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United States · Official source
2,390 records where Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth a special rule allowing a charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Broadband Internet Access Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the broadband credit which shall be the sum of: (1) the current generation broadband credit; plus (2) the next generation broadband credit. Defines terms.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
National Electricity and Environmental Technology Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) identify technology costs and associated performance goals that would permit continued cost-competitive use of coal for electricity generation, chemical feedstocks, and transportation fuel; (2) implement research and development programs that include demonstration and commercial application of coal-based technologies; and (3) implement a power plant improvement initiative program demonstrating commercial applications of advanced coal-based technologies applicable to new or existing power plants including co-production plants, which must advance the effectiveness, environmental performance, and cost competitiveness well beyond that which is in operation or has been demonstrated on the date of enactment of this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits for investment in: (1) a qualifying clean coal technology unit in an existing coal-based electricity generation facility; and (2) early commercial applications of qualifying advanced clean coal technologies. Sets forth formulae for determining tax credits for unit production of both kinds of technologies. Exempts the installation of a qualifying system of continuous emission control from new source review requirements under the Clean Air Act. Grants a ten-year exemption from any new or increased emission control requirements for the specific pollutant controlled by such a system to any existing coal-based electricity generating unit on which it has been installed, if the system meets or exceeds the specified standard of performance for new stationary sources. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a financial risk pool for a limited time to offset the modification costs resulting from the failure of qualifying advanced clean coal technology to achieve its design performance. Cites conditions under which credits for emission reductions and efficiency improvements in existing coal-based generating facilities of electric cooperatives or publicly owned electric utilities may be treated as offset credits. Entitles the Tennessee Valley Authority to aggregate certain clean coal technology credits and apply them as a credit against obligations for annual returns on the appropriations investment and annual repayment sums.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Self-Employed Health Insurance Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for 100 percent of a self-employed individual's health insurance costs for himself or herself, spouse, and dependents, unless such individual participates in an employer-maintained health plan. (Current law provides for a phased-in 100 percent deduction and disallowance upon participation eligibility.)
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2000
Election Reform Act - Establishes the Election Administration Commission to: (1) develop, update, and adopt voluntary engineering and procedural performance standards for voting systems used in Federal, State, and local elections; (2) advise States regarding compliance with the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act; (3) have primary responsibility to carry out Federal functions under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act as the Presidential designee; (4) carry out the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 regarding mail voter registration; (5) make available information regarding the Federal election system to the public and media; (6) assemble and make available bipartisan panels of election professionals to assist any State election official, upon request, in review of election or vote counting procedures in Federal, State, and local elections; (7) compile and make available to the public the official certified results of Federal elections and statistics regarding national voter registration and turnout; (8) make periodic studies, available to the public, of issues related to administration of elections; and (9) periodically award grants to applicant State and local governments to improve and modernize administration of elections. Authorizes appropriations. Transfers to the Commission: (1) all functions which the Office of Election Administration, established within the Federal Election Commission, exercised before enactment of this Act; and (2) all functions which the Presidential designee under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act exercised before enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2000
American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000 - Title I: Removal of Barriers to Housing Affordability - Housing Affordability Barrier Removal Act of 2000 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to authorize FY 2001 through 2005 appropriations for (consolidated) State and local grants for regulatory barrier removal. Makes consortia of local governments eligible grantees. Requires grant use in coordination with the local comprehensive affordability strategy under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. (Sec. 103) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to state that the regulatory barriers clearinghouse shall be established within the Office of Policy Development of the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the direction of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. Title II: Homeownership for Working Families - Authorizes the Secretary to insure refinancing of home equity conversions for elderly home owners. Provides for: (1) specified transaction disclosures; (2) waiver of counseling under specified conditions; (3) fee limitations; (4) single premium reduction; and (5) an actuarial study to determine insurance premium adequacy. Includes housing cooperatives in the demonstration program of insurance of home equity conversion mortgages for elderly home owners. Directs the Secretary to waive up-front premiums for mortgages used for costs of long-term care insurance or health care. (Sec. 202) Amends the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996 to authorize FY 2001 appropriations for self-help housing providers. Makes certain nongrant fund advances by an organization eligible for reimbursement. Revises fund recapture provisions. Title III: Section 8 Homeownership Option - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide a single grant home ownership downpayment option (in lieu of monthly payments) under the section 8 housing assistance program. (Sec. 302) Authorizes a public housing agency providing tenant-based section 8 housing assistance to provide assistance for a qualifying disabled family that purchases a home which will be owned and occupied by one or more members of such family. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 303) Authorizes FY 2001 appropriations (with a 50 percent matching requirement) for home ownership programs under the section 8 home ownership demonstration program. Title IV: Private Mortgage Insurance Cancellation and Termination - Private Mortgage Insurance Technical Corrections and Clarification Act - Amends the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 with respect to the definition of "cancellation date" to replace "amortization schedules" with, and define, "amortization schedule then in effect" for purposes of adjustable rate mortgages. Includes balloon mortgages within the definition of "adjustable rate mortgages." States that if a residential mortgage loan is modified (with mortgagor-mortgagee agreement) the cancellation date, termination date, or final agreement shall be recalculated to reflect such modifications. (Sec. 404) Extends mortgage insurance cancellation rights beyond the cancellation date for a qualifying borrower who is current on required payments. (Sec. 405) Revises the automatic termination date with respect to a mortgagor who is not current on payments as of the mortgage termination date. States that the cancellation or termination of private mortgage insurance shall not affect the rights of any mortgagee, servicer, or insurer to enforce any accrued obligation for premium payments. (Sec. 406) Revises and defines specified terms. Title V: Native American Homeownership - Subtitle A: Native American Housing - Establishes the Lands Title Report Commission to facilitate home loan mortgages on Indian trust lands. Terminates the Commission one year after its initial meeting. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 502) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to make permanent the Indian housing loan guarantee authority. (Sec. 503) Amends the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 to: (1) restrict the Secretary's authority to waive housing plan requirements to not more than 90 days; (2) permit the Secretary to waive local cooperation requirements upon a good faith showing and agreement to make certain payments in lieu of taxes; (3) permit assistance to Indian families that are not low-income upon a showing of need; (4) eliminate separate housing plan requirements for small tribes; (5) permit the Secretary to waive certain environmental review requirements under specified conditions; (6) permit reservation housing assistance for specified full-time Federal, State, county, or tribal law enforcement officers; (7) revise audit, review, and hearing provisions; (8) prescribe a funding formula for housing authorities operating fewer than 250 units based on an average of FY 1992 through 1997 allocations; and (9) repeal the requirement regarding the certification of compliance with subsidy layering requirements. Subtitle B: Native Hawaiian Housing - Hawaiian Homelands Homeownership Act of 2000 - Amends the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 to add a new Title VIII, Housing Assistance for Native Hawaiians. Directs the Secretary to make block grants to carry out affordable housing activities for Native Hawaiian families on or near Hawaiian Home Lands. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (defined as the agency or department of Hawaii responsible for administration of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920) only if the Director of the Department has submitted a housing plan that meets requirements under this Act, unless otherwise waived by the Secretary. Sets forth plan terms, conditions, and requirements, including a condition that, to the extent practicable, the Department use private nonprofit organizations in the planning and development of such housing. Provides for plan review by the Secretary. Sets forth provisions regarding the treatment of program income, project labor standards, and environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Limits assistance for affordable housing activities under the program to low-income Native Hawaiian families, with specified exceptions for: (1) certain home ownership activities; and (2) assistance to non-Native Hawaiians if the presence of the family in the housing involved is essential to the well-being of Native Hawaiian families and the housing need cannot be met without assistance. Describes eligible affordable housing activities. Sets forth program requirements, including the development of policies governing rents, home buyer payments, eligibility, management, leases, and tenant selection. Sets the maximum monthly rent or home buyer payment at 30 percent of the monthly adjusted family income. Directs the Secretary, in instances of substantial Department noncompliance, to terminate, reduce, or limit payments. Authorizes the Secretary, in addition to such actions, to refer the matter to the Attorney General for civil action. Sets forth review, auditing, and reporting requirements for the Secretary and the Director. Provides for discretionary audits by the Comptroller General. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2005. (Sec. 514) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to authorize the Secretary to guarantee up to $100 million in loans from approved lenders in each of FY 2001 through 2005 to provide access to sources of private financing to Native Hawaiian families who could otherwise not acquire housing financing because of the unique legal status of the Hawaiian Home Lands or as a result of a lack of access to private financial markets. Authorizes loan guarantees of up to 100 percent of unpaid interest and principal. Provides that a loan will be used to construct, acquire, or rehabilitate not more than four-family dwellings that are standard housing and located on Hawaiian Home Lands for which an approved housing plan to provide affordable home ownership housing applies. Sets forth eligible lender categories. Limits loans to 30-year terms. Permits the Secretary to guarantee a loan only upon determining that there is a reasonable prospect of repayment. Establishes a loan guarantee fee. Authorizes loan transfer and assumption, subject to governmental supervision. Provides for lender disqualification for specified violations, and civil monetary penalties for intentional violations. Establishes a Hawaiian Housing Guarantee Fund for the purpose of providing loan guarantees under this Act. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2005. Directs the Secretary to establish safety and quality standards for housing financed under these provisions. Title VI: Manufactured Housing Improvement - Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 - Amends the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 to define specified terms. (Sec. 604) Directs the Secretary to establish manufactured home construction and safety standards in accordance with the consensus standards development process (provided for by this Act). Directs the Secretary to contract with: (1) a temporary administering organization to appoint the initial members of the consensus committee and administer the consensus standards development and related procedural and enforcement processes; and (2) a subsequent administering organization for the development of Federal standards and related procedural and enforcement regulations. Establishes the consensus committee which shall provide the Secretary with periodic recommendations respecting Federal manufactured housing construction and safety standards and related procedural and enforcement regulations. States that committee members shall represent producer, consumer, and general interest and public official interests. Sets forth related administrative provisions. (Sec. 605) Eliminates the National Manufactured Home Advisory Council. Requires manufacturers to provide approved design and installation instructions with each manufactured home. Requires, within specified deadlines: (1) the consensus committee to develop and submit to the Secretary proposed model manufactured home installation standards; and (2) the Secretary to develop model standards. Requires an opportunity for public comment prior to such standards' issuance. Prohibits a State or manufacturer, during the five-year period beginning with the enactment of this Act, from establishing manufactured home installation standards that provide less protection than existing standards. Directs the Secretary, not later than the expiration of such five-year period, to implement in a State that has not adopted a similar program a program which provides for: (1) installation standards and designs and instructions that meet or exceed model standards; (2) installer training and licensing; and (3) installation inspection. (Sec. 606) Directs the Secretary to submit cost information to the consensus committee. (Sec. 607) Includes among research and testing activities: (1) encouraging government-sponsored housing entities to implement secondary market securitization programs for manufactured home loans; and (2) reviewing the programs for Federal Housing Administration manufactured home loans. (Sec. 608) Makes it a prohibited act to fail to comply with the Secretary's installation standards in any State that has not adopted a State installation program. (Sec.609) Authorizes the Secretary to collect manufacturer fees, and sets forth their permitted and prohibited uses. Establishes in the Treasury a Manufactured Housing Fees Trust Fund. Requires inspection and monitoring work to be carried out by independent contractors.. Requires the Secretary to continue funding States with approved plans at levels not less than those existing immediately prior to enactment of this Act. (Sec. 610) Directs the Secretary to establish a dispute resolution program within five years of the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 611) Eliminates the manufactured housing annual reporting requirement. (Sec. 612) Sets forth effective date provisions. (Sec. 613) Sets forth savings provisions, including certain contract duration provisions. Title VII: Rural Housing Ownership - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to direct the Secretary to provide guarantees for rural housing loan refinancing. (Sec. 702) Increases from $2,500 to $7,500 the amount of a rural housing repair loan that needs to be evidenced only by a promissory note. (Sec. 703) Makes limited partnerships eligible for farm labor housing loans. (Sec. 704) Sets forth project accounting and recordkeeping requirements. (Sec. 705) Extends the rural designation of certain areas until the 2010 census. (Sec. 707) Makes Indian tribes (as defined by this Act) eligible for the multifamily rental housing loan guarantee program. (Sec. 708) Establishes civil and criminal penalties for rural housing program equity skimming. Authorizes the Secretary to impose civil monetary penalties and prohibit renewal or extension of loan or assistance agreements for program violations. (Sec. 709) Amends Federal criminal law to include such equity skimming under money laundering provisions. Title VIII: Housing for Elderly and Disabled Families - Affordable Housing for Seniors and Families Act - Subtitle A: Refinancing for Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly - Directs the Secretary: (1) to approve prepayment of indebtedness, including refinancing under specified conditions, provided the project sponsor continues to operate the project on terms at least as advantageous to tenants as required under the original agreement; and (2) upon refinancing, to use at least 50 percent of the resultant savings in a manner that is advantageous to the tenants. Subtitle B: Authorization of Appropriations for Supportive Housing for the Elderly and Persons With Disabilities - Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to authorize FY 2001 through 2003 appropriations for supportive housing for the elderly. (Sec. 822) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to authorize FY 2001 through 2003 appropriations for supportive housing for persons with disabilities. (Sec. 823) Authorizes FY 2001 through 2003 appropriations for: (1) grants for service coordinators for elderly and disabled residents of certain federally assisted multifamily housing; and (2) contracts for congregate services for certain federally assisted housing. Subtitle C: Expanding Public Housing Opportunities for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities - Part 1: Housing for the Elderly - Amends the Housing Act of 1959, with respect to supportive services for the elderly, to make for-profit limited partnerships eligible program participants. (Sec. 832) Permits owners to use mixed funding sources for amenities and other design features. (Sec. 833) Expands acquisition authority. (Sec. 834) Authorizes project reserves to be used to reduce the number of dwelling units by retrofitting unmarketable units. (Sec. 835) States that no provision of law shall be construed to prohibit commercial operations in a project location that benefits project residents. Part 2: Housing for Persons with Disabilities - Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to make certain for-profit limited partnerships eligible recipients under the supportive housing for persons with disabilities program. (Sec. 842) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act with respect to the supportive housing for persons with disabilities program to permit owners to use mixed funding sources for amenities and other design features. (Sec. 843) Provides that tenant-based assistance may be provided through a qualifying public housing agency or a private nonprofit organization. Limits tenant-based assistance to 25 percent of fiscal year program assistance. (Sec. 844) Authorizes project reserves to be used to reduce the number of dwelling units by retrofitting unmarketable units. (Sec. 845) States that no provision of law shall be construed to prohibit commercial operations in a project location that benefits project residents. Part 3: Other Provisions - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to permit service coordinator services to be provided to low-income or elderly persons living in the vicinity of specified federally assisted housing. Includes telemarketing fraud protection among the services provided to elderly residents of federally assisted housing and under the supportive housing program. Directs the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to establish related service coordinator guidelines. Subtitle D: Preservation of Affordable Stock - Amends the National Housing Act, as amended by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, respecting rental and cooperative housing for lower- income families, to eliminate certain restrictions on owner retention of excess charges, including retention and use of certain previously collected excess charges. Title IX: Other Related Housing Provisions - Amends the National Housing Act to extend the insurance-eligible loan term for manufactured home lots to 20 years and 32 days. (Sec. 902) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, respecting enhanced section 8 voucher assistance, to: (1) include within the definition of "eligibility event" any termination or expiration of a contract for rental assistance during any fiscal year after 1994; and (2) provide that a maximum payment adversely affecting assisted families shall not be considered reasonable. (Sec. 904) Permits section 8 assistance to "grand-families." Title X: Federal Reserve Board Provisions - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to authorize the Board to acquire sites or property. (Sec. 1002) Revises the positions of Board members on the Executive Schedule (increasing their salary levels). (Sec. 1003) Revises Federal Reserve System semi-annual reporting requirements. Title XI: Banking and Housing Agency Reports - Federal Reporting Act of 2000 - Makes a specified provision of the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 (reporting requirements included on a list prepared by the Clerk of the House of Representatives for the first session of the 103rd Congress) inapplicable to certain monetary policy, banking, and housing reporting requirements under specified Acts (Sec. 1103) Sets forth specified report coordination requirements respecting: (1) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (2) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (3) the Comptroller of the Treasury; (4) the Export-Import Bank; (5) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (6) the Federal Housing Administration. (Sec. 1104) Amends the: (1) Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to eliminate certain activity and fiscal authority reporting requirements of the Export-Import Bank; and (2) Federal Deposit Insurance Act to eliminate the requirement for a semiannual report on activities and efforts of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Title XII: Financial Regulatory Relief - Financial Regulatory Relief and Economic Efficiency Act of 2000 - Subtitle A: Improving Monetary Policy and Financial Institution Management Practices - Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act (HOLA) to: (1) repeal savings association liquid asset requirements; and (2) permit a savings and loan holding company, with the prior approval by the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, to acquire more than five percent of the voting shares of a non-subsidiary savings association or non-subsidiary savings and loan holding company. (Sec. 1203) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) to repeal deposit broker notification and recordkeeping requirements. (Sec. 1204) Amends the National Bank Consolidation and Merger Act to prescribe expedited procedures permitting a national bank to: (1) reorganize as either a bank holding company, or as a bank holding company subsidiary; or (2) merge with subsidiaries or nonbank affiliates. (Sec. 1205) Amends Federal banking law to increase from one year to three years the term of the national bank director. Amends the Banking Act of 1933 to authorize the Comptroller of the Currency to exempt a national banking association from the 25-member limit on the number of members of an association's governing body. (Sec. 1207) Amends Federal banking law and the FDIA to: (1) repeal the mandate that the purchase or acquisition by a national banking association or depository institution of its own capital stock to prevent loss upon a previously contracted debt be disposed of within six months from the time of purchase; and (2) provide that if an institution acquires its own stock to prevent loss upon a debt previously contracted for in good faith, such transaction shall not be deemed to be a loan or discount on the security of its own capital stock. (Sec. 1208) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 to increase from 90 percent to 100 percent of fair market value the permissible valuation of readily marketable purchased mortgage servicing rights that may be included in calculating an insured depository institution's tangible capital, risk-based capital, or leverage limit, if the Federal regulatory agencies jointly find that such an increase will not adversely affect the deposit insurance funds or the safety and soundness of insured depository institutions. Subtitle B: Streamlining Activities of Institutions - Requires that Federal banking agencies work jointly to develop: (1) electronic filing and public dissemination of depository institution status reports (call reports); and (2) uniform formats and simplified filing instructions for such reports. Subtitle C: Streamlining Agency Actions - Amends the FDIA to: (1) repeal the mandate that Federal banking agencies develop jointly a method for supplemental disclosures in required Federal filings of the estimated fair market value of depository institution assets and liabilities; (2) authorize the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to establish the interest rate for or make post-insolvency interest payments to creditors' claims against the receivership estates of insured Federal or State depository institutions following satisfaction by the receiver of the principal amount of all creditor claims; and (3) mandate that Federal banking agencies jointly submit an annual report to certain congressional banking committees regarding differences in accounting and capital standards used by such agencies (currently such reports must be filed by the agencies individually). (Sec. 1224) Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to extend the deadline for the Finance Board's issuance of regulations respecting Federal home loan bank capital standards. Subtitle D: Technical Corrections - Makes technical corrections to related Acts. (Sec. 1233) Amends Federal banking law to: (1) authorize the Comptroller of the Currency to waive the citizenship requirement for a minority of the total number of directors sitting on the board of a national bank; (2) declare it is unlawful for the Comptroller to hold an interest in any national bank; and (3) repeal specified capital and surplus requirements for national banking associations. (Sec. 1234) Amends the International Bank Act of 1978 to modify examination requirements pertaining to establishment and operation by a foreign bank of Federal branches and agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2000
Peace Through Negotiations Act of 2000 - Declares it to be U.S. policy to oppose the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state, to withhold diplomatic recognition of any Palestinian state that is unilaterally declared, and to encourage other countries and international organizations to withhold diplomatic recognition of any Palestinian state that is unilaterally declared. Sets forth certain measures that shall be applied in the event that a Palestinian state is unilaterally declared, including: (1) to make it unlawful for the government of any unilaterally declared Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), or any successor entities to establish an office in the United States; (2) to bar of U.S. assistance to the government of any unilaterally declared Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority (or to any successor entity), and any programs or projects in the West Bank or Gaza (except humanitarian assistance); (3) to withhold a specified percentage of the U.S. contribution to any international organization that recognizes a unilaterally declared Palestinian state; and (4) to oppose such state's membership in any international financial institution or the extension by such institution of any loan or other financial assistance to it. Authorizes the President to suspend, for one year, the application of a specified number of such measures provided he determines and certifies to specified congressional committees that such suspensions are in the national security interests of the United States or the application of such measures would significantly hinder the prospects for a negotiated peace agreement in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2000
Cosmetology Tax Fairness and Compliance Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the credit for the portion of employer social security taxes paid with respect to employee cash tips to include tips given for cosmetology services. Requires information reporting by providers of cosmetology services.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2000
Declares that the Senate memorializes specified Navy sailors lost in the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, and extends condolences to their family members, other loved ones, and shipmates. Expresses the sense of the Senate that all the people of the United States join the Chief of Naval Operations and other members of the Navy in mourning the grievous loss of life among the members of the crew of the U.S.S. Cole. Declares that the Senate: (1) recognizes the loss, sacrifice, valor, and determination of the surviving members of members of the crew of the U.S.S. Cole; (2) extends sympathy to the 39 sailors of that crew injured in the attack on their vessel; and (3) commends the crew members for their remarkable performance, professionalism, skill, and success in fulfilling their duties to support and save the U.S.S. Cole following the attack.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2000
Honors the members of the crew of the U.S.S. COLE who died or were wounded as a result of the terrorist attack on such ship in Aden, Yemen on October 12, 2000. Extends sympathy to their families. Commends the ship's crew for their heroic damage control efforts. Condemns the attack as an unprovoked and cowardly act of terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 2000
Affordable Drinking Water Act of 2000 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to nonprofit organizations to assist eligible individuals obtain financing for construction, refurbishing, and servicing of individual household water well systems in rural areas.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2000
Designates the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 431 North George Street in Millersville, Pennsylvania, as the Robert S. Walker Post Office.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2000
Social Security KidSave Accounts Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to create a new part B (KidSave Accounts). Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to establish in the name of each individual born on or after January 1, 2000, an individual retirement account in the Thrift Savings Fund known as a KidSave Account. Requires such Account to be treated in the same manner as an account maintained by a Federal employee under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) (into which contributions by or on behalf of the individual are deposited into one or more designated investment funds). Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer from the Federal Old- Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund to each account holder's KidSave Account: (1) $2,000, on the date such individual's KidSave Account is established; plus (2) other, including rollover, contributions, by or on behalf of the individual, the aggregate amount of which in the case of any individual below age 19 is capped at $500 for any taxable year. Provides for the treatment of distributions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income any rollovers into a KidSave Account.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2000
Criminal Justice Integrity and Law Enforcement Assistance Act - Title I: Post-Conviction DNA Testing in Federal Court - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize an individual imprisoned for conviction of a criminal offense to make a motion for the performance of forensic DNA testing on evidence that was: (1) secured in relation to the investigation or prosecution that resulted in such conviction; and (2) not subject to the DNA testing requested because the testing technology was not available at the time of trial. Provides an exception when there is no reasonable possibility that such testing will produce exculpatory evidence. Prohibits the destruction of biological material during the 30-month period authorized for such testing. Title II: Convicted Offender DNA Index System - Convicted Offender DNA Index System Support Act - Requires the: (1) Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to develop and implement a plan to assist eligible States in performing DNA analyses of samples collected from convicted offenders and to pay for such analyses, in order to eliminate the backlog of convicted offender DNA samples awaiting analysis in State or local forensic laboratory storage; and (2) Attorney General to develop and implement a plan to assist eligible States in performing DNA analyses of crime scene evidence in casework for which there are no suspects, in order to eliminate that backlog. Requires the FBI Director to develop and implement a plan to eliminate the backlog of crime scene evidence awaiting DNA analysis in FBI forensic laboratory storage. Authorizes the Director to expand the combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS) to include information on missing persons. Provides for the DNA identification of Federal, District of Columbia, and military felony offenders.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2000
Honors Roberto Clemente as a great humanitarian and a great athlete.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2000
Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2000 - Directs that, in determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various U.S. administrative bureaus and agencies, the words "person," "human being," "child," and "individual" shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive (as defined in this Act) at any stage of development.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2000
Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act of 2000 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the use of drug control and system improvement (Byrne) grants to improve the quality, timeliness, and credibility of forensic science services for criminal justice purposes. Conditions such use on the State's grant application including a certification that the State has an established a forensic science laboratory or forensic science laboratory system or a medical examiner's office that meets specified requirements, including accreditation requirements. Establishes a forensic sciences improvement grant program. Directs the Attorney General to award such grants if specified conditions are met, including that any forensic science laboratory system, medical examiner's office, or coroner's office funded uses generally accepted laboratory practices and procedures. Sets forth requirements regarding applications, allocation of funds, permissible uses of grants, and administrative and reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations for the elimination of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) convicted offender database sample backlogs and for other related purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2000
Medicare Puerto Rico Hospital Payment Parity Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to increase base payment amounts to Puerto Rico hospitals and to revise the calculation of Medicare disproportionate share payments for prospective payment system hospitals in Puerto Rico.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2000
Medicare Beneficiaries' Choice Stabilization Act of 2000 - Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to payments to Medicare+Choice organizations to provide for: (1) establishment of a floor for Medicare+Choice payment rates after applying risk-adjustment methodology; (2) elimination of budget neutrality adjustment for 2001 and 2002; (3) an increase in national per capita Medicare+Choice growth percentage in 2001 and 2002: (4) election by a Medicare+Choice organization to apply an area- specific percentage of 50 percent and a national percentage of 50 percent for 2001 and 2002 rather than the rate currently applicable for 2002 in determining the blended capitation rate used in determining the calculation of annual Medicare+Choice capitation rates; (5) an increased update for payment areas with only one or no Medicare+Choice contracts; (6) higher negotiated rates in certain Medicare+Choice payment areas below national average; and (7) a ten year phased-in risk adjustment based on data from all settings. Delays from July to November 2000 the deadline for withdrawing the offer, or rescinding the withdrawal, of Medicare+Choice plans for 2001. Amends SSA title XVIII part C to Medicare+Choice program data collection requirements with regard to: (1) issuance of encounter data submission requirements; (2) post- stabilization guidelines; and (3) on-line enrollment. Prohibits the Secretary from making any changes in the enrollment and disenrollment instructions and related materials (including operational policy letters and evidence of coverage) under Medicare+Choice between enactment of this Act and January 1, 2002, except as may be specifically and only required to comply with a change in statute.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2000
Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 2000 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to modify its rules authorizing the operation of low-power FM radio stations to: (1) prescribe minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels (as well as co-channels and first- and second-adjacent channels); and (2) prohibit any applicant from obtaining a low-power FM license if such applicant has engaged in the unlicensed operation of any radio station in violation of FCC radio licensing requirements. Prohibits the FCC, without specific authorization by Congress, from: (1) eliminating or reducing such minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels; or (2) extending the eligibility for low-power FM stations beyond those organizations and entities proposed in MM Docket No. 99-25. Invalidates any previously issued low-power FM station license that does not comply with such rule modifications. Directs the FCC to conduct an experimental program to test whether low- power FM stations will result in harmful interference to existing FM radio stations if such stations are not subject to the minimum distance separation requirements. Requires the FCC to: (1) publish test results and allow an opportunity for public comment; and (2) report test results and FCC recommendations on reducing or eliminating minimum distance standards to specified congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2000
Medicare Temporary Drug Assistance Act - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XXII (Outpatient Prescription Drug Assistance Program) to provide funds to enable States to establish a program of assistance (separate from Medicaid under SSA title XIX) to low-income Medicare (SSA title XVIII) beneficiaries and, at State option, Medicare beneficiaries with high drug costs to obtain coverage for outpatient prescription drugs. Makes appropriations. Allows low-income Medicare beneficiaries and Medicare beneficiaries with high drug costs to elect to suspend Medicare supplemental (Medigap) insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2000
Unilateral Palestinian Statehood Disapproval Act of 2000 - Declares it to be U.S. policy not to recognize: (1) a unilaterally declared Palestinian state; or (2) any document or other instrument of a unilaterally declared Palestinian state, including any passport or postage. Urges other specified action (including diplomatic and economic sanctions) by the United States with respect to its nonrecognition of a unilaterally declared Palestinian state. Urges the President to expedite and upgrade his ongoing review of strategic relations between the United States and Israel. Authorizes the President to waive the requirements of this Act if it is in the national security interest of the United States or advances the peace process.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program Act of 2000 - Amends specified Federal law to redesignate, as the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, the Peace Corps Fellows-USA Program promoting the work of returning Peace Corps volunteers in underserved U.S. communities.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make a grant to or contract with an organization or institution with substantial experience in curriculum-based entrepreneurship education to establish a national clearinghouse for youth entrepreneurship education to: (1) facilitate professional development opportunities for teachers; (2) stimulate community partnerships with businesses, youth, agencies, and nonprofit entities (including faith-based, nonprofit, and other local organizations); (3) collect and disseminate curricular materials; and (4) undertake other activities to encourage teacher interest and involvement in entrepreneurship education, especially for students in grades seven through 12. Authorizes appropriations. Declares that supporting curriculum-based youth entrepreneurship education programs with demonstrated records of empowering disadvantaged youth with applied mathematics, entrepreneurial, and other analytical skills shall be considered an eligible use of funds in specified programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2000
Middle East Peace Process Support Act - Prohibits U.S. assistance to any unilaterally-declared Palestinian state. Directs the President to instruct the U.S. Representative to the United Nations to oppose admission to the United Nations of a unilaterally-declared Palestinian state or formal recognition by the United Nations of such a state.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2000
Social Security Guarantee Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue to each individual receiving benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) and, thereafter, to each individual who applies for such benefits, a certificate representing a legally enforceable guarantee: (1) of the monthly amount of benefits that the individual will receive under that title, as determined on the certificate's date of issuance; and (2) that the benefits will be adjusted at least annually on the basis of an accurate determination of the increase in the individual's cost-of-living, and as a result in a change in the eligibility status of the individual under that title. States that any certificate issued under the authority of this Act constitutes budget authority in advance of appropriations Acts and represents the obligation of the Federal Government to provide for the payment to the individual to whom the certificate is issued OASDI benefits in the amounts set forth in the certificate and subsequently adjusted.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2000
Designates the week beginning September 17, 2000, as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2000
Rural America Prosperity Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make revisions concerning both farmers and non-farmers. Provides for, with respect to all taxpayers, among other things: (1) the repeal of the estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes; and (2) the deduction of 100 percent of health insurance costs for the self-employed. Provides for, with respect to farmers, among other things: (1) the limited exclusion of the gain from the sale of qualified farmland; and (2) a limited deduction for contributions to a Farm and Ranch Risk Management Account. Provides for a study of the costs of regulations on farmers, ranchers, and foresters. Reciprocal Trade Agreement Authorities Act of 2000 - Authorizes the President, whenever the President determines that one or more existing duties or other import restrictions of any foreign country or the United States are unduly burdening and restricting the foreign trade of the United States to enter into trade agreements with foreign countries (during a limited time period) which, among other things: (1) create more open, equitable, and reciprocal market access; (2) reduce or eliminate trade barriers that decrease market opportunities for U.S. exports; (3) expand market opportunities for U.S. exports; (4) obtain reciprocal tariff and non-tariff barrier elimination; and (5) free the transfer of funds relating to investments. Agricultural Trade Freedom Act - Amends the Agricultural trade Act of 1978 to exempt, subject to specified exceptions, agricultural commodities made available as a result of commercial sales from a unilateral trade sanction imposed by the United States on another country.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2000
Expresses the condolences of the Senate on the death of Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2000
Social Security Number Privacy Act of 2000 - Amends the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to require the Federal functional regulators to promulgate regulations restricting the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers by financial institutions. Prohibits a financial institution from selling or purchasing a Social Security number or Social Security account number in violation of such regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Children's Public Health Act of 2000 - Title I: Injury Prevention - Subtitle A: Traumatic Brain Injury - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a national education and awareness campaign regarding prevention of traumatic brain injury. Modifies requirements and authorizes appropriations regarding a currently-mandated study of traumatic brain injury. Authorizes an existing trauma research program to include research on cognitive disorders and neurobehavioral consequences of traumatic brain injury. Authorizes appropriations for that program. (Sec. 104) Authorizes grants for projects (currently, for demonstration projects) to improve access to health and other services regarding traumatic brain injury. Allows required matching funds to be in cash or in kind (currently, in cash). Regulates the use of grant funds. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Child Care Safety and Health Grants - Directs the Secretary to make allotments to States to establish programs to improve the health and safety of children receiving child care outside the home. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Maternal and Infant Health - Subtitle A: Safe Motherhood and Infant Health Promotion - Pregnant Women and Infants Health Protection Act - Directs the Secretary to carry out programs relating to prenatal and postnatal smoking and alcohol and illegal drug use. Authorizes grants and contracts. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) establish and implement a national surveillance program regarding investigation of deaths and severe complications during pregnancy; (2) expand the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System; and (3) expand the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Healthy Start Initiative - Healthy Start Initiative Continuation Act - Directs the Secretary to continue the Healthy Start Initiative (to reduce infant mortality and improve perinatal outcomes) and authorizes carrying it out on a national basis. Authorizes, if funding increases, additional grants. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to provide other health services (including ultrasound, prenatal care, genetic counseling, and fetal and other surgery) for pregnant women or infants that are medically appropriate to prevent or mitigate congenital defects or other serious obstetric complications. Allows using grant funds for paying transportation and subsistence expenses to assist the woman in obtaining health services from the grantee involved. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities - Establishes the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities to: (1) collect, analyze, and make available date on birth defects and developmental disabilities; and (2) conduct applied epidemiological research, and provide information and education to the pubic, on prevention of such defects and disabilities. Transfers to such Center all activities, budgets, and personnel of the National Center for Environmental Health that relate to birth defects, folic acid, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, child development, newborn screening, autism, Fragile X syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, pediatric genetics, disability prevention, and other activities. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Folic Acid Education Program - Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of professional and public education and training, research, and epidemiological activities regarding folic acid and birth defects. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Pediatric Public Health Promotion - Subtitle A: Asthma - Directs the Secretary to make grants to provide comprehensive asthma-related services for children and other individuals. Authorizes appropriations. Allows preventive health and health services block grant funds to be used for projects to reduce the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related illnesses among urban populations, especially children, by reducing exposure to cockroach allergen or other known asthma triggers through pest management that minimizes or avoids pesticide chemicals through a combination of site maintenance, cleaning, and monitoring. Directs the Secretary to: (1) identify all Federal programs carrying out asthma-related activities; (2) develop a Federal plan for responding to asthma; and (3) submit recommendations to Congress on ways to strengthen and improve Federal coordination of such activities. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) to: (1) conduct local asthma surveillance activities to collect data on the prevalence and severity of asthma and the quality of asthma management; and (2) compile and annually publish data on the prevalence of children suffering from asthma in each State and the childhood mortality rate associated with asthma nationally and in each State. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Childhood Obesity Prevention - Directs the Secretary to award grants for the development and implementation of State and community-based intervention programs promoting good nutrition and physical activity in children and adolescents. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct research on physical activity, diet, health, health-related behaviors, and childhood obesity and its effects in adulthood; (2) develop and evaluate strategies to prevent and treat obesity and eating disorders; (3) identify obesity behaviors and risk factors; (4) evaluate materials and programs providing nutrition education to parents, teachers, and food service staff of child care and pre-school entities; and (5) evaluate materials and programs designed to educate and encourage physical activity in child care and pre-school facilities. Directs the Secretary to develop a national public campaign to promote and educate children and parents regarding health risks associated with obesity, inactivity, and poor nutrition, ways to incorporate physical activity into daily living, the benefits of good nutrition, and strategies to improve eating habits. Directs the Secretary to develop and carry out a program to educate and train health professionals in effective strategies to identify and assess patients with, or at risk for, obesity or an eating disorder, counsel, refer, or treat patients with obesity or an eating disorder, and educate patients and their families about strategies to improve dietary habits and establish appropriate levels of physical activity. Subtitle C: Early Detection and Treatment Regarding Childhood Lead Poisoning - Modifies application and reporting requirements for existing grants regarding lead poisoning. Directs the Secretary to develop national guidelines for the uniform and complete reporting of all blood lead test results to State and local health departments. Requires the CDCP Director to assist with the improvement of data links between local and State health departments and the CDCP, help States with the development of data management systems for the surveillance of children with lead poisoning, and take other actions regarding lead poisoning. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 322) Directs the Secretary to: (1) make grants where data suggests that at least five percent of preschool-age children have an elevated blood level; and (2) conduct education and training programs for health care providers regarding childhood lead poisoning. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Oral Health - Directs the Secretary to support: (1) community-based research on the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of pediatric oral, dental, craniofacial diseases and conditions and their sequelae in high risk populations; (2) demonstrations of preventive interventions in those populations; and (3) the development of clinical approaches to assess individual patients for the risk of pediatric dental disease. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 332) Directs the Secretary to establish a program of repayment of oral health professionals' educational loans in return for the professionals agreeing to conduct pediatric oral, dental, and craniofacial disease and condition research or training. (Sec. 333) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to increase the resources available for community water fluoridation. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 334) Directs the Secretary to establish a demonstration project to assist rural water systems in implementing the CDCP's water fluoridation guidelines. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 335) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for the development of programs to improve children's school-based access to sealants. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 336) Directs the Secretary to: (1) fund innovative oral health activities that improve the oral health of children under six years who are eligible for services under a Federal health program; and (2) make grants or contracts to increase training of oral health services providers or to increase children's use of dental services. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Pediatric Research - Subtitle A: Pediatric Research Initiative - Mandates the establishment of a Pediatric Research Initiative to conduct and support research and coordination directly related to illnesses and conditions of children. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary to make available enhanced support for extramural activities relating to the training and career development of pediatric researchers. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to repay the educational loans of pediatricians in return for conducting pediatric research. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Autism - Requires the NIH Director to expand, intensify, and coordinate NIH activities regarding autism. Requires the Director, among other things, to make grants and contracts for centers of excellence regarding autism research. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 412) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and cooperative agreements for the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on autism and pervasive developmental disabilities. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish, through grants or cooperative agreements, at least three regional centers of excellence in autism and pervasive developmental disabilities epidemiology to collect and analyze information on autism and developmental disabilities; (2) establish a clearinghouse for the collection and storage of data generated from the monitoring programs created by this title; (3) coordinate the Federal response to requests for assistance from State health department officials regarding potential or alleged autism or developmental disability clusters. Authorizes appropriations; and (4) establish a program to provide information and education on autism to health professionals and the public. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 414) Directs the Secretary to establish an Autism Coordinating Committee. Subtitle C: Long-Term Child Development - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to establish a consortium of Federal agency representatives to: (1) plan and implement a prospective cohort study of the effects of chronic and intermittent exposures on human development; and (2) investigate basic mechanisms of developmental disorders and environmental factors that influence growth and developmental processes. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Research on Rare Diseases in Children - Requires the NIH Director to report to Congress on NIH activities regarding children's rare diseases. Subtitle E: GME Programs in Children's Hospitals - Extends the mandate to make annual payments to each children's hospital for the direct and indirect expenses of operating graduate medical residency training programs. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily, through December 31, 2003, the duty on Exisulind.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2000
Urges the Nobel Commission to award the Nobel Prize for Peace to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2000
Authorizes the President, on behalf of Congress, to present a gold medal to General Wesley K. Clark, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and service as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during the military operations against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2000
Medicare Adult Day Services Alternative Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for Medicare coverage of substitute adult day care services.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2000
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2000 - Title I: Medicare Management and Administration - Subtitle A: Establishment of the Competitive Medicare Agency - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XXII (Medicare Competition and Prescription Drugs) to establish, as an independent agency in the executive branch, a Medicare Competition Agency, headed by a Commissioner, to administer the Medicare Prescription Drug and Supplemental Benefit Program (program) under part B (established by title II of this Act) and the Medicare+Choice program under part C (Medicare+Choice) of SSA title XVIII (Medicare). (Sec. 101) Establishes a Medicare Competition and Prescription Drug Advisory Board. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 102) Amends SSA title XVIII to make the Commissioner a member of the Board of Trustees of the Medicare trust funds. (Sec. 103) Amends Federal civil service law to provide for a salary increase for the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). Subtitle B: Redefined Medicare Solvency Measures - Amends SSA title XVIII to require the Board of Trustees to make a separate annual report on the operation and status of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and on the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under Medicare part B (Supplementary Insurance), including the Medicare Prescription Drug Account (created by title II of this Act) within it. (Sec. 151) Expresses the sense of Congress that the committees of jurisdiction shall hold hearings on such reports. Title II: Medicare Prescription Drug and Supplemental Benefit Program - Amends SSA title XXII to add a new part B (Medicare Prescription Drug and Supplemental Benefit Program) requiring the Commissioner to establish the Medicare Prescription Drug and Supplemental Benefit Program under which an eligible beneficiary may voluntarily enroll in, and receive access to covered outpatient prescription drugs and other benefits through, a Medicare Prescription Plus plan (plan) offered by a private entity or by a Medicare+Choice plan. Makes the costs of providing program benefits payable from the Medicare Prescription Drug Account. (Sec. 201) Outlines program procedures, including procedures for: (1) enrollment; (2) a Commissioner study and report to Congress on permitting individuals enrolled under Medicare part B but not entitled to benefits under Medicare part A to buy into the program; (3) plan election; (4) beneficiary outreach; (5) application of Medicare+Choice secondary payor requirements to the program in the same manner as they apply under the Medicare+Choice program; (5) alternative coverage requirements; (6) access to negotiated prices; (7) actuarial valuation and determination of annual percentage increases; (8) beneficiary protections, including grievance resolution; (9) requirements for entities offering plans, including licensure; (10) submission and approval of plans; (11) payments to plans for benefits; (12) computation and collection of beneficiary share of premium; (13) additional prescription drug subsidies through reinsurance; (14) plan fees for administrative costs; and (15) creation and use of the Medicare Prescription Drug Account. (Sec. 202) Revises requirements for the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund to comply with this Act. (Sec. 203) Amends SSA title XVIII part C to prohibit a Medicare+Choice organization from offering prescription drug coverage to a Medicare+Choice plan enrollee unless such drug coverage is at least qualified prescription drug coverage under this Act, and unless specified requirements for such coverage are met. (Sec. 204) Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to require a State, as a condition for receiving Federal financial assistance for its Medicaid plan, to make Medicare prescription drug benefit eligibility determinations for low-income premium and cost-sharing subsidies. Mandates specified increases in applicable Federal matching rates for State expenditures for additional administrative costs. Provides for phased-in Federal assumption of Medicaid prescription drug costs in the case of an individual dually entitled to qualified prescription drug coverage under a Medicaid plan or under a Medicare+Choice plan under Medicare part C. (Sec. 205) Prohibits any new Medigap policy covering prescription drugs from being issued, on or after January 1, 2003, to an individual unless it replaces a Medigap policy that was issued to that individual and that provided some coverage of expenses for prescription drugs. Prohibits the issuer of a Medigap policy from denying or conditioning Medigap coverage for an individual who terminates certain kinds of Medigap policies and applies for certain other kinds. Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to establish Medigap protections for individuals who lose Medicare prescription plus plan coverage. (Sec. 206) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the extent to which reimbursement for drugs and biologicals under the current Medicare payment methodology overpays for the cost of such drugs and biologicals compared to the average acquisition cost paid by physicians or other drug suppliers. Title III: Medicare+Choice Reforms - Amends Medicare part C with respect to: (1) increasing in national per capita Medicare+Choice growth percentage in 2001 and 2002; (2) removing application of budget neutrality beginning in 2002; (3) payments to Medicare+Choice organizations based on risk-adjusted bids; (4) premium reduction and Medicare+Choice monthly supplemental beneficiary premium; (5) rules relating to premiums owed by Medicare+Choice enrollees; (6) allowing plans to include described reductions and other benefits in their basic benefits; (7) a special rule for end-stage renal disease; (8) information comparing plan premiums; (9) national coverage determinations; (10) disclosure requirements; (11) geographic adjustment; (12) Medicare+Choice monthly basic beneficiary premium; (13) a freeze of the health risk adjuster at 20 percent after 2002; and (14) adjustment in payment to include the Commissioner's estimate of the amount of additional payments that would have been made in the area involved if individuals entitled to Medicare+Choice benefits had not received services from facilities of the Departments of Veterans Affairs or of Defense for purposes of calculating annual Medicare+Choice capitation rates. Title IV: Medicare Beneficiary Outreach and Education - Amends SSA title XXII to add a new part C (Medicare Consumer Coalitions) authorizing the Commissioner of the Competitive Medicare Agency to establish Medicare Consumer Coalitions to conduct information programs comparing the original Medicare fee-for-service program, available Medicare+Choice plans, and available Medicare Prescription Plus plans. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2000
Urges the Government of Argentina to: (1) pursue the local and international connections to the terrorist attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and to duly punish all those who were involved; and (2) pursue and prosecute any person with ties to Hezbollah or any other terrorist organization. Calls on the President to raise this issue in bilateral discussions with Argentine officials and to underscore U.S. concern regarding the six- year delay in the resolution of this case. Recommends that the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States seek support from the countries comprising the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism to assist, if requested by the Argentine Government, in the investigation of this terrorist attack and encourages the President to direct U.S. law enforcement agencies to provide support and cooperation to such Government, if requested, for purposes of the investigation into this and other terrorist activities in the tri-border area. Expresses the Senate's desire for a lasting and positive relationship between the United States and Argentina based on a mutual commitment to the rule of law and democracy in the Western Hemisphere and mutual abhorrence of terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2000
Violence Against Women Act of 2000 - Title I: Strengthening Law Enforcement to Reduce Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General (AG) to make grants to provide technical assistance and equipment to police departments, prosecutors, courts, and tribal jurisdictions to facilitate the widespread enforcement of protection orders. Revises provisions of the Federal criminal code governing the full faith and credit of protection orders. Designates State, local, and Indian tribal courts as eligible grantees under the program to combat violent crimes against women. Reauthorizes through FY 2005 various programs which address violence against women, including domestic violence and stalking offenses. Title II: Strengthening Services to Victims of Violence - Authorizes the AG to award grants to increase the availability of legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault. Reauthorizes through FY 2005 various grants and programs under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Title III: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children - Authorizes the AG to make grants to States, local governments, and Indian tribal governments for the provision of supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children by and between parents in situations involving domestic violence, child abuse, or sexual assault. Reauthorizes through FY 2005 runaway and homeless youth grants and programs for victims of child abuse. Title IV: Strengthening Education and Training to Combat Violence Against Women - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for model programs of education and training in appropriate responses to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Title V: Battered Immigrant Women - Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 2000 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide certain protections to battered immigrant women. Title VI: Extension of Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund - Extends through FY 2005 the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2000
Dairy Market Enhancement Act of 2000 - Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program of mandatory dairy product information reporting. Directs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to study and report to Congress respecting dairy product reporting measures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2000
American Community Renewal and New Markets Empowerment Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, the National Housing Act, the Small Business Investment Act, the Public Health Service Act and other acts to provide incentives for low- and moderate-income community development. Provides for the designation of and tax incentives for renewal communities. Provides that the designations shall be based on degree of poverty. Provides a credit for computer donations to schools, senior centers, public libraries and other training centers located in a renewal community, empowerment zone, Indian reservation, or a defined low-income community. Provides for the designation of additional empowerment zones and increased empowerment zone tax incentives. Permits a religious organization to receive Federal funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Prohibits funding discrimination against such an organization so long as its program is implemented in a manner consistent with the Establishment Clause of the first amendment to the Constitution. Provides for the transfer of unoccupied and substandard HUD housing to local governments and community development corporations. Authorizes the licensing of community development entities as America's Private Investment Companies which shall promote community and economic development in low-income communities. Establishes a new markets tax credit with respect to specified qualified low-income community investments. Establishes a New Markets Capital Venture Program to encourage venture capital investment in smaller enterprises located in low- and moderate-income urban and rural areas. Provides for bond volume cap and low-income housing credit increases. Provides for the establishment of Individual Development Accounts and Individual Development Account Programs to provide for the accumulation of assets in low-income communities to used to promote education, homeownership, family, community, and business development. Requires the Federal Government, or a State or local government, to consider a religious organization's assistance program on the same basis as other nongovernmental organizations in the distribution of Federal funds so long as the religious organization's assistance program provides assistance in a manner consistent with the Establishment Clause of the first amendment to the Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2000
Affordable Housing for Seniors and Families Act - Title I: Refinancing for Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, respecting projects assisted under section 202 (supportive housing for the elderly) of the Housing Act of 1959, to: (1) approve prepayment of indebtedness, including refinancing under specified conditions, provided the project sponsor continues to operate the project on terms at least as advantageous to tenants as required under the original agreement; and (2) upon refinancing, use at least 50 percent of the resultant savings in a manner that is advantageous to the tenants. Title II: Authorization of Appropriations for Supportive Housing for the Elderly and Persons With Disabilities - Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to authorize appropriations for supportive housing for the elderly. (Sec. 202) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to authorize appropriations for supportive housing for persons with disabilities. (Sec. 203) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) grants for service coordinators for elderly and disabled residents of certain federally assisted multifamily housing; and (2) contracts for congregate services for certain federally assisted housing. Title III: Expanding Public Housing Opportunities for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities - Subtitle A: Housing for the Elderly - Amends the Housing Act of 1959, with respect to supportive services for the elderly, to establish a matching capital grant program. Provides for certain numbers of tenants who are elderly but not very low-income persons. (Sec. 302) Makes for-profit limited partnerships eligible program participants. (Sec. 303) Permits owners to use mixed funding sources for amenities and other design features. (Sec. 304) Expands acquisition authority. (Sec. 305) Authorizes low-income eligibility in supportive housing projects with high vacancy rates. (Sec. 306) Authorizes project reserves to be used to reduce the number of dwelling units by retrofitting unmarketable units. (Sec. 307) States that no provision of law shall be construed to prohibit commercial operations in a project location that benefits project residents. (Sec. 308) Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program for up to five projects to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of providing section 202 assistance for housing projects that are both for supportive services for the elderly and for other types of housing, including market rate housing. (Sec. 309) Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to authorize the Secretary to make grants for capital repairs of elderly housing projects or their conversion to assisted living facilities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 310) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize the Secretary to make grants to public housing agencies for conversion of public housing for the elderly to assisted living facilities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 311) Directs the Secretary to make an annual inventory of HUD and federally-assisted housing designated for elderly and disabled families. (Sec. 312) Directs the Secretary, in the case of denial of section 202 assistance for failure to provide timely information, to notify and provide opportunity for the applicant to show third party fault. Subtitle B: Housing for Persons with Disabilities - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act with respect to supportive housing for persons with disabilities to include among assistance forms a capital advance matching grants program. Provides for certain numbers of tenants who are disabled but not very low-income persons. (Sec. 322) Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to make certain for-profit limited partnerships eligible recipients under the supportive housing for persons with disabilities program. (Sec. 323) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act with respect to the supportive housing for persons with disabilities program to permit owners to use mixed funding sources for amenities and other design features. (Sec. 324) Provides that limited tenant-based assistance may be provided through a qualifying public housing agency or a private nonprofit organization. (Sec. 325) Authorizes project reserves to be used to reduce the number of dwelling units by retrofitting unmarketable units. (Sec. 326) States that no provision of law shall be construed to prohibit commercial operations in a project location that benefits project residents. Subtitle C: Other Provisions - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to permit service coordinator services to be provided to low-income or elderly persons living in the vicinity of specified federally assisted housing. Includes telemarketing fraud protection among the services provided to elderly residents of federally assisted housing and under the supportive housing program. Title IV: Preservation of Affordable Housing Stock - Directs the Secretary to make grants to States and localities for low-income housing preservation and promotion. Title V: Mortgage Insurance for Health Care Facilities and Home Equity Conversion Mortgages - Amends the National Housing Act to authorize mortgage insurance for debt refinancing of existing health care facilities. Permits hospital, home, or facility refinancing to prepay a loan that is within five years of maturity. Permits use of refinancing proceeds for related maintenance and equipment. (Sec. 502) Includes within the definition of "assisted living facility" certain unlicenced facilities. Defines "integrated service facility." (Sec. 503) Revises hospital mortgage insurance provisions. (Sec. 504) Authorizes the Secretary to insure refinancing of home equity conversion mortgages.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2000
Tax-Exempt Political Disclosure Act - Title I: Section 527 Organizations - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a political organization from being treated as such unless it gives notice within 24 hours of being established that it is to be so treated. Provides that if notice is given after such period, the organization shall not be so treated for any period before such notice is given. Requires, in the case of an organization failing to give such notice, such organization's taxable income to be computed by taking into account any exempt function income (and any deductions directly connected with the production of such income). Excepts certain organizations from the notification requirement. Makes information on organizations that file such notices, and such notices, publicly available. Prohibits treating an organization as a political organization unless it makes required disclosures. Makes such disclosures publicly available and prescribes monetary penalties for failures to make disclosures available for inspection. Requires political organizations which have gross receipts of $25,000 or more per taxable year, with an exception, to file tax returns. Provides for public disclosure of such returns and prescribes monetary penalties for failures to file or provide correct information. Title II: Tax-Exempt Business and Labor Organizations Engaging in Political Activity - Requires any labor organization described in paragraph 5 or any business league, chamber of commerce, or board of trade described in paragraph 6 of section 501(c) (tax exempt organizations) from being considered a 501 (c) organization unless specified information is submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury concerning the organization's activities, contributors, and expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2000
Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for the establishment and operation of a national sanctuary system for all surplus federally owned chimpanzees that are no longer needed in research conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, or other Federal agencies. Mandates that any chimpanzee that is not owned by the Federal Government be accepted into the system if the owner transfers title to the chimpanzee to the sanctuary system. Provides for standards for permanent retirement of chimpanzees into the system. Requires such standards to empower the Secretary to authorize imposition of a fee (except in certain circumstances) for accepting a non-Federal chimpanzee into the system. Provides for funding. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants or contracts for the operation of facilities that provide for the retirement of chimpanzees in accordance with the same standards that apply to the sanctuary system.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2000
Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2000 - Title I: Brownfields Revitalization Funding - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish programs to provide grants to eligible entities (including local government units, redevelopment agencies, States, and Indian tribes) for: (1) inventorying, characterizing, assessing, and conducting planning related to brownfield sites; and (2) remediating brownfield sites through loans. Defines a "brownfield site," with exceptions, as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which is complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance or pollutant. Includes within such definition a site contaminated by a controlled substance or mine-scarred land. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Brownfields Liability Clarifications - Exempts from liability under CERCLA certain owners of real property contiguous to property on which there has been a hazardous substance release or threatened release that is not owned by such persons. (Sec. 202) Absolves from liability for response actions bona fide prospective purchasers to the extent liability at a facility for a release or threat thereof is based solely on ownership or operation of a facility. Gives a lien upon a facility to the United States for unrecovered response costs in any casefor which the owner is not liable by reason of this section and the facility's fair market value has increased above that which existed before the action was taken. (Sec. 203) Deems a person, with respect to defenses to liability of an owner of after-acquired property, to have undertaken appropriate inquiry into the property's previous ownership and uses if the person demonstrates that inquiries were undertaken in accordance with specified requirements (for property purchased after May 31, 1997, compliance with an American Society for Testing and Materials standard until standards are issued by the Administrator). Deems the appropriate inquiry requirements to be satisfied by a facility inspection and title search that reveal no basis for further investigation in the case of property for residential or similar use purchased by a nongovernmental or noncommercial entity. Title III: State Response Programs - Adds CERCLA provisions authorizing the Administrator to provide grants to States or Indian tribes to establish or enhance response programs comprised of elements including survey and inventory of brownfield sites, public participation opportunities, oversight and enforcement authorities, and certification mechanisms. Authorizes appropriations. Restricts authority to take enforcement actions under CERCLA in cases of hazardous substance releases addressed by a State response plan. Authorizes the President to bring enforcement actions in certain instances, including cases where a State requests assistance, there is migration of contamination across State lines or onto Federal property, or there is an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment and additional response actions are likely to be necessary. Makes restrictions on the President's authority to take such actions applicable only at sites in States that maintain, update at least annually, and make publicly available a record of sites at which response actions have been completed in the previous year and are planned to be addressed under the State response program in the upcoming year. Applies enforcement action requirements only to response actions conducted after June 8, 2000. (Sec. 302) Requires the President to defer final listing of an eligible response site on the National Priorities List if the State is conducting a response action in compliance with a State response program that will provide long-term health and environmental protection or is actively pursuing an agreement to perform such an action with a capable person. Requires reasonable progress toward completion of actions for deferral of listing. Permits the President to decline to defer, or discontinue a deferral if: (1) deferral would be inappropriate because the State, as an owner, operator, or significant contributor is a potentially responsible party; (2) the criteria under the National Contingency Plan for issuance of a health advisory have been met; or (3) the other conditions under this section for deferral are no longer being met.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2000
National Dairy Farmers Fairness Act of 2000 - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make FY 2001 and 2002 payments (based upon a sliding scale) to qualifying producers of Class III milk. Caps annual payments to a producer at 26,000 hundredweight of all milk.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2000
Broadband Internet Access Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the broadband credit which shall be the sum of: (1) the current generation broadband credit; plus; (2) the next generation broadband credit. Defines terms. Requires a study and report.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2000
Calls upon the President to: (1) issue a proclamation recognizing the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, reasserting the U.S. commitment to full implementation of the Act, and urging all signatory states to abide by their obligations under the Act; and (2) convey to all signatory states that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic principles, economic liberty, and the implementation of related commitments continue to be vital elements in promoting a new era of democracy, peace, and unity in the region.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2000
China Nonproliferation Act - Directs the President to report annually to specified congressional committees on every person (with certain exceptions) with respect to whom there is credible information indicating that such person, on or after January 1, 2000, transferred, retransferred, sold, misused, or diverted from, or within, the People's Republic of China to a foreign person or Chinese national involved in the development or acquisition of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons or ballistic or cruise missiles any goods, services, or technology: (1) listed on the Nuclear Suppliers Group Guidelines for the Export of Nuclear Material, Equipment and Technology and Guidelines for Transfers of Nuclear-Related Dual-Use Equipment, Material, and Related Technology (both published by the International Atomic Energy Agency), the Missile Technology Control Regime Equipment and Technology Annex of June 11, 1996, the lists of items and substances relating to biological and chemical weapons the export of which is controlled by the Australia Group, the Schedules of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, or the Wassenaar Arrangement list of Dual Use Goods and Technologies and Munitions list of July 12, 1996; or (2) not identified on any of these lists, but would be if they were U.S. goods, services, or technology prohibited or controlled for export to China (or any tier IV countries as defined by the Bureau of Export Administration of the Department of Commerce), and have the potential to contribute to the development, improvement, or production of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons, or of ballistic or cruise missile systems, or advanced conventional weapons or munitions. (Sec. 3) Requires the President to include in the report information: (1) on any action taken by a person identified in a prior annual report that establishes that the person has discontinued, rectified, or mitigated a prior proliferation activity identified under this Act; (2) on measures taken against such persons or against China in response to proliferation activities; and (3) other specified information. Requires submission of such reports in unclassified form, with classified annexes as necessary. (Sec. 4) Directs the President to apply certain measures for at least 12 months to each person identified in the annual report. Includes among such measures: (1) those set forth Executive Order No. 12938; (2) prohibition of U.S. Government transfers or sales to such person of any item on the U.S. Munitions List, and termination of all sales and after-sale servicing to such person of any defense articles, defense services, or design and construction services under the Arms Export Control Act; (3) denial of licenses, suspension of existing licenses, and termination of all transfers or sales and after-sale servicing for the transfer to such person of any item the export of which is controlled under the Export Administration Act of 1979 or the Export Administration regulations; (4) prohibition of U.S. Government procurement of any goods or services from such person; (5) prohibition of U.S. assistance to such person in the form of grants, loans, credits, guarantees, or otherwise; (6) immediate suspension of any agreements or efforts for the co-development or co-production with such person of any item on the U.S. Munitions List. Sets conditions for the lifting of such measures. (Sec. 5) Requires the President to apply additional specified tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 measures against China if certain circumstances exist. Requires one or more tier 2 measures if a person's proliferation activities are not rectified, or a person has engaged in additional proliferation activities, one year after imposition of section (4) measures, and one or more tier 3 measures if similar circumstances exist two years after imposition of section (4) measures. (Sec. 6) Sets forth procedures for congressional review of any presidential decision not to impose sanctions under this Act, or to exempt a person or China from such sanctions. Mandates imposition of such sanctions if Congress disapproves by joint resolution the President's decision. (Sec. 7) Requires transmittal to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the President's annual report under this Act. Requires the SEC to promulgate regulations to: (1) ensure that securities investors are notified of the identity of any person in the report the securities of which are listed, or authorized for listing, on a registered national securities exchange (or tier or segment) or by a registered national securities association; and (2) require each person included in such a report to provide notice of such inclusion in each written report, registration statement, or other filing or notice required from that person under the securities laws.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2000
Access to Innovation for Medicare Patients Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of self-injected biologicals approved by the Food and Drug Administration that are prescribed as a complete replacement for a drug or a biological that otherwise cannot be self-administered.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2000
Extends condolences to the families of the 19 members of the U.S. Marine Corps who died in the crash of an MV-22 Osprey aircraft on April 8, 2000, during a training mission in Marana, Arizona. Acknowledges that such members embody the credo of the Marine Corps, "Semper Fidelis." Recognizes with appreciation and respect the loyalty and sacrifice these families have demonstrated in support of the Marine Corps.