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United States · Official source
676 records where Sen. Miller, Zell [D-GA] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 1999
Calls for the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend and the Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honor of the U.S.S. Wisconsin and those who served on that vessel.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1999
Teacher Liability Protection Act of 1999 - Preempts State law, except where such law provides additional protection from liability of teachers. Makes this Act inapplicable to any civil action in State court against a teacher in which all parties are citizens of the State if such State enacts a statute electing that this Act not apply. Provides that no teacher in a school shall be liable for harm caused by an act or omission on behalf of the school if the teacher was acting within the scope of employment or responsibilities relating to providing educational services, subject to specified requirements and exceptions. Limits punitive damages and liability for non-economic loss.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1999
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 1999- Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) with respect to soft money to, among other changes: (1) prohibit a national committee of a political party (including specified related entities) from soliciting or receiving contributions or making expenditures not subject to FECA; (2) require a State, district, or local committee of a political party to make Federal election year expenditures (with exceptions) for specified Federal election activities from funds subject to FECA; (3) prohibit a national, State, district, or local committee from soliciting or donating funds to a tax-exempt organization; and (4) prohibit an incumbent or candidate for Federal office or an entity directly or indirectly established , financed, maintained or controlled by or acting on behalf of one or more candidates or incumbents from soliciting or receiving funds not subject to FECA, including funds for any Federal election activity and from soliciting, receiving, directing, transferring, or spending funds in connection with any election other than an election for Federal office or disburse funds in connection with such an election unless the funds meet specified requirements. Establishes an individual annual limit of $10,000 for State committee contributions. Increases the aggregate individual contribution limit to $30,000. Requires national and State committees to report all receipts and disbursements. Repeals the building fund exception to the definition of contribution. Amends the National Labor Relations Act to declare it to be an unfair labor practice for a labor organization to receive payments from an employee pursuant to an agreement requiring such non-member employee to make payments in lieu of organization dues or fees without establishing a specified objection procedure under which the non-member's fees are reduced by the percentage that would be used to support political activities (thus codifying the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Communications Workers of America et al. v. Beck et al).
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Older Americans Act Amendments of 1999 - Title I: Amendment to Title I of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to add certain definitions. Title II: Amendments to Title II of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Revises the duties of the Administration on Aging. Provides for a set of performance outcome measures to be used for planning, managing, and evaluating activities performed and services provided under the Act. Reauthorizes appropriations for the Administration on Aging. Title III: Amendments to Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Authorizes appropriations indefinitely for making grants relating to: (1) supportive services, (2) senior centers; (3) congregate nutrition services, (4) home delivered nutrition services; (5) in-home services; and (6) special needs. Authorizes appropriations for a nutrition services incentive program. Authorizes a State to require or permit cost sharing by recipients for all direct services, with specified exceptions, provided for in the Act. Expands the list of supportive services for which grants to States are provided. Establishes grant programs for support services for family caregivers, education and training related to programs for older individuals, and pension counseling projects. Title IV: Amendments to Title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Repeals provisions regarding training, research, and discretionary projects Title V: Amendments to Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to establish projects to place community service employment program participants in unsubsidized employment in both the public and private sectors. Reauthorizes the community service employment for older Americans program. Title VI: Amendments to Title VI of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Makes the authorization of appropriations for title VI of the Act indefinite, with exceptions. Establishes programs for grants to carry out vulnerable elder rights protection activities and for a Native American caregiver support program. Title VII: Amendments to Title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Revises provisions regarding the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Title VIII: Technical and Conforming Amendments - Makes technical and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
United States Cruise Ship Tourism Development Act of 1999 - Title I: Operations Under Permit - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue a permit for an eligible cruise vessel to operate in the transportation of passengers in the coastwise trade between ports in the United States. Terminates permit-issuance authority after three years. Sets forth itinerary operating requirements. Prohibits permitted cruise vessels operating in domestic itineraries from operating as ferries, carrying for hire both passengers and cargo, and operating between or among the islands of Hawaii. Provides for approving limited employment of foreign flag vessels. Requires the establishment of a priority system for cruise vessels, first priority being given to U.S.-built or rebuilt vessels. Prohibits eligible cruise vessels from operating in a domestic itinerary unless a proposed itinerary has been submitted. Title II: Post-Permit Operations of Eligible Cruise Vessels - Sets forth the requirements to be met following the expiration of a permit issued under this Act for an eligible cruise vessel not documented under the laws of the United States. Title III: Other Provisions - Amends provisions of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 relating to risk factors. Makes special provision for vessels carrying passengers for hire into Glacier Bay or other National Park Service areas.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1999
Responsible Fatherhood Act of 1999 - Title: I Public Awareness and Community Involvement In Fatherhood Issues - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States and territories to: (1) develop and carry out media campaigns promoting the formation and maintenance of married two-parent families, strengthen fragile families, and promote responsible fatherhood; and (2) obtain donations of media access necessary for such campaigns. Requires the Secretary to contract with a fatherhood promotion organization (meeting certain requirements) to: (1) develop and distribute a media campaign to interested States, local governments, public agencies, and private nonprofit organizations; and (2) develop a national clearinghouse to assist States and communities to promote and support responsible fatherhood by making available to other States information regarding media campaigns and programs instituted by States using grant funds under this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Amends SSA title IV part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) to mandate block grants to States to provide support to responsible fatherhood efforts of local governments, public agencies, and private nonprofit organizations. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Removal of Burdensome Federal Restrictions - Amends SSA title IV part A with regard to TANF grant recipient requirements, custodial and non-custodial parent requirements, in-kind donations, additional use of TANF funds, and a TANF bonus to reward a State's effort to encourage the formulation and maintenance of two-parent families. Amends SSA title IV part D to give States various specified options to: (1) pass through directly to the family a portion of child support collected, including amounts collected pursuant to a continued assignment; (2) disregard child support received in determining a family's eligibility for, or amount of, TANF assistance; and (3) use amounts collected by a State as child support, and otherwise payable to the Federal Government, to provide fatherhood services (especially to low income non-custodia fathers) encouraging the appropriate involvement of both parents in the life of any of their children.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Safety Net Preservation Act of 1999 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to establish a new prospective payment system for federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1999
Estate Tax Elimination Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate Federal estate, gift, and transfer taxes. Eliminates the step-up in basis with respect to property acquired from a decedent. Establishes the basis for qualifying property acquired from a decedent (carryover basis property) as the property's initial basis increased by its allowable share of the decedent's allowance, as provided for in this Act. Describes noncarryover basis property. Authorizes a limited tangible personal property exclusion. Provides an additional exclusion for family-owned businesses and farms. Makes a nonresident who is not a U.S. citizen ineligible for basis adjustment based upon a decedent's exclusion allowance. Establishes a binding procedure for determining the initial basis of carryover basis property. Requires an executor to provide the Secretary of the Treasury and each beneficiary with specified carryover basis property information. Sets forth related noncompliance penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1999
Made in USA Label Defense Act of 1999 - Amends Federal law to prohibit the affixation of the "Made in the USA" label to a product of the Northern Mariana Islands. Prohibits such products from being imported into the United States free of duty or quotas.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1999
Military and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 1999 - Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to make subject to its provisions civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DOD) and civilian employees of DOD contractors who, in support of a contingency operation as designated by the Secretary of Defense, are serving with and accompanying an armed force outside the United States. Amends the Federal criminal code to provide penalties for conduct engaged in by such individuals that would constitute an offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year if such conduct had been engaged in within the maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Prohibits a Federal criminal action if a recognized foreign government has prosecuted or is prosecuting such person for the conduct constituting the offense. Provides for the arrest of such individuals outside the United States and their release to U.S. civilian law enforcement personnel. Authorizes the release to a recognized foreign government of persons who engage in such conduct in that country.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1999
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area to serve veterans and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1999
Taiwan Security Enhancement Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments should make every effort to reserve additional positions for Taiwan military officers at the National Defense University, the senior war colleges, and the military academies. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should, when considering foreign military sales to Taiwan, take into account Taiwan's special status and make every effort to ensure it has full and timely access to price and availability data for defense articles and defense services. Directs the President, upon the request of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, to use Department of Defense funds for the assignment of additional technical staff to the American Institute in Taiwan. Directs the President to report annually to Congress with respect to Taiwan's defense needs. Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan for the enhancement of programs for operational training and exchanges of personnel between U.S. armed forces and Taiwanese armed forces for work in threat analysis, doctrine, force planning, operational methods, and other areas. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish secure direct communications between the U.S. Pacific military command and the Taiwan military command. Authorizes the President, subject to the Arms Export Control Act, to make available for sale to Taiwan, at reasonable cost, theater missile defense equipment and related items, satellite early warning data, modern air-defense equipment, and naval defense systems.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1999
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to give States the option of making medical assistance for breast and cervical cancer-related treatment services available during a presumptive eligibility period to certain low-income women without creditable coverage who have already been screened for such cancers under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention breast and cervical cancer early detection program and need treatment. Provides for an enhanced match with regard to such Medicaid treatment services.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1999
Provides that it shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that includes a retroactive Federal income tax rate increase. Waives such point of order only by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members. Requires the same majority to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on such point of order. Makes this resolution effective January 1, 1999.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1999
Farm and Ranch Risk Management Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual engaged in an eligible farming (or ranching) business a deduction (in computing adjusted gross income) for any taxable year of up to 20 percent of taxable income attributable to the eligible farming business which was paid in cash by the taxpayer to a Farm and Ranch Risk Management Account (FARRM Account). Includes distributions from a FARRM account in the taxpayer's gross income, and subjects to a special ten percent surtax any distributions not made within five years of contribution. Establishes a tax on excess contributions, but exempts the taxpayer from the tax on certain prohibited transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1999
Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal criminal code to set penalties for persons who, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully cause bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive device, attempt to cause such injury, because of the actual or perceived: (1) race, color, religion, or national origin of any person; or (2) religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person, where in connection with the offense, the defendant or the victim travels in interstate or foreign commerce, uses a facility or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce, or engages in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or where the offense is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce. (Sec. 5) Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study the issue of, and, if appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for, adult defendants who recruit juveniles to assist in the commission of hate crimes. (Sec. 6) Requires the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to State and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Authorizes appropriations, including programs to train local law enforcement officers in investigating, prosecuting, and preventing hate crimes. (Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations to the Department of the Treasury and to DOJ to increase the number of personnel to prevent and respond to alleged violations of provisions regarding interference with specified federally protected activities, such as voting.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1999
Twenty-First Amendment Enforcement Act - Amends the Webb-Kenyon Act to authorize a State attorney general (State AG) who has reasonable cause to believe that a person is engaging in any act that would constitute a violation of State law regulating the importation or transportation of any intoxicating liquor to bring a civil action for injunctive relief to: (1) restrain the person from engaging in the violation; and (2) enforce compliance with State law. Grants U.S. district courts jurisdiction over any such action. Directs the court, in such action and upon a proper showing by the State AG, to issue a preliminary or permanent injunction or other order without requiring the posting of a bond. Prohibits such issuance without notice to the adverse party. Sets forth provisions regarding the form and scope of the order. Authorizes the court to order the trial of the action on the merits to be advanced and consolidated with the hearing on the application. Specifies that such an action shall be tried before the court.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a limited exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale or exchange of qualified farm property.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Prohibits Federal funds from being made available to carry out any program of distributing sterile hypodermic needles or syringes to individuals for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999
Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999 - Title I: Coastal Impact Assistance - Coastal Conservation and Impact Assistance Act of 1998 (sic) - Establishes the Outer Continental Shelf Impact Assistance Fund (OCSIAF) to provide impact assistance to coastal States from a portion (27 percent) of allocable new OCS revenues (payments received by the United States as royalties, net profit share payments, and related late-payment interest from natural gas and oil leases under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act). Sets forth a formula for use by the Secretary of the Interior to determine the portion of the allocable share of new revenues attributable to each coastal State (with an adjustment for oil-, condensate-, or natural gas-producing States) and county eligible to receive impact assistance payments. Mandates that such OCSIA funds be expended by the eligible coastal States and counties for certain environmental projects and activities. Requires: (1) an eligible county to submit for the Governor's approval a plan setting forth the projects and activities for which it proposes to expend OCSIA funds; and (2) the Governor of each recipient State to account to the Congress for all OCSIA monies received for the previous fiscal year, to develop a State plan for the use of such monies, and to certify the plan to the Secretary. Title II: Land and Water Conservation Fund Reform - Land and Water Conservation Fund Reform Act of 1998 (sic) - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (LWCFA) to require an amount equal to 16 percent of specified Outer Continental Shelf revenues to be deposited in the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in the Treasury. (Sec. 203) Makes such funds available, without further appropriation, to carry out LWCFA for each fiscal year through FY 2015. Authorizes appropriations to maintain a certain minimum total annual income of the LWCF. Makes certain amounts covered into the LWCF available for expenditure without appropriation. Sets forth formulae for allocation of such funds for: (1) Federal acquisition of certain lands, waters, or interests; (2) financial assistance to the States for land acquisition, urban conservation, and recreation projects; and (3) local governments through the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program of the Department of the Interior. Provides for LWCFA allocation of funds to: (1) States for rehabilitation of outdoor recreation facilities; and (2) Indian tribes and Alaska Native Village Corporations. Requires States to make at least 50 percent of the annual State apportionment under LWCFA available as grants to local governments. Replaces, within a five-year period, LWCFA requirements for comprehensive State plans with requirements for State action agendas. Allows each State to define its own priorities and criteria for selection of outdoor recreation and conservation acquisition and development projects eligible for LWCFA grants so long as it provides for public involvement in this process and publishes an accurate and current State Action Agenda for Community Recreation and Conservation. Requires such Agendas to: (1) be strategic, originating in broad-based and long-term needs, but focused on actions that can be funded over the next four years, and be updated every four years; (2) consider all providers of recreation and conservation lands, and correlate with other State, regional and local plans for parks, recreation, open space, and wetlands conservation; (3) address wetlands as important outdoor recreation and conservation resources, and incorporate a State wetlands priority conservation plan consistent with the national plan developed under the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act; and (4) be guided in part by recovery action programs developed by urban localities under the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act. Revises LWCFA conditions for approval of conversions. Sets the maximum Federal cost for LWCFA land acquisition unless acquisition funds are specifically reported and approved by a resolution adopted by certain congressional committees. (Sec. 204) Amends the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act (UPRRA) to provide (in addition to the current types of at-risk recreation grants and recovery action program grants) for matching capital grants to local governments in the form of: (1) development grants for development and construction on existing or new neighborhood recreation sites, including indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, support facilities, and landscaping, but excluding routine maintenance and upkeep activities; and (2) acquisition grants for purchasing new parkland to be permanently dedicated and made accessible for public recreation use. Revises UPRRA requirements for: (1) eligibility; (2) matching grants; (3) coordination; and (4) conversion approval. Repeals the limitation on the use of UPRRA funds for acquisition of land or interests in land. Title III: Wildlife Conservation and Restoration - Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Act of 1998 (sic) - Amends the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (FAWRA) to require an amount equal to seven percent of specified Outer Continental Shelf revenues to be deposited in a new subaccount in the Federal aid to wildlife restoration fund (FAWRF), to be invested and to be made available without further appropriation, for apportionment in FY 2000 and thereafter for State wildlife conservation and restoration programs. (Sec. 306) Sets forth requirements for: (1) allocation of such subaccount receipts; (2) applications for approval of, and development grants for, State wildlife conservation and restoration programs; and (3) coordination. (Sec. 307) Allows certain subaccount funds for such a State wildlife conservation and restoration program to be used for law enforcement and public relations. (Sec. 308) Prohibits a State from receiving FAWRA matching funds if it diverts any funds from wildlife conservation purposes.
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
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
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 1999 - Title I: Reduction of Special Interest Influence - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) with respect to "soft money" to, among other changes: (1) prohibit a national committee of a political party (including specified related entities) from soliciting or receiving contributions or making expenditures not subject to FECA; (2) require a State, district, or local committee of a political party to make Federal election year expenditures (with exceptions) for specified Federal election activities from funds subject to FECA; (3) prohibit a national, State, district, or local committee from soliciting or donating funds to a tax-exempt organization; and (4) prohibit an incumbent or candidate for Federal office from soliciting or receiving funds not subject to FECA, including funds for any Federal election activity. (Sec. 102) Establishes an individual annual limit of $10,000 for State committee contributions. Increases the aggregate individual contribution limit to $10,000. (Sec. 103) Requires national and State committees to report all receipts and disbursements. Repeals the building fund exception to the definition of contribution. Title II: Independent and Coordinated Expenditures - Subtitle A: Electioneering Communications - Amends FECA to: (1) require every person who makes a disbursement for broadcast electioneering communications, as defined, in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000 per year to file, with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), a statement containing specified outlined information; (2) treat payment for any broadcast electioneering communication that is coordinated with a candidate or an authorized committee of such candidate, a Federal, State, or local political party or committee thereof, as a contribution to such candidate and as an expenditure by such candidate; and (3) set forth special operating rules prohibiting corporate and labor disbursements for electioneering communications. Subtitle B: Independent and Coordinated Expenditures - Amends FECA: (1) to define the term "independent expenditure" as an expenditure by a person expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate and that is not provided in coordination with a candidate; (2) regarding independent expenditure reporting requirements; (3) to revise the penalty for knowing and willful violations Act involving statements by other than political committees, prohibiting conciliation agreements and authorizing a civil action for relief in such situations; (4) to prohibit a party making both independent and coordinated expenditures with respect to a candidate during the same election cycle; (5) to define the term "coordinated activity" to mean anything of value provided by a person in coordination with a candidate for the purpose of influencing a Federal election in which such candidate seeks nomination or election to Federal office (with specific listed examples); and (6) to consider such a coordinated activity to be a contribution to the candidate, and in the case of a limitation on expenditures, treats such activity as an expenditure by the candidate. Title III: Disclosure - Amends FECA with regard to the use of computers and fax machines in filing FEC reports to require filing in an electronic form accessible by computers if there are, or there is a reason to expect to have, aggregate contributions or expenditures in excess of a FEC- determined threshold amount. Directs the FEC to make such a report publicly accessible on the Internet within 24 hours of its receipt. Requires designations, statements, and reports filed by Senate candidates to be filed directly with the FEC. (Sec. 302) Prohibits the treasurer of a candidate's authorized committee from depositing, except in an escrow account, or otherwise negotiating a contribution from a person who makes an aggregate amount of contributions in excess of $200 during a calendar year unless the treasurer verifies specified contributor information. (Sec. 303) Amends audit provisions, authorizing FEC random audits and investigations to ensure voluntary FECA compliance. (Sec. 304) Modifies reporting requirements for contributions of $50 or more. (Sec. 305) Requires the name of each authorized committee to include the name of the candidate who authorized the committee and prohibits a political committee that is not an authorized committee (except in the case of a national, State, or local party committee) from using the name of any candidate in any activity on behalf of the committee in such a context as to suggest that the committee is an authorized committee of the candidate or that the use of the candidate's name has been authorized by the candidate. (Sec. 306) Prohibits any person from soliciting contributions by falsely representing himself or herself as a candidate or as a representative of a candidate, a political committee, or a political party. (Sec. 307) Sets forth provisions governing soft money disbursements of persons other than political parties. Defines the term "generic campaign activity" as an activity that promotes a political party and does not promote a candidate or non- Federal candidate. (Sec. 308) Revises campaign advertising provisions, establishing specified requirements for printed communications, and adding additional provisions governing broadcast and cablecast communications. Title IV: Personal Wealth Option - Amends FECA to establish a voluntary personal funds expenditure limit for eligible Senate candidates in primary and general elections, provided the candidate files with FEC a declaration that the candidate and the candidate's authorized committees will not exceed such limit. Sets the voluntary personal funds expenditure limit at $50,000. Gives the FEC authority to certify such a declaration. (Sec. 402) Exempts such certified candidates from specified FECA requirements. Title V: Miscellaneous - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to declare it to be an unfair labor practice for a labor organization to receive payments from an employee pursuant to an agreement requiring such non-member employee to make payments in lieu of organization dues or fees without establishing a specified objection procedure under which the non-member's fees are reduced by the percent that would be used to support political activities (thus codifying the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Communications Workers of America et al. v. Beck et al). (Sec. 502) Amends FECA to revise provisions on permitted and prohibited uses of contributed amounts by candidates and incumbents for certain purposes. Specifies prohibited kinds of conversion of such funds to personal use. (Sec. 503) Revises Federal law concerning permitted time frames for mailing franked mail to prohibit any mass mailing as franked mail during a year in which there will be an election for the seat held by the Member of Congress during the period between January 1 of that year and the date of the general election for that Office, unless the Member has made a public announcement that the Member will not be a candidate for reelection to that year or for election to any other Federal office. (Sec. 504) Amends the Federal criminal code to revise the prohibition against fundraising on Federal property. Prohibits an officer or employee of the Federal Government, including the President, Vice President, and Members, from soliciting a donation of money or other thing of value in connection with a Federal, State, or local election from any person while in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by a Federal officer or employee. Imposes on violators a monetary penalty, imprisonment, or both. Excepts from the prohibition contributions received by the staff of the Executive Office of the President. (Sec. 505) Amends FECA to double the penalties for knowing and willful violations of FECA, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act (PECFA), and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act (such Acts). Permits conciliation agreements to correct or prevent such violations to include equitable remedies or penalties, including disgorgement of funds to the Treasury, or community service requirements (including requirements to participate in public education programs). Sets forth requirements for late filing of FECA reports, including requiring establishment of mandatory monetary penalties. (Sec. 506) Revises the ban on contributions by foreign nationals to, among other things, include a prohibition on donations by foreign nationals. (Sec. 507) Prohibits minors (age 17 or younger) from making contributions to candidates or contributions or donations to committees of political parties. (Sec. 508) Permits FEC to: (1) order expedited proceedings for certain complaints; and (2) refer, at any time, to the Attorney General possible violations of such Acts. (Sec. 509) Modifies the basis for mandatory FEC initiation of enforcement proceedings upon receipt of a complaint alleging a violation of such Acts by replacing "has reason to believe" a violation has been or is about to be committed with "has reason to investigate whether" such a violation has been or is about to be committed. Title VI: Severability; Constitutionality; Effective Date; Regulations - Sets forth provisions regarding severability, review of constitutional issues, effective date, and FEC regulations.
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.