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United States · Official source
2,265 records where Sen. Mack, Connie, III [R-FL] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1999
National Missile Defense Act of 1999 - States as U.S. policy to deploy as soon as technologically possible a 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 · 20 January 1999
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Taiwan and its 21 million people should have appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO), and that the Secretary of State should report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by April 1, 1999, on: (1) the Secretary's efforts to more actively support Taiwan's membership in international organizations that accept non-states as members, and to look for ways to have Taiwan's voice heard in international organizations; and (2) what action the United States will take at the May 1999 WHO meeting in Geneva to support Taiwan's meaningful participation.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Educational Opportunities Act - Extends through FY 2004 the authorization of appropriations for, and the duration of, each program and activity under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Grants victims of crimes of violence the following rights: (1) to reasonable notice of, and to not be excluded from, any public proceedings relating to the crime; (2) to be heard, if present, and to submit a statement at all public proceedings to determine a conditional release from custody, an acceptance of a negotiated plea, or a sentence and at a non-public parole proceeding to the extent such rights are afforded to the convicted offender; (3) to reasonable notice of a release or escape from custody relating to the crime; (4) to consideration of the interest of the victim that any trial be free from unreasonable delay; (5) to an order of restitution from the convicted offender; (6) to consideration for the safety of the victim in determining any conditional release from custody relating to the crime; and (7) to reasonable notice of the rights established by this amendment. (Sec. 2) Grants the victim or the victim's lawful representative standing to assert such rights. Provides that nothing in this amendment shall: (1) provide grounds to stay or continue any trial, reopen any proceeding, or invalidate any ruling, except with respect to conditional release or restitution or to provide rights guaranteed by this amendment in future proceedings, without staying or continuing a trial; and (2) give rise to or authorize the creation of a claim for damages against the United States, a State, a political subdivision, or a public officer or employee. (Sec. 3) Empowers the Congress to enforce this amendment by appropriate legislation. Allows exceptions to the rights established by this amendment only when necessary to achieve a compelling interest. (Sec. 4) Makes: (1) the right to a restitution order established by this amendment inapplicable to crimes committed before its effective date; and (2) the rights and immunities established by this amendment applicable in Federal and State proceedings, including military proceedings to the extent that the Congress may provide by law, juvenile justice proceedings, and proceedings in the District of Columbia and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Marriage Tax Penalty Elimination Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise standard deduction amounts and individual income tax rate bracket amounts, including providing that amounts for married filing jointly categories shall be twice that of amounts for single filers.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Pay and Allowances Title II: Retirement Benefits Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen's, and Marines' Bill of Rights Act of 1999 - Title I: Pay and Allowances - Waives during FY 2000 any required adjustment in the rates of monthly military basic pay in conformance with the General Schedule of the Federal Government. Increases such pay by 4.8 percent, effective on January 1, 2000. Provides: (1) an increase in such pay as of July 1, 2000, for officer and enlisted personnel within specified pay grades; and (2) a pay increase for fiscal years after 2000 of one percent over the percentage increase as calculated under the Employment Cost Index. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay a special subsistence allowance of $180 for each month in which a member is eligible to receive food stamp assistance. Terminates or reestablishes such entitlement under certain conditions. Title II: Retirement Benefits - Authorizes the payment of a lump-sum bonus of $30,000 to a member who: (1) first became a member on or after August 1, 1986; (2) has completed 15 years of active duty; and (3) executes a written agreement to remain on active duty until the completion of 20 years of such service. Requires notification of those eligible for such bonus. Requires a pro rata repayment of such bonus when the full additional period is not completed. Authorizes a waiver of the repayment requirement when against equity or good conscience or contrary to the best interests of the United States. (Sec. 202) Authorizes a member serving on active duty for more than 30 days to participate in the Federal Thrift Savings Plan, with a maximum annual contribution of five percent of basic pay and any special or incentive pay. Prohibits matching Federal agency contributions. Adds a representative of such members to the Employee Thrift Advisory Council. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to enter into an agreement to make contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund for the benefit of a member who: (1) is in a specialty designated as critical; and (2) agrees to continue to serve on active duty in such specialty for a period of six years.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to revise the Federal and congressional budget processes by establishing a two-year budgeting and appropriations cycle and timetable. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Sets forth a special timetable for any first session that begins in any year immediately following a leap year and during which the term of a President begins (except one who starts a second successive term). (Sec. 2) Devotes the first session of any Congress to the budget resolution and to appropriations decisions, retaining current deadlines in most cases. Changes certain deadlines to conform to the biennial scheme. Devotes each second session to authorization activity, subject to specified deadlines. (Sec. 4) Sets forth revised pay-as-you-go provisions for the Senate to conform with the biennial framework. (Sec. 5) Conforms provisions governing the President's budget to the biennial framework. (Sec. 6) Requires all Acts making regular appropriations for the support of the Government to be enacted for a biennium and to specify the amount of appropriations provided for each fiscal year in that period. (Sec. 7) Amends CBA to provide that it shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider: (1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that authorizes appropriations for a period of less than two fiscal years, unless the program, project, or activity for which the appropriations are authorized will require no further appropriations and will be completed or terminated after the appropriations have been expended; and (2) in any odd-numbered year, any authorization or revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress completes action on the biennial budget resolution, all regular biennial appropriations bills, and all reconciliation bills. Provides that, in the Senate, such point of order shall not apply to: (1) any measure that is privileged for consideration pursuant to a rule or statute; (2) any matter considered in Executive Session; or (3) an appropriations measure or reconciliation bill. (Sec. 8) Changes to a biennial basis specified requirements for certain Government strategic and performance plans, performance reports in budget submissions, and program performance reports. Requires congressional committee reviews of such plans and reports. (Sec. 9) Provides that it shall not be in order in the House or the Senate in any odd-numbered year to consider any regular bill providing new budget authority or a limitation on obligations under the jurisdiction of any Appropriations subcommittee for only the first fiscal year of a biennium unless the program, project, or activity for which such authority or limitation is provided will require no additional authority beyond one year and will be completed or terminated after the amount provided has been expended. (Sec. 10) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to report to the Budget Committees on the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a two-year fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on the two-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Tax Cuts for All Americans Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce individual income tax rates by ten percent.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: International Supply Reduction Subtitle A: International Crime Subtitle B: International Drug Control Subtitle C: Foreign Military Counter-Drug Support Subtitle D: Money Laundering Deterrence Subtitle E: Additional Funding For Source and Interdiction Zone Countries Title II: Domestic Law Enforcement Subtitle A: Criminal Offenders Subtitle B: Methamphetamine Laboratory Cleanup Subtitle C: Powder Cocaine Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Subtitle D: Drug-Free Borders Title III: Domestic Demand Reduction Subtitle A: Education, Prevention, and Treatment Subtitle B: Drug-Free Families Title IV: Funding For United States Counter-Drug Enforcement Agencies Subtitle B(sic): United States Coast Guard Subtitle C: Drug Enforcement Administration Subtitle D: Department of the Treasury Subtitle E: Department of Defense Drug-Free Century Act - Title I: International Supply Reduction - Subtitle A: International Crime - Chapter 1: International Crime Control - International Crime Control Act of 1999 - Prohibits, and sets felony penalties for, violence committed while eluding inspection or during violation of arrival, reporting, entry, or clearance requirements, including conspiracy and reckless endangerment. Chapter 2: Strengthening Maritime Law Enforcement Along United States Borders - Prohibits, and sets penalties for: (1) failing to obey an order to heave to (on being so ordered by an authorized Federal law enforcement officer); and (2) failing to comply with an order of such officer in connection with the boarding of the vessel, impeding or obstructing a boarding, arrest, or other law enforcement action authorized by Federal law, or providing false information to such an officer during a boarding regarding the destination, origin, ownership, registration, nationality, cargo, or crew of the vessel. Authorizes: (1) a foreign country to consent or waive objection to the enforcement of U.S. law by the United States under this subtitle by international agreement or, on a case-by-case basis, by radio, telephone, or similar oral or electronic means; (2) the Secretary of State or his or her designee to prove a consent or waiver by certification; and (3) the seizure and forfeiture of a vessel used in violation of this chapter. (Sec. 1004) Sets a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for failure to comply with a lawful boarding, obstruction of boarding, or provision of false information. Provides for in rem liability. (Sec. 1005) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to define an "authorized place" to board vessels to include a location in a foreign country at which U.S. customs officers are permitted to conduct inspections, examinations, or searches. Chapter 3: Smuggling of Contraband and Other Illegal Products - Prohibits, and sets penalties for, smuggling contraband and other goods from the United States and for facilitating the transportation of such goods prior to exportation. Makes such smuggling, and smuggling goods into foreign countries, a predicate offense under the money laundering statute. Amends the Tariff Act to provide for the forfeiture of merchandise illegally exported or attempted to be exported from the United States. (Sec. 1007) Increases the penalty for entry of goods by means of false statements. Prohibits, and applies such penalty to, embezzling, stealing, or wrongfully converting to personal use funds, assets, securities, or other property entrusted to a person's care or to the care of another for the purpose of paying any lawful customs duties. (Sec. 1008) Prohibits, and sets penalties for, false certifications relating to exports. Chapter 4: Denying Safe Havens to International Criminals - Authorizes the Attorney General, if a foreign government makes a request for the extradition of a person who is charged with or has been convicted of an offense within that government's jurisdiction, and if an extradition treaty between that government and the United States is in force but does not provide for extradition for the offense for which the person has been charged or convicted, or if no treaty is in force, to authorize the filing of a complaint for extradition, subject to specified conditions. (Sec. 1012) Grants the Attorney General the authority, if a person is being held in pretrial detention or is otherwise in custody in a foreign county based upon a violation of the law in that country and the person is found extraditable to the United States by the competent authorities of that country while still in pretrial detention or custody, to: (1) request the temporary transfer of that person to the United States to face prosecution in a Federal or State criminal proceeding; (2) maintain the custody of that person while he or she is in the United States; and (3) return that person to the foreign country at the conclusion of the criminal prosecution, including any imposition of sentence. Sets forth similar provisions regarding the Attorney General's authority with respect to the temporary transfer of persons in pretrial detention or custody in the United States to foreign governments seeking their extradition. (Sec. 1013) Amends the Federal judicial code to prohibit a person from using the resources of the U.S. courts in furtherance of a claim in any related civil forfeiture action, or a claim in third party proceedings in any related criminal forfeiture action, if that person: (1) purposely leaves U.S. jurisdiction; (2) declines to enter or reenter the United States to submit to its jurisdiction; or (3) otherwise evades the jurisdiction of the court in which a criminal case against that person is pending. (Sec. 1014) Removes restrictions on the transfer of foreign prisoners to serve sentences in their country of origin where provided by treaty. (Sec. 1015) Authorizes the Attorney General to permit the temporary transit through the United States of a person wanted for prosecution or imposition of sentence in a foreign country. Chapter 5: Seizing and Forfeiting Assets of International Criminals - Prohibits, and sets penalties for, violations of anti-money laundering orders. (Sec. 1017) Provides that, for purposes of proving a violation of the prohibition against owning or operating an illegal money transmitting business, it shall be sufficient for the Government to prove that the defendant knew that the business lacked a license required by State law, and it shall not be necessary to show that the defendant knew that operation of the business without the required license was an offense punishable as a felony or misdemeanor under State law. (Sec. 1018) Grants the district courts jurisdiction over any foreign person, including any financial institution registered in a foreign country, that commits a money laundering offense involving a financial transaction that occurs in whole or in part in the United States, if service of process is made as specified. Authorizes the court to take action necessary to ensure that any bank account or other property held by the defendant in the United States is available to satisfy a judgement under this section. (Sec.1019) Amends the money laundering statute to include foreign banks within the definition of "financial institution." (Sec. 1021) Amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to authorize the court: (1) in the case of property that has been placed beyond the court's jurisdiction, to order the defendant to return the property to the court's jurisdiction so it may be seized and forfeited; and (2) to order the defendant to repatriate any property subject to forfeiture pending trial and to deposit that property in the registry of the court, or with the United States Marshals Service or the Secretary, in an interest-bearing account (and sets penalties for failure to comply). (Sec. 1022) Expands the Secretary's administrative summons authority under the Bank Secrecy Act. (Sec. 1023) Amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Trading With the Enemy Act of 1917 (TWEA) to provide that information obtained under such Acts may be withheld only to the extent permitted by statute, except that information submitted, obtained, or considered in connection with any transaction prohibited under such Acts, including license applications, licenses or other authorizations, information or evidence obtained in the course of any investigation, and information obtained or furnished in connection with international agreements, treaties, or obligations shall be withheld from public disclosure, unless the release of the information is determined by the President to be in the national interest. (Sec. 1024) Increases the civil penalty and the criminal fine for violations of IEEPA. (Sec. 1025) Amends TWEA to cover attempted violations of the Act. (Sec. 1026) Specifies circumstances under which a person who commits an offense outside the United States that would constitute fraud or another prohibited related activity in connection with an access device shall be subject to the penalties for such offense as if it were committed in the United States. Chapter 6: Promoting Global Cooperation in the Fight Against International Crime - Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize the Attorney General to present a request made by a foreign government for assistance with respect to a foreign investigation, prosecution, or proceeding regarding a criminal matter the execution of which requires the use of compulsory measures in more than one judicial district, to a judge or judge magistrate of any one of such districts or of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Grants such judge or magistrate the authority to issue orders to execute the request. (Sec. 1028) Grants the Attorney General authority to temporarily transfer a person who is serving a sentence, is in pretrial detention, or is otherwise being held in U.S. custody, whose testimony is needed in a foreign criminal proceeding, subject to specified requirements, if such transfer is consistent with the international obligations of the United States. (Sec. 1029) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make an exception to the prohibition against training of foreign law enforcement agencies with respect to assistance and training provided for antiterrorism purposes. (Sec. 1030) Authorizes the Attorney General to make payments from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to return forfeited property repatriated to the United States by a foreign government or others acting at the direction of a foreign government, and interest earned on the property under specified conditions. Subtitle B: International Drug Control - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, by November 1 of each year, to submit to the Congress a separate plan for the activities to be undertaken by the United States in order to address drug-trafficking and other drug-related matters in each country that is determined by the President to be a major drug-transit country or a major illicit drug producing country, with which the United States is maintaining diplomatic relations. (Sec. 1202) Prohibits any funds appropriated for any fiscal year after FY 1999 for U.S. counter-drug or counter-narcotics activities from being obligated or expended for such activities between November 1 of such fiscal year and the later of the notification date required in such fiscal year under provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 regarding authority to transfer excess defense articles or the date of the submittal of the plans required by this subtitle. (Sec. 1203) Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding Colombia (regarding counter-narcotics assistance and human rights), Mexico (regarding a maritime agreement to improve cooperation in interdicting seaborne drug smuggling), and Iran and Syria (regarding narcotics). (Sec. 1207) Authorizes the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to purchase a King Air aircraft for DEA activities, and station the aircraft, in Brazil. Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding narcotics trafficking in Brazil, Jamaica, and North Korea. Subtitle C: Foreign Military Counter-Drug Support - Directs: (1) the Departments of State and Defense to report monthly to specified congressional committees on the current status of any formal letter of request for foreign military sales of counter-narcotics-related assistance from the head of any police, military, or other appropriate security agency official in an Andean country; and (2) the Department of State to review and forward to the Congress an analysis of the current foreign military sales program within 180 days of this Act's enactment. Subtitle D: Money Laundering Deterrence - Money Laundering Deterrence Act of 1999 - Revises Federal law to expand the scope of immunity from civil liability for disclosures of suspicious monetary transactions made by: (1) a financial institution and any of its directors, officers, employees, or agents to an appropriate governmental agency; or (2) an independent accountant who audits a financial institution. Extends such immunity to any failure to notify either the subject of such disclosure, or any other person identified in it. Prohibits notification of such disclosures or their contents: (1) to any person involved in the suspect transaction; or (2) by any government staff to other government agencies. Exempts from such prohibition any use of related information by government officers in the conduct of either official duties or law enforcement, regulatory, or investigative proceedings. States that written employment references submitted by a financial institution to another upon request may disclose information concerning possible involvement in suspicious transactions relevant to possible illegalities. Shields from civil liability any financial institution and its directors, officers, employees, and agents for any such disclosures. Authorizes the Secretary to disseminate information contained in such reports to certain self-regulatory organizations subject to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if the Securities and Exchange Commission determines it is necessary or appropriate for such organizations' statutory functions. (Sec. 1404) Authorizes the Secretary to summon financial institution records in connection with examinations to determine compliance with designated statutory requirements. (Sec. 1405) Provides for civil and criminal penalties for violations of orders the Secretary of the Treasury may issue to a financial institution or group of financial institutions in a geographic area (geographic targeting orders). Increases civil and criminal penalties for violations of specified record keeping requirements. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and specified monetary law to increase civil and criminal penalties for violation of record keeping requirements. (Sec.1406) Amends the Money Laundering Suppression Act of 1994 to repeal the requirement for a periodic status report by the Secretary to the Congress on progress by the States in enacting a model statute to implement uniform State licensing and regulation of check cashing, currency exchange, and money transmitting businesses. (Sec.1408) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary, in conjunction with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, should expedite promulgation of "know your customer" regulations for financial institutions. Subtitle E: Additional Funding For Source and Interdiction Zone Countries - Authorizes appropriations, beyond sums appropriated for Colombia and Peru for counter-narcotics operations for a fiscal year, for: (1) Peru and Colombia to support additional surveillance, pursuit of drug aircraft, and general support for counter-narcotics operations; and (2) Bolivian counter-narcotics programs for FY 2000. (Sec. 1502) Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 2000 for enhanced efforts in counter-narcotics matters by the United States Coast Guard, Customs Service, and other law enforcement agencies. Title II: Domestic Law Enforcement - Subtitle A: Criminal Offenders - Directs the Attorney General to require the United States Attorney to: (1) establish an armed violent criminal apprehension task force; and (2) report to the Attorney General, at least monthly, on the number of defendants charged with, or convicted of, violating specified provisions of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. Sets forth reporting requirements. Amends: (1) the Federal criminal code (the code) to revise the definition of "crime of violence" to include an offense that is a violation of provisions relating to possession of explosives or firearms by convicted felons; and (2) the Brady Act to set penalties for transferring a firearm, having reasonable cause to believe (currently, knowing) that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime, and to prohibit the court from granting a probationary sentence to a person who has more than one previous conviction for a violent felony or a serious drug offense, committed under different circumstances. (Sec. 2002) Amends the code to provide that whoever, acting with the state of mind otherwise required for the commission of a Federal criminal offense, intentionally engages in conduct that constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of the offense, is guilty of an attempt and is subject to the same penalties (except the death penalty) as those prescribed for the offense the commission of which was the object of the attempt. Specifies that inability to commit or to complete the offense shall not be a defense to such a prosecution, with exceptions. Makes it an affirmative defense that the defendant prevented the commission of the offense under circumstances manifesting a voluntary and complete renunciation of criminal intent. Repeals a limitation on punishment for conspiracy where an offense, the commission of which is the object of the conspiracy, is a misdemeanor. Provides that if two or more persons conspire to commit any offense against the United States, and one or more of them do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be subject to the same penalties (except the death penalty) as those prescribed for the most serious offense the commission of which was the object of the conspiracy. (Sec. 2003) Specifies that, for purposes of this Act, an offense is committed in the presence of a child if: (1) it takes place in the line of sight of an individual who has not attained age 18; or (2) an individual who has not attained age 18 habitually resides in the place where the violation occurs. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide for specified sentencing enhancements with respect to a CSA offense that is committed in the presence of a child. (Sec. 2004) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should take immediate and effective action at and near the U.S.-Mexican border to control violence and other illegal acts; and (2) the Attorney General should report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on what steps are being taken to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens at and near the border, and to prevent the illegal acquisition of sites and facilities in such areas by drug traffickers, and what steps need to be taken to ensure the safety and well being of the people of the United States along that border. (Sec. 2005) Amends the code to authorize the use of a clone pager (defined as a numeric display device that receives communications intended for another numeric display paging device). Prohibits the installation or use of a pen register, trap and trace device, or clone pager without first obtaining a court order under the code or under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, except as provided in this section. Amends provisions regarding the use of pen registers and trap and trace devices to cover the use of clone pagers. Authorizes a provider of electronic communication service, upon the request of an attorney for the Government or an officer of a law enforcement agency authorized touse a clone pager, to furnish to such investigative or law enforcement officer all information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the programming and use of such pager unobtrusively and with a minimum of interference with the paging services provided. Sets forth provisions regarding application for an order for use of a clone pager and issuance of such an order. Subtitle B: Methamphetamine Laboratory Cleanup - Requires the Sentencing Commission to promulgate, or amend existing, Federal sentencing guidelines for any offense relating to the manufacture, attempt to manufacture, or conspiracy to manufacture amphetamine or methamphetamine in violation of the CSA, the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act, or the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. Directs the Commission, with respect to each such offense, to increase the base level for the offense as specified, with an even greater increase if the offense created a substantial risk of danger to the health and safety of another person. Grants the Commission certain emergency authority to promulgate guidelines or amendments. (Sec. 2102) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration should develop a comprehensive plan for addressing the need for the speedy and safe clean up of methamphetamine laboratory sites; and (2) the Federal Government should allocate sufficient funding to pay for a comprehensive effort to clean up such sites. Subtitle C: Powder Cocaine Mandatory Minimum Sentencing - Amends CSA and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to decrease (from five kilograms to 500 grams, and from 500 to 50 grams) the amounts of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of coca leaves, cocaine, ecgonine, or compounds thereof (cocaine powder) the manufacture, distribution, or possession of which is punishable by specified penalties under such Acts. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate or amend guidelines to reflect the amendment made by this subtitle. Subtitle D: Drug-Free Borders - Increases from two to five years the penalty for entry of goods by means of false statements. (Sec. 2302) Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Attorney General, in each of FY 2000 through 2004, to increase by not less than 1,500 the number of positions for full-time, active-duty border patrol agents within the Immigration and Naturalization Service above the number of such positions for which funds were allotted for the preceding fiscal year, to achieve a level of 15,000 positions by FY 2004. (Sec. 2303) Prohibits a border patrol agent from ceasing pursuit of an alien suspected of unlawfully entering, or of an individual unlawfully importing a narcotic into, the United States, until State or local law enforcement authorities are in pursuit and have the alien or individual in their visual range. Title III: Demand Reduction - Subtitle A: Education, Prevention, and Treatment - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Congress and the President should: (1) make the reauthorization of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994 a high priority for the 106th Congress, and that such reauthorization should maintain substance abuse prevention as a major focus; and (2) make the reauthorization of Federal substance abuse prevention and treatment programs a high priority for the 106th Congress, and provide more flexibility to States in the use of Federal funds for provision of drug abuse prevention and treatment services while holding States accountable for their performance. (Sec. 3003) Directs the National Institute on Standards and Technology to: (1) conduct a study of drug-testing technologies in order to identify and assess the efficacy, accuracy, and usefulness for purposes of the national effort to detect the use of illicit drugs of any drug-testing technologies that may be used as alternatives or complements to urinalysis as a means of detecting the use of such drugs; and (2) report on the results to the Congress. (Sec. 3004) Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to require: (1) the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to ensure that the results of all current alcohol research that is set aside for services is widely disseminated to treatment practitioners in an easily understandable format, and in a manner that provides easily understandable steps for the implementation of best practices based on the research, and make technical assistance available to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to assist alcohol and drug treatment practitioners to make permanent changes in treatment activities through the use of successful treatment models; and (2) the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse to take analogous steps with respect to drug abuse research and treatment. (Sec. 3005) Amends PHSA to prohibit the expenditure of Federal funds made available to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes to individuals for the injection of any illegal drug. (Sec. 3006) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish an incentive grant program to assist the States in improving their laws relating to controlled substances and driving. Sets forth grant requirements, including regarding the use of grant funds. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004. (Sec. 3008) Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize an eligible crime victim compensation program to expend appropriated funds to offer compensation to elementary and secondary school students or teachers who are victims of school violence. Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make a grant for a demonstration project or for training and technical assistance services to a program that: (1) assists State and local educational agencies in developing, establishing, and operating programs to protect victims of and witnesses to incidents of elementary and secondary school violence; or (2) supports a student safety toll-free hotline that provides students and teachers in such schools with confidential assistance relating to the issues of school crime, violence, drug dealing, and threats to personal safety. (Sec. 3009) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to States, and State and local educational agencies, to develop, establish, or conduct innovative programs to improve unsafe elementary or secondary schools. Provides priorities for programs that: (1) provide prompt parent and teacher notification of certain school incidents; (2) provide annual reports to parents and teachers regarding such incidents; and (3) enhance school security measures. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994 to authorize innovative voluntary random drug testing programs. Subtitle B: Drug-Free Families - Drug-Free Families Act of 1999 - Directs the DEA Administrator to make a grant to the Parent Collaboration, a legal entity established by specified organizations, to conduct a national campaign to build a new parent and family movement to help parents and families prevent drug abuse among their children. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Funding for United States Counter-Drug Enforcement Agencies - Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for drug enforcement and other noncommercial operations, commercial operations, and air and marine interdiction for FY 2000 through 2001. Directs the Commissioner of Customs to submit to specified congressional committees the projected amount of funds for the succeeding fiscal year that will be necessary for Customs Service operations. (Sec. 4002) Makes specified FY 2000 funds available until expended for acquisition and other expenses associated with implementation and deployment of specified narcotics detection equipment along the United States-Mexico border, the United States-Canada border, and Florida and the Gulf Coast seaports. Earmarks specified FY 2001 funds for the maintenance and support of, and training of personnel to maintain and support, such equipment. (Sec. 4003) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) peak hours and investigative resource enhancement; (2) air and marine operation and maintenance funding; (3) compliance with performance plan requirements; (4) a change of salary for the Commissioner of Customs from level III to level IV of the executive pay schedule; and (5) passenger preclearance services. Subtitle B(sic): United States Coast Guard - Authorizes additional funding for the United States Coast Guard for FY 2000 and 2001 for operation and maintenance. Subtitle C: Drug Enforcement Administration - Authorizes additional funding for the DEA for FY 2000 for counter-narcotics and information support operations. Subtitle D: Department of the Treasury - Authorizes additional funding for the Department of the Treasury for FY 2000 and 2001 for counter-narcotics, information support, and money laundering efforts. Subtitle E: Department of Defense - Authorizes additional funding for the Department of Defense for FY 2000 and 2001 to expand activities to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. (Sec. 4402) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects to establish an air base or bases for use in support of counter-narcotics operations in the southern Caribbean Sea, northern South America, and eastern Pacific Ocean, located in Latin America or the Caribbean Sea, or both. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4403) Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense for FY 2000 for the procurement of a Relocatable Over the Horizon Radar, located in South America. (Sec. 4404) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should allocate funds appropriated for FY 1999 pursuant to the authorizations of appropriations for that fiscal year in the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act to fully carry out the purposes of that Act during that fiscal year, and should include with the budgets for FY 2000 and 2001 that are submitted to the Congress a request for funds for such fiscal years in accordance with the authorizations of appropriations for such fiscal years in that Act; and (2) the Secretary of Defense should revise the Global Military Force Policy of the Department of Defense to treat the international drug interdiction and counter-drug activities of the Department as a military operation other than war (thereby elevating the priority given such activities to that given to peacekeeping operations), and allocate Department assets to such activities in accordance with the priority given such activities under the revised Policy.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Title II: Emergency Spending Reforms Title III: Clarifying Changes to Pay-As-You-Go Title IV: Reform of the Senate's Consideration of Appropriations Bills, Budget Resolutions, and Reconciliation Bills Title V: Budget Act Amendments Regarding the Senate's Consideration of Budget Resolution and Reconciliation Bills Budget Enforcement Act of 1999 - Title I: Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations - Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to revise the Federal and congressional budget processes by establishing a two-year budgeting and appropriations cycle and timetable. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Sets forth a special timetable for any first session that begins in any year immediately following a leap year and during which the term of a President begins (except one who starts a second successive term). Devotes the first session of any Congress to the budget resolution and to appropriations decisions, retaining current deadlines in most cases. Changes certain deadlines to conform to the biennial scheme. Devotes each second session to authorization activity, subject to specified deadlines. (Sec. 104) Sets forth revised pay-as-you-go provisions for the Senate to conform with the biennial framework. (Sec. 105) Conforms provisions governing the President's budget to the biennial framework. (Sec. 106) Requires all Acts making regular appropriations for the support of the Government to be enacted for a biennium and to specify the amount of appropriations provided for each fiscal year in that period. (Sec. 107) Amends the CBA to provide that it shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider: (1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that authorizes appropriations for a period of less than two fiscal years, unless the program, project, or activity for which the appropriations are authorized will require no further appropriations and will be completed or terminated after the appropriations have been expended; and (2) in any odd-numbered year, any authorization or revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress completes action on the biennial budget resolution, all regular biennial appropriations bills, and all reconciliation bills. Provides that, in the Senate, such point of order shall not apply to: (1) any measure that is privileged for consideration pursuant to a rule or statute; (2) any matter considered in Executive Session; or (3) an appropriations measure or reconciliation bill. (Sec. 108) Changes to a biennial basis specified requirements for certain Government strategic and performance plans, performance reports in budget submissions, and program performance reports. Requires congressional committee reviews of such plans and reports. (Sec. 109) Provides that it shall not be in order in the House or the Senate in any odd-numbered year to consider any regular bill providing new budget authority or a limitation on obligations under the jurisdiction of any Appropriations subcommittee for only the first fiscal year of a biennium unless the program, project, or activity for which such authority or limitation is provided will require no additional authority beyond one year and will be completed or terminated after the amount provided has been expended. (Sec. 110) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to report to the Budget Committees on the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a two-year fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on the two-year period. Title II: Emergency Spending Reforms - Amends the CBA to require the President, in designating a provision of legislation as an emergency requirement under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), to submit to the Congress an analysis of whether a proposed emergency requirement meets criteria specified under this title. Requires the committee report accompanying such legislation to make such analysis as well. Provides that a proposed expenditure or tax change is an emergency requirement if it is: (1) necessary, essential, or vital; (2) sudden, quickly coming into being, and not building up over time; (3) an urgent, pressing, and compelling need requiring immediate action; (4) unforeseen, unpredictable, and unanticipated; and (5) not permanent, temporary in nature. Requires the President or the committee report to justify why a proposed requirement is an emergency if it fails to meet such criteria. Strikes: (1) emergency requirements in legislation under consideration in the Senate when a point of order is sustained against such requirements; and (2) non-emergency provisions in emergency supplemental appropriations legislation when a point of order is so sustained. Title III: Clarifying Changes to Pay-As-You-Go - Amends H. Con. Res. 67 (104th Congress) to apply a point of order in the Senate against consideration of direct spending or revenue legislation that would increase or cause an on-budget deficit (currently, that would increase the deficit) for specified time periods. (Sec. 302) Amends the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act to make conforming amendments to pay-as-you-go provisions to assure that legislation increasing, or causing, an on-budget deficit will trigger sequestration. Adds the estimate of the on-budget surplus for the budget year in the calculation of the deficit increase or decrease. (Sec. 303) Amends the CBA to consider to be extraneous matter in a reconciliation measure provisions that would increase net outlays or decrease revenues and cause an on-budget deficit in a fiscal year after the years covered by such measure, when taken with other provisions in the bill. Title IV: Reform of the Senate's Consideration of Appropriations Bills, Budget Resolutions, and Reconciliation Bills - Government Shutdown Prevention Act - Amends Federal law relating to appropriations to provide for continuing appropriations in the absence of regular appropriations. Sunsets this title after FY 2001. Title V: Budget Act Amendments Regarding the Senate's Consideration of Budget Resolution and Reconciliation Bills - Amends the CBA to prohibit the budget resolution from including precatory language. Revises provisions regarding Senate procedure for consideration of the budget resolution. Provides that it shall not be in order in the Senate to proceed to consideration of the budget resolution unless the resolution's text has been available to Members for at least one calendar day prior to consideration. Decreases the time for debate in the Senate on the resolution and amendments. Sets forth new provisions regarding the disposition and filing of amendments and other matters after a period of debate, limits on second-degree amendments, debate on motions to recommit, and disposition of conference reports. (Sec. 502) Defines "major functional category" as the allocation of budget authority and outlays separated into the following subtotals: (1) defense discretionary; (2) nondefense discretionary; (3) direct spending; and (4) other subsets of discretionary and direct spending, as necessary. (Sec. 503) Changes the pay rates for the Director and Deputy Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to report on the suitability for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System of any part of the Everglades expansion area. Makes such requirement effective: (1) on submission to the Congress of the proposed plan to restore and preserve the South Florida ecosystem required by the Water Resources Development Act of 1996; but (2) only if such plan does not specify that construction and water storage are required in the expansion area (as determined by the Secretary).
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate, for purposes of the alternative minimum tax, the 90 percent limitation on foreign tax credits.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Provides for a two-year open season for members of the clergy who wish to revoke their exemption from social security coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Vaccinate America's Children Now Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the tax on vaccines from 75 cents per dose to 25 cents per dose.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 1999 - Authorizes appropriations for the Surface Transportation Board for FY 1999 through 2002. Requires Senate confirmation of the Chairman of the Board.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Capital Gains and Dividend Income Reform Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise rules concerning capital gain for taxpayers other than corporations to establish a new general rule which provides that if for any taxable year a taxpayer other than a corporation has a capital gain, 70 percent of such gain shall be a deduction from gross income. Reduces the alternative capital gain tax for corporations. Excludes from individual gross income 70 percent of dividends received from a domestic corporation.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Family Heritage Preservation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the estate tax, gift tax, and tax on generation-skipping transfers.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Direct Check for Education Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make direct awards to local educational agencies (LEAs) to support programs or activities, that the LEA deems appropriate, for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to use funds under this Act to continue to make payments to eligible recipients pursuant to, and for the duration of, any multiyear award made prior to enactment of this Act. Repeals the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. Repeals certain provisions of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1999 which vested in the National Assessment Governing Board exclusive authority for developing voluntary national tests pursuant to a specified contract. Repeals the following programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965: (1) the Technology for Education program, including national programs, State and local programs for school technology resources, Star Schools, Ready-to-Learn Television, telecommunications demonstration project for mathematics, elementary mathematics and science equipment, and elementary and secondary school library media resources; (2) the State programs component of Innovative Education Program Strategies; and (3) the Fund for the Improvement of Education. Repeals the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994. Directs the Secretary to determine a per-child amount to be awarded to each LEA. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct audits of LEA expenditures under this Act and to enforce certain sanctions and penalties if such funds are not used in accordance with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Collegiate Learning and Student Savings Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permit private higher educational institutions, in addition to currently permitted State institutions, to establish qualified tuition programs; and (2) exclude from gross income such program distributions used for qualified higher education expenses. Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to exempt qualified tuition programs from the definition of an investment company.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Estate and Gift Tax Rate Reduction Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to phase out the estate and gift tax over a ten-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Education Savings Account and School Excellence Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to education individual retirement accounts (IRAs), to: (1) permit distributions for qualified elementary and secondary education expenses, including home schooling expenses; and (2) increase (through December 31, 2002) the annual contribution limit from $500 to $2,000. Waives the beneficiary age limitation (18) for contributions on behalf of special needs beneficiaries. Permits corporations to contribute to education IRAs.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Requires a two-thirds vote of each House of the Congress in order to pass any bill levying a new tax or increasing the rate or base of any tax. Allows the Congress to waive that requirement during war or certain military conflict. Requires all votes under this Amendment to be by yeas and nays and the names of persons voting for and against to be entered in the Journal of each House.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Recognizes May 15, 1999, as Peace Officers Memorial Day, in honor of Federal, State, and local officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Biomedical Revitalization Resolution of 1998 - Expresses the sense of the Senate that funding for the National Institutes of Health should be increased by $2 billion in FY 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 1998
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions concerning the allocation of interest to provide as a general rule that interest expense attributable to qualified infrastructure indebtedness of a taxpayer shall be allocated and apportioned solely to sources within the United States and the taxpayer's assets (whether or not held in the United States) shall be reduced by the amount of qualified infrastructure indebtedness.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore the business meal expense deduction to 80 percent (currently 50 percent) for individuals subject to the hours of service limitations of the Department of Transportation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Extension of Expiring Provisions Subtitle A: Tax Provisions Subtitle B: Trade Provisions Title II: Other Tax Provisions Title III: Revenue Offset Title IV: Technical Corrections Tax Extension Act of 1998 - Title I: Extension of Expiring Provisions - Subtitle A: Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to temporarily extend provisions concerning the: (1) research credit; (2) work opportunity credit; (3) welfare-to-work credit; (4) contribution of stock to private foundations; (5) subpart F exemption for active financing income; (6) credit for producing fuel from a nonconventional source; and (7) disclosure of return information on income contingent student loans. Subtitle B: Trade Provisions - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend the Generalized System of Preferences through December 31, 1999. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) for workers, firms, and the training of workers adversely affected by import competition under the North American Free Trade Agreement transitional adjustment assistance program. Terminates the TAA programs July 1, 1999. Title II: Other Tax Provisions - Provides, starting January 1, 2002, for the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals. Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to disregard specified payment options provided by the Emergency Farm Financial Relief Act. Permanently extends income averaging for farmers. Allows, for taxable year 1998, nonrefundable personal credits to fully offset regular tax liability. Title III: Revenue Offset - Amends provisions concerning liquidation of corporate subsidiaries to provide that if a corporation receives a distribution from a regulated investment company or a real estate investment trust which is considered as being in complete liquidation of such company or trust, then, notwithstanding other specified IRC provisions, such corporation shall recognize and treat as a dividend from such company or trust an amount equal to the deduction for dividends paid allowable to such company or trust by reason of such distribution. Title IV: Technical Corrections - Revises provisions of the IRC, the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, the Tax Reform Act of 1984, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, and title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1998
Credit for Voluntary Early Action Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to authorize the President to enter into legally binding early action agreements with any person under which the United States agrees to provide greenhouse gas reduction credit usable beginning in the first compliance period during which a domestic greenhouse gas regulatory statute takes effect if such person reduces greenhouse gas emissions or sequesters carbon before 2008. Requires a participant to receive greenhouse gas reduction credit under such an agreement if such participant takes an action that: (1) reduces such emissions or sequesters carbon before 2008; and (2) will result in an addition to the U.S. quantified emission limitation for the first compliance period under any applicable international agreement. Authorizes agreements to entitle a participant to receive credit for a reduction or sequestration that is not creditable under such requirements and is for a project accepted before 2000 under the U.S. Initiative for Joint Implementation. Limits the period in which credit may be earned to the earlier of the earliest date on which credit may be earned for a reduction, sequestration, or comparable project under an international agreement or December 31, 2007. Grants a participant credit if, during the 1999 through 2007 period, the participant's aggregate greenhouse gas emissions from domestic sources covered by the agreement are less than the sum of the participant's annual source baselines during such period. Treats the amount by which the aggregate net carbon sequestration for such period in a participant's domestic carbon reservoirs exceeds the sum of the annual reservoir baselines for such period as an emission reduction. Sets forth circumstances under which a participant is entitled to receive one ton of reduction credit for reductions or sequestration for 1991 through 1998. Authorizes an extension of the period during which credit may be earned if the Congress so permits by law. Entitles participants, on January 1, 2008, to one ton of reduction credit for each creditable ton. Establishes annual source or reservoir baselines equal to a participant's average annual greenhouse gas emissions from domestic sources or average level of carbon stocks in reservoirs during a 1996 through 1998 base period, with specified adjustments. Provides for alternative base periods if data is unavailable or unrepresentative. Authorizes participants to elect a base period earlier than 1996 through 1998 (excluding years earlier than 1990) to reflect voluntary reductions made before 1996. Requires agreements to cover all greenhouse gas sources that a participant owns on the date on which an agreement is entered into. Permits agreements to exclude small or diverse sources or sources owned by more than one person. Authorizes coverage for other owned sources and reservoirs. Permits the President to enter into agreements that do not meet this Act's requirements with participants that manufacture or construct for sale to end-users equipment or facilities that emit greenhouse gases if such requirements are infeasible and such agreements would achieve comparable tonnage reductions. Permits participants to purchase credit from and sell credit to other participants and sell credit to non-participants. Authorizes pooling arrangements under which a group of participants acts as a single participant for purposes of entering into an agreement. Requires agreements to provide that: (1) credit earned under an agreement shall be provided in addition to any otherwise available authorizations of the participant to emit greenhouse gases in the first compliance period under a domestic statute; and (2) if the allocation of authorizations under such statute is based on the level of a participant's emissions in a historic period later than the participant's base period under the agreement, any credit to which the participant was entitled during such historic period shall be added back to the participant's emissions level for such period.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Individual's Rights Subtitle A: Review of Protected Health Information by Subjects of the Information Subtitle B: Establishment of Safeguards Title II: Restrictions on Use and Disclosure Title III: Sanctions Subtitle A: Criminal Provisions Subtitle B: Civil Sanctions Title IV: Miscellaneous Medical Information Protection Act of 1998 - Title I: Individual's Rights - Subtitle A: Review of Protected Health Information by Subjects of the Information - Requires specified health entities in possession of protected health information to arrange (except in certain circumstances) for its inspection or copying upon the request of the individual subject of such information (subject individual). Prescribes procedures for: (1) notification upon request denial, including the reasons for such denial, and the concomitant review procedures; (2) requests by such individual to amend such information; and (3) conspicuous disclosure of such entities' confidentiality practices. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to develop model notices of confidentiality. Subtitle B: Establishment of Safeguards - Mandates the establishment of: (1) administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for protected health information; and (2) a record of any protected health information disclosures not made within the health entity. Title II: Restrictions on Use and Disclosure - Prescribes guidelines for disclosure of protected health information with respect to: (1) authorizations for treatment, payment, and health care operations; (3) the individual's next of kin and directory information; (4) emergency circumstances; (5) certain oversight agencies; (6) public health authorities; (7) health researchers; (8) civil, judicial, and administrative procedures; (9) certain law enforcement procedures; (10) payment for health care through card or electronic means; (11) certain duly authorized representatives acting on behalf of a subject individual (including a deceased subject individual, and a minor); and (12) certain business sales, transfers, or mergers. (Sec. 212) Directs the Secretary to promulgate protected health information standards for electronic disclosures, authorizations, and authentications. (Sec. 214) Precludes permissible disclosures from liability. Title III: Sanctions - Subtitle A: Criminal Provisions - Amends the Federal criminal code to impose criminal penalties for knowingly and intentionally obtaining or disclosing protected health information in violation of title II of this Act. Subtitle B: Civil Sanctions - Establishes civil monetary penalties for substantial and material failure to comply with this Act. (Sec. 312) Prescribes a procedure for imposition and judicial review of such penalties. (Sec. 313) Grants exclusive enforcement authority to the insurance commissioner of the life insurer's domicile State. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Preempts, subject to exceptions, any State law relating to matters covered by this Act. (Sec. 401) Authorizes the Secretaries of Defense and of Transportation to establish exceptions to the disclosure requirements of this Act with respect to Department of Defense and Coast Guard personnel, respectively, pursuant to the Secretaries' determination that exceptions are necessary for national defense purposes. (Sec. 402) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits) of the Social Security Act to provide for enforcement of this Act through conditions on participation with respect to: (1) participating physicians and suppliers; (2) Medicare+Choice organizations; (3) Medicare providers; and (4) health maintenance organizations with risk-sharing contracts. (Sec. 404) Directs the National Research Council, in conjunction with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, to study and report to the Congress on research issues relating to protected health information.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1998
Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to change from May 1 to July 15 the annual deadline for a Medicare+Choice organization to submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services proposed premiums and information relating to coordinated plans, Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans, and private fee-for-service plans. Authorizes the Secretary to require an interim submission before July 15. Requires a Medicare+Choice organization to notify the Secretary before July 15 during a contract term of an intention to terminate the contract at the end of the term. Reduces from five to three years the waiting period after a Medicare+choice organization's termination of a contract during which the Secretary may not contract again with such organization. Allows certain eligible organizations with risk-sharing contracts which have notified the Secretary of an intention not to convert such a contract to one offering a Medicare+Choice plan to resubmit an updated version of proposed premiums and related plan information previously submitted to make such a conversion. Requires the Secretary to act on such updated information in such a manner as to ensure that, if approved, the organization may make the conversion.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1998
Recognizes the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National Microbiological Institute and the creation of the Institute that became the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Reaffirms support of the NIAID and its commitment to advance knowledge and improve health.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1998
Medicare Psychiatric Hospital Prospective Payment System Act of 1998 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for a prospective payment system for inpatient psychiatric facility hospital services; and (2) exempt such services from certain reductions under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and, instead, limit payment to not less than a certain applicable percentage of the amount that would have been paid if such reductions did not apply.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1998
Expresses Congress' opposition to any deployment of U.S. ground forces into the Serbian province of Kosovo for peacemaking or peacekeeping purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1998
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should not give special trade preferences to goods originating from a country that does not adequately protect U.S. intellectual property rights, particularly a developing country that has not met its obligations under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights by January 1, 2000; (2) the Congress should monitor the progress of developing countries in meeting their obligations under the Agreement by January 1, 2000; and (3) it should consider legislation that would deny benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences to developing countries that are not in compliance with their obligations under the Agreement beginning on January 1, 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1998
Commends Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa for their record achievement, for reinvigorating the game of baseball, for their decency, and for giving our children sports heroes worthy of that status.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1998
Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury under provisions of subpart F (Controlled Foreign Corporations) of part III (Income from Sources Without the United States) of subchapter N (Tax Based On Income From Sources Within or Without the United States) of the Internal Revenue Code from, among other things, issuing either temporary or final regulations relating to the treatment of hybrid transactions. Requires a study and report concerning such transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Enhanced Source and Transit Country Coverage Title II: Enhanced Eradication and Interdiction Strategy in Source Countries Title III: Enhanced Alternative Crop Development Support in Source Zone Title IV: Enhanced International Law Enforcement Training Title V: Enhanced Drug Transit and Source Zone Law Enforcement Operations and Equipment Title VI: Relationship to Other Laws Title VII: Criminal Background Checks on Port Employees Title VIII: Drug Currency Forfeitures Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act - Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) reduce the supply of drugs and drug use through an enhanced drug interdiction effort in the major drug transit countries and support a comprehensive supply country eradication and crop substitution program, because a commitment of increased resources in international drug interdiction efforts will create a balanced national drug control strategy among demand reduction, law enforcement, and international drug interdiction efforts; and (2) develop and establish comprehensive drug interdiction and drug eradication strategies, and dedicate the resources necessary to reduce the flow of illegal drugs into the United States by 80 percent by December 31, 2001. Title I: Enhanced Source and Transit Country Coverage - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of the Treasury for the enhancement of radar coverage in drug source and transit countries. (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of Defense to examine and report to specified congressional committees on the options available to the United States for improving Relocatable Over the Horizon (ROTHR) capability to provide enhanced radar coverage of narcotics source zone countries in South America and transit zones in the Eastern Pacific. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 to the Secretary of Transportation for operating expenses of the Coast Guard (including acquisition, construction, and improvement of facilities and equipment) associated with expansion of drug interdiction activities around Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other transit zone areas of operation. Directs the Secretary to accept seven patrol craft for use by the Coast Guard for expanded drug interdiction activities. (Sec. 103) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of the Treasury for the enhancement of air coverage and operation for drug source and transit countries. Directs the Secretary of Defense to examine and report to specified congressional committees on the available options in the source and transit zones to replace Howard Air Force Base in Panama, specifying U.S. requirements to establish an airbase or airbases for use in support of counternarcotics operations to optimize operational effectiveness in the source and transit zones. Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer to the U.S. Customs Service 20 currently retired and previously identified heavyweight P- 3B aircraft for modification, half into P-3 AEW&C aircraft and half into P-3 Slick aircraft. q04q Title II: Enhanced Eradication and Interdiction Strategy in Source Countries - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of State for the enhancement of drug-related eradication efforts in Colombia. (Sec. 201) Prohibits U.S. counternarcotics assistance to the Government of Colombia if it negotiates or permits the establishment of any demilitarized zone in which the eradication of drug production by Colombian security forces (including the Colombian National Police antinarcotics unit) is prohibited. (Sec. 202) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of State for the establishment of a third drug interdiction site in Peru to support air bridge and riverine missions for enhancement of drug-related eradication efforts. Directs the Secretary of Defense to study and report to the Congress on Peruvian counternarcotics air interdiction requirements. (Sec. 203) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of State for enhancement of drug-related eradication efforts in Bolivia. (Sec. 204) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for enhanced precursor chemical control projects. (Sec. 205) Expresses the sense of the Congress that any individual serving as an assistant secretary of any Federal agency or department who has primary responsibility for international narcotics control and law enforcement (including the principal deputy of any such assistant) shall have substantial professional qualifications in the fields of management and Federal law enforcement or intelligence. Declares that the Department of Defense (DOD) shall be the principle agency responsible for implementation and processing of counternarcotics foreign military sales requests (with the Department of State having a consultative role in such requests). Expresses the sense of the Congress that the responsiveness and effectiveness of Department of State international narcotics assistance activities have been hampered due, in part, to the lack of law enforcement expertise by responsible Department of State personnel. Title III: Enhanced Alternative Crop Development Support in Source Zone - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) for certain alternative crop development programs in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. (Sec. 302) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 to the Secretary of Agriculture to support the counternarcotics research efforts of the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. (Sec. 303) Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop, and report to the Congress on, a ten-year master plan for the use of mycoherbicides to control narcotic crops (including coca, poppy, and cannabis) in the United States and internationally. Title IV: Enhanced International Law Enforcement Training - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of Justice for the establishment and operation of international law enforcement academies to carry out law enforcement training activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, Thailand, and South Africa. (Sec. 401) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of the Treasury for the joint establishment, operation, and maintenance in San Juan, Puerto Rico, of a center for training law enforcement personnel of countries located in Latin America and the Caribbean in matters relating to maritime law enforcement (including customs-related ports management matters). Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DOT for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of maritime training vessels. (Sec. 402) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of Justice for: (1) substantial exchanges for Mexican judges, prosecutors, and police; and (2) enhanced support for the Brazilian Federal Police Training Center. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DOT for operation and maintenance for locating and operating Coast Guard assets so as to strengthen the capability of the Coast Guard of Panama to patrol the Atlantic and Pacific coasts for drug enforcement and interdiction activities. Makes members of the national police of Panama eligible to receive training through the International Military Education Training (IMET) program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of Justice for support for the Venezuelan Judicial Technical Police Counterdrug Intelligence Center. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DOT and the Department of the Treasury for the buildup of local coast guard and port control in: (1) Guayaquil and Esmeraldas, Ecuador; (2) Haiti and the Dominican Republic; and (3) Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (Central America). (Sec. 403) Authorizes the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to transfer or lease a specified amount of nonlethal equipment each year to foreign law enforcement organizations for the purpose of establishing and carrying out cooperative illicit narcotics control activities. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) all U.S. law enforcement personnel serving in Mexico should be accorded the same status as diplomatic and consular personnel serving at U.S. posts in Mexico; and (2) all Mexican narcotics law enforcement personnel serving in the United States should be accorded the same diplomatic and consular status as DEA personnel serving in Mexico. Title V: Enhanced Drug Transit and Source Zone Law Enforcement Operations and Equipment - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the DEA and the U.S. Customs Service of Department of the Treasury for enhancement of counternarcotics operations in drug transit and source countries. (Sec. 501) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2001 for the Department of State for the deployment of commercial unclassified intelligence and imaging data and a Passive Coherent Location System for counternarcotics and interdiction purposes in the Western Hemisphere. Directs the Secretary of Defense to examine and propose to specified congressional committees recommendations regarding any organizational changes to optimize counterdrug activities, including certain alternative cost-sharing arrangements. (Sec. 502) Authorizes appropriations for the development and purchase of computer software and hardware to facilitate direct communication between agencies that perform drug interdiction activities at U.S. borders, including the Customs Service, the Border Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the DEA, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). (Sec. 503) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Defense should revise DOD's Global Military Force Policy in order to: (1) treat DOD international drug interdiction and counter-drug activities as a military operation other than war (thus elevating its priority to just below that for war); and (2) allocate DOD assets to drug interdiction and counter-drug activities in accordance with such priority. Title VI: Relationship to Other Laws - Declares that funds authorized to be appropriated for any Federal department or agency for FY 1999 through 2001 are in addition to funds authorized to be appropriated for that department or agency for those fiscal years by any other provision of law. Title VII: Criminal Background Checks on Port Employees - Directs the Attorney General, upon request, to grant access to identification records to any State, county, port authority, or other local jurisdiction to allow it to conduct criminal background checks on employees, or applicants for employment, at any port under its jurisdiction. Title VIII: Drug Currency Forfeitures - Drug Currency Forfeitures Act - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to cite four alternative circumstances that create a rebuttable presumption that property is subject to forfeiture if the Government offers a reasonable basis to believe that there is a substantial connection between the property and a drug trafficking offense. Requires the property at issue to be currency in excess of $10,000 that, at the time of the seizure, was being transported through an airport, on a highway, or at a port-of-entry, and meeting one of several other criteria. Subjects to such presumption, also, any property: (1) acquired during a time period when the person who acquired it was engaged in a drug trafficking offense or within a reasonable time afterwards, and there is no other likely source for such property; (2) that was, or was intended to be, transported, transmitted, or transferred to or from a major drug-transit country, illicit drug producing country, or money laundering country; or (3) involved in a transaction including any person who has been convicted in any Federal, State, or foreign jurisdiction of a drug trafficking offense or a felony involving money laundering, or is a fugitive from prosecution for such an offense. Amends the Federal criminal code to create a rebuttable presumption that property involved in drug money laundering subject to civil forfeiture is the proceeds of an offense involving the felonious manufacture, importation, or other dealing in a controlled substance, thus constituting the proceeds of specified unlawful activity if any of the circumstances set forth in this title apply.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1998
Vessel Hull Design Protection Act - Amends Federal copyright law to provide for protection of an original design of a useful article which makes the article attractive or distinctive in appearance to the purchasing or using public. Defines useful article as a vessel hull, including a plug or mold, which in normal use has an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not merely to portray the appearance of the article or to convey information. Provides that the design of a vessel hull, including a plug or mold, is subject to protection under this Act. (Sec. 2) Bars protection for designs that are: (1) not original; (2) staple or commonplace; (3) dictated solely by a utilitarian function of the article that embodies it; or (4) embodied in a useful article that was made public by the designer or owner more than one year before the date of application for registration. Provides for ten-year terms of protection. Sets forth marking and design notice requirements for protected designs. Bars recovery against persons who began undertakings leading to infringement before receiving notice. Places the burden of providing notice of protection on design owners. Grants owners of protected designs exclusive rights to make, have made, import, sell, or distribute for sale or for use in trade any useful article embodying protected designs. Makes it infringement to engage in such activities with respect to infringing articles without an owner's consent. Provides that it shall not be infringement to: (1) engage in certain activities with respect to protected designs without knowledge of a design's protection; or (2) reproduce a protected design solely for purposes of teaching, analyzing, or evaluating the appearance, concepts, or techniques embodied in the design or the functions of the useful article embodying the design. Places the burden of establishing a design's originality on the party alleging rights in a design. Provides that protection shall be lost if application for design registration is not made within two years after the date on which the design is first made public. Sets forth registration application requirements. Accords protection to designs with respect to which an application was filed by a U.S. owner in a foreign country on the date as filed if the U.S. application is filed within six months after the earliest date on which such foreign application was filed. Provides for: (1) determinations of registrations and procedures for cancelling registrations in cases where a party believes he or she may be damaged by registration; and (2) ownership and transfer of property rights of protected designs. Authorizes design owners to seek judicial review of final refusals of the Register of Copyrights to register designs. Permits the use of arbitration to resolve infringement disputes. Authorizes injunctive relief to prevent infringement. Provides for recovery of damages or the infringer's profits in infringement cases. Sets a three-year statute of limitations with respect to recovery for infringement. Authorizes the court to order or cancel registrations. Prescribes penalties for the filing of infringement actions with respect to fraudulently obtained registrations or making false markings or representations. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postal Service to issue regulations for the enforcement of exclusive rights with respect to importation of protected designs. Subjects articles imported in violation of such rights to seizure and forfeiture. Terminates protection under this Act upon issuance of a design patent with respect to an original design. Grants the U.S. district courts jurisdiction over actions arising under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1998
Declares that the Congress supports the existing Federal legal process for determining the safety and efficacy of drugs and opposes efforts to circumvent this process by legalizing marijuana, and other Schedule I drugs, for medicinal use without valid scientific evidence and Food and Drug Administration approval. Directs the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, regarding specified years, on: (1) the total quantity of marijuana eradicated in the United States; and (2) the annual number of arrests and prosecutions for Federal marijuana offenses. Requires the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to report to specified congressional committees on the specific efforts underway to enforce specified provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regarding marijuana and other Schedule I drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1998
Mandates revisions to a map depicting a specified unit of the Coastal Barrier Resources System in Florida to exclude Pumpkin Key from the System.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1998
Mandates corrections to a specified Coastal Barrier Resources System map relating to the State of Florida as necessary to ensure that depictions of areas on that map are consistent with the depictions of areas appearing on another specified map.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1998
Dante Fascell Biscayne National Park Visitor Center Designation Act - Designates the Biscayne National Park visitor center located on the shore of Biscayne Bay on Convoy Point as the Dante Fascell Visitor Center at Biscayne National Park.
United States · United States Congress · 3 September 1998
Designates October 16, 1998, as National Mammography Day.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1998
Designates the U.S. Postal Service buildings located at: (1) 3191 Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove, Florida, as the William R. "Billy" Rolle Post Office Building; (2) 550 Fisherman Street in Opa Locka, Florida, as the Helen Miller Post Office Building; (3) 18690 N.W. 37th Avenue in Carol City, Florida, as the Essie Silva Post Office Building; (4) 500 North West 2d Avenue in Miami, Florida, as the Athalie Range Post Office Building; and (5) 995 North West 119th Street in Miami, Florida, as the Garth Reeves, Sr. Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1998
Measures to Encourage Results in Teaching Act of 1998 - Amends title II (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a new part D (State Incentives for Teacher Testing and Merit Pay). Directs the Secretary of Education to make an award to each State that: (1) administers a test to each elementary school and secondary school teacher in the State, with respect to the subjects taught by the teacher, every three to five years; and (2) has an elementary school and secondary school teacher compensation system based on merit. Allows States to use Federal education funds for teacher testing and merit pay programs.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1998
Collegiate Learning and Student Savings Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permit private higher educational institutions, in addition to currently permitted State institutions, to establish qualified tuition programs; and (2) exclude from gross income such program distributions used for qualified higher education expenses. Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to exempt qualified tuition programs from the definition of an investment company.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1998
Transition to Competition in the Electric Industry Act - States that no electric utility shall be required, under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), to enter into a new contract or obligation to purchase or sell electricity or capacity from or to qualifying cogeneration and small power production facilities. Requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to promulgate and enforce regulations designed to ensure that no electric utility shall be required to absorb the costs associated with purchases of electric power or capacity from a qualifying facility pursuant to PURPA obligations before enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1998
Expresses the sense of the Senate that October 11, 1998, should be designated as National Children's Day.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1998
Declares that the Congress honors the memory of Detective John Michael Gibson and Private First Class Jacob Joseph Chestnut of the U.S. Capitol Police for the selfless acts of heroism they displayed on July 24, 1998, in sacrificing their lives in the line of duty so that others might live. Provides that, when the Senate and the House of Representatives adjourn on this date, they shall do so out of respect for the memory of Officers Gibson and Chestnut.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1998
Authorizes the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a memorial service for Detective John Michael Gibson and Private First Class Jacob Joseph Chestnut of the U.S. Capitol Police. Directs the Architect of the Capitol to place a plaque in honor of the memory of Officers Gibson and Chestnut at an appropriate site in the U.S. Capitol, with the approval of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Directs the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives to make arrangements for funeral services for Officers Gibson and Chestnut, including payments for travel expenses of immediate family members, and for expenses incurred by Members of the House of Representatives in attending such services. Directs the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives to pay survivor's gratuities to the widows of Officers Gibson and Chestnut. Expresses the sense of the Congress that there should be established under law a U.S. Capitol Police Memorial Fund for the surviving spouses and children of members of the U.S. Capitol Police who are slain in the line of duty.