United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Extension of Expired and Expiring Provisions Title II: Revenue Offset Provisions Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Real Estate Investment Trusts Title III: Budget Provision Tax Relief Extension Act of 1999 - Title I: Extension of Expired and Expiring Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through December 31, 2000: (1) treatment of the tentative minimum tax for individuals as zero (and postponement of the reduction in child tax credit for taxpayers subject to the alternative minimum tax); (2) the exclusion from an employee's gross income of employer-provided educational assistance; (3) the research and experimentation credit; (4) exclusions from subpart F income (pro rata income of controlled foreign corporations taxable to U.S. shareholders) of exempt insurance income and active financing income; (5) the suspension of the net income limitation on percentage depletion from marginal oil and gas wells; and (6) the work opportunity tax credit and the welfare-to-work tax credit. (Sec. 102) Repeals the denial of exclusion from an employee's gross income (thus excluding from such gross income) any employer-provided assistance for graduate education leading to a law, business, medical, or other advanced academic or professional degree. (Sec. 103) Revises the credit for increasing research expenses to increase by specified percentages the components of the alternative incremental research credit. Extends the research credit to research in Puerto Rico or any U.S. possession. (Sec. 107) Extends through December 31, 2000 and amends the tax credit for electricity produced from certain renewable resources to: (1) redefine wind and closed-loop biomass facilities; (2) extend the credit to landfill gas and poultry waste facilities; and (3) deny use at the same time of both this credit and the credit for producing fuel from a nonconventional source with respect to any fuel produced from the same facility. (Sec. 108) Revises the deduction for the costs of brownfields environmental remediation to repeal the limitation of a qualified contaminated site to sites within a targeted area (any population census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent, and less than 2,000 people). (Sec. 109) Increases from $10.50 to $13.50 for the period June 30, 1999, through December 31, 2000, the amount of rum excise tax covered over to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Requires the treasury of Puerto Rico, during such period, to make a certain transfer to the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust Fund. (Sec. 110) Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, as amended by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, to delay until January 1, 2001, the requirement that registered motor fuels terminals offer dyed fuel as a condition of registration. (Sec. 111) Amends the Code to extend through June 30, 2000, the date by which certain gasification facilities must be placed in service in order to qualify for the production credit for fuels produced from nonconventional sources. Title II: Revenue Offset Provisions - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Amends the Code, with respect to the individual estimated tax safe harbor, to revise the 1999 through 2004 scale of the applicable percentage of a preceding year's tax for an individual whose adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000. (Sec. 202) Reduces the foreign tax credit carryback by one year (the second preceding year), and increases the carryover to seven years. (Sec. 203) Excludes from the meaning of capital assets (for capital gains and losses purposes): (1) any commodities derivative financial instrument held by a commodities derivatives dealer, unless it is established to the Secretary of the Treasury's satisfaction that such instrument has no connection to the activities of such dealer as a dealer; (2) any hedging transaction clearly identified as such before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into (or such other time as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe); or (3) supplies of a type regularly used or consumed by the taxpayer in the ordinary course of a trade or business of the taxpayer. (Sec. 204) Imposes a tax on any conjugate vaccine against streptococcus pneumoniae sold by its manufacturer, producer, or importer. Amends the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Modification Act to repeal as of their original effective dates: (1) inclusion of vaccines against rotavirus gastroenteritis as taxable vaccines; and (2) specified limitations on payments from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund. Directs the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees on the operation of the Trust Fund and its adequacy to meet future claims. (Sec. 205) Requires any organization a significant trade or business of which is the lending of money to report to IRS any cancellation of indebtedness income. (Sec. 206) Revises the exemption from specified tax treatment of welfare benefit funds (prefunding limits) of any welfare benefit fund which is part of a ten or more employer plan. Limits such exemption to such funds whose only benefits are medical benefits, disability benefits, or group term life insurance benefits which do not provide directly or indirectly for any cash surrender value or other money that can be paid, assigned, borrowed, or pledged for collateral for a loan. Revises the meaning of disqualified benefit which would trigger a certain tax on a welfare benefit fund to set forth a special rule for ten or more employer plans exempted from prefunding limits. Treats as a disqualified benefit subject to such tax any portion of a welfare benefit fund under a ten or more employer plan which is attributable to prefunding limit-exempted contributions if such portion is used for a purpose other than that for which the contributions were made. (Sec. 207) Increases from ten percent to 15 percent of a nonperiodic distribution the withholding rate for nonperiodic distributions from deferred compensation plans. (Sec. 208) Declares that if a taxpayer has gain from a constructive ownership transaction with respect to any financial asset and such gain would otherwise be treated as a long-term capital gain: (1) such gain shall be treated as ordinary income to the extent that it exceeds the net underlying long-term capital gain; and (2) to the extent such gain is then treated as a long-term capital gain, the determination of the applicable capital gain rate (or rates) shall be determined on the basis of the respective rate (or rates) that would have been applicable to the net underlying long-term capital gain. Increases the tax on any gain thus treated as ordinary income by the amount of interest assessable for underpayment of tax, determined with respect to each prior taxable year during any portion of which the constructive ownership transaction was open. Denies any credit against such increase in tax. (Sec. 209) Extends through FY 2009 specified treatment of qualified transfers of excess pension assets to retiree health accounts. Prescribes minimum employer cost requirements for plans transferring assets during the five-year cost maintenance period following a qualified transfer. (Sec. 210) Prohibits accrual method taxpayers from using the installment method of accounting for installment sales. Revises the special nondealer rules for pledges of installment obligations to declare that a payment on an installment obligation shall be treated as directly secured by an interest in an installment obligation to the extent an arrangement allows the taxpayer to satisfy all or a portion of the indebtedness with the installment obligation. (Sec. 211) Revises special rules which allow users of the accrual method not to accrue payments for personal services which (on the basis of experience) will not be collected, to limit such services to those performed in the fields of health, law, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, or consulting. (Sec. 212) Disallows any charitable contribution deduction for transfers to or for the use of a charitable remainder trust if in connection with such transfer: (1) the trust directly or indirectly pays, or has previously paid, any premium on any personal benefit contract with respect to the transferor (split-dollar arrangement); or (2) there is an understanding or expectation that any person will directly or indirectly pay any such premium. Defines personal benefit contract as any life insurance, annuity, or endowment contract in which any direct or indirect beneficiary is the transferor, any member of the transferor's family, or any other person designated by the transferor (except an organization which may receive a deductible charitable contribution). Excepts from treatment as indirect beneficiaries: (1) certain organizations which incur obligations under charitable gift annuity contracts; and (2) persons entitled to payments under certain charitable remainder trusts or unitrusts. Imposes an excise tax in the amount of any premiums paid in connection with such transfers. (Sec. 213) Sets forth a special rule for the assumption of liabilities with respect to determining the basis of property in corporate organizations and reorganizations in which neither gain nor loss is recognized, with the purpose of preventing a duplication of loss through assumption of liabilities giving rise to a deduction. Declares that if, after application of other basis-determining requirements to exchanges of stock and securities, the basis of nonrecognition property exceeds its fair market value, then such basis shall be reduced (but not below such fair market value) by the amount of any liability of the taxpayer assumed in exchange for such property, where such assumption (because payment of the liability would give rise to a deduction, or would be a payment to a retiring partner or a deceased partner's successor in interest) is exempted from requirements that it be treated as money received by the taxpayer. Waives such reduction of basis if the trade or business giving rise to the liability is transferred to the person assuming the liability as part of the exchange. (Sec. 214) Revises treatment and basis allocation rules for transfers of intangibles in certain nonrecognition transactions. Declares that a transfer of an interest in intangible property (such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, franchises, methods, and similar items) shall be treated in such nonrecognition transactions as a transfer of property even if the transfer is of less than all of the substantial rights of the transferor in the property. Requires allocation of the transferor's basis immediately before the transfer among the rights the transferor retains and the rights transferred on the basis of their respective fair market values. States that such treatment shall not apply to a transfer of intangible property developed by the transferor or any related person if such development was pursuant to an arrangement with the transferee. Applies these same rules to partnerships. (Sec. 215) Sets forth a rule for distributions by a partnership to a corporate partner of stock in another corporation. Requires reduction by the specified excess amount in the basis of property held by a distributed corporation where: (1) a corporation (corporate partner) receives a distribution from a partnership of stock in another corporation (distributed corporation); (2) the corporate partner has control of the distributed corporation immediately after the distribution or at any time thereafter; and (3) the partnership's adjusted basis in such stock immediately before the distribution exceeded the corporate partner's adjusted basis in such stock immediately after the distribution. Exempts from such requirement any distribution of stock in the distributed corporation if: (1) the corporate partner does not have control of such corporation immediately after such distribution; and (2) the corporate partner establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that such distribution was not part of a plan or arrangement to acquire control of the distributed corporation. Provides that, if the amount of any such reduction exceeds the aggregate adjusted bases of the property of the distributed corporation: (1) such excess shall be recognized by the corporate partner as long-term capital gain; and (2) the corporate partner's adjusted basis in the stock of the distributed corporation shall be increased by such excess. Requires reduction of the basis of any stock in a controlled corporation which is property held by a distributed corporation with respect to these requirements. (Sec. 216) Requires any employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) holding employer securities consisting of stock in an S corporation to provide that no portion of the assets of the plan attributable to (or allocable in lieu of) such employer securities may, during a nonallocation year, accrue (or be allocated directly or indirectly under any qualified plan of the employer) for the benefit of any disqualified person. Defines a nonallocation year as any ESOP plan year if, at any time during it such plan holds employer securities consisting of stock in an S corporation, and disqualified persons own at least 50 percent of the number of shares of stock in that corporation. Prescribes attribution rules. Imposes an excise tax for violations of such prohibition. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Real Estate Investment Trusts - Amends the Code with respect the real estate investment trusts (REITs). Modifies the asset diversification test for a REIT to: (1) allow up to 20 percent of total assets at the close of each quarter to be represented by securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries; and (2) disregard in calculating the permissible 25 percent of total assets represented by securities any straight debt meeting specified requirements. (Sec. 222) Excludes from impermissible tenant service income (thus including as rents from real property meeting the requirements of a REIT) any amount received or accrued by the REIT for services furnished or rendered, or management or operation provided, through a taxable REIT subsidiary. Sets forth a special rule including in rents from real property, if specified rental and lodging facility requirements are met, any amounts paid to a REIT by a taxable REIT subsidiary. (Sec. 223) Defines taxable REIT subsidiary. (Sec. 224) Disqualifies for the corporate deduction for interest on indebtedness any interest paid or accrued (directly or indirectly) by a taxable REIT subsidiary to the REIT (earnings stripping). (Sec. 225) Imposes on a REIT a tax equal to 100 percent of redetermined rents, redetermined deductions, and excess interest. (Sec. 231) Sets forth a special foreclosure rule for health care properties acquired by a REIT as the result of the termination of a lease of such property (other than a termination by reason of a default, or the imminence of a default, on the lease). Requires disregard of income derived or received by a REIT from an independent contractor to the extent it is attributable to: (1) any lease of property in effect on the date the REIT acquired the qualified health care property; or (2) any lease of property entered into after such date if a lease of such property from the trust was in effect on such date, and under the terms of the new lease, the REIT receives a substantially similar or lesser benefit in comparison to the first kind of lease. (Sec. 241) Reduces from 95 percent to 90 percent of REIT income and of the excess of the net income from foreclosure property over the tax on foreclosure property specified components of the formula for determination of the amount of dividend deductions which help establish the taxability of REIT income. Reduces from 95 percent to 90 percent of REIT gross income a specified component of the formula for determining the amount of tax imposed on a REIT for failure to meet certain requirements. (Sec. 251) Requires that only persons who own, directly or indirectly, more than five percent of a certain class of stock regularly traded on an established securities market be taken into account as owning any of the stock of such class for purposes of the 35-percent ownership rule determining whether a person is (under 35- percent ownership) or is not (over 35-percent ownership) an independent contractor for purposes of determining rents from real property, and of the special rules for foreclosure property, with respect to REIT taxation. (Sec. 261) Declares that any distribution by a regulated investment company (RIC) made in order to comply with certain tax requirements shall be treated as made from the earliest earnings and profits accumulated in any taxable year to which certain other requirements did not apply (non-RIC year) rather than the most recently accumulated earnings and profits. (Sec. 271) Revises rules for calculating the annualized estimated income installment for a corporation where such installment would be lower than a prescribed amount. Declares that any dividend received from a closely held REIT by any person which owns ten percent or more (by vote or value) of the stock or beneficial interests in the REIT shall be taken into account in computing annualized income installments in a manner similar to the manner under which partnership income inclusions are taken into account. Defines closely held REIT as one with respect to which five or fewer persons own 50 percent or more (by vote or value) of the stock or beneficial interests in the REIT. (Sec. 281) Requires a REIT not to be a controlled entity. Defines controlled entity as one in which, at any time during the taxable year, one person (other than a qualified entity): (1) in the case of a corporation, owns stock possessing at least 50 percent of the total voting power of the corporation's stock, or having a value equal to at least 50 percent of the total value of the corporation's stock; or (2) in the case of a trust, owns beneficial interests in the trust which would meet requirements for a corporation if such interests were stock. Provides that a REIT is not a controlled entity, but is instead a qualified entity, even if it meets the criteria for a controlled entity, but the person owning the stock or beneficial interests is either itself a REIT, or a partnership in which one REIT owns at least 50 percent of the capital and profits interests in the partnership. Excludes from the meaning of controlled entity an incubator REIT meeting specified stock, mortgage asset, and investment capital criteria. Title III: Budget Provision - Declares that any net deficit increase or net surplus increase resulting from the enactment of this Act shall not be counted for the pay-as-you-go automatic offsetting sequestration requirements of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1999
Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Adjustment Act of 1999 - Title I: Provisions Relating to Part A Only - Subtitle A: Skilled Nursing Facility Services - Provides for an increase in payment for skilled nursing facility services to certain high cost patients under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance). (Sec. 102) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for part B add-ons for facilities participating in the Nursing Home Case-Mix and Quality Demonstration Project. (Sec. 103) Provides for the exemption of facilities from the three-year transition period under the prospective payment system (PPS) for skilled nursing facilities. (Sec. 104) Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to Congress on State licensure and certification standards and respiratory therapy competency examinations. (Sec. 105) Requires the Secretary to study and report to Congress on State licensure and certification standards and respiratory therapy competency examinations. Subtitle B: Hospice Services - Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to payment for hospice care. (Sec. 122) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the feasibility and advisability of updating the payment rates for hospice care. Subtitle C: Other Provisions - Requires the Secretary to study and report to Congress on a PPS for psychiatric hospitals. (Sec. 142) Revises the Medicare PPS for inpatient rehabilitation services. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the impact of such PPS with regard to utilization of services, beneficiary access to services, non-therapy ancillary services, and other factors that the Secretary determines are appropriate as a result of such study. (Sec. 143) Deems the Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center located in Clarksdale, Mississippi to have satisfied the case mix index criteria for classification as a rural referral center. (Sec. 144) Provides for reclassification of certain counties in North Carolina and New York for reimbursement under Medicare. (Sec. 145) Directs the Secretary to: (1) recalculate the Hattiesburg Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) wage index for FY 2000 using FY 1996 wage and hour data for Wesley Medical Center; (2) issue a wage index correction for FY 2000; and (3) make such adjustments to the PPS for determining the operating costs of inpatient hospital services of a disproportionate share (DSH) hospital. (Sec. 146) Requires the Secretary to consider an application by a certain entity for Medicare certification as an application by a new provider. (Sec. 147) Requires the Secretary to study and report to Congress on whether: (1) the PPS rates are an adequate proxy for the costs of inpatient hospital services; and (2) the standard for county-wide geographic reclassification needs to be updated or revised. Title II: Provisions Relating to Part B Only - Subtitle A: Hospital Outpatient Department Services - Amends SSA title XVIII part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) to provide for a multiyear transition to PPS for hospital outpatient department services. (Sec. 202) Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to study and report to the Secretary and Congress on the feasibility and advisability of providing payments to rural and cancer hospitals in the PPS for hospital outpatient department services. (Sec. 203) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for outlier adjustment, transitional pass-through for certain medical devices, drugs, and biologicals, and transitional pass-through for additional costs of innovative medical devices, drugs, and biologicals. Subtitle B: Physicians' Services - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for modifications of update adjustment factor provisions to reduce oscillations and allow for estimate revisions. (Sec. 221) Directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, to study and report to MEDPAC, for submission to Congress, on utilization of physicians' services by Medicare beneficiaries. Title III: Provisions Relating to Parts A and B - Subtitle A: Home Health Services - Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, as amended by the Tax and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998, to provide for a delay in the 15 percent reduction in payments under the PPS for home health services. (Sec. 302) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for an increase in per visit and per beneficiary limits. (Sec. 304) Eliminates the 15-minute billing requirement for prospective payment for home health services. (Sec. 305) Revises requirements for home health agency consolidated billing to include medical supplies but not durable medical equipment. (Sec. 306) Directs MEDPAC to study and report to Congress on the exemption of rural agencies and populations from inclusion in the home health PPS. (Sec. 307) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for an extension of interim payments for home health agencies. Subtitle B: Graduate Medical Education - Amends SSA title XVIII to revise the multiyear reduction of indirect graduate medical education (GME) payments. (Sec. 322) Increases certain limitations on the number of residents or interns with respect to GME payments for certain interns and residents who transferred from Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) hospitals to non-VA hospitals in order to maintain residency program accreditation. Title IV: Rural Initiatives - Prescribes or revises requirements for: (1) sole community hospitals and Medicare dependent hospitals; (2) revision of criteria for designation as a critical access hospital; (3) Medicare waivers for hospitals in rural areas; (4) two-year extension of Medicare dependent hospital (MDH) program; and (5) assistance to rural GME residency programs. Title V: Provisions Relating to Part C (Medicare+Choice Program) - Subtitle A: Provisions to Accommodate and Protect Medicare Beneficiaries - Amends SSA title XVIII part C (Medicare+Choice) : (1) permit enrollment in alternative Medicare+Choice plans and Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap) coverage in case of involuntary termination of Medicare+Choice enrollment; (2) revise the effective date of elections and changes of elections of Medicare+Choice plans; (3) provide for an extension of reasonable cost contracts; (4) provide for revision of notice by hospitals on coverage of inpatient hospital services; and (5) provide for an extended disenrollment window for certain involuntarily terminated enrollees. Subtitle B: Provisions to Facilitate Implementation of the Medicare+Choice Program - Amends Medicare part C to provide for phase-in of Medicare+Choice risk adjustment methodology implementation. (Sec. 522) Delays the deadline for submission of adjusted community rates under Medicare+Choice program. (Sec. 523) Bases the user fee for Medicare+Choice organizations on the number of enrolled beneficiaries. (Sec. 524) Revises the time period for the exclusion of Medicare+Choice organizations that have had a contract terminated. (Sec. 525) Provides for flexibility to tailor benefits under Medicare+Choice plans. (Sec. 526) Makes the Quality Improvement System for Managed Care inapplicable to preferred provider organizations. (Sec. 527) Changes the timing of Medicare+Choice health information fairs. (Sec. 528) Amends Medicare part D (Miscellaneous Provisions) to exempt from certain ownership and compensation arrangement prohibitions applicable to prepaid plans any services furnished by a Medicare+Choice organization offering a coordinated care plan to an organization enrollee. (Sec. 529) Amends Medicare part C regarding the ability of a religious fraternal benefit society to operate a Medicare+Choice private fee-for-service plan. Subtitle C: Provisions Regarding Special Medicare Populations - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to extend the Social Health Maintenance Organization Demonstration Project authority. (Sec. 542) Amends SSA titles XVIII and XIX (Medicare) to provide for the inapplicability of the Outcome and Assessment Information Set to the PACE (program of all-inclusive care for the elderly) program. (Sec. 543) Outlines Medigap protections for PACE program enrollees. (Sec. 544) Requires the Secretary to extend the EverCare demonstration project for the frail elderly. Subtitle D: Studies and Reports to Assist in Making Future Improvements in the Medicare Program - Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) study and report to Congress on Medigap policies; and (2) conduct an annual audit for a report to Congress on the expenditures by the Secretary during the preceding year in providing information on the Medicare+Choice program to eligible Medicare beneficiaries. (Sec. 562) Directs MEDPAC to study and report to Congress on: (1) the Secretary's methodology in developing the risk factors used in adjusting the Medicare+Choice capitation rate paid to Medicare+Choice organizations; and (2) the development of special payment rules under the Medicare+Choice program for frail elderly enrolled in specialized programs. (Sec. 563) Directs the Secretary to compute the expenditures under the original Medicare fee-for-service program under Medicare parts A and B on a county-by-county basis. (Sec. 564) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the effects, costs, and feasibility of requiring Medicare original fee-for-service entities and Medicare+Choice coordinated care plans to comply with uniform quality standards and related reporting requirements. (Sec. 565) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on data submission used to establish risk adjustment methodology under the Medicare+Choice program. Title VI: Other Medicare Provisions - Amends SSA title VI to provide for a two-year moratorium on caps for certain physical therapy services. (Sec. 601) Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA '97) to revise requirements for the report on outpatient physical therapy services and outpatient occupational therapy services with respect to prospective payment for outpatient rehabilitation services. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on utilization patterns of such therapy services. (Sec. 602) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) an increase in the Medicare payment amount for renal dialysis services; (2) an increase in payment amount for pap smear and laboratory tests; and (3) a limitation in the reduction of payments to DSH hospitals. (Sec. 605) Prohibits the Secretary from using, or permitting fiscal intermediaries or carriers to use, the inherent reasonableness authority under Medicare part B until a certain date after the Comptroller General of the United States releases a report on the impact of the Secretary's fiscal intermediaries' and carriers' use of such authority. (Sec. 608) Prohibits any net deficit increase resulting from enactment of this Act from being counted for purposes of the paygo scorecard under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Title VII: Provisions Relating to Medicaid and SCHIP - Amends SSA title XIX to make technical corrections related to BBA '97. (Sec. 702) Increases the DSH allotment for Minnesota, New Mexico, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. (Sec. 703) Amends BBA '97 to make the Medicaid DSH transition rule permanent. (Sec. 704) Amends SSA title XIX (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) to increase allotments for territories under SCHIP. (Sec. 705) Amends SSA title XIX to remove fiscal year limitation on certain transitional administrative costs assistance. (Sec. 706) Amends SSA title XIX to revise floors and ceilings in the SCHIP allotment formula. (Sec. 707) Requires the Secretary to adjust the annual Current Population Survey to include State-by-State data relating to children without health insurance coverage. Makes appropriations. Requires the Secretary, acting through the National Center for Health Statistics, to collect children's health care access and utilization State-level data. Makes appropriations. Requires the Secretary, directly or through contracts or interagency agreements, to conduct an independent evaluation of State SCHIP programs. Provides funding. Directs the Secretary to conduct an audit with regard to SCHIP enrollees who are Medicaid-eligible. Requires the Comptroller General to monitor such audits and submit a report on them to Congress. (Sec. 708) Provides for grants to States for items and services provided by federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics. Makes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1999
Providing Reliable Officers, Technology, Education, Community Prosecutors, and Training In Our Neighborhoods Act of 1999 or PROTECTION Act - Modifies provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (the Act) regarding public safety and community policing ("cops on the beat" program, COPS) to authorize the Attorney General to use funding under COPS grants to: (1) increase prosecutor presence and to enhance law enforcement access to new technologies; (2) pay overtime to existing career law enforcement officers to the extent that such overtime is devoted to community policing efforts; and (3) promote higher education among in-service State and local law enforcement officers by reimbursing them for the costs associated with seeking a college or graduate school education. Includes among permitted additional grant projects: (1) specialized integrity and ethics training; (2) innovative proactive crime control and prevention programs involving school officials and religiously-affiliated organizations; (3) school-based partnerships between local law enforcement agencies and local school systems by using school resource officers who operate in and around elementary and secondary schools (current law) to serve as a law enforcement liaison with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies and to combat gang membership and criminal activity, firearms and explosives-related incidents, illegal use and possession of alcohol, and the illegal possession, use, and distribution of drugs; and (4) innovative programs that bring together a community's sheriff, police chief, and elderly residents to address the public safety concerns of older citizens. Authorizes the Attorney General to use up to five percent of appropriated funds for technical assistance and training to States, local governments, Indian tribal governments, and other public and private entities. Requires the technical assistance provided by the Attorney General to include the establishment and operation of regional community policing institutes training centers or facilities. Permits the functions of the centers or facilities to include instruction and seminars for specified individuals, including representatives of police labor and management organizations and community residents. Repeals provisions of the Act regarding: (1) termination of grants for hiring officers; and (2) preferential consideration of applications for certain grants. Allows grants to be used to assist: (1) police departments in employing specified professional, scientific, and technological advancements; and (2) State, local, or tribal prosecutors' offices in implementation of community-based prosecution programs that build on local community policing efforts. Reserves specified funds for units of local government with a population of less than 50,000. Authorizes the Attorney General to use no more than 50 percent of grant renewal funds to award grants targeted specifically for retention of police officers to grantees in good standing, with preference to those that demonstrate financial hardship or severe budget constraint that impacts the entire local budget and may result in the termination of employment for officers. Redefines: (1) "career law enforcement officer" to include sheriffs' deputies charged with supervising offenders who are released into the community but also engaged in local community policing efforts; and (2) "school resource officer" to mean a career law enforcement officer deployed in community-oriented policing and assigned to work in collaboration with schools and community-based organizations (as under current law) to engage in specified activities, including serving as a law enforcement liaison with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies to address and document crime and disorder problems, training students in conflict resolution and crime awareness, and assisting school administrators with the preparation of an annual report on the number of students expelled per year for bringing a weapon, firearm, or explosive to school. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1999
Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue one-dollar silver coins, in conjunction with the simultaneous minting and issuance of commemorative coins by the Republic of Iceland, in commemoration of the millennium of the discovery of the New World by Leif Ericson. Mandates that all coin surcharges be paid to the Leifur Eirikson Foundation for the purpose of funding student exchanges between the United States and Iceland.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1999
Cultural Property Procedural Reform Act - Amends the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act to make certain changes to procedural requirements restricting imports of archaeological and ethnological material of a State Party to the Convention adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1999
Designates October 10 through October 16, 1999, as National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week. Commits to increasing the quality of life for individuals with Cystic Fibrosis by promoting public knowledge and understanding in a manner that will result in earlier diagnoses, more fund raising efforts for research, and increased levels of support for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
National Health Museum Site Selection Act - Directs the Administrator of General Services to convey specified property to the National Health Museum, Inc. (the Museum), to provide a site for the construction and operation of a new building to serve as the National Health Museum. Requires the Museum to provide written notification to the Administrator of the date on which it will accept conveyance of the property. Sets forth provisions regarding the purchase price for the property, including requiring the Administrator to report the purchase price to Congress and to deposit it into the Federal Buildings Fund. Provides for reversion of the property to the United States and repayment of the purchase price to the Museum if : (1) it is used for a purpose other than construction and operation of the Museum; (2) the Museum does not commence construction on the property within three years after conveyance, other than for a reason not within the Museum's control; or (3) the Museum ceases to be a nonprofit corporation. Permits the Museum to: (1) demolish or renovate any existing or future improvement on the property; (2) build, own, operate, and maintain new improvements on the property; (3) finance and mortgage the property on customary terms and conditions; and (4) manage the property. Requires the United States to cooperate with the Museum on any zoning or other matter relating to the development or improvement of the property or the demolition of any improvement. Requires the costs of remediation of any environmental hazards existing on the property, including all asbestos-containing materials, to be borne by the United States. Requires the Museum to submit annual reports to the Administrator and Congress on the status of planning, development, and construction of the Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1999
Children's Sleepwear Safety Act of 1999 - Directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to propose for comment and issue a final rule amending its Flammable Fabrics Act standards to revoke the amendments to the standards for the flammability of children's sleepwear issued by the Commission on September 9, 1966. Provides that: (1) the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Flammable Fabrics Act, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, or any other statute or executive order shall not apply with respect to the promulgation of such rule; and (2) sleepwear manufactured or imported before the effective date of the Commission's revocation shall not be considered in violation of the Flammable Fabrics Act if it complied with the rules in effect at the time it was manufactured or imported.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Federal Courts Budget Protection Act - Rewrites provisions of the Federal judicial code regarding budget estimates for the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Requires the Director of the Office, under the supervision of the Judicial Conference of the United States, to submit to Congress before January 25 of each year annual estimates of the expenditures and appropriations necessary for: (1) the maintenance and operation of the courts and the Office and the operation of the judicial survivors annuity fund (the Fund), and any supplemental and deficiency estimates as may be required by law for such purposes (requires such estimates to be approved, before presentation to Congress, by the Judicial Conference, with exceptions for the Court of International Trade and for the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which shall be approved by such courts, respectively); and (2) real property construction activities related to U.S. courthouses and other space occupied by entities of the judicial branch. Requires the Administrator of General Services, at such times as are required by Congress or the judicial branch to ensure timely development and consideration of courthouse needs and budget requests, to prepare and submit directly: (1) to the Director and to specified congressional committees prospectuses, including cost estimates, for future judicial branch construction, acquisition, and repair and alteration projects; and (2) to the Director preliminary planning, design, and cost estimates of future judicial branch construction, acquisition, and repair and alteration projects. Authorizes funds to be appropriated (in accordance with such estimates) to the judicial branch for deposit into the Federal Buildings Fund for the construction, acquisition, and repair and alteration of Federal courthouses, subject to a limitation. Directs that the estimates submitted to Congress under this Act also be submitted to the President for inclusion in the U.S. budget. Prohibits the President from: (1) making any changes in including the estimates in the budget; and (2) imposing or otherwise recommending implementation of a negative allowance, rescission, or any other form of reduction or change to such estimates. Requires the Director, for the purpose of preparing a unified Federal budget, to transmit to the President: (1) preliminary estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for the judicial branch before October 16 of each year; and (2) final estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for the judicial branch before December 24 of each year, which shall be identical to the estimates to be submitted to Congress. Requires the Director to cause periodic examinations of the Fund to be made by an actuary, whose findings and recommendations shall be transmitted to the Judicial Conference. Specifies that, except for the budget submission process provided in this Act, the Administrator's responsibilities for assessing (with the Director) facility requirements and specifications and costs and the planning and performance of construction, repair, and alteration functions for the judicial branch shall not be affected by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Declares that the Senate: (1) regards the political independence and territorial integrity of the emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe as vital to European peace and security and to U.S. interests; (2) endorses the commitment of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will remain open to the accession of further members; (3) endorses the Alliance's decision to implement the Membership Action Plan as a means to further enhance the readiness of European democracies seeking NATO membership to bear the responsibilities and burdens of membership; (4) believes that all NATO members should commit to improving their respective defense capabilities; and (5) endorses NATO's decision to launch the Defense Capabilities Initiative, intended to improve the defense capabilities of the European Allies. Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) NAC should pace, not pause, the process of NATO enlargement by extending an invitation of membership to those states able to meet specified guidelines on a country-by-country basis and, in the course of its December 1999 ministerial meeting, should initiate a formal review of all pending applications for NATO membership; (2) the results of such review should be presented to the membership of NAC in May 2000 with recommendations concerning enlargement; (3) NATO should assess potential applicants for NATO membership on a continual basis and should be the primary institution through which European and North American allies address security issues of transatlantic concern; (4) the President, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense should fully use their offices to encourage NATO allies to commit the resources necessary to rapidly deploy forces over long distances, sustain operations for extended periods, and operate jointly with the United States in high-intensity conflicts; (5) improved European military capabilities, not new institutions, are the key to a vibrant and more influential European Security and Defense Identity within NATO; (6) the European Union must implement its Cologne Summit decisions concerning its Common Foreign and Security Policy in a manner that will ensure that non-Western European Union NATO allies will not be discriminated against; and (7) the European Union's implementation of such decisions should not promote unnecessary duplication of resources and capabilities, a decline in military resources that European allies contribute to NATO, or a strategic perspective on transatlantic security issues that conflicts with that promoted by NATO.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999
Excellence in Economic Education Act of 1999 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to establish a program for excellence in economic education under title X (Programs of National Significance). (Sec. 1) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award a grant to the National Council on Economic Education (the grantee), a nonprofit educational organization. Requires the grantee to reserve certain amounts for States that do not have designated recipients. Requires the grantee to use one-quarter of the grant amount (after such reservation) to: (1) strengthen and expand the grantee's nationwide network on economic education; (2) support and promote training of teachers who teach a grade from kindergarten through grade 12 regarding economics, including the dissemination of information on effective practices and research findings regarding the teaching of economics; (3) support research on effective teaching practices and the development of assessment instruments to document student performance; (4) develop and disseminate appropriate materials to foster economic literacy; and (5) coordinate activities assisted under this Act with activities assisted under of ESEA title II (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program). Requires the grantee to use of three-quarters of the grant amount (after such reservation) to award grants to State economic education councils, or in the case of a State that does not have a State economic education council, a center for economic education (a recipient). Requires that such a grant pay for the Federal share of the cost of enabling the recipient to work in partnership with one or more specified educational entities for one or more of the following purposes: (1) collaboratively establishing and conducting teacher training programs that use effective and innovative approaches to the teaching of economics; (2) providing resources to school districts that want to incorporate economics into the curricula of their schools; (3) evaluating the impact of economic education on students; (4) conducting economic education research; (5) creating and conducting school-based student activities to promote consumer, economic, and personal finance education, such as saving, investing, and entrepreneurial education, and to encourage awareness and student achievement in economics; (6) establishing interstate and international student and teacher exchanges to promote economic literacy; and (7) encouraging replication of best practices to encourage economic literacy. Sets forth requirements for recipients in carrying out teacher training programs under this Act. Encourages the grantee and recipients, in carrying out assisted activities under this Act, to: (1) include interactions with the local business community to the fullest extent possible, to reinforce the connection between economic education and economic development; and (2) work with private businesses to obtain matching contributions for Federal funds and assist recipients in working toward self-sufficiency. Sets forth requirements for Federal and non-Federal shares, grantee and recipient applications, reserved funds for States without recipients, and reports. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1999
United States Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Coin Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue ten-dollar bimetallic coins, one-dollar silver coins, half-dollar clad coins, and if the Secretary determines that the minting and issuance of bimetallic coins is not feasible, five-dollar gold coins emblematic of the first meeting of the United States Congress in the U.S. Capitol Building. Mandates that all surcharges received from the coin sales be deposited in the Capitol Preservation Fund and made available to the U.S. Capitol Preservation Commission to aid in the construction, maintenance, and preservation of a Capitol Visitor Center.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Broad Based Tax Relief Title II: Family Tax Relief Provisions Title III: Retirement Savings Tax Relief Subtitle A: Individual Retirement Arrangements Subtitle B: Expanding Coverage Subtitle C: Enhancing Fairness for Women Subtitle D: Increasing Portability for Participants Subtitle E: Strengthening Pension Security and Enforcement Subtitle F: Encouraging Retirement Education Subtitle G: Reducing Regulatory Burdens Subtitle H: Plan Amendments Title IV: Education Tax Relief Provisions Title V: Health Care Tax Relief Provisions Title VI: Small Business Tax Relief Provisions Title VII: Estate and Gift Tax Relief Provisions Subtitle A: Reductions of Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes Subtitle B: Conservation Easements Subtitle C: Annual Gift Exchange Subtitle D: Simplification of Generation-Shipping Transfer Tax Title VIII: Tax Exempt Organizations Provisions Title IX: International Tax Relief Title X: Housing and Real Estate Tax Relief Provisions Subtitle A: Low-Income Housing Credit Subtitle B: Historic Homes Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Real Estate Investment Trusts Subtitle D: Private Activity Bond Volume Cap Subtitle E: Leasehold Improvements Depreciation Title XI: Miscellaneous Provisions Title XII: Extension of Expired and Expiring Provisions Title XIII: Revenue Offsets Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Loophole Closers Title XIV: Technical Corrections Title XV: Compliance with Congressional Budget Act Taxpayer Refund Act of 1999 - Title I: Broad Based Tax Relief - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the lowest individual regular income tax rate from 15 percent to 14 percent. (Sec. 102) Phases-in an increase in the size of the 14-percent rate bracket. Title II: Family Tax Relief Provisions - Permits married taxpayers to calculate separate taxable income for each spouse and to be taxed as two single individuals on the same return. Calculates the tax due is calculated by applying the tax rates for single individuals to the separate taxable incomes. Requires both spouses to elect to either use a standard deduction or to itemize their deductions. (Sec. 202) Increases the starting point of the phase-out of the earned income credit for married couples filing a joint return by $2,000. (Sec. 203) Expands the list of persons eligible to: (1) make qualified foster care payments; and (2) place foster care individuals. (Sec. 204) Increases the maximum dependent care credit percentage from 30 percent to 50 percent for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $30,000 or less. Phases-down the 50 percent credit rate by one percentage point for each $1,000 of AGI, or fraction thereof, between $30,001 and $59,000. (Sec. 205) Provides for an employer-provided child care credit (of up to $150,000) equal to the sum of: (1) 25 percent of the qualified child care expenditures; and (2) 10 percent of the qualified child care resource and referral expenditures. (Sec. 206) Permits an individual to offset the entire regular tax liability (without regard to the minimum tax) by the personal nonrefundable credit. Repeals the provision reducing the refundable child credit by the alternative minimum tax (AMT). Permits the deduction for personal exemptions in computing AMT. Title III: Retirement Savings Tax Relief - Subtitle A: Individual Retirement Arrangements - Increases the annual contribution limit for traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs in $1,000 annual increments, beginning in 2001, until the limit reaches $5,000 in 2003, and thereafter, the limit is indexed for inflation in $100 increments. Increases the AGI phase-out limits for active participants in an employer-sponsored plan. (Sec. 303) Provides for Individual Development Accounts (IDA). Permits, if an eligible individual establishes an IDA with a qualified financial institution, the qualified financial institution to deposit into a separate, parallel, individual or pooled matching account an eligible matching contribution for the taxable year. Provides a tax credit for certain matching contributions to an IDA. Prohibits matching contributions after December 31, 2005. Permits qualified distributions only if, among other things: (1) the holder of the IDA has completed an economic literacy course offered by a qualified financial institution, a nonprofit organization, or a government entity; and (2) the distribution is used for qualified expenses (qualified higher education expenses, qualified first-time homebuyer costs, qualified business capitalization costs, or qualified rollovers). (Sec. 304) Permits IRAs to invest in any coin certified by a recognized grading service. Subtitle B: Expanding Coverage - Provides for optional treatment of elective deferrals as plus contributions. (Sec. 312) Increases elective deferral contribution limits. (Sec. 313) Eliminates certain current rules concerning plan loans made to an owner-employee. (Sec. 314) Provides that elective deferral contributions are not subject to deduction limits. (Sec. 315) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974 to provide that, during the first five years of a new single-employer plan of a small employer (100 or fewer employees), the flat rate Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PGBC) premium will be five dollars per plan participant. Provides for a reduced additional PGBC variable premium for new employers. (Sec. 317) Eliminates user fee requirements for requests to the IRS concerning the status of pension plans. (Sec. 318) Amends the IRC to allow an eligible employer to establish and maintain a SAFE annuity (an individual retirement annuity) or a SAFE trust (a trust forming part of a defined benefit plan), both to be funded by the employer. Makes the employer contributions deductible without limitation and otherwise provides for the treatment of contributions and distributions. Mandates a penalty for early withdrawals. Requires simplified employer reports for SAFE annuities and simplified actuarial reports for SAFE trusts. Amends ERISA to exempt SAFE trusts from coverage requirements and SAFE annuities from certain employer reporting requirements. (Sec. 319) Modifies top-heavy rules. Subtitle C: Enhancing Fairness for Women - Provides that individuals who have attained age 50 may make additional catch-up elective contributions to employer-sponsored retirement plans and additional catch-up IRA contributions. (Sec. 322) Sets forth requirements relating to equitable treatment for contributions of employees to defined contribution plans. Requires that certain contributions by church plans are not to be treated as exceeding a specified limit. (Sec. 323) Revises requirements relating to tax treatment of division of section 457 plan benefits upon divorce. (Sec. 324) Directs the Secretary to revise regulations relating to safe harbor relief for hardship withdrawals from cash or deferred arrangements. (Sec. 325) Provides for faster vesting of certain employer matching contributions. Subtitle D: Increasing Portability for Participants - Permits rollovers from and to various types of plans. (Sec. 332) Permits individual retirement plan (IRA) rollovers only if certain conditions are met. (Sec. 333) Permits rollover of after-tax contributions in an exempt trust under specified conditions. (Sec. 334) Sets forth a hardship exception to the 60-day rule. (Sec. 335) Sets forth requirements for treatment of forms of distribution available under transferor and transferee plans. (Sec. 336) Revises restrictions on distributions, including the same desk exception. (Sec. 337) Authorizes trustee-to-trustee transfers to purchase permissive service credit with respect to governmental defined benefit plans. (Sec. 338) Allows employers to disregard rollovers for purposes of cash-out amounts, under retirement plan provisions. (Sec. 339) Revises year of inclusion in gross income requirements for section 457 plans. Subtitle E: Strengthening Pension Security and Enforcement - Amends the IRC and ERISA to phase-in increases in the percentage of the current liability funding limit. Repeals such limit beginning January 1, 2004. (Sec. 342) Amends ERISA to direct the PBGC to prescribe rules relating to missing participants for multiemployer plans covered by the PBGC that terminate. (Sec. 343) Amends the IRC to allow an employer, in determining the amount of nondeductible contributions for any taxable year, to elect not to take into account any contributions to a defined benefit plan except to the extent that they exceed the full-funding limitation. (Sec. 344) Imposes an excise tax on a plan failing to provide required notice of a significant reduction in the rate of future benefit accrual. (Sec. 345) Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to protect investment of employee contributions to 401(k) plans by providing that specified requirements apply to elective deferrals for plan years beginning after December 31, 1998. (Sec. 346) Makes certain compensation limitations for defined benefit plans inapplicable to governmental and multiemployer plans. Prohibits combining or aggregating a multiemployer plan with any other plan maintained by the employer for the purpose of applying such limitations. Subtitle F: Encouraging Retirement Education - Requires that pension benefit statements be furnished annually (once every three years for defined benefit plans) or on request. Allows written or electronic statements. Requires multiemployer plans to furnish a statement (written or electronic) on request. (Sec. 352) Excludes qualified retirement planning services from gross income (as a fringe benefit). Subtitle G: Reducing Regulatory Burdens - Directs the Secretary, by regulation, to provide that plan satisfies the nondiscrimination requirements concerning highly employees if it meets pre-1994 requirements and certain other conditions are met. (Sec. 362) Amends the IRC and ERISA to revise requirements relating to timing of plan valuations. (Sec. 363) Amends ERISA rules for substantial owners relating to plan terminations to revise: (1) the phase-in of the guarantee; and (2) the allocation of assets. (Sec. 364) Amends IRC requirements for applicable dividends to allow dividends of employee stock ownership plans to be reinvested without loss of dividend deduction. (Sec. 365) Revises the notice and consent period regarding distributions. Directs the Secretary tomodify certain regulations to provide that the description of a participant's right, if any, to defer receipt of a distribution shall also describe the consequences of failing to defer such receipt. (Sec. 367) Repeals a transition rule relating to certain highly compensated employees under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. (Sec. 368) Directs the Secretary to modify certain regulations with respect to certain plan participation by employees of tax-exempt entities under the IRC. (Sec. 369) Revises ERISA requirements for annual report dissemination. (Sec. 370) Revises rules concerning the exclusion for employer provided transit passes. Subtitle H: Plan Amendments - Prescribes requirements for plan amendments or annuity contract amendments under the IRC. Title IV: Education Tax Relief Amendments - Eliminates the 60-month limit on student loan interest deductions and increases the income limitation on student loan deductions. (Sec. 402) Permits private educational institutions to maintain qualified tuition programs which are comparable to qualified State tuition programs. Excludes qualified distributions from such accounts from gross income. (Sec. 403) Excludes from gross income certain amounts received under the National Health Corps Scholarship Program or the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program. (Sec. 404) Permanently extends the exclusion from gross income of employer-provided educational assistance and restores the exclusion for such assistance on the graduate level. (Sec. 405) Increases the amount by which certain governmental bonds used to finance public school capital expenditures may be exempted from specified arbitrage bond provisions. (Sec. 406) Provides for the treatment of qualified public educational facility bonds as exempt facility bonds. Defines a "qualified public educational facility" as any school facility which is: (1) part of a public elementary school or a public secondary school; and (2) owned by a private, for-profit corporation pursuant to a public-private partnership agreement with a State or local educational agency. Provides for an exception from the State volume cap. (Sec. 407) Permits aggregate Federal guarantees of up to $500 million in school construction bonds by the Federal Housing Finance Board. Title V: Health Care Tax Relief Provisions - Phases-in a 100 percent deduction (for both itemizers and nonitemizers) for the health and long-term care insurance costs of individuals not participating in employer-subsidized health plans. (Sec. 502) Permits offering long-term care insurance under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements. (Sec. 503) Permits a taxpayer an additional exemption for certain elderly family members who need long-term care and who reside with the taxpayer. (Sec. 504) Adds to the list of taxable vaccines any conjugate vaccine of streptococcus pneumoniae. Reduces the per dose vaccine tax rate. Requires a report on the adequacy of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund to meet claims. Title VI: Small Business Tax Relief Provisions - Provides for the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals. (Sec. 602) Increases to $30,000 the amount which may be expensed as section 179 property. (Sec. 603) Makes the 6.2 percent Federal Unemployment Tax Act rate effective through calendar year 2004 (currently, 2007) and the 6.0 percent rate effective through calendar year 2005 (currently, 2008). (Sec. 604) Coordinates, for farmers, income averaging with the alternative minimum tax. (Sec. 605) Permits an individual engaged in an eligible farming business a limited deduction for amounts paid into a Farm and Risk Management Account. Defines such an account. Title VII: Estate and Gift Tax Relief Tax Provisions - Subtitle A: Reductions of Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes - Reduces the maximum estate tax rate from 55 to 50 percent. Repeals the phaseout of graduated rates. (Sec. 702) Replaces the unified credit with a unified exemption amount. Subtitle B: Conservation Easements - Doubles the distance within which qualified conservation easements must be located from a metropolitan area, national park, or wilderness area. Subtitle C: Annual Gift Exclusion - Phases-in a doubling of the annual gift exclusion. Subtitle D: Simplification of Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax - Permits the retroactive allocation of the generation-skipping transfer tax (GST) in certain cases. (Sec. 732) Permits the severance of a trust if there is a "qualified severance." (Sec. 733) Modifies certain valuation rules. (Sec. 734) Requires regulations prescribing the circumstances and procedures under which extensions of time will be granted in the case of a GST exemption or exception. Title VIII: Tax Exempt Organizations Provisions - Exempts an organization from income tax if it is created by a State to provide property and casualty insurance coverage for property for which such coverage is otherwise unavailable. (Sec. 802) Modifies rules relating to unrelated business taxable income for amounts received from controlled entities. (Sec. 803) Repeals the separate grass roots lobbying expenditure limit. (Sec. 804) Exempts from inclusion as income individual retirement account (IRA) distributions used for qualified charitable purposes. Sets forth related rules for charitable remainder trusts, pooled income funds, and charitable gift annuities. (Sec. 805) Excludes from an individual's gross income amounts received as reimbursement regarding the use of a passenger automobile for the benefit of a charitable organization. Relieves the organization of certain reporting requirements regarding the reimbursements. (Sec. 806) Treats certain expenses incurred by whaling captains while carrying out sanctioned activities for Native Alaskan subsistence whaling as a charitable contribution deduction. (Sec. 807) Permits charitable contributions to be made to qualified low-income schools after the end of a tax year, if such contributions are made before the required filing time. (Sec. 808) Permits non-itemizers to deduct a portion of their charitable contributions. (Sec. 809) Phases-in increases in the percentage limitations applicable to charitable contributions. (Sec. 810) Sets forth a limited exception to the excess business holdings rule. Title IX: International Tax Relief - Permits treating each electing worldwide affiliated group as an affiliated group for purposes allocating and apportioning interest expense for each domestic corporation which is a member of the group. (Sec. 902) Revises provisions concerning the of application of look-thru rules to dividends from noncontrolled section 902 corporations to provide, in general, that any dividend from a noncontrolled section 902 corporation with respect to the taxpayer shall be treated as income in a separate category in proportion to the ratio of: (1) the portion of earnings and profits attributable to income in such category; to (2) the total amount of earnings and profits. (Sec. 903) Excludes from the definition of "foreign base company oil related income" the pipeline transportation of oil or gas within such foreign country. (Sec. 904) Excludes from the definition of "foreign base company services income" income derived in connection with the performance of services which are related to the transmission of high voltage electricity. (Sec. 905) Provides for the treatment of advance pricing agreements as confidential taxpayer information. (Sec. 906) Exempts certain air transportation rights sold to foreign individuals from the 7.5 percent excise tax. (Sec. 907) Repeals the 90 percent limitation on the utilization of the alternative minimum tax foreign tax credit. (Sec. 908) Repeals the special foreign corporation sales rule for military property. Title X: Housing and Real Estate Tax Relief Provisions - Subtitle A: Low-Income Housing Credit - Modifies the low-income housing credit. Subtitle B: Historic Homes - Establishes a credit equal to 20 percent of the qualified rehabilitation expenditures made by a taxpayer with respect to a qualified historic home. Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Real Estate Investment Trusts - Part I: Treatment of Income and Services Provided By Taxable REIT Subsidiaries - Excludes taxable REIT subsidiaries (TRSs) from the five and ten percent asset tests. (Sec. 1022) Allows TRSs to provide non-customary tenant services. (Sec. 1023) Allows a REIT to establish a TRS (as defined). (Sec. 1024) Includes in the definition of "disqualified interest" (Sec. 163 of the IRC) any interest paid or accrued by a TRS to the REIT. (Sec. 1025) Imposes a 100 percent tax on any interest payments by a TRS to the REIT in excess of the commercially reasonable interest rate. Part II: Health Care REITs - Includes within the definition of the term "foreclosure property" any qualified health care property acquired by a REIT as the result of the termination of a lease of such property. Part III: Conformity With Regulated Investment Company Rules - Changes the distribution requirement from 95 percent to 90 percent. Part IV: Clarification of Exception From Impermissible Tenant Service Income - Provides, with respect to the definition of an independent contractor, that in the event that any class of stock of is regularly traded on an established securities market, only owners who own, directly or indirectly, more than five percent of such class of stock shall be taken into account as owning any of the stock of such class for purposes of applying the 35 percent limitation. Part V: Modification of Earnings and Profits Rules - Provides rules for determining whether a Regulated Investment Company (RIC) has earnings and profits form a non-RIC year. Part VI: Study Relating to Taxable REIT Subsidiaries - Directs the: (1) Commissioner of the Internal Revenue shall conduct a study to determine how many taxable REIT subsidiaries are in existence and the aggregate amount of taxes paid by such subsidiaries; and (2) the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a report to the Congress describing the results of such study. Subtitle D: Private Activity Bond Volume Cap - Accelerates the increase in the volume cap on State private activity bonds. Subtitle E: Leasehold Improvements Depreciation - Includes qualified leasehold improvement property as 15 year property for purposes of the accelerated cost recovery depreciation rules. Defines "qualified leasehold improvement property" as certain improvements to an interior portion of a building which is nonresidential property. Title XI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Repeals the: (1) LUST taxes on fuel used in trains; and (2) 4.3-cents-per-gallon General Fund excise tax on diesel fuel used by railroads and on fuels used by barges operating on designated inland waterways. (Sec. 1102) Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the tax treatment of Settlement Trusts established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Exempts from income taxation any such Settlement Trust electing coverage by this Act. Declares that for an electing trust: (1) no amount shall be includible in the gross income of a Settlement Trust beneficiary by reason of a contribution to the Settlement Trust during such taxable year; and (2) the ordinary requirements for taxation of trusts and beneficiaries shall not apply. Requires an electing trust to distribute at least 55 percent of its adjusted taxable income each taxable year. Imposes a tax on a trust, in the amount of the failure, if the distribution is insufficient. Includes in the beneficiary's gross income, as ordinary income, any distribution from an electing trust (only when the actual distribution is received). Provides that distributions from the trust will be taxable as ordinary income even if the distribution represents a return of capital. Requires tax withholding on trust distributions over a certain amount. (Sec. 1103) Permits businesses to recover, as specified, long-term unused credits against the alternative minimum tax. (Sec. 1104) Permits a five-year net operating loss carryback for losses attributable to operating mineral interests of independent oil and gas producers. (Secs. 1105 and 1106) Allows both geological and geophysical expenditures on domestic oil and gas exploration and development and delay rental payments, at the taxpayer's election, to be deducted from gross income at the time incurred. (Sec. 1107) Provides that, for specified purposes of the active business definition, all members of a corporation's separate affiliated group shall be treated as one corporation. (Sec. 1108) Increases the maximum dollar limitation on reforestation expenses eligible for amortization and suspends such dollar limitation through calendar year 2003. (Sec. 1109) Revises the excise tax on arrow components. (Sec. 1110) Doubles the Joint Committee on Taxation reporting threshold for refunds and credits. (Sec. 1111) Modifies the definition of a rural airport for purposes of the air passenger tax. (Sec. 1112) Provides that the patronage dividends of cooperatives shall not be reduced by stock dividends to the extent the stock dividends are in addition to amounts otherwise payable. (Sec. 1113) Repeals certain provisions concerning the filing of consolidated returns by insurance companies. (Sec. 1114) Modifies, for lending or finance companies, the exemption from the personal holding company tax. (Sec. 1115) Expands the credit for modifications to inter-city buses to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. (Sec. 1116) Accelerates the 80 percent deduction for business meal expenses for individuals subject to Federal hours of service limitations. (Sec. 1117) Provides for the treatment of a qualified highway infrastructure project bond as an exempt private activity bond. (Sec. 1118) Extends the District of Columbia (DC) homebuyer credit by one year and increases the phase-out range. (Sec. 1119) Eliminates the ten percent poverty rate limitation for purposes of the zero-percent capital gains rate for DC zone assets. (Sec. 1120) Classifies any natural gas gathering line as seven-year property for purposes of depreciation. Defines natural gas gathering line. (Sec. 1121) Exempts small seaplanes from the air passenger excise taxes. Title XII: Extension of Expired and Expiring Provisions - Extends the: (1) research credit (permanently); (2) subpart F (Controlled Foreign Corporations) exemption for active income financing (for five years); (3) taxable income limit on percentage depletion for marginal oil and gas wells (for five years); (4) work opportunity credit and the welfare-to-work credit (for five years); (5) credit for electricity produced by wind and closed-loop biomass (for five years) and extends a credit to facilities using poultry waste; and (6) expiration date for the expensing of certain environmental remediation costs until June 30, 2004. Maintains the exemption of Alaska from dyeing requirements for diesel fuel and kerosene exempt from the gasoline tax. Repeals the exemption from such dyeing requirements for other States exempted by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from such requirements under the Clean Air Act. Title XIII: Revenue Offsets - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Modifies the foreign tax credit carryback and carryover periods. (Sec. 1302) Amends provisions involving returns relating to the cancellation of indebtedness by certain entities to include within the definition of "applicable financial entity" any organization a significant trade or business of which is the lending of money. (Sec. 1303) Increases the withholding rate for nonperiodic distributions from 10 to 15 percent. (Sec. 1304) Directs the Secretary to establish a program requiring the payment of user fees for requests to the IRS for ruling letters, opinion letters, determination letters, and other similar requests. Terminates fees October 1, 2009. (Sec. 1305) Prohibits transfers of excess pension assets to retiree health account made after September 30, 2009, (currently, after December 31, 2000) from being treated as qualified transfers. (Sec. 1306) Excludes from the definition of "capital asset" (under rules for determining capital gains and losses) any commodities derivative financial instrument held by a commodities dealer, if such instrument clearly has no connection to the activities of the dealer as a dealer. Subtitle B: Loophole Closers - Limits the use of the non-accrual experience method of accounting under provisions relating to special rules for services. (Sec. 1312) Modifies rules relating to the exemption of certain ten or more employer plans from welfare benefit fund provisions. (Sec. 1313) Prohibits, in general, the use of the installment method of accounting for accrual method dispositions. (Sec. 1314) Treats a gain as an ordinary gain to the extent such gain exceeds the net underlying long-term capital gain where the taxpayer has gain from a constructive ownership transaction with respect to any financial position and such gain otherwise would be treated as a long-term capital gain. Provides that, to the extent such gain is treated as a long-term capital gain after the application of the previous sentence, the determination of the applicable capital gain rate (or rates) shall be determined on the basis of the respective rate (or rates) that would have been applicable to the net underlying long-term capital gain. Sets forth definitions and exceptions. (Sec. 1315) Amends the IRC to disallow a deduction for the transfer of a charitable contribution to or for the use of a State or charitable tax-exempt organization or trust if in connection with such transfer: (1) the organization directly or indirectly pays, or has previously paid, any premium on any personal benefit contract (life insurance, annuity, or endowment contract, also known as charitable split-dollar life insurance) with respect to the transferor; or (2) there is an understanding (side agreement) that any person will directly or indirectly pay any premium on such contract with respect to such transferor. Imposes on such organization an excise tax equal to the premiums paid by it on the personal benefit contract. Provides that certain persons shall not be treated as indirect beneficiaries: (1) in certain cases in which a charitable organization purchases an annuity contract to fund an obligation to pay a charitable gift annuity; or (2) solely by reason of being a noncharitable recipient of an annuity or unitrust amount paid by a charitable remainder trust that holds a life insurance, annuity or endowment contract. (Sec. 1316) Prohibits from taking into account any dividend received from a closely held real estate investment trust by any person owning 10 percent or more of the stock or beneficial interests in the trust in computing annualized income installments in a manner similar to the manner under which partnership income inclusions are taken into account. (Sec. 1317) Requires any employee stock ownership plan holding employer securities consisting of stock in an S corporation to provide that no portion of the assets of the plan attributable to (or allocable in lieu of) such employer securities may, during a nonallocation year, accrue (or be allocated directly or indirectly under any qualified plan of the employer) for the benefit of any disqualified individual. (Sec. 1318) Revises the anti-abuse rules related to assumption of liability. (Sec. 1319) Provides that, as a general rule, a transfer of an interest in intangible property shall be treated (under provisions concerning the transfer of property to a corporation controlled by the transferor) as a transfer of property even if the transfer is of less than all of the substantial rights of the transferor in the property. (Sec. 1320) Makes a controlled entity ineligible to be a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust). Defines "controlled entity." (Sec. 1321) Sets forth rules concerning distributions to a corporate partner of stock in another corporation. Title XIV: Technical Corrections - Sets forth amendments concerning, among other things: (1) the Tax and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998; (2) the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998; (3) the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997; (4) the treatment of worthless securities of affiliated corporations; (5) the IRA contribution amount of the lesser earning spouse; (6) modified endowment contracts; (7) lump-sum distributions; and (8) tentative carryback adjustments of losses from section 1256 contracts. Title XV: Compliance With Congressional Budget Act - States that: (1) all provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act which are in effect on September 30, 2009, shall cease to apply as of the close of September 30, 2009; (2) all provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act which were terminated under clause (1) shall begin to apply again as of October 1, 2009, as provided in each such provision or amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1999
Acknowledges the importance of greater economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and the key role played by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum. Urges the Administration to support the Forum, to work to achieve Forum goals of greater economic growth and stability, and to continue its close cooperation with the private sector in advancing APEC goals. Expresses appreciation to the Government and people of New Zealand for their efforts in chairing the Forum this year.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1999
Calls upon the Senate, when it adjourns on July 19, 1999, to do so as a further mark of respect for the grieving families of John F. Kennedy, Jr., Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and Lauren Bessette.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1999
United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Enhancement Act - Title I: Trade Benefits for Caribbean Basin Countries - Amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) to accord, for a specified period, the same tariff and quota treatment (duty-free treatment, free of any quantitative limitations) given certain textile and apparel articles imported from North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries to such articles from U.S.- Caribbean Basin Trade Enhancement Act (CBTEA) beneficiary countries which have demonstrated commitments to: (1) undertake their obligations under the World Trade Organization on or ahead of schedule; (2) participate in negotiations toward completion of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), or comparable trade agreement; or (3) undertake other steps necessary for it to become a party to the FTAA or comparable trade agreement. Directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to report biennially to Congress concerning CBTEA beneficiary countries. Directs the United States International Trade Commission to report biennially to Congress and the President on the economic impact of this Act on U.S. industries (including Puerto Rico and U.S. insular possessions) and consumers and on the economy of CBTEA beneficiary countries, including its effectiveness in promoting drug-related crop eradication and crop substitution efforts of such beneficiary countries. Authorizes the President to determine that a country is not providing adequate protection of intellectual property rights under its laws, even if it is in compliance with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. Title II: Revenue Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend, between June 30, 1999, and October 1, 1999, the limitation on the amount of distilled liquor taxes covered over to the treasury of Puerto Rico. Requires the treasury of Puerto Rico to make a Conservation Trust Fund transfer in a certain amount within 30 days from the date of each such cover-over payment made during such period. Prohibits, in general, the use of the installment method of accounting for accrual method dispositions.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1999
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences through June 30, 2004. Provides, upon request filed with the Customs Service, for the liquidation or reliquidation (refund of duties) on entries of articles to which duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences would have applied if such entry had been made on June 30, 1999, and that was made after such date, but before enactment of this Act. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require, with a specified exception, merchandise (including merchandise of different classes, types, and categories) withdrawn from a foreign trade zone during any seven-day period to be treated upon entry (at the option of the operator or user of the zone) as a single entry and a single release of merchandise for purposes of customs user fees. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to require an operator or user of the zone to use an electronic data interchange to file such entries and to pay such user fees. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit, in general, the use of the installment method of accounting for accrual method dispositions.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1999
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations: (1) to the Departments of Labor and of Commerce through FY 2001 for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) for workers and firms, respectively, that have been adversely affected by import competition; and (2) for TAA for training of such workers under the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) transitional program. Postpones termination of the TAA programs until the end of FY 2001. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on any conjugate vaccine against streptococcus pneumoniae sold by its manufacturer, producer, or importer. Increases from ten percent to 15 percent of a nonperiodic distribution the withholding rate for nonperiodic distributions from deferred compensation plans.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1999
African Growth and Opportunity Act - Declares the support of Congress for: (1) encouraging increased trade and investment between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa; (2) reducing tariff and nontariff barriers and other obstacles to sub-Saharan and U.S. trade; (3) negotiating reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade agreements, including the possibility of establishing free trade areas that serve the interests of both the United States and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa; (4) focusing on countries committed to accountable government, economic reform, the eradication of poverty, and the development of political freedom; and (5) establishing a United States-Sub-Saharan African Economic Cooperation Forum. Title I: Extension of Certain Trade Benefits to Sub-Saharan Africa - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the President to designate a sub-Saharan African country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country eligible to receive duty-free treatment, through September 30, 2006, for any non-import-sensitive article (except for textile luggage) that is the growth, product, or manufacture of such country, if the President determines that such country: (1) has established, or is making continual progress toward establishing, a market-based economy, a democratic society, an open trading system, and economic policies to reduce poverty; (2) does not engage in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights or provide support for acts of international terrorism; and (3) otherwise satisfies applicable eligibility requirements. (Sec. 101) Directs the President to monitor and review the progress of sub-Saharan countries to determine their current or potential eligibility under the requirements of this Act. Waives the competitive need limitation with respect to eligible beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. (Sec. 102) Grants duty-free treatment, without any quantitative limitations, to textile and apparel articles (including textile luggage) imported from a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country, if such country: (1) adopts an efficient visa system to guard against unlawful transshipment of such goods and the use of counterfeit documents; and (2) enacts legislation or promulgates regulations that would permit U.S. Customs verification teams to have the access necessary to investigate allegations of transshipment through the country. Directs the President to deny trade benefits under this Act to any exporter that has engaged in transshipment with respect to textile or apparel products from a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country. Directs the Customs Service to monitor, and report annually to Congress, on the effectiveness of certain anti-circumvention systems and on measures taken by sub-Saharan African countries that export textiles or apparel to the United States to prevent circumvention as described in article 5 of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing. Authorizes the President to impose appropriate remedies, including restrictions on or the removal of quota-free and duty-free treatment provided under this Act, in the event that textile and apparel articles from a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country are being imported in such increased quantities as to cause serious damage (or actual threat thereof) to the domestic industry producing like or directly competitive articles. (Sec. 103) Directs the President to convene annual meetings between U.S. Government officials and officials of the governments of sub-Saharan African countries to foster close economic ties between them. Directs the President to establish a United States-Sub-Saharan African Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum which shall discuss expanding trade and investment relations between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. (Sec. 104) Directs the President to examine, and report to specified congressional committees, the feasibility of negotiating a free trade agreement with interested sub-Saharan African countries. Title II: Revenue Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the special accounting rule allowing a taxpayer (otherwise required to use the accrual method) not to accrue any portion of amounts received for qualified personal services which (on the basis of experience) will not be collected, so long as the taxpayer does not charge interest or a penalty for failure to timely pay the amount charged. Limits this exception to the accrual accounting requirement to services in the fields of health, law, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, or consulting. (Sec. 202) Sets forth provisions involving returns relating to the cancellation of indebtedness by certain entities to include within the definition of "applicable financial entity" any organization a significant trade or business of which is the lending of money.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1999
Folic Acid Promotion and Birth Defects Prevention Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to carry out a program, directly or through grants or contracts, for professional and public education and training, research, and epidemiological activities regarding folic acid and birth defects. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Father Theodore M. Hesburgh Congressional Gold Medal Act - Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal to Father Theodore M. Hesburgh in recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions to civil rights, higher education, the Catholic Church, the Nation, and the global community. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Health Care Access and Equity Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow for the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of individuals not covered by an employer-subsidized plan; (2) expand the availability of medical savings accounts; (3) permit the carryover of unused benefits from cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements, and health flexible spending accounts; and (4) permit contributions towards a Medical Savings Account through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1999
Steel Trade Enforcement Act of 1999 - Title I: Comprehensive Strategy for the Elimination of Market-Distorting Practices Affecting the Global Steel Industry - Directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to: (1) initiate an investigation (unless Congress certifies that it would be detrimental to the U.S. economic interest) of market-distorting practices of foreign governments that have insulated foreign steel producers from competitive pressures and have contributed to the investment in, and development of, steel manufacturing capacity on terms inconsistent with competitive market conditions; and (2) identity the priority foreign market-distorting practices that have the greatest impact on the U.S. steel industry as targets for further trade relief action. Requires the USTR, as the result of such investigation, to develop, and report to the President, a comprehensive strategy for the elimination of the identified market-distorting practices. (Sec. 102) Requires the USTR to appoint one Deputy Trade Representative to serve as coordinator of the development and implementation of the comprehensive strategy. Requires the President to establish an interagency working group to assist the USTR in the development and implementation of such strategy. (Sec. 104) Directs the USTR to request the International Trade Commission (ITC) to investigate the administration and effects of the comprehensive strategy and request any economic necessary analyses and reports. Title II: Safeguard Amendments - Amends the Trade Act of 1974, with respect to presidential action to facilitate industry efforts to make a positive adjustment to particular import competition, to repeal the requirement that the cause or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry be substantial. Requires such cause to be important and contribute significantly to the serious injury to the domestic industry, but not necessarily be the most important cause. (Sec. 201) Revises certain factors the ITC must consider when investigating whether an article is being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive with the imported article. Repeals the requirement that such injury be substantial. Directs the ITC, when an import competition adjustment petition filed by an industry (or a request by the President, USTR, a resolution of specified congressional committees, or on the ITC's own motion) alleges that critical circumstances exist, to make a serious injury (or threat) determination with respect to such competition not later than 45 days (currently, 60 days) after such petition or request is filed. Requires the President within 20 days (currently, 30 days) after receiving an affirmative determination to provide provisional relief to prevent or remedy such injury. Requires with respect to the implementation of such provisional relief that it will not have an adverse impact on the United States substantially out of proportion to its benefits. Requires provisional relief recommended by the ITC to take effect upon the enactment of a joint resolution of Congress within the 60 day (currently, 90 day) period beginning on the date that the President reports to Congress on what action, if any, is to be taken. Title III: Timely Release of Import Data - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize an entity (including a trade association, firm, certified or recognized union, or group or workers which is representative of a domestic industry that produces an article like or directly competitive with an imported article) to file a request to monitor such imports, based on a petition that alleges that an article is being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to cause serious injury (or threat) to the domestic industry. Requires the President to determine whether to monitor within 45 days after receiving a request. (Sec. 302) Authorizes the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in order to facilitate the early identification of potentially disruptive import surges, to grant an exception to the publication dates established for the release of data on U.S. international trade in goods and services in order to permit public access to preliminary international trade import data, if the Director notifies Congress of the early release of such data. (Sec. 303) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the ITC to establish a suffix to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States for merchandise that is subject to countervailing duty orders or antidumping duty orders. (Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to monitor, and report to Congress on, imports (including steel mill products and other import-sensitive products) on a monthly basis for import surges and potential unfair trade through 2000. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Steel Import Monitoring and Enforcement Center for the purpose of monitoring and investigating imports of steel mill products. Title IV: International Financial Institutions - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of each international financial institution to use the U.S. vote to: (1) oppose any disbursements of its funds to any recipient that would be used to provide financial assistance to the steel industry in a manner that would encourage the expansion of existing steelmaking capacity; (2) promote policies to encourage the privatization of steel mills that remain in state ownership; and (3) promote policies that encourage immediate growth and the resumption and increase in the domestic demand for steel. Title V: Suspension Agreements - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise the conditions for the exception to the prohibition against the administering authority's acceptance of a foreign country's agreement to eliminate or offset completely a countervailable subsidy or to cease exports to the United States of subject merchandise. Adds to current conditions for an exception to such prohibition that the domestic producers or workers who support the agreement account for more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like product produced by those expressing an opinion on the agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
Truth in Regulating Act of 1999 - Allows the Comptroller General, when a Federal agency develops or issues an economically significant rule, to review the rule at the request of a committee of either House of Congress. Defines "economically significant rule" to mean any proposed or final rule, including an interim or direct final rule, that may have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities. Requires the Comptroller General to submit a report on each rule reviewed, including an independent analysis of the costs and benefits, alternative approaches, impact on State and local governments, and differences from the agency's analyses. Grants the Comptroller General discretion to develop procedures for determining the priority and number of requests for review. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2002. Provides for the pilot project established under this Act to continue for a three-year period, if specified appropriations are provided. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on such project's effectiveness and on whether it should be authorized permanently.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1999
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Clinton administration should: (1) be commended for supporting United Nations Commission on Human Rights Resolution 1999-13 (concerning continued discrimination against religious minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran), and should continue to work through the United Nations to assure that Iran implements that resolution's recommendations; (2) condemn the recent arrest of members of Iran's Jewish minority and urge their immediate release; (3) urge all nations having relations with Iran to condemn the treatment of religious minorities in Iran and call for the release of all prisoners held on the basis of their religious beliefs; and (4) maintain the current U.S. policy toward Iran unless and until that country moderates its treatment of religious minorities.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1999
Federalism Accountability Act of 1999 - Requires: (1) the report accompanying any public bill or joint resolution reported from a Senate or House committee or conference to contain an explicit statement on the extent to which the bill or joint resolution preempts State or local government law, ordinance, or regulation and an explanation of the reasons for such preemption; or (2) in the absence of such a report, the committee or conference to report to the Senate and House a statement containing such information before consideration of a bill, joint resolution, or conference report. Prohibits construing any statute or rule enacted after this Act's effective date as preempting in whole, or in part, any State or local government law, ordinance, or regulation, unless: (1) the statute or rule explicitly states that such preemption is intended (and in the case of a rule, that such preemption is authorized by the statute under which the rule is promulgated); or (2) there is a direct conflict between such statute or rule and a State or local law, ordinance, or regulation so that the two cannot be reconciled or consistently stand together. Requires any ambiguity in any Federal law to be interpreted in favor of preserving the authority of the State. Directs the head of each Federal agency to: (1) be responsible for implementing this Act; and (2) designate an officer (to be known as the federalism officer) to manage the implementation and serve as a liaison to State and local officials and their designated representatives. Requires agencies to provide for notice of rulemaking and consultation with State and local officials regarding any preemption or other significant federalism impacts that may result. Requires federalism officers to identify each proposed, interim final, and final rule having a federalism impact that warrants the preparation of a federalism assessment that shall assess and explain the extent of preemption, the significant impacts on State and local governments, the measures taken to minimize such impacts, and the extent of consultation. Sets forth agency procedures for the preparation, consideration, submission, and publication of federalism assessments. Prohibits any agency head from including in any performance plan any agency activity that is a State-administered Federal grant program, unless the performance measures are determined in cooperation with State or local officials. Requires: (1) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit annually to the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) information describing interim final and final rules issued during the preceding year that preempt State or local authority; and (2) the Director of the Congressional Research Service to submit annually to the CBO Director information describing court decisions issued during the preceding year that preempt State or local authority. Directs CBO, after each session of Congress, to prepare a specified report on the extent of Federal preemption of State or local authority enacted into law or adopted through judicial or agency interpretation of Federal statutes during the previous session and to make such reports available to each congressional committee, each State Governor, the presiding officer of each chamber of the legislature of each State, and other public officials and the public on the Internet. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Federal intergovernmental mandates, to require a Senate or House committee to include in its report accompanying a public bill or joint resolution that would place caps upon, or otherwise decrease, the Government's responsibility to provide funding to State, local, or tribal governments under a Federal program under which $500 million or more is provided annually under entitlement authority, a statement of how the committee specifically intends the States to implement the reduction and to what extent the legislation provides additional flexibility, to offset such reduction. Requires the CBO Director to include in statements on public bills or joint resolutions (other than appropriation bills and joint resolutions) reported by any Senate or House committee that make such reduction, if no additional flexibility is provided in the legislation, a description of whether and how the States can offset the reduction under existing law or, if additional flexibility is provided, whether the resulting savings would offset the reductions in that program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1999
Dog and Cat Protection Act of 1999 - Prohibits: (1) the importation of dog or cat fur into the United States; and (2) any person in the United States from introducing into commerce, manufacturing, selling or offering to sell, trading, advertising, or transporting or distributing in commerce, any dog or cat fur product. Subjects a person to both civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1999
Congressional Accountability for Regulatory Information Act of 1999 - Authorizes a committee of either House of Congress with legislative or oversight jurisdiction relating to a regulatory action published by an agency to request the Comptroller General to review the action. Directs the Comptroller General to report to the requesting committee within 180 days and to include an independent analysis of the potential benefits and costs of the action, the alternative regulatory approaches, the extent to which the action would affect State and local governments, and the differences in results between such analysis and the agency analyses. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Surface Transportation Act of 1999 - Amends the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 to remove restrictions on the State Infrastructure Bank Pilot Program, including the limitation on the Secretary of Transportation's entering into cooperative agreements with no more than ten States for the establishment of State and multi-state infrastructure banks. (Sec. 3) Amends Federal transportation provisions to authorize a State to use for a project under the High Priority Projects Program any funds apportioned under such provisions for which the project is eligible. Allows a State, if a project is not eligible for such funds, to use for the project certain funds apportioned to the State under the Surface Transportation Program (STP). Directs that such apportioned funds be reimbursed from amounts allocated for the project in an amount equal to that used under this section, but not to exceed the total of the amounts allocated for the project. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the obligation of National Highway System funds for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of, and preventative maintenance for, intercity rail passenger facilities and rolling stock. Authorizes the use of STP funds for capital costs for transit projects eligible for assistance, including rail, or a combination of bus and rail. Makes eligible under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program certain projects or programs that will have air quality benefits through acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of, and preventative maintenance for, intercity rail passenger facilities and rolling stock. Transfers to Amtrak and publicly-owned intercity or intracity passenger rail lines specified highway and transit funds. (Sec. 5) Revises provisions regarding the Historic Bridges Program to eliminate a restriction that caps the amount of Federal-aid highway funds that can be spent on a historic bridge to a sum equal to the cost of demolition. (Sec. 6) Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to make a change with respect to the distribution of the Federal-aid obligation limitation to make all obligation authority for the program available as multi-year funding.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1999
Affordable Education Act of 1999 - Title I: Education Savings Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the maximum annual contribution allowed to an education individual retirement account. Permits eligible educational institutions to maintain qualified tuition programs. Title II: Educational Assistance - Extends the termination date for the exclusion of employer provided educational assistance provisions. Eliminates the 60 month limit on the student loan interest deduction. Excludes from gross income certain amounts received under the National Public Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program. Title III: Liberalization of Tax-Exempt Financing Rules for Public School Construction - Increases the amount by which certain governmental bonds used to finance public school capital expenditures may be exempted from specified arbitrage bond provisions. Provides for the treatment of qualified public educational facility bonds as exempt facility bonds. Permits aggregate Federal guarantees of up to $500 million in school construction bonds by the Federal Housing Finance Board. Title IV: Revenue Provisions - Modifies the foreign tax credit carryback and carryover periods. Limits the use of the non-accrual experience method of accounting under provisions relating to special rules for services. Amends provisions involving returns relating to the cancellation of indebtedness by certain entities to include within the definition of "applicable financial entity" any organization a significant trade or business of which is the lending of money. Directs the Secretary to establish a program requiring the payment of user fees for requests to the IRS for ruling letters, opinion letters, determination letters, and other similar requests (terminates fees October 1, 2009). Revises provisions concerning a corporation, its shareholders, and the transferring of certain assets and liabilities. Disallows a deduction for the transfer of a charitable contribution to or for the use of a State or charitable tax-exempt organization or trust if in connection with such transfer: (1) the organization directly or indirectly pays, or has previously paid, any premium on any personal benefit contract (life insurance, annuity, or endowment contract, also known as charitable split-dollar life insurance) with respect to the transferor; or (2) there is an understanding (side agreement) that any person will directly or indirectly pay any premium on such contract with respect to such transferor. Prohibits transfers of excess pension assets to retiree health account made after September 30, 2009 (currently, after December 31, 2000), from being treated as qualified transfers. Modifies rules relating to the exemption of certain ten or more employer plans from welfare benefit fund provisions. Prohibits, in general, the use of the installment method of accounting for accrual method dispositions. Adds to the list of taxable vaccines any conjugate vaccine of streptococcus pneumoniae.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1999
Bear Protection Act of 1999 - Prohibits any person from: (1) importing bear viscera into, or exporting it from, the United States; or (2) selling bear viscera, bartering, offering it for sale or barter, or purchasing, possessing, transporting, delivering, or receiving it in interstate or foreign commerce. Subjects persons who violate such prohibitions to specified penalties. Waives such prohibition for wildlife law enforcement purposes where a valid permit has been issued. Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of State to discuss issues involving such trade with the appropriate representatives of countries that are the leading importers, exporters, or consumers of such products. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to report to Congress on the progress of efforts to end illegal trade in bear viscera.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1999
Designates the Amtrak station to be constructed in the James A. Farley Post Office Building in New York, New York, as the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Station.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1999
Motor Vehicle Franchise Contract Arbitration Fairness Act of 1999 - Provides that each party to a motor vehicle franchise contract providing for the use of arbitration to resolve a controversy arising out of or relating to the contract shall have the option, after the controversy arises and before both parties commence an arbitration proceeding, to reject arbitration as the means of settling the controversy. Requires that any such rejection be in writing. Requires the arbitrator, whenever a party elects arbitration, to provide the parties with a written explanation of the factual and legal basis for the award.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1999
Homelessness Assistance Funding Fairness Act - Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to provide for specified minimum State allocations under the: (1) supportive housing program; (2) section 8 single room occupancy moderate rehabilitation program; and (3) shelter plus care program.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1999
Inspector General Act Amendments of 1999 - Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to limit appointments of Federal Inspectors General to nine-year terms. Allows individuals to serve more than one term. Permits an individual to continue to serve as Inspector General beyond the expiration of his or her term until a successor is appointed and has qualified, except that such individual may not continue to serve for more than one year after the date on which such term would otherwise expire. Prohibits the receipt of any cash award or cash bonus by an Inspector General. Provides for an external review of the Office of Inspector General (Office) for specified Federal agencies at least every three years by the General Accounting Office or a private entity. Sets forth minimum requirements for such reviews and requires a report of results to appropriate congressional committees. Changes the semiannual Office activities report to an annual report. Revises required elements of such reports. Sets forth new semiannual Office activities reporting requirements. Changes the rate of pay of specified Inspectors General from Level IV to Level III of the Executive Schedule. Terminates the Offices of Inspector General of certain designated Federal entities and transfers their functions, in specified cases, to the Offices of Inspector General of the Departments of Labor and Transportation and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), as applicable. Requires the Inspectors General of Offices to which functions are transferred to report on such entities to the heads of such entities instead of reporting to the Departments of Labor or Transportation or OPM. Directs the heads of such entities to make the required transmittal to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1999
Amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to designate a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System under the Wilderness Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1999
Declares that Congress: (1) regards the political independence and territorial integrity of the emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe as vital to European peace and security and, thus, to U.S. interests; (2) endorses the commitment of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will remain open to the accession of further members; and (3) believes that all NATO members should commit to improving their respective defense capabilities and that NATO should prepare more vigorously to defend itself against future threats and to expand its primary defensive focus beyond its previous concentration on threats to the east. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the NAC should pace, not pause, the process of NATO enlargement and should initiate a formal review of all pending applications for NATO membership in the course of the 1999 Washington Summit (with the results presented to the NAC membership in May 2000 with recommendations); (2) NATO should continue to assess potential applicants for NATO membership on a continuous basis; and (3) the President, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense should fully use their offices to encourage the NATO allies of the United States to commit the resources necessary to upgrade their capabilities to rapidly deploy forces over long distances, sustain operations for extended periods of time, and operate jointly with the United States in high intensity conflicts.
![Official portrait of Sen. Roth Jr., William V. [R-DE]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/r000460_200.jpg)