Secretaries) to establish a demonstration project under which the HHS Secretary reimburses the VA Secretary for Medicare health care services furnished to certain veterans at a VA medical facility. Makes eligible for such services a veteran who has attained age 65, is entitled to Medicare benefits, and was enrolled for Medicare benefits on the date of enactment of this Act. Requires voluntary participation of eligible veterans under the demonstration program. Directs the administering Secretaries to establish a data matching program under which there is an exchange of information between HHS and VA to identify those entitled to such benefits. Allows the administering Secretaries to select up to ten demonstration sites in geographically dispersed sites for program participation. Requires at least one site to: (1) be near a base which was closed under a defense base closure law; and (2) serve a predominately rural population area. Requires the demonstration project to be conducted during the three-year period beginning on January 1, 2000. Authorizes the HHS Secretary to waive certain Medicare requirements in connection with the program. Requires the administering Secretaries to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a copy of the demonstration program agreement. Authorizes the VA Secretary to establish and operate up to four managed health care plans at demonstration sites. Requires such Secretary to submit to Congress a plan for the use of appropriate sites and entities. Requires certain certifications from the VA Inspector General before a plan may be implemented. Directs the HHS Secretary to reimburse the VA Secretary for demonstration project services at specified rates. Provides for such payments from Medicare trust funds, with an annual limit of $50 million. Authorizes the reduction of such reimbursement payments for VA failure to maintain its effort level for targeted veterans. Directs the administering Secretaries to closely monitor the expenditures made under the Medicare program for targeted veterans during the period of the demonstration project compared to expenditures that would have been made for such veterans if the demonstration project had not been conducted. Requires: (1) an annual report by the Comptroller General during each year of the demonstration project; (2) the administering Secretaries to take certain steps in the case of increased costs under the demonstration project and arrange for an independent evaluation of the project; (3) annual reports from such independent entity during the demonstration project period; and (4) a report from the administering Secretaries on the possibility of extending the demonstration project, making it permanent, or expanding it to cover additional demonstration sites.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1999
Prohibits the use of Department of Defense funds to conduct U.S. military operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) unless Congress first enacts a law containing specific authorization for those operations. Specifies exceptions for intelligence activities, surveillance, the provision of logistical support, or any measure necessary to defend U.S. armed forces against an immediate attack.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1999
Designates the week beginning March 7, 1999, as National Girl Scout Week.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1999
Requests that the U.S. Postal Service issue a commemorative postage stamp honoring the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1999
Mandates Information Act of 1999 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in preparing estimates of the direct costs of a Federal private sector mandate, to estimate, when applicable, the impact of such mandate on consumers, workers, and small businesses, including any disproportionate impact in particular regions or industries. Revises provisions concerning legislation subject to a point of order to: (1) define the point of order for a determination by the Director that it is not feasible to determine the economic impact of a Federal mandate; and (2) replace certain references to Federal intergovernmental mandates with references to Federal mandates with respect to legislation reported by the Appropriations Committees. Requires the Director, at the request of a Senator, to prepare an estimate of the direct costs of a Federal mandate (currently, Federal intergovernmental mandate) contained in such Senator's amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1999
Expresses the sense of the Senate that at the 55th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, the United States should introduce and make all efforts necessary to pass a resolution calling upon the People's Republic of China to end its human rights abuses in China and Tibet.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1999
Amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to repeal those provisions that permit employers, pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement (union security agreement), to require employees to join a union as a condition of employment (including provisions permitting railroad carriers to require, pursuant to such an agreement, payroll deduction of union dues or fees as a condition of employment).
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1999
Economic Growth and Government Efficiency Act of 1999 - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for any program funded by discretionary appropriations that is repealed by law in the fiscal year preceding the budget year, to determine: (1) the amount appropriated for the program in the last fiscal year the program was funded; and (2) based on such amount, the dollar equivalent of that amount adjusted for inflation in fiscal years beginning with the budget year through FY 2002. Includes such amounts as deficit decreases in OMB estimates and sequestration reports unless offset by legislation decreasing revenues. Reduces the discretionary caps by amounts equal to such deficit decreases. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide that revenue decreases offset as provided by this Act shall not be treated as increasing the deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1999
Alaska Native and American Indian Direct Reimbursement Act of 1999 - Amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to make permanent the demonstration program under which Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Alaska Native health organizations that contract or compact for the operation of a hospital or clinic of the Indian Health Service may directly bill for, and receive payment for, health care services provided by such hospital or clinic for which payment is made under Medicare or Medicaid or from any other third party payor. Requires participating hospitals and clinics to submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services quarterly reports on the program during the first two years of participation and annual reports thereafter. Provides for: (1) application to the Secretary by an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or Alaska Native health organization for participation of a Service facility in the program (the demonstration program was limited to four facilities); (2) the ongoing examination and implementation of necessary administrative changes to facilitate direct billing and reimbursement under the program; and (3) withdrawal from participation in the program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1999
Prohibits any regulation prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury or any Federal banking agency that would require a depository institution or any other private entity to obtain information concerning any person in connection with a financial transaction between such person and such entity (know your customer regulation) from taking effect.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1999
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to prohibit the commercial operation of civil supersonic transport aircraft that do not comply with stage 3 noise levels to or from a U.S. airport if the European Union adopts Common Position (EC) No. 66-98 (relating to certain aircraft noise regulations) as a final regulation.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1999
Dollars to the Classroom Act - Requires the Secretary of Education to award the total amount of certain applicable education funding directly to the States. (Sec. 2) Requires such direct awarding of all the funds (except those used for specified multiyear awards) that are appropriated for the Department of Education for the fiscal year for programs or activities under specified provisions of: (1) the Goals 2000: Educate America Act; (2) the Educational Research, Development, Disseminations, and Improvement Act of 1994; (3) the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994; (4) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA); and (5) the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Sets deadlines for: (1) each State to conduct a census to determine, and report to the Secretary, the number of kindergarten through grade 12 students in the State for the academic year; and (2) the Secretary to publish and disburse the amount each State will receive under this Act for the succeeding fiscal year. Sets forth: (1) a formula for determination of such award amounts, based on relative numbers of such students in each State; and (2) penalties for false information. Provides for continuation of certain multiyear awards made prior to enactment of this Act. Requires award amounts under this Act to be paid to the State Governor, who shall make them available to the individual or entity in the State responsible for the State administration of Federal education funds. Prescribes requirements for the use of such funds, earmarking not less than 95 percent for distribution to local educational agencies (LEAs) for the costs of activities or services provided in the classroom that LEAs determine appropriate, excluding associated administrative expenses, but including nonadministrative expenses associated with statewide or districtwide initiatives directly affecting classroom learning. Prohibits: (1) any head of a Federal department or agency other than the Secretary from promulgating regulations under this Act; and (2) the Secretary from issuing any regulation regarding the type of classroom activities or services that may be assisted under this Act. (Sec. 3) Amends ESEA title I (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards) to require the use of at least 95 percent of title I funds for an LEA for a fiscal year according to the requirements of this Act. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement a plan for streamlining regulations and eliminating bureaucracy so that 95 percent of such ESEA title I funds for LEAs are used for the costs of activities and services provided in the classroom; and (2) recommend to Congress legislation containing changes to Federal law needed for the use of such funds. (Sec. 4) Requires each LEA that receives funds under this Act to provide for the participation of children enrolled in private and home schools.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1999
Designates May 1999 as National Military Appreciation Month.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1999
Expresses: (1) condolences to the family of King Hussein and to all the people of Jordan; (2) admiration for King Hussein's enlightened leadership and gratitude for his support for peace throughout the Middle East; and (3) support and best wishes for the new government of Jordan under King Abdullah. Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to strengthening the vital relationship between our two governments and peoples.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1999
Amends the Congressional Award Act to change from April 1 to June 1 the deadline for the annual report of the Congressional Award Board. Provides that of the Board's six members appointed by the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, respectively, one shall be a Congressional Award recipient (currently, a member of the Congressional Award Association) and one shall be a local Congressional Award program volunteer (currently, a representative of a local Congressional Award Council). Sets forth the same requirement for the six members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and appointed by the Minority Leader of the House, respectively. Requires the Comptroller General to continue to determine through calendar year 2004 if the Director of the Board is complying or not complying with requirements regarding financial operations of the Congressional Award Program and to submit such results in the annual audit report to Congress. Extends the Board from October 1, 1999, to October 1, 2004.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1999
Declares that: (1) the final political status of the territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority can only be determined through negotiations and agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority; (2) any attempt to establish Palestinian statehood outside the negotiating process will invoke the strongest congressional opposition; and (3) the President should unequivocally assert U.S. opposition to the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1999
Self-Employed Health Insurance Fairness Act of 1999 - 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.)