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United States · Official source
5,049 records where Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Proclaims March 15 through 21, 1998, as National Safe Place Week.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Calls upon: (1) the Clinton administration to investigate and report to the Congress on the Palestinian Authority's role in enforcing a policy that selling land to Jews is a crime punishable by death; and (2) the Authority to denounce this policy. Prohibits providing foreign assistance to the Authority until this policy is reversed.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1997
Designates the weeks beginning on November 23, 1997, and November 22, 1998, as National Family Week.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1997
Designates July 2, 1997 and 1998 as National Literacy Day.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1997
Freedom From Religious Persecution Act of 1997 - Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the Office of Religious Persecution Monitoring, whose Director, appointed by the President, with Senate consent, shall: (1) consider the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom presented in certain annual reports on human rights by the Department of State and by independent human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations; (2) make policy recommendations to the President regarding U.S. policies toward governments engaged in religious persecution; and (3) maintain lists of religious persecution facilitating goods and services and the responsible entities within countries engaged in religious persecution. (Sec. 3) Distinguishes between category 1 religious persecution (conducted by government officials or agents) and category 2 religious persecution (conducted by non-government entities or persons, but which the government fails to undertake serious and sustained efforts to eliminate). (Sec. 5) Requires the Director to report to specified congressional committees on countries and entities engaged in religious persecution, identifying the category of persecution and listing persecution facilitating products, goods, and services. (Sec. 7) Prohibits: (1) Federal agencies and U.S. persons from exporting goods, including religious persecution facilitating goods and services, to countries and responsible entities engaged in religious persecution; and (2) U.S. and multilateral assistance to such countries. Directs the President, in casting any vote concerning the membership of a country in the World Trade Organization (WTO), to consider as a significant factor that the country is engaged in religious persecution. Directs the Secretary of State to deny the issuance of a visa to, and the Attorney General shall exclude from the United States, any alien responsible for carrying out acts of religious persecution. (Sec. 8) Provides for the waiver of such sanctions. (Sec. 9) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (as amended by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996), with respect to eligibility for asylum in the United States, to include under the term "credible fear of persecution" aliens who can claim membership in a community found to be subject to religious persecution. Directs the Attorney General to establish a program to provide training on religious persecution to immigration officers who inspect aliens for admission into the United States. Sets forth procedures for the denial of admission based on religious persecution claims. (Sec. 10) Sets forth requirements with respect to certain State Department human rights reports. Directs the Secretary of State to provide training on the right to religious freedom to chiefs of missions as well as certain Department officials. (Sec. 11) Provides for the termination of sanctions. (Sec. 12) Extends certain existing trade and economic sanctions against Sudan for supporting acts of international terrorism until the Director determines that Sudan has substantially eliminated religious persecution, or no longer supports acts of international terrorism, whichever occurs later. Imposes additional trade, economic, and cultural sanctions against Sudan. Sets forth penalties for violations of certain sanctions. Declares it is the sense of the Congress that the President, or, at his discretion, the Secretary of State should convene an international conference of the other industrialized democracies to reach an international agreement to bring about an end to religious persecution in Sudan. Prescribes congressional procedures for implementing such an agreement. Declares it is the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations (UN) to propose that the UN Security Council impose measures against Sudan. Makes it U.S. policy to impose additional measures against Sudan if its policy of religious persecution has not ended on or before December 25, 1997.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1997
Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage Act of 1997 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a group health plan, and a health insurance issuer providing group coverage, from: (1) excluding or restricting benefits for prescription contraceptive drugs, devices, and outpatient services if the plan provides benefits for other outpatient prescription drugs, devices, or outpatient services; (2) denying eligibility based on use or potential use of such items or services; (3) providing monetary payments or rebates to a covered individual to encourage acceptance of less than the minimum protections available; (4) penalizing, reducing, or limiting a professional's reimbursement because the professional prescribed such drugs or devices or provided such services; or (5) providing incentives to a professional to induce the professional to withhold drugs, devices, or services. Amends the Public Health Service Act to apply those prohibitions to coverage offered in the individual market.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1997
Commemorates the 15th anniversary of the construction and dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1997
Mass Transit Amendments Act of 1997 - Amends Federal transportation law to add to the general purposes of mass transportation programs: (1) providing financial assistance to State and local governments to help carry out national goals related to mobility for individuals seeking employment or job training in order to end their reliance on public assistance programs; and (2) achieving demonstrable reductions in energy consumption and air pollution through increased reliance on mass transportation. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to States, local governments, and private nonprofit organizations to provide access, through the use of vans, buses, or train routes, to suburban employment and job training opportunities to residents of distressed urban and rural areas. Defines "distressed urban area" as any urban area with a population over 50,000 that meets certain Housing and Urban Development criteria. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 5) Requires metropolitan planning organizations in developing transportation plans and programs to consider, among other things, the transportation requirements of a strategy to revitalize the Nation's inner cities by creating new employment, job training, housing, mobility, and other economic opportunities in urban areas. (Sec. 6) Makes mass transportation block grants for capital projects and related equipment and facilities available for maintaining capital assets. (Sec. 7) Authorizes urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000 and rural areas to use capital project block grants for either operating or capital needs. (Sec. 8) Extends for an additional four-year period discretionary grants and loans: (1) for fixed guideway modernization and capital projects for new fixed guideway systems and extensions to existing systems; and (2) to replace, rehabilitate, and buy buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities. (Sec. 9) Declares that the Secretary may authorize a recipient who no longer needs an asset acquired with mass transportation block grant assistance to sell (currently, transfer) such asset and retain the proceeds of the sale if certain conditions are met. (Sec. 10) Authorizes appropriations through FY 2002 for: (1) certain apportionments to urbanized areas for fixed guideway modernization (nondiscretionary); (2) specified mass transportation programs; (3) the national mass transportation institute; (4) university research institutes; and (5) transportation centers (including set-asides). (Sec. 11) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary, for apportionment adjustment purposes, to estimate quarterly the net highway receipts of the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) for the 24-month period (currently, 12-month period) beginning at the close of the next fiscal year. (Sec. 12) Establishes in the HTF the Intercity Passenger Rail Account. Transfers to the Account certain portions of the amounts attributable to taxes for gasoline, diesel fuel, special motor fuels, compressed natural gas, methanol and ethanol fuel, and nongasoline noncommercial aviation fuels. Makes amounts in the Account available to finance qualified expenses of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and each non-Amtrak State. (Redistributes to the Intercity Passenger Rail Account and the Mass Transit Account the 4.3 cents per gallon gasoline tax which is currently going to deficit reduction.) Increases the rate of transfer to the Mass Transit Account. Extends until October 1, 2002, the availability of Mass Transit Account funds for authorized expenditures. Increases the HTF financing rate for gasoline, special motor fuels, and diesel fuel.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1997
Breast-Cancer Research Stamp Act - Requires the U.S. Postal Service to establish a special rate of postage for first-class mail that is one cent higher than the regular rate as an alternative that patrons may use voluntarily to contribute to funding for breast-cancer research. Authorizes the Service to design and sell special stamps. Requires the Service to pay amounts attributable (additional revenues minus costs) to the one-cent differential to the Department of Health and Human Services at least twice a year.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1997
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal to Mother Teresa of Calcutta in recognition of her contributions to humanitarian and charitable activities. Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike a suitable gold medal. Authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates. Declares these medals to be national medals. Authorizes appropriations. Mandates deposit of sale proceeds in the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1997
Children's Health Insurance Provides Security (CHIPS) Act of 1997 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to offer an enhanced Federal match to States with Medicaid plans that provide for: (1) coverage of pregnant women, infants, and children under age six with family income between 133 and 150 percent of the poverty line, as well as older children with family income between 100 and 150 percent of the poverty line; and (2) continuous eligibility for a 12-month period for children under any age the State specifies (up to age 19). Gives States the option to: (1) expand Medicaid eligibility to 150 percent of the poverty line for children over one year of age; and (2) extend coverage to all children under age 19. Prohibits any employer which elects to make employer health insurance contributions on behalf of an employee (or dependent) from conditioning, or varying, such contributions with respect to any such individual by reason of his or her eligibility for Medicaid. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for grants to States, localities, and nonprofit entities to promote outreach efforts to enroll eligible children under Medicaid and related programs.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1997
Designates May 15, 1997, as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1997
Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1997 - Amends the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 to: (1) include among the Act's purposes to develop and implement proposals for the restoration of fish and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes Basin; and (2) include microorganisms within the definition of "nonindigenous species." Requires the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to: (1) ensure that proposals resulting from recommendations of the Great Lakes fishery resources restoration study or identified through an annual request to specified State and tribal entities are developed and that the highest priority proposals are implemented; and (2) annually request that State Directors and Indian Tribes submit fish and wildlife resources restoration proposals based on the results of the study or other sources. Requires the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to retain authority and responsibility for formulation and implementation of a comprehensive program for eradicating or minimizing sea lamprey populations in the Basin. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, at the Commission's request, to construct and improve water resources projects related to sea lamprey management. Establishes the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Proposal Review Committee. Requires the Director to select proposals to be implemented and, within available appropriations, fund their implementation. Sets forth cost-sharing requirements. Requires maintenance of the functions of the Great Lakes Coordination Office in East Lansing, Michigan, and of the Upper and Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Offices. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1997
Designates April 30, 1997, as National Erase the Hate and Eliminate Racism Day.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1997
Minority and Women Capital Formation Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a limited deduction of an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate bases of qualified minority fund interests and qualified women's fund interests which are acquired by a taxpayer during the taxable year at original issuance and are held at the close of such taxable year. Establishes a limited deduction of an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate bases of small minority business stock and small women's business corporations which are acquired by a taxpayer during the taxable year at original issuance and are held at the close of such taxable year. Permits a taxpayer to elect a limited credit in lieu of either deduction. Sets forth recapture provisions. Provides for the treatment of capital gains on such investments.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1997
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1997 - Repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. Prescribes procedural guidelines for both Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and State access to records of a holding company (including subsidiaries, associates and affiliates) of a public utility or natural gas company. Instructs FERC to promulgate a final rule to exempt specified holding companies from such access requirements. Requires FERC to exempt any person or transaction from such access requirements if it finds that regulation of such person or transaction is irrelevant to the jurisdictional rates of a public utility company. Retains the jurisdiction of FERC and State commissions to determine whether a public utility company may recover in rates any costs of affiliate transactions. Declares this Act inapplicable to: (1) the United States; (2) a State or its political subdivision; and (3) a foreign governmental authority not operating in the United States. Grants FERC certain Federal Power Act enforcement powers. Transfers from the Securities and Exchange Commission to FERC all books and records that relate primarily to the functions vested in FERC by this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Federal Power Act to repeal its conflict of jurisdiction guidelines.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1997
Requests that a nationwide moment of remembrance be observed on Memorial Day, May 26, 1997, by the simultaneous pausing of all citizens to acknowledge the playing of "Taps" at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) in honor of the Americans who gave their lives in the pursuit of freedom and peace.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1997
Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to use the price of feed grains and other cash expenses in determining the basic formula price for milk and any other regulated milk price.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1997
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to collect and disseminate weekly statistically reliable information from milk manufacturing plants on bulk cheese prices, and authorizes the Secretary to require dairy manufacturing plants to report weekly prices for cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1997
Separate Enrollment and Line Item Veto Act of 1997 - Prohibits the Committee on Appropriations of either the House of Representatives or the Senate from reporting an appropriation measure that fails to contain such level of detail on the allocation of an item of appropriation proposed by that House as is set forth in the accompanying committee report. Prohibits a congressional committee from reporting an authorization measure containing new direct spending or new targeted tax benefits unless such measure presents such items separately and the accompanying committee report contains the necessary level of detail. Prohibits the filing of conference reports on appropriations measures that fail to contain such level of detail on the allocation of an item as is set forth in the accompanying statement of managers. Allows the waiver or appeal of such prohibitions by a three-fifths vote of the appropriate House. Requires separate enrollment of each item of appropriation or authorization in measures passed by both Houses in identical form. Provides for congressional consideration of such bills. Provides for expedited judicial review of provisions of this Act in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and direct appeals to the Supreme Court. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the inclusion of nonemergency spending proposals in emergency spending legislation. Allows such proposals to contain rescissions of budget authority or provisions that reduce direct spending. Requires savings from rescissions bills to be used for deficit reduction. Requires the President to submit legislation for the periodic review, reauthorization, and sunset of tax expenditures with the FY 1997 budget. Requires the inclusion in the budget beginning with FY 1999 of a performance plan for measuring the overall effectiveness of tax expenditures, including a schedule for periodically assessing the effects of specific tax expenditures in achieving performance goals. Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to include as a pilot project the periodic analyses of such goals and the relationship between tax expenditures and spending programs. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit consideration in the House and the Senate of legislation that contains a tax expenditure unless the expenditure terminates not later than ten years after the date of its enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to qualified State tuition programs to, among other things: (1) provide for the exclusion from gross income of distributions used for qualified higher education expenses; (2) include room and board in the definition of qualified higher education expenses; and (3) permit income from redeemed U.S. savings bonds to be used to contribute, without including such income in gross income (subject to income limitations), to a qualified State tuition program.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1997
Flat Tax Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal current tax provisions for individuals and businesses and replace them with provisions for a flat tax of 20 percent of the income of individuals and businesses. Allows, for an individual, for: (1) a standard deduction, with an inflation adjustment; (2) limited charitable contribution deductions; and (3) a limited deduction for home acquisition indebtedness. Allows deductions to a business for: (1) the cost of business inputs (the cost of specified goods, services, travel, entertainment, and lobbying and political expenditures); (2) compensation paid to employees; and (3) the cost of personal and real property used in business activities. Repeals the estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes. Repeals provisions concerning: (1) the financing of presidential elections; and (2) coal industry health benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1997
Congratulates the residents of Jerusalem and the people of Israel on the 30th anniversary of the reunification of that city. Calls upon the President and the Secretary of State to publicly affirm as a matter of U.S. policy that Jerusalem must remain the undivided capital of Israel. Urges U.S. officials to refrain from any actions that contradict U.S. law on this subject.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1997
ISTEA Reauthorization Act of 1997 - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY 1998 through 2003 for: (1) the National Highway System; (2) the Interstate maintenance program; (3) the surface transportation program; (4) the bridge program; (5) congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program; (6) the minimum allocation program; (7) apportionment adjustments; (8) the Interstate System reimbursement program; (9) certain projects under the Federal lands highways program; (10) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) highway safety programs; and (11) FHWA highway safety research and development. (Sec. 4) Amends Federal-aid highway law to revise the formula for determining the State apportionment of funds for the National Highway System and the surface transportation program. Extends through FY 2003 the set aside of Federal highway funds for discretionary projects for the resurfacing, restoring, rehabilitating, and reconstructing of routes on the Interstate System (4 R projects). (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Transportation, not later than April 1, 2000, to report to specified congressional committees recommended adjustments to the formula used to apportion funds to States for the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program, and to the amount apportioned for the program, to reflect changes since the enactment of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) in: (1) national ambient air quality standards under the Clean Air Act; and (2) the emission control requirements that result from such standards. Directs the Secretary to withhold ten percent of the apportionments if the recommendations are not enacted into law by October 1, 2000. Revises the formula for the apportionment of funds under the program. Adds transportation projects which will have air quality benefits, and consist of certain intercity rail passenger activities, to the eligible projects that a State may obligate congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program and surface transportation program funds. Limits a State's obligation for such projects to no more than 50 percent of the apportioned funds. (Sec. 6) Extends for an additional six-fiscal year period the obligation of a State to allocate surface transportation program funds for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction in urbanized areas with a population over 200,000. (Sec. 7) Increases the minimum amount of apportioned highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program funds that a State shall receive in any fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 through 2003 for the discretionary bridge program. (Sec. 8) Revises for FY 1998 and each fiscal year thereafter the formula for determining the amount of highway funds that would be required to ensure a State's percentage of the total apportionments in each fiscal year and allocations for the prior fiscal year for specified transportation programs is not less than 90 percent of the percentage that the population of the State is of the population of the United States. (Sec. 10) Provides for the adjustment of funds apportioned to States for the surface transportation program. (Sec. 11) Extends through FY 2003: (1) the strategic highway research program; (2) the applied research and technology program; (3) intelligent transportation systems; (4) the scenic byways program; (5) construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities; and (6) the national recreational trails program. (Sec. 15) Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a comprehensive initiative to carry out a comprehensive research program to investigate and understand the relationships between transportation, land use, and the environment; and (2) award transportation and land use planning and policy grants to State, regional, and local agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 16) Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY 1998 through 2003 for construction of the Appalachian development highway system.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1997
Allows a disabled individual who has or is granted the privilege of the Senate floor to bring those supporting services (including service dogs, wheelchairs, and interpreters) on the Senate floor as are determined by the employing or supervising office to be necessary to assist the individual in discharging his or her official duties.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1997
Mammography Quality Standards Reauthorization Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations to carry out provisions relating to the certification of mammography facilities. Requires that appeals from certification denials follow procedures in effect at that time (currently, in effect on a specified date). Modifies mammogram record retention requirements. Allows inspection of facilities (currently, certified facilities) for compliance with certification requirements and mammography quality standards (currently, compliance with mammography quality standards). Allows inspections to be conducted by a local agency on behalf of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Empowers the Secretary to require a facility to notify patients who received mammograms if the Secretary determines the quality was so inconsistent with standards as to present a significant risk to the individual or public health. Authorizes civil money penalties for failure to comply. Allows certificate suspension or revocation for a failure to comply with an accreditation body's requests for records or materials. Modifies requirements for certification suspension before holding a hearing.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1997
Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research Act of 1997 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate a program for the conduct and support of research and training regarding Parkinson's disease. Directs the Director of the National Institutes of Health to provide for coordination of the program among all the national research institutes conducting Parkinson's research. Requires coordination to include the convening of a research planning conference at least once every two years. Provides for each such conference to prepare and submit to certain congressional committees a report concerning the conference. Requires Core Center Grants to encourage the development of innovative multidisciplinary research and provide training concerning Parkinson's, designating each grant recipient as a Morris K. Udall Center for Research on Parkinson's Disease. Establishes a grant program to support investigators with a proven record of excellence and innovation in Parkinson's research and who demonstrate potential for significant breakthroughs in the understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of Parkinson's. Limits the availability of grants for a period not to exceed five years. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1997
Historic Homeownership Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 20 percent of the qualified rehabilitation expenditures made by a taxpayer with respect to a certified historic home which has been substantially rehabilitated and which is owned by the taxpayer and used as his or her principal residence. Allows the credit for such expenditures to be taken by a purchaser of the rehabilitated home. Permits, in lieu of the credit, a historic rehabilitation mortgage credit certificate, which shall be transferred to a lender in exchange for a reduction in the rate of interest on the loan secured by the building.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1997
Designates April 9, 1997, and April 9, 1998, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1997
Designates the week of May 4, 1997, as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1997
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Commerce should ensure that the information requested in the 2000 decennial census of population with respect to ancestry will be at least as comprehensive as the information that was requested in the 1990 decennial census (in terms of its content and the range of respondents from whom it is sought).
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1997
Healthy Children's Pilot Program Act of 1997 - Mandates grants to a State for planning and establishing a pilot program to provide vouchers to eligible children to enable the children to enroll in a health plan offered in the State. (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a payment to each participating State for (unless appropriations are insufficient) 100 percent of the voucher cost and five percent of administration expenses. (Sec. 7) Ties eligibility to: (1) income, excluding children who are eligible for medical assistance under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act; (2) age; and (3) citizenship or lawful permanent residency. Regulates voucher amounts. (Sec. 9) Establishes the Healthy Children's Trust Fund. Appropriates amounts from the Fund to carry out this Act. (Sec. 11) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to modify license application competitive bidding requirements. Requires the Federal Communications Commission to conduct, by competitive bidding, the assignment of licenses for specified frequency bands. Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to provide for the reallocation of bands currently used by the Federal Government. Modifies reallocation and distribution of frequency requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1997
Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish in the Treasury the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund to finance qualified expenses of: (1) the National Railroad Passenger Corporation; and (2) non-Amtrak States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1997
National Fund for Health Research Act - Establishes the National Fund for Health Research. Transfers to the Fund amounts equivalent to amounts designated by each health plan equal to a specified percentage of all premiums received by each health plan for each calendar year and transferred to the Treasury. Mandates distributions from the Fund to the National Institutes of Health, the National Center for Research Resources, and for carrying out specified Public Health Service Act provisions relating to health information communications. Excludes amounts in the Fund from consideration or enforcement with regard to the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1997
Designates October 19 through 25, 1997, as National Character Counts Week.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1997
Commercial Revitalization Tax Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an investment tax credit equal to a percentage of expenditures for depreciable property in connection with the rehabilitation or reconstruction of a nonresidential building located in: (1) an empowerment zone or enterprise community; (2) an area established pursuant to a consolidated planning process for the use of Federal housing and community development funds; or (3) a low-income commercial revitalization district specially designated by a State or local government which is not primarily a nonresidential central business district. Requires, for qualification of such expenditures, that they exceed 25 percent of the fair market value of the building before rehabilitation. Imposes a State ceiling on the availability of the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1997
Provides for a specified increase in Federal judicial salaries. Amends the Federal judicial code to: (1) provide for annual judicial cost-of-living adjustments; and (2) base such adjustments upon the Federal General Schedule. Amends Federal law to repeal the requirement that the Congress must vote for judicial cost-of-living adjustments.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1997
Constitutional Amendment - Grants authority to: (1) the Congress to set reasonable limits on contributions and expenditures made by, in support of, or in opposition to, a candidate for nomination or election to Federal office; (2) a State to set reasonable limits on contributions and expenditures made by, in support of, or in opposition to, a candidate for nomination or election to State or local office; and (3) the Congress to implement and enforce this amendment by legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1997
Designates March of each year as Irish American Heritage Month.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1997
Designates March 25, 1997, as Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1997
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Agriculture should consider acting immediately to modify the Basic Formula Price for dairy by replacing the National Cheese Exchange as a factor in setting such price.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1997
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal. Authorizes specified charges against the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund to pay for the cost of the medal and requires the proceeds of duplicate medal sales to be deposited in the Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1997
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Agriculture should consider acting immediately to modify the Basic Formula Price for dairy by replacing the National Cheese Exchange as a factor in setting such Price, and to establish in its place an equivalent pricing mechanism more reflective of national dairy conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1997
Officer Brian Gibson District of Columbia Police Protection Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties, including the death penalty, for the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer of the District of Columbia. Includes among aggravating circumstances for imposition of the death penalty that the defendant committed the offense against the officer: (1) while the officer was engaged in the performance of official duties; (2) because of the officer's performance of official duties; or (3) because of such officer's status as a public servant.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend permanently the tax credit for expenses of clinical testing of certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1997
Bear Protection Act - Prohibits any person from: (1) importing bear viscera into, or exporting it from, the United States; or (2) selling bear viscera, bartering, offering it for sale or barter, purchasing, or possessing it with intent to sell or barter, transporting, acquiring, or receiving it in interstate or foreign commerce. Subjects persons who violate such prohibitions to specified penalties. Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the United States Trade Representative to discuss issues involving such trade with representatives of countries that are the leading importers, exporters, or consumers of such products. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the progress of efforts to end illegal trade in bear viscera.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1997
Authorizes expenditures by the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs for the 105th Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1997
Expresses the sense of the Senate that studies are needed to further determine the benefits of screening women between the ages of 40 and 49 through mammography and other emerging technologies and that the Senate urges the Advisory Panel for the National Cancer Institute to consider reissuing a specified guideline rescinded in 1993 and, until there is more definitive data, direct the public to consider guidelines issued by other organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1997
National Endowment for the Arts Termination Act of 1997 - Amends the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 to abolish the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Council on the Arts (NCA). Renames such Act the National Foundation on the Humanities Act of 1965. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to provide for the termination of the affairs of the NEA and the NCA.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Health Care Coverage for Children Title II: Health Care Insurance Coverage Title III: Primary and Preventive Care Services Title IV: Patient's Right to Decline Medical Treatment Title V: Primary and Preventive Care Providers Title VI: Cost Containment Title VII: Tax Incentives for Purchase of Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance Title VIII: National Fund for Health Research Health Care Assurance Act of 1997 - Title I: Health Care Coverage for Children - Healthy Kids Pilot Program Act of 1997 - Mandates grants to a State for planning and establishing a pilot program to provide vouchers to eligible children to enable the children to enroll in a health plan offered in the State. (Sec. 106) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a payment to each participating State for (unless appropriations are insufficient) 100 percent of the voucher cost and five percent of administration expenses. (Sec. 107) Ties eligibility to: (1) income, excluding children who are eligible for medical assistance under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act; (2) age; and (3) citizenship or lawful permanent residency. Regulates voucher amounts. (Sec. 109) Establishes the Healthy Kids Trust Fund. Appropriates amounts from the Fund to carry out this Act. (Sec. 111) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to modify license application competitive bidding requirements. Requires the Federal Communications Commission to conduct, by competitive bidding, the assignment of licenses for specified frequency bands. Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to provide for the reallocation of bands currently used by the Federal Government. Modifies reallocation and distribution of frequency requirements. Title II: Health Care Insurance Coverage - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to mandate: (1) a set of rules for determining the actuarial value of the coverage offered by a plan or group health insurance coverage; and (2) a target actuarial value. Includes coverage for medical and surgical services, medical equipment, preventive services, and emergency transportation in frontier areas (standard coverage). Mandates model regulations specifying standards for making qualified group health plans available to small employers. Allows a State to implement more stringent standards, so long as the State standards do not prevent the offering of at least one plan that provides standard coverage. Requires each group plan offered, and issuer offering group coverage, to a small employer to establish a standard premium in each community rating area. Requires each State to divide the State into one or more community rating areas. Regulates premiums. Provides for the treatment of rates negotiated with a small employer purchasing group in a rating area. Mandates full disclosure of rating practices. Provides for State certification of small employer purchasing groups. Regulates such groups. Provides for payroll deductions for premiums. Requires each such group to offer eligible employees, eligible individuals, and certain uninsured individuals the opportunity to enroll in any qualified group health plan that has an agreement with the group. Regulates premiums. Requires each such group to market plans to members through the entire community rating area served by the group. Mandates grants to States and small employer purchasing groups to assist in planning, developing, and operating such groups. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes a State to establish a system in all or part of the State under which the groups are the sole mechanism through which coverage for employees of small employers may be purchased or provided. Requires each small employer (except new and very small employers) to make available to each eligible employee a group health plan providing at least standard coverage, with a specified maximum waiting period allowed. Declares that employer cost contributions are not required. Allows the requirement to be met through a multiemployer plan. Applies the requirements of this title to a multiemployer plan that is maintained by an organization such as a trade, industry, or professional association, a chamber of commerce, a religious organization, or a public entity association. Requires that a plan be certified by the Secretary. Sets forth special rules for church plans, plans maintained by a health plan sponsor, or plans maintained by a rural electric or rural telephone cooperative. Amends the Public Health Service Act to apply the provisions of this title to coverage offered in the individual market. (Sec. 211) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose taxes on the failure to comply with this title's requirements by a health insurance issuer, any small employer, or a qualified association, church plan, multiemployer plan, or plan maintained by a rural electric or telephone cooperative. (Sec. 214) Allows self-employed individuals to deduct 100 percent of their health insurance costs in 2007 and thereafter. (Sec. 215) Provides for group health plan continuation coverage and modifies the requirements regarding the period of continuation coverage. Title III: Primary and Preventive Care Services - Authorizes appropriations to carry out the healthy start program under provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to research and investigations generally, requiring reservation of specified amounts for model projects. (Sec. 302) Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for: (1) preventive health service immunization programs; (2) the prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases; (3) family planning projects; (4) breast and cervical cancer programs; and (5) preventive health and health services block grants. Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grants) of the Social Security Act to authorize appropriations. (Sec. 303) Mandates grants to States to enable the States to: (1) make grants to establish, operate, and improve local programs of comprehensive health education and prevention, early health intervention, and health education in elementary and secondary schools; and (2) develop related training, technical assistance, and coordination. Establishes in the Office of the Secretary of Education the Office of Comprehensive School Health Education. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 304) Mandates a program of grants to agencies conducting Head Start training for training and technical assistance to Head Start teachers and other child care providers. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 305) Amends adolescent family life demonstration project provisions of the Public Health Service Act to include in the definition of "necessary services" the providing of information about abstinence. Requires that demonstration project grants, as much as practicable, ensure adequate urban and rural area representation. Mandates a simplified and expedited application process for applicants seeking under a specified amount of funds. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the adolescent family life demonstration project provisions. Title IV: Patient's Right to Decline Medical Treatment - Prohibits State restrictions, except to protect a third party, on the right: (1) of a competent adult to consent to or decline medical treatment; or (2) of an incapacitated person to consent to or decline medical treatment through a power of attorney or similar document. Mandates development of national advance directive and durable power of attorney forms and requires all health care providers to honor such forms. Shields providers who act in good faith from criminal or civil liability or professional discipline. Denies Medicare and Medicaid payment for services contrary to the adult's wishes. Title V: Primary and Preventive Care Providers - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to modify or establish payment requirements regarding certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and physician assistants. Allows (current law requires) payment to the employer of a physician assistant or nurse practitioner for the services provided. (Sec. 502) Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified registered nurse anesthetists in the definition of "medical assistance" for which payment will be made. (Sec. 503) Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish grant programs to: (1) provide medical (including osteopathic) students for programs to interest high school or college students in careers in general medical practice; and (2) develop strategies for recruiting and placing medical students interested in practicing general medicine. Authorizes appropriations. Title VI: Cost Containment - Authorizes a program of clinical trials regarding promising new drugs and disease treatments. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 602) Authorizes appropriations for the Agency for Health Care Policy Research. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on health insurance premiums, payable by any person who makes, signs, issues, or sells any of the documents and instruments subject to the tax or for whose use or benefit the same are made, signed, issued, or sold. Establishes, and deposits the resulting tax receipts in, the Trust Fund for Medical Treatment Outcomes Research. Mandates annual Trust Fund distributions for outcomes research. (Sec. 603) Mandates establishment of a national health insurance data and claims system and a national database for health insurance and health outcomes information. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 604) Mandates grants to States that establish health care cost containment and quality information systems. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Tax Incentives for Purchase of Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance - Allows a credit for a percentage of premiums for a long-term care insurance contract. (Sec. 702) Includes (currently, excludes) long-term care insurance from the definition of "qualified benefits" in provisions relating to cafeteria plans. Excludes from (currently, includes in) an employee's gross income employer-provided coverage for long-term care. (Sec. 703) Excludes from gross income amounts from the whole or partial surrender, cancellation, or exchange of any life insurance contract if the amount is used to pay for any qualified long-term care insurance contract and other requirements are met. Declares that no gain or loss shall be recognized on the exchange of a life insurance or annuity contract for a long-term care contract if certain requirements are met. (Sec. 704) Makes a home equity conversion sale-leaseback transaction eligible for the one-time exclusion from gain from the sale of a principal residence if a portion of the proceeds are used to purchase a qualified long-term care contract and other requirements are met. Title VIII: National Fund for Health Research - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the National Fund for Health Research, consisting of amounts transferred to the Fund and interest on those amounts. Requires distribution of all amounts in the Fund in a year to the institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health in the same proportion as appropriations.