United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1998
Congratulates the U.S. Army Reserve on the 90th anniversary of its establishment on April 23, 1998. Recognizes and commends the Army Reserve for its service and recognizes Strom Thurmond, the president pro tempore of the Senate, for 36 years of service with distinction in the Army Reserve.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1998
Technical Workers Fairness Act of 1998 - Amends the Revenue Act of 1978, as amended by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, with respect to the standards that a taxpayer must apply to treat certain individuals as not being employees for employment tax purposes. Repeals the exception to such standards for an individual who, pursuant to an arrangement between the taxpayer and another person, provides services for such other person as an engineer, designer, drafter, computer programmer, systems analyst, or other similarly skilled worker (technical worker) engaged in a similar line of work. (Thus, restores the standards used for determining whether technical workers are not employees as in effect before the Tax Reform Act of 1986.)
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Production From Marginal and Inactive Wells Title II: Other Incentives United States Energy Economic Growth Act - Title I: Production From Marginal and Inactive Wells - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for marginal domestic oil and natural gas well production during any taxable year in the amount of $3 per barrel of qualified crude oil production and 50 cents per 1,000 cubic feet of qualified natural gas production, reduced, but not below zero, as oil and gas prices increase. States that the limitation to the general business credit, based on the amount of tax, shall not be reduced by the amount of the marginal oil and gas well credit. Excludes from gross income, at the taxpayer's election, any income attributable to independent producer oil from a recovered inactive well, under certain conditions, while disallowing any deductions directly connected with such excluded amounts. Provides that, with respect to the alternative minimum tax, the inclusion of certain items in the computation of earnings and profits shall not apply to any income attributable to independent producer oil from a recovered inactive well that is excluded from gross income. Title II: Other Incentives - Allows both geological and geophysical expenditures on domestic oil and gas exploration and development and delay rental payments, at the taxpayer's election, to be deducted from gross income at the time incurred. Extends the special rule for the spudding of oil and gas wells. Extends the enhanced oil recovery credit to certain nontertiary recovery methods.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Prohibits the President from transferring a veterans memorial object that was brought to the United States as a memorial of combat abroad to a foreign country or entity controlled by a foreign government, or to any person for ultimate transfer or conveyance to such a country or entity, unless specifically authorized by law.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Constitutional Amendment - Grants victims of crimes of violence the right to: (1) reasonable notice of, and to not be excluded from, all public proceedings relating to the crime; (2) be heard, if present, and to submit a statement at all public proceedings to determine a release from custody, an acceptance of a negotiated plea, or a sentence (grants such rights at a non-public parole proceeding to the extent they are afforded to the convicted offender); (3) reasonable notice of a release or escape from custody relating to the crime; (4) consideration for the interest of the victim in a trial free from unreasonable delay; (5) an order of restitution from the convicted offender; (6) consideration for the safety of the victim in determining any release from custody; and (7) reasonable notice of the rights established by this amendment. Grants the victim or the victim's representative standing to assert such rights. Provides that nothing in this amendment shall: (1) provide grounds for the victim to challenge a charging decision or a conviction, to overturn a sentence or negotiated plea, to obtain a stay of trial, or to compel a new trial; and (2) give rise to a claim for damages against the United States, a State, a political subdivision, or a public official. Empowers the Congress and the States to implement and enforce this amendment within their respective jurisdictions by appropriate legislation, including by enacting exceptions when necessary to achieve a compelling interest.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1998
American Missile Protection Act of 1998 - States as U.S. policy to deploy as soon as technologically possible an effective National Missile Defense system capable of defending U.S. territory against limited ballistic missile attack (whether accidental, unauthorized, or deliberate).
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of State Activities Title II: Commission on International Religious Persecution Title II: National Security Council Title IV: Sanctions Subtitle I: Targeted Responses to Religious Persecution Abroad Subtitle II: Strengthening Existing Law Title V: Promotion of Religious Freedom Title VI: Refugee, Asylum, and Consular Matters Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 - Declares it to be U.S. policy to: (1) condemn religious persecution, and to promote, and to assist other governments in the promotion of, the fundamental right to religious freedom; and (2) seek to channel U.S. security and development assistance to governments that are found not to be engaged in gross violations of human rights, including the right to religious freedom. Title I: Department of State Activities - Establishes within the Department of State an Office on International Religious Freedom which shall be headed by an Ambassador at Large on International Religious Freedom. (Sec. 102) Directs the Ambassador at Large to assist the Secretary of State in preparing those portions of the Human Rights Reports that relate to freedom of religion and religious discrimination, and to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, in conjunction with the Human Rights Reports, an Annual Report on Religious Persecution: (1) identifying foreign countries that engage in or tolerate acts of religious persecution; and (2) describing U.S. policies in support of religious freedom in such countries. (Sec. 103) Requires the Ambassador at Large, in order to facilitate access by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the public around the world to international documents on the protection of religious freedom, to establish an Internet site containing major international documents relating to religious freedom, the Annual Report on Religious Persecution, and any other relevant documentation or references to other sites. (Sec. 104) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to direct the Secretary and the Ambassador at Large to establish as part of the standard training for Foreign Service officers, including chiefs of mission, instruction in the field of internationally-recognized human rights. (Sec. 105) Directs U.S. chiefs of mission to seek out and meet with religious NGOs, including imprisoned religious leaders where appropriate. (Sec. 106) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) U.S. diplomatic missions in countries where the government engages in or tolerates religious persecution should develop, as part of annual program planning, a strategy to promote freedom of religion; and (2) in allocating funds or recommending candidates for U.S. programs and grants, U.S. missions should give particular consideration to those programs and candidates deemed to assist in the promotion of the right to religious freedom. (Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary to permit, on terms no less favorable than that accorded other nongovernmental activities, access to the premises of U.S. diplomatic missions by U.S. citizens seeking to conduct religious activities. (Sec. 108) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in order to encourage involvement with religious persecution concerns at every possible opportunity and by all appropriate U.S. Government representatives, officials of the executive branch should promote increased advocacy with respect to the preparation of issue briefs consisting of lists of persons believed to be imprisoned for their religious faith during meetings between executive branch and congressional leaders and foreign dignitaries. Title II: Commission on International Religious Persecution - Establishes the United States Commission on International Religious Persecution. (Sec. 202) Makes the Commission's primary responsibility to: (1) consider the facts and circumstances of religious persecution presented in the Annual Report on Religious Persecution, as well as information from other appropriate sources; and (2) make appropriate policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary, and the Congress. Title III: National Security Council - Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to express the sense of the Congress that there should be within the staff of the National Security Council a Special Adviser to the President on Religious Persecution, serving as a resource for executive branch officials, compiling information on the facts and circumstances of religious persecution and violations of religious freedom, and making policy recommendations. Title IV: Sanctions - Subtitle I: Targeted Responses to Religious Persecution Abroad - Directs the President, for each foreign country in which the government engages in or tolerates religious persecution, to oppose that persecution by certain measures and promote the right to freedom of religion in that country. Prescribes a procedure for determining, before the President imposes any sanctions or commensurate actions, whether a foreign government has engaged in a consistent pattern of gross violations of the right to religious freedom. (Sec. 403) Directs the President to: (1) consult with the violating foreign government prior to imposing such sanctions; and (2) report to the Congress. (Sec. 405) Specifies among the measures and sanctions the President may take: (1) public condemnation; (2) cancellation of scientific and cultural exchanges; (3) withdrawal, limitation, or suspension of U.S. development assistance and U.S. security assistance; (4) withdrawal, limitation, or suspension of certain preferential tariff treatment; (5) instruction of U.S. executive directors of international financial institutions to vote against loans primarily benefiting the foreign government responsible for such persecution; (6) restrictions on the issuance of licenses to export any goods or technology to such foreign government; (7) prohibition against the making, guaranteeing, or insuring of loans, or extension of credit by certain U.S. financial institutions to the violating government; and (8) prohibition of U.S. Government procurement of goods or services from such government. Provides for commensurate actions in substitution for any of such measures and sanctions. Declares that any such action may not: (1) prohibit or restrict the provision of humanitarian assistance; or (2) impede any U.S. Government action to enforce the right to maintain intellectual property rights. (Sec. 407) Authorizes the President to waive the requirements of this Act if certain conditions are met. (Sec. 409) Provides for congressional review of any sanctions imposed, or the waiver of any requirements, under this Act. Subtitle II: Strengthening Existing Law - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the International Financial Institutions Act to add as a factor for consideration in formulating U.S. development assistance, military assistance, and multilateral assistance programs whether the government of a foreign country has: (1) engaged in gross violations of the right to freedom of religion; or (2) failed to undertake serious and sustained efforts to combat gross violations of the right to freedom of religion, when such efforts could have been reasonably undertaken. (Sec. 423) Requires the inclusion on the list of crime control and detection instruments or equipment controlled for export or reexport under the Export Administration Act of 1979 (and so subject to mandatory licensing) items the Secretary of State has determined are being used or are intended for use directly and in significant measure to carry out gross violations of the right to freedom of religion. Declares that the prohibition on the issuance of a license for export of crime control and detection instruments or equipment under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 shall apply to the export or reexport of such items. Title V: Promotion of Religious Freedom - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the use of development assistance funds to carry out programs and activities in foreign countries which will encourage and promote the right to free religious belief and practice. (Sec. 502) Amends the International Broadcasting Act of 1994 and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 with respect to promoting respect for freedom of religion. (Sec. 504) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to state that service in the promotion of internationally recognized human rights, including the right to religious freedom, shall serve as a basis for the award of performance pay and Foreign Service awards to Foreign Service employees. Title VI: Refugee, Asylum, and Consular Matters - Requires the Annual Report on Religious Persecution to serve as a resource for immigration judges and consular, refugee, and asylum officers in cases involving claims of persecution on the grounds of religion. (Sec. 602) Directs the Attorney General to provide all U.S. officials adjudicating refugee cases with the same training provided to officers adjudicating asylum cases, including training on the right to religious freedom and religious persecution. Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to develop and implement guidelines that address potential hostile biases in Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel hired abroad and involved with duties which could constitute an effective barrier to a refugee claim if such personnel carry a hostile bias toward the claimant on the grounds of religion, race, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to: (1) develop guidelines to ensure uniform procedures to the extent possible with Joint Voluntary Agencies; and (2) ensure that the Joint Voluntary Agencies process is enhanced, and faulty preparation of claims does not result in the failure of a genuine claim to refugee status. (Sec. 603) Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to develop guidelines to ensure that interpreters with hostile biases, including personnel of airlines owned by governments known to be involved in practices which would meet the definition of persecution under international refugee law, shall not in any manner be used to interpret conversations between aliens and inspection or asylum officers. Requires the Attorney General to provide training to all officers adjudicating asylum cases on the right to religious freedom and the nature of religious persecution abroad, including country-specific conditions. Requires the Executive Office of Immigration Review of the Department of Justice to incorporate into its initial and ongoing training of immigration judges training on the extent and nature of religious persecution internationally, including country-specific conditions. (Sec. 604) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make inadmissible for naturalization any alien (including a spouse and children) who, while serving as a foreign government official, directly engaged in gross violations of the right to religious freedom. Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Expresses the sense of the Congress that transnational corporations operating in countries in which the government engages in gross violations of the right to religious freedom should adopt codes of conduct: (1) upholding the right to religious freedom of their employees; and (2) ensuring that a worker's religious views in no way affect the status or terms of his or her employment. (Sec. 702) Expresses the sense of the Congress that in negotiating the definitions of crimes to be included in the subject matter jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, the President should pursue the inclusion of gross violations of the right to religious freedom, to the extent they fall within the meaning in international law of crimes against humanity or genocide.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1998
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) condemn the Serbian Government controlled by Slobodan Milosevic for gross human rights violations against its citizens; (2) condemn any terrorist actions by any group or individual in Kosovo; (3) freeze funds of the Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia if the Serbian Government fails to comply by March 25, 1998, with the terms set forth by the Contact Group (the six-nation group established to monitor the situation in the former Yugoslavia); (4) demand that the Serbian Government and the ethnic Albanian leadership and representatives of all ethnic and religious groups in Kosovo immediately begin unconditional talks to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Kosovo conflict and to provide for the exercise of the legitimate civil and political rights of all persons in Kosovo; and (5) demand that international human rights monitors be allowed to return immediately to Kosovo to be able to report on all human rights violations. Calls for the international community to respond affirmatively to the call of the Contact Group for the imposition of broad-based sanctions against the Serbian Government if it fails to prevent additional atrocities by the police and paramilitary units under its control or does not otherwise comply immediately with the terms set forth by that Group.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1998
Declares that the Senate: (1) expresses gratitude to, and calls upon all Americans to show their gratitude to, John McCain and the men who were held as prisoners of war during the Vietnam conflict and for the return of Senator McCain to the United States; and (2) will not forget that more than 2,000 members of the armed forces remain unaccounted for from such conflict and will continue to press for the fullest accounting for such members.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1998
Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to establish a Tropical Forest Facility in the Department of the Treasury to provide for the administration of debt reduction in accordance with this Act. Makes eligible for Facility benefits developing countries with tropical forests that: (1) meet certain requirements applicable to Latin American and Caribbean countries for eligibility for Enterprise for the Americas Facility benefits; and (2) have put in place major investment reforms, as evidenced by the conclusion of a bilateral investment treaty with the United States, implementation of an investment sector loan with the Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank-supported investment reforms, or other appropriate measures. Authorizes the President to: (1) reduce debt owed to the United States (outstanding as of January 1, 1998) by eligible countries as a result of concessional loans made under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or predecessor foreign economic assistance legislation or credits extended under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954; and (2) sell to any eligible purchaser any concessional loans or credits or, on receipt of payment from an eligible purchaser, reduce or cancel such loans or credits (or portion thereof), only for the purpose of facilitating a debt-for-nature swap or debt buyback (by an eligible country of its own qualified debt) to support activities to preserve or restore tropical forests. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of State to enter into a Tropical Forest Agreement with any eligible country concerning the operation and use of the Tropical Forest Fund which any eligible country must establish in order to receive payments of interest on new obligations issued under this Act. Requires the use of Funds to provide grants to preserve, maintain, and restore tropical forests in beneficiary countries. Provides that grants shall be made to: (1) nongovernmental environmental, conservation, and indigenous peoples organizations in beneficiary countries; (2) other appropriate local or regional entities; and (3) governments of such countries, in exceptional circumstances. Makes grants of more than $100,000 subject to veto by the U.S. Government or the government of the beneficiary country. Directs the Enterprise for the Americas Board established under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (in addition to its other required duties) to: (1) advise the Secretary of State on the negotiations of Tropical Forest Agreements; (2) ensure that a suitable administering body is identified for each Fund; and (3) review the programs, operations, and fiscal audits of each administering body. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on the Facility.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to repeal joint and several liability of spouses with respect to joint returns. Provides instead that the tax liability shall be in proportion to the tax liability which each spouse would have incurred if each had reported his or her apportionable items on a separate return of a married individual, provided that a payment by one spouse in excess of such spouse's proportionate share of liability for the tax reported on the return shall not be refunded unless there is an overpayment with respect to that return. Revises IRC provisions concerning community property to disregard, for purposes of determining tax liability, community property laws.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1998
Wetlands and Wildlife Enhancement Act of 1998 - Amends the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Partnerships for Wildlife Act to extend the authorization of appropriations to carry out such Acts through FY 2003.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1998
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, to provide that the Secretary of Health and Human Services may not impose a surety bond on State-licensed pharmacies that supply durable medical equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1998
Tax Code Termination Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2001; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2001. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be a simple and fair system.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1998
Expresses the sense of the Senate that March 2, 1998, shall be known as Read Across America Day, in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday. Encourages reading with children on that day.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Taxpayer Rights Title II: Penalty Reform Title III: Internal Revenue Service Restructuring Title IV: Electronic Filing Title V: Regulatory Reform Putting the Taxpayer First Actof 1998 - Title I: Taxpayer Rights - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require court approval prior to the seizure of a taxpayer's property. (Sec. 102) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to accept an offer-in-compromise if it reasonably reflects the taxpayer's ability to pay. (Sec. 103) Revises provisions concerning the awarding of administrative and litigation costs. (Sec. 104) Applies the confidentiality privilege to communications between a taxpayer and a federally authorized tax practitioner. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary, upon a taxpayer's reasonable request, to relocate an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examination. (Sec. 106) Requires the IRS to pre-notify a taxpayer engaged in a trade or business whenever it issues a summons to another person concerning the taxpayer's trade or business, unless such notification would jeopardize the investigation. (Sec. 107) Requires the Secretary, at least 60 days prior to issuing a notice of deficiency, to notify the taxpayer of any proposed adjustments. Permits the taxpayer to appeal the Secretary's proposal. Title II: Penalty Reform - Revises provisions concerning interest penalties for failure to pay taxes. (Sec. 202) Repeals provisions concerning the penalty for the substantial understatement of income tax. (Sec. 203) Repeals failure-to-pay penalties, while retaining the failure-to-file penalty. Title III: Internal Revenue Service Restructuring - Establishes within the Department of the Treasury the Internal Revenue Service Board of Governors which shall review and approve: (1) strategic plans of the IRS; (2) operational functions of the IRS; (3) the IRS Commissioner's selection, evaluation, and compensation of senior managers; and (4) the IRS budget request. Requires the Board to report annually to the President and the Congress. Reestablishes the Commissioner's office and limits the Commissioner's term to five years. (Sec. 302) Requires the IRS to be organized into divisions representing the following types of taxpayers: (1) individual taxpayers subject to wage withholding; (2) small businesses and the self-employed; (3) large businesses; (4) employee plans and exempt organizations; (5) trusts and estates; and (6) such other divisions as the Board deems necessary. (Sec. 303) Reestablishes the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate as an office that is independent of all other IRS functions. (Sec. 304) Repeals provisions providing for an Assistant Commissioner (Taxpayer Services) and replaces them with provisions establishing an Office of Appeals with functions that are to be independent of all other IRS functions. Mandates the Office to resolve tax controversies without litigation on a fair and impartial basis and in a manner that encourages voluntary compliance and public confidence. (Sec. 305) Directs the Board to convene a taxpayer-communications advisory group which shall: (1) review all standard IRS written communications, forms and instructions; and (2) recommend such revisions to such documents as will render them more easily understood. Title IV: Electronic Filing - Provides for the establishment and implementation of a plan to increase electronic filing gradually over the next ten years while maintaining processing times for paper returns at 40 days. Sets forth reporting requirements concerning such plan, including reporting on the plan's effect on small businesses. Title V: Regulatory Reform - Amends Federal law concerning government organization to include in the definition of the term: (1) "major rule" any rule promulgated by the IRS, if such rule is likely to result in any net increase in Federal revenues; and (2) "covered agency" the IRS, for purposes of provisions concerning receiving comment from small entities on agency rulemaking. (Sec. 503) Expands a taxpayer's options with respect to the recovery of certain costs and fees.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1998
Child Custody Protection Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for transporting an individual under age 18 across a State line to obtain an abortion if the requirements of a law in the State where the individual resides, requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision, are not met before obtaining the abortion. Makes an exception if the abortion was necessary to save the life of the minor. Authorizes any parent or guardian who suffers legal harm from a violation to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1998
Declares that the Congress recognizes that: (1) parents choose many legitimate forms of child care to meet their individual needs; (2) child care needs of at-home parents and working parents should be given careful consideration by the Congress; and (3) any quality child care proposal should reflect careful consideration of providing financial relief for those families where there is an at-home parent. Calls for no bias against at-home parents, and recognizes and applauds their sacrifices and efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1998
Parental Freedom of Information Act - Amends the General Education Provisions Act to prohibit the availability of funds under any applicable program to any educational agency or institution that has a policy of denying, or that effectively prevents, parents of elementary and secondary school students from exercising the right to inspect and review any instructional materials used with respect to the educational curriculum of, or certain testing materials administered to, their children. Allows parents to maintain a civil action for appropriate relief if their right to gain access to such information is violated. Prohibits the availability of funds under any applicable program to an educational agency or institution that, as part of an applicable program and without the prior written informed consent of the parent of a student, requires the student to: (1) undergo medical, psychological, or psychiatric examination, testing, treatment, or immunization, except in the case of a medical emergency; or (2) reveal any information about the student's personal or family life, except to the extent necessary to comply with the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1998
American Debt Repayment Act - Prohibits budgeted outlays from exceeding budgeted revenues, beginning with FY 1999. Requires, beginning with FY 1999, that actual revenues exceed actual outlays in order to provide for the reduction of the gross Federal debt. Requires the amount of reduction to be equal to the amount required to amortize the debt over the next 30 years in order to repay the entire debt by the end of FY 2029. Authorizes a congressional waiver of this Act when a declaration of war is in effect. Prohibits a bill to increase revenues from being deemed to pass the House of Representatives or the Senate unless approved by a majority roll call vote of both Houses. Directs the Congress to review actual revenues on a quarterly basis and adjust outlays to comply with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: A+ Accounts for Public and Private Schools Title II: Dollars to the Classroom Title III: Educational Opportunity and Safety for Low-Income Children Title IV: Testing and Merit Pay for Teachers Title V: Reading Excellence Subtitle A: Reading Grants Subtitle B: Amendments to Even Start Family Literacy Programs Title VI: Teacher and Student Safety Subtitle A: Student Safety and Family Choice Subtitle B: Victim and Witness Assistance Programs for Teachers and Students Subtitle C: Innovative Programs to Protect Teachers and Students Title VII: Charter School Expansion Title VIII: Full Funding for Part B of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Better Opportunities for Our Kids and Schools Act - Title I: A+ Accounts for Public and Private Schools - A+ Accounts for Public and Private Schools Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit tax-free expenditures from education individual retirement accounts for elementary and secondary education expenses (including tuition, special needs services, home schooling expenses, and transportation expenses) required for attendance at a public, private, or religious school, or for homeschooling that meets State or local requirements. (Sec. 102) Increases from $500 to $2,500, through December 31, 2002, the maximum annual contribution to such an account. Title II: Dollars to the Classroom - Requires the Secretary of Education to award directly to the States the total amount of all the funds (except those used for specified multiyear awards) that are appropriated for the Department of Education for the fiscal year for specified programs or activities under: (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; and (4) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). (Sec. 201) 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 Federal agency head except the Secretary from promulgating regulations under this title; and (2) the Secretary from issuing any regulations regarding the types of activities or services that may be assisted under this title. (Sec. 202) Amends ESEA title I (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards) to require that at least 95 percent of title I funds made available to an LEA be used for costs of activities and services provided in the classroom for the fiscal year. 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 the Congress legislation containing changes to Federal law needed for such funds to be used in such manner. (Sec. 203) Requires each LEA that receives funds under this Act to provide for the participation of children enrolled in private and home schools. Title III: Educational Opportunity and Safety for Low-Income Children - Authorizes appropriations for the grants program established under this title and for program evaluation. (Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to eligible entities for 20 to 30 demonstration projects under which low-income parents receive education certificates for the costs of enrolling their eligible children in a choice school. Gives priority to eligible entities that: (1) are conducting a school choice program, involving public or private schools, on the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) operate a school choice program, involving public and private schools, that is authorized by Federal law. Requires 90 percent of such grants (85 percent the first year) to be used for providing education certificates to low-income parents to pay tuition, fees, allowable transportation costs, and costs of certain special programs, for their eligible children to attend a choice school. Declares that such education certificates shall be considered as aid to students, not to the choice school. Provides that such education certificates shall not be considered income to an eligible child or its parent for Federal, State, or local tax purposes, or for determining eligibility for any other Federal program. Title IV: Testing and Merit Pay for Teachers - Authorizes States to use Federal education funds to: (1) carry out an assessment of the performance of each elementary or secondary school teacher in the State; (2) establish a merit pay program for the teachers; or (3) hire elementary or secondary school teachers who are certified or licensed to teach in the State. Title V: Reading Excellence - Reading Excellence Act - Subtitle A: Reading Grants - Amends ESEA to establish a new title XV Reading Grants program. (Sec. 511) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make competitive grants to State-established reading and literacy partnerships to make subgrants for local reading improvement programs and tutorial assistance programs. Provides for peer review panel evaluation of grant applications. Sets forth the requirements relating to partnership membership, contractual agreements, functions, duties, fiscal agency, pre-existing partnerships, multi-state partnerships, and performance reports. Requires partnerships that receive such grants to make competitive three-year local reading improvement subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) with one or more schools: (1) that are identified for school improvement; and (2) that have a contractual association with community-based organizations of proven effectiveness with respect to reading readiness, reading instruction for children in kindergarten through third grade, and early childhood literacy. Sets forth requirements for subgrant duration, applications, agencies, priorities, authorized activities, and administrative costs. Allows subgrantees to train, on a fee-for-service basis, personnel from schools or LEAs that are not subgrant recipients, in the instructional practices based on reliable, replicable research on reading used by the recipient. Requires partnerships that receive such grants to make competitive tutorial assistance subgrants to LEAs with at least one school: (1) located in an empowerment zone or an enterprise community; or (2) identified for school improvement. Sets forth application requirements and authorized uses of such subgrants. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a national assessment of programs under this Act; (2) receive recommendations from the peer review panel in developing the criteria for the assessment; and (3) submit the findings of the assessment to such panel. Requires the National Institute for Literacy to disseminate information on reliable, replicable research on reading and on subgrantee projects that have proven effective. Requires each reading and literacy partnership to: (1) evaluate subgrantees success; (2) submit the findings of the evaluations to the Secretary and the peer review panel, who will submit a summary to the appropriate congressional committees; and (3) provide for program participation by children enrolled in private schools. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 through 2001. Subtitle B: Amendments to Even Start Family Literacy Programs - Amends ESEA to direct the Secretary to award competitive grants to States for the planning and implementation of statewide family literacy initiatives, including specified services. (Sec. 523) Requires grant recipients to: (1) provide technical assistance for the evaluation of subgrant recipient local programs; and (2) develop indicators of program quality. (Sec. 525) Directs the Secretary to research through grant or contract into successful family literacy services to improve the quality of existing programs and to develop models for new programs. Revises provisions for the dissemination of information. Title VI: Teacher and Student Safety - Subtitle A: Student Safety and Family Choice - Amends the ESEA to allow students, who are program-eligible or who attend a program-eligible school, to switch schools if they have been victims of violent crimes in or on the grounds of their schools. Authorizes the LEA to use program funds to pay certain supplementary costs for such students to attend any other public or private elementary school or secondary school, including a religious school, in that State, that is selected by the student's parent. (Sec. 612) Authorizes States, State educational agencies (SEAs), or LEAs to transfer any non-Federal public funds associated with the education of a student who is a victim of a violent criminal offense while in or on the grounds of a public elementary school or secondary school served by an LEA to another LEA or to a private elementary school or secondary school, including a religious school. Subtitle B: Victim and Witness Assistance Programs for Teachers and Students - Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize: (1) use of victim compensation program grant funds for compensation to students who are victims of school violence; and (2) grants for a demonstration project or for training and technical assistance services to a program that assists SEA and LEA programs designed to protect victims of and witnesses to incidents of school violence, or that supports a toll-free hotline that provides school students and teachers with confidential assistance on issues of school crime, violence, drug dealing, and threats to personal safety. Subtitle C: Innovative Programs to Protect Teachers and Students - Authorizes appropriations for the grants program established under this subtitle. (Sec. 633) Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to States, SEAs, and LEAs for innovative programs to improve unsafe elementary schools or secondary schools. Gives priority to programs that: (1) provide parent and teacher notification of about incidents of physical violence, weapon possession, or drug activity on school grounds as soon after the incident as practicable; (2) report annually to parents and teachers on the total number of incidents of physical violence, weapon possession, and drug activity on school grounds, the percentage of students missing ten or fewer days of school, with a comparison to previous annual reports; and (3) enhance school security measures. Title VII: Charter School Expansion - Charter Schools Expansion Act of 1998 - Amends ESEA to revise requirements for grants to public charter schools. (Sec. 702) Increases from three years to five years the duration of grants or subgrants for planning, design, or initial implementation of charter schools. Sets forth certain priorities for awarding grants to SEAs. Bases such priorities on requirements of State laws regarding charter schools' budget autonomy, increased numbers, and periodic review and evaluation. Includes among requirements for SEA applications a description of how the SEA will: (1) inform each charter school of available Federal programs and funds that each such school is eligible to receive; (2) ensure that each such school receives its commensurate share of Federal education funds allocated by formula; and (3) disseminate best or promising practices of charter schools to LEAs. Includes among selection criteria for awarding grants to SEAs the number of charter schools created in the State. Eliminates provisions for State revolving trust funds for charter schools. Directs the Secretary of Education to: (1) reserve a specified amount for national activities on behalf of such schools (including assistance in accessing private capital, and pilot projects to better understand and improve such access); and (2) (along with SEAs) ensure that each public charter school receives its full share of funding for LEAs for helping disadvantaged children meet high standards or of any other Federal educational assistance purpose. Sets forth requirements for student records transfer and for paperwork reduction. Specifies that a public charter school: (1) must have a performance contract with the authorized public chartering agency in the State; and (2) is a school to which parents choose to send their children. Extends the authorization of appropriations for FY 1998 through 2002. Title VIII: Full Funding for Part B of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act - Amends the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act to authorize specified minimum appropriations for assistance for education of all children with disabilities for FY 1999 through 2004, and necessary appropriations for each fiscal year thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1998
Condemns the continued threat to international peace and security posed by Iraq's refusal to meet its international obligations and end its weapons of mass destruction programs. Urges the President to: (1) take all necessary and appropriate actions to respond to such threat; and (2) work with the Congress in furthering a long-term policy aimed at definitively ending such threat.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1998
Urges the Department of Education, States, and local education agencies to work together to ensure that at least 95 percent of all funds appropriated for Department-administered elementary and secondary education programs is spent for children in their classrooms.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require anyone who, in interstate or foreign commerce in or through the World Wide Web, is engaged in the commercial distribution of material that is harmful to minors to restrict access to such materials by persons under 17 years of age. Provides criminal and civil penalties for violations of such requirement, as well as an affirmative defense. Directs the Attorney General, for the Internet web site of the Department of Justice, and the Federal Communications Commission for its web site, to each make available on such web sites a definition of material that is harmful to minors.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Federal Communications Commission Satellite Carrier Oversight Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to: (1) include direct-to-home satellite services under provisions protecting signal broadcast; (2) direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate a notice of inquiry to determine the best way to facilitate the retransmission of distant broadcast signals in order to promote market competition for delivery of multichannel video programming in the public interest; and (3) direct the FCC to report to the Congress on the effect of the increase in royalty fees paid by satellite carriers for such retransmission on such competition and the ability of the direct-to-home satellite industry to compete. Prohibits the Copyright Office from implementing, before January 1, 1999, the decision of the Librarian of Congress which established a specified royalty fee per subscriber per month for the retransmission of distant broadcast signals by satellite carriers.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Federal Home Loan Bank System Modernization Act of 1997 - 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 bank loan: (1) 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; and (2) certain mutual fund shares. 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 mandate that FHLBs: (1) jointly operate an Office of Finance (the Office) to act as agent and to issue FHLB banks' notes, bonds and debentures; and (2) establish a central board of directors. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Office 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 or jointly own, 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 require each FHLB board of directors to submit for FHF Board approval a capital structure plan determined by such directors to be best suited for the bank's condition and operation as well as for the interests of its shareholders. Specifies asset-based capital requirements. (Sec. 15) Restructures FHF Board membership to: (1) include the Chairperson of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and (2) reduce from four to three the number of citizen members. (Sec. 16) Revises investment parameters for FHLB surplus funds to prohibit FHLB investments in excess of those necessary for: (1) liquidity purposes; (2) ensuring adequate credit availability for members; (3) safe and sound bank operation; (4) maintenance of a stable capital base; and (5) support of the Affordable Housing Program, or for housing finance as administered by the Finance Board.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Economic Growth and Government Efficiency Act of 1997 - 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 · 4 November 1997
Limits the amount of a veteran's disability compensation that may be deducted by reason of the receipt of military separation pay or a Department of Defense separation benefit to 75 percent of that pay or benefit. Makes such provision effective for compensation payments made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for months beginning after December 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1997
Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management to conduct a demonstration project under which covered members and beneficiaries under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) who are or become entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act will be eligible to enroll in health benefits plans offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Requires the demonstration project to be conducted in two geographic areas and to last at least two, but not more than three, contract years. Provides for: (1) management of participation in the project; (2) Government contributions for beneficiary coverage under the FEHB program; and (3) reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Abolishment of Department of Commerce Title II: Disposition of Programs, Functions, and Agencies of Department of Commerce Title III: Establishment of United States Trade Administration Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: United States Trade Administration Title IV: Establishment of the Office of Patents, Trademarks, and Standards Subtitle A: Establishment Subtitle B: Administrative Provisions Subtitle C: Conforming Amendments Title V: Statistical Consolidation Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Establishment of the Federal Statistical Service Subtitle C: Transfers of Functions and Offices Subtitle D: Administrative Provisions Subtitle E: Miscellaneous Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions Department of Commerce Dismantling Act - Title I: Abolishment of Department of Commerce - Abolishes the Department of Commerce (Department). Transfers all Department functions to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before the applicable date of abolishment, which is the earlier of: (1) the last day of the six-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act; or (2) September 30, 1998. (Sec. 103) Sets forth requirements for the resolution of all Department functions. Terminates all functions that are transferred to the Director that are not otherwise continued by this Act on the last day of the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment. (Sec. 104) Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) the OMB Director's responsibilities during the resolution and termination of functions; and (2) transfer of Department personnel. (Sec. 106) Provides for the submission of specified reports. (Sec. 107) Requires General Accounting Office (GAO) audits of: (1) persons performing functions or activities pursuant to this Act; and (2) persons providing certain goods or services to, or receiving financial assistance from, persons performing functions or activities pursuant to this Act. (Sec. 109) Sets forth provisions for privatizing transferred functions designated for privatization under Title II of this Act. (Sec. 110) Amends Federal law concerning Government organization and employees to require affected agencies to establish agency-wide priority placement programs for Federal employees affected by a reduction in force attributable to this Act. (Sec. 111) Limits the total amount authorized to be appropriated as funding related to the performance of functions transferred to the Director or to OMB from the Department to not exceed: (1) for the first fiscal year that begins after the abolishment date, 75 percent of the total amount of funding appropriated to the Department for FY 1997; and (2) for the second fiscal year that begins after the abolishment date and for each fiscal year thereafter, 65 percent of the total amount appropriated to the Department for FY 1997. Title II: Disposition of Particular Programs, Functions, and Agencies of Department of Commerce - Repeals the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 and transfers all financial obligations owned by the Department under such Act to the Department of the Treasury. Requires an audit by the Comptroller General of all Department grants made under such Act in FY 1997. (Sec. 202) Terminates the Technology Administration and the Office of Technology Policy. Redesignates the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). Transfers: (1) the NBS to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reestablished under this Act; (2) all functions relating to the Bureau that were functions of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) or the Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology to the NBS Director; and (3) all functions of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) to the OMB Director for privatization. Provides for the reestablishment of the NTIS as a wholly owned Government Corporation if an arrangement for privatization of the functions of the NTIS has not been made. (Sec. 203) Transfers all functions of the Secretary relating to the Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis to the Federal Statistical Service established under this Act. (Sec. 204) Terminates assistance to: (1) public telecommunications; (2) educational television programs; and (3) telecommunications demonstrations. Repeals establishment of the National Endowment for Children's Educational Television (thus abolishing it). Transfers the: (1) National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) laboratories to the OMB Director for privatization; (2) NTIA functions concerning the research and analysis of the electromagnetic spectrum to the NBS Director; and (3) functions of the NTIA, and of the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Communications and Information with respect to the NTIA to the Federal Communications Commission. Provides for the transfer of NTIA laboratories to the reestablished NOAA if an arrangement for privatization of the laboratories has not been made. Abolishes the NTIA. (Sec. 205) Terminates specified miscellaneous NOAA research programs. Transfers from the NOAA: (1) aeronautical mapping and charting functions to the Transportation Administrative Services Center at the Department of Transportation; (2) functions relating to mapping, charting, and geodesy authorized under a certain Act to the Army Corps of Engineers; (3) all functions and assets performed by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information System to the reestablished NOAA; (4) all functions and assets (including global programs) performed by the NOAA that were authorized to be performed by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to the reestablished NOAA; and (5) all functions and assets of the NOAA that are authorized to be performed by the National Weather Service to the reestablished NOAA. Prohibits: (1) funding for the NOAA Administration Corps of commissioned officers after FY 1997; and (2) allowing individuals to serve as such commissioned officers after FY 1997. Provides for the establishment of a priority placement program by NOAA to assist commissioned officers who are separated from the active list because of the termination. Abolishes on September 30, 2000: (1) the Office of the NOAA Administration of Corps of Operations or its successor; and (2) the Commissioned Personnel Center. Sets forth service contract provisions with respect to the NOAA Administration Fleet. Directs the Administrator of Oceans and Atmosphere to: (1) use excess capacity of University National Oceanographic Laboratory System vessels; and (2) enter into memoranda of agreement with the operators of such vessels. Transfers certain excess vessels to the National Defense Reserve Fleet. Transfers to the: (1) NOAA all functions authorized to be performed by the National Marine Fisheries Service; (2) reestablished NOAA all functions performed by the National Ocean Service, including the Coastal Ocean Program; and (3) Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency coastal nonpoint pollution functions that are vested in the Secretary under the Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. (Sec. 206) Reestablishes as an independent agency in the executive branch the NOAA. Provides for NOAA, and all functions and offices transferred to the new NOAA to be administered under the supervision and direction of an Administrator of Oceans and Atmosphere. Transfers to the new NOAA: (1) the functions and offices of the NOAA; (2) the NBS along with its functions and offices; and (3) the Office of Space Commerce, along with its functions and offices. Terminates NOAA and certain other agency offices affected by the transfer. (Sec. 207) Terminates: (1) the Minority Business Development Administration; (2) NTIA programs and activities mentioned in section 204 of this Act; (2) the Advanced Technology Program; (3) the Manufacturing Extension Programs; (4) the NIST METRIC Program; and (5) the Economics and Statistics Administration. Title III: Establishment of United States Trade Administration - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Sets forth definitions. Subtitle B: United States Trade Administration - Chapter 1: Establishment - Reestablishes the Trade Administration in the executive branch as an independent establishment to be headed by the Trade Representative who shall retain ambassador rank and represent the U.S. in all trade negotiations conducted by the Trade Administration. Directs the Trade Representative to serve as the principal adviser to the President on international trade policy, along with certain additional trade related functions, including those under Chapter 3. Chapter 2: Officers - Sets forth provisions related to Trade Administration management positions and related functions, among other things establishing three Deputy U.S. Trade Representatives: (1) the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Negotiations (with ambassador rank); (2) the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) (with ambassador rank); and (3) the U.S. Trade Representative for Administration (acts for and exercises the functions of the Trade Representative during the absence, disability, or vacancy of the Trade Representative and exercises all transferred or established Trade Administration functions, except those functions exercised by certain Trade Administration officials). Establishes four Assistant Administrators to exercise certain transferred Department functions under the direction of the Deputy Trade Representative for Administration: (1) the Assistant Administrator for Export Administration; (2) the Assistant Administrator for Import Administration; (3) the Assistant Administrator for Trade and Policy Analysis; and (4) the Assistant Administrator for Export Promotion (with ambassador rank). Creates the position of chief financial officer to perform all functions prescribed by the Deputy Trade Representative for Administration under the direction of such Deputy. Chapter 3: Transfers to the Trade Administration - Abolishes the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Transfers to the Trade Administration Federal trade functions, including those of the Department, the Trade and Development Agency, the Export-Import Bank, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. (Sec. 336) Directs the President to: (1) transmit to the Congress a comprehensive plan to consolidate Federal nonagricultural export promotion and financing activities; and (2) transfer those functions to the Trade Administration. (Sec. 337) Transfers: (1) functions of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) to the Trade Administration; and (2) other functions of CITA related to the assessment of the impact of textile imports on domestic industry to the International Trade Commission. Abolishes CITA. Chapter 4: Administrative Provisions - Sets out Trade Representative related administrative provisions pertaining to personnel and other miscellaneous administrative matters, including those relating to a working capital fund for administrative expenses. Chapter 5: Related Agencies - Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the National Security Act of 1947, and the Bretton Woods Agreement Act to make miscellaneous and conforming changes to complete the consolidation and streamlining process described above. Chapter 6: Conforming Amendments - Makes miscellaneous technical and conforming amendments to various specified provisions of Federal law, including those relating to executive schedule positions. Chapter 7: Miscellaneous - Limits the total amount appropriated in the performance of all functions vested in the Trade Representative and the Trade Administration to not exceed: (1) for the first fiscal year that begins after the effective date, 75 percent of the total amount appropriated in FY 1998; and (2) for the second fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, 65 percent of the total amount appropriated in FY 1998. Title IV: Establishment of the Office of Patents, Trademarks, and Standard s - Subtitle A: Establishment - Establishes the Office of Patents, Trademarks, and Standards in the executive branch as an independent establishment to be administered by a Director. Transfers to the Director of the Office of Patents, Trademarks, and Standards all functions of, and all functions performed under the direction of, certain Department officials. Transfers to the Office the Patent and Trademark Office and NIST. Subtitle B: Administrative Provisions - Sets forth provisions related to the administrative functions of the Director. Subtitle C: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming amendments relating to the Office and the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks. Title V: Statistical Consolidation - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to: (1) a more centralized statistical system and the role of the Chief Statistician of OMB; (2) confidentiality; and (3) decennial censuses of population. Subtitle B: Establishment of the Federal Statistical Service - Establishes the Federal Statistical Service as an independent establishment in the executive branch. Sets forth provisions for principal officers, including: (1) an Administrator; (2) a Deputy Administrator; (3) a Director of the Census; (4) a Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis; and (5) a Director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Sec. 513) Establishes a Federal Council on Statistical Policy to advise the Service, nominate the Administrator, serve as an advisory body to the Chief Statistician on certain confidentiality issues, and establish a unified statistical policy for the Federal Government. Mandates studies by the Council on: (1) whether the functions of the Bureau of the Census relating to decennial censuses of population could be delineated from the other functions of the Bureau; and (2) making the Bureau's field offices part of the field offices of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Subtitle C: Transfers of Functions and Offices - Transfers to the Service the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor, along with all of its functions and offices. Subtitle D: Administrative Provisions - Sets forth provisions related to the administrative functions of the Administrator. Subtitle E: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth miscellaneous provisions with respect to functions or offices of the Service and makes conforming amendments relating to certain officials of the Service. Title VI: Miscellaneous - Sets forth provisions pertaining to officers and employees to whom a function is transferred by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1997
Iran Missile Proliferation Sanctions Act of 1997 - Directs the President to report periodically to specified congressional committees on foreign persons (except those previously identified or sanctioned or subject to waiver) who, on or after August 8, 1995, have transferred, or attempted to transfer, controlled goods or technology, or provided, or attempted to provide, technical assistance or facilities that contributed, or would have contributed, to Iran's efforts to acquire, develop, or produce ballistic missiles. Requires imposition on such persons of minimum two-year sanctions prohibiting: (1) sales to such persons of items on the United States Munitions List (and terminating sales of any controlled U.S. arms); (2) the export to such persons of dual use goods and technology; and (3) the provision of U.S. financial assistance. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions on the basis of additional information demonstrating that the sanctioned person did not commit the acts alleged.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1997
Prohibits the Secretary of Defense, in disposing of real property at Long Beach Naval Station, California, under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, from conveying any portion thereof to China Ocean Shipping Company or a successor entity. Directs the Secretary to impose as a condition on each conveyance of such property that it may not be subsequently conveyed to such entity. Provides for reversion to the United States if any such property is conveyed to or used by such entity.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1997
Asthma Inhaler Regulatory Relief Act - Prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration from prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, or sale of metered-dose inhalers using chlorofluorocarbons unless alternatives are available that, for all user populations, are comparable in safety, effectiveness, therapeutic indications, dosage strength, costs, and retail availability. Mandates withdrawal of a proposed rulemaking and prohibits issuing any other proposal until after a specified meeting and extensive consultations with stakeholders. Requires, after that meeting: (1) a new proposed rulemaking setting forth the initial strategy for facilitating the U.S. transition to metered-dose inhalers that do not use chlorofluorocarbons; and (2) submission of the strategy to the Montreal Protocol Secretariat to fulfill U.S. obligations under a specified Protocol decision.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1997
Declares the annual memorial service sponsored by the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service Board of Directors to honor emergency medical services personnel who have died in the line of duty to be the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1997
Marriage Tax Elimination Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a husband and wife to file a combined income tax return on which each spouse is taxed separately at the unmarried return rate.
![Official portrait of Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/i000024_200.jpg)