United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1997
Authorizes the President to present gold medals, on behalf of the Congress, to named individuals referred to collectively as the "Little Rock Nine," in recognition of the selfless heroism they exhibited and the pain they suffered in the cause of civil rights by integrating Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell duplicates of such medals in bronze. States that these medals are national medals.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1997
Amends Federal law concerning Government organization and employees to extend through September 30, 2002, the authority under which comparability allowances may be paid to Government physicians under service agreements. Increases the maximum annual comparability allowance payable under a service agreement to a Government physician who has served as such a physician for more than 24 months. Allows for the modification of existing service agreements based on the increase with respect to any period of service remaining in such agreements. Redefines "basic pay" to include physicians comparability allowances as part of basic pay for retirement purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1997
Amends Federal civil service law with respect to the Civil Service Retirement System, the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS), and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Program to: (1) repeal the limitations on individual TSP contributions, including those from judges and other specified personnel of the Federal judicial branch; (2) allow an employee or member under FERS to contribute to the Thrift Savings Fund an eligible rollover distribution from a qualified trust; and (3) eliminate certain waiting periods for purposes of making contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1997
Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1997 - Amends Federal criminal code provisions regarding failure to pay legal child support obligations to create two new categories of felony offenses, subject to a two-year maximum prison term: (1) traveling in interstate or foreign commerce with intent to evade a support obligation if the obligation has remained unpaid for a period longer than one year or is greater than $5,000; and (2) willfully failing to pay a support obligation regarding a child residing in another State, if the obligation has remained unpaid for a period longer than two years or is greater than $10,000. Specifies that the existence of a support obligation that was in effect for the time period charged in the indictment or information creates a rebuttable presumption that the obligor has the ability to pay such obligation for that period. Directs the court, upon a conviction, to order restitution in an amount equal to the total unpaid support obligation as it exists at the time of sentencing.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1997
Designates the Federal building located at 601 Fourth Street, N.W., in the District of Columbia, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Field Office Memorial Building (in honor of William H. Christian, Jr., Martha Dixon Martinez, Michael J. Miller, Anthony Palmisano, and Edwin R. Woodriffe, who were slain in the line of duty).
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improvements in IRS Management and Oversight Title II: Improving the Efficiency of Tax Administration Title III: Providing Flexibility for IRS Management Internal Revenue Service Improvement Act of 1997 - Title I: Improvements in IRS Management and Oversight - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set a term of five years for the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. (Sec. 102) Establishes within the Department of the Treasury an Internal Revenue Service Management Board (with an Executive Committee) consisting of career and non-career employees. Directs such Board to support directly the Secretary of the Treasury in the oversight of the management and operation of the IRS. Directs the Secretary to establish the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Board, which shall be composed of individuals from the private sector, to advise the Secretary on the management and operation of the IRS. Sets forth reporting requirements. (Sec. 103) Establishes an Office for Customer Service, which shall be under the direction of an Assistant Commissioner of Internal Revenue, to be responsible for all taxpayer assistance and education. (Sec. 104) Establishes an Office of the Taxpayer Advocate which shall, among other things, assist taxpayers in resolving problems with the IRS. Sets forth reporting requirements. Title II: Improving the Efficiency of Tax Administration - Authorizes the Secretary to promote and encourage the use of electronic tax administration programs. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into tax administration agreements with State tax authorities. Title III: Providing Flexibility for IRS Management - Amends Federal law concerning Government organization and employees to add a new chapter entitled Personnel Flexibilities Relating to the Internal Revenue Service. Sets forth provisions under such chapter concerning: (1) pay authority; (2) recruitment, retention, and relocation incentives; (3) performance awards; (4) career reserved positions; (5) demonstration project authority; (6) the establishment of an IRS performance management system; (7) the establishment of one or more broad-banned pay and classification systems covering all or any portion of the IRS workforce; and (8) general workforce staffing. (Sec. 302) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 303) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) IRS century date computer issues should be fully funded so as to resolve such issues; (2) IRS enforcement, tax processing, taxpayer assistance and management should be funded at no less than current levels for the next three years; and (3) multi-year budgets should be adopted for IRS technology and capital investment programs so as to ensure stability in the implementation of those programs.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1997
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to modify the formula for determining the amount of reduced monthly OASDI benefits payable to a spouse, surviving spouse, or parent receiving monthly payments from a Federal or State pension plan.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1997
Authorizes the President to present a gold medal to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions to religious understanding and peace. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike duplicate medals in bronze. Authorizes appropriations from the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund, where sales proceeds shall be deposited.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1997
National Marrow Donor Program Reauthorization Act of 1997 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to replace provisions relating to the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry with provisions mandating establishment, by contract, of a program to assist patients needing a blood stem cell transplant in searching for biologically unrelated donor individuals. Sets forth program functions, including: (1) maintaining one or more donor and one or more recipient registries; (2) educational activities (including donor recruitment and professional and public information); and (3) establishing the Office of Patient Advocacy and Case Management. Mandates: (1) standards regarding quality, tissue typing, donor informed consent, and patient advocacy; (2) donor selection criteria; (3) stem cell collection and transportation procedures; (4) confidentiality standards; and (5) procedures for integrating participating donor registries and centers. Mandates criminal penalties for confidentiality violations. Authorizes appropriations. Mandates a plan to effectuate efficiencies in the relationship between the program and donor centers.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1997
War Crimes Prosecution Facilitation Act of 1997 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot be achieved if indicted war criminals remain at large and refugees and displaced persons are unable to return to their homes; (2) the United States should ensure that multilateral and bilateral assistance is provided to the Dayton Agreement parties only if doing so would promote reconciliation as well as reconstruction, including the transfer of war criminals to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the return of refugees and displaced persons, and freedom of movement; and (3) the Tribunal should continue to investigate and bring indictments against persons who have violated international humanitarian law. Prohibits foreign assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or the Arms Export Control Act (except humanitarian or democratization assistance, or assistance for physical infrastructure projects) to: (1) any country whose government fails to apprehend and transfer to the Tribunal persons who have been indicted by the Tribunal and are in their territory; (2) any program or activity in such country in which an indicted war criminal has any financial interest or through any organization with which the indicted person is affiliated; and (3) any program or activity in any country (other than emergency food, medical, or demining assistance) in which local authorities are not complying with certain articles of the Dayton Agreement. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive directors of the international financial institutions to oppose, and vote against, any extension of any financial assistance or grants to such a country. Provides for a waiver of such sanctions if a majority of indicted persons within the country's territory have been arrested and transferred to the Tribunal.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1997
Amends Federal aviation law to declare that nothing in such law or in the Death on the High Seas Act shall affect any remedy existing at common law or under State law with respect to any injury or death arising out of any aviation incident occurring on or after January 1, 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1997
Point Reyes National Seashore Farmland Protection Act of 1997 - Amends Federal law to include the Farmland Protection Area in the Point Reyes National Seashore, California, with the primary objective being to protect private agricultural land from nonagricultural development by conservation easements. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make farmland acquisitions within the Area. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: District of Columbia Retirement Funds Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Freezing of Existing Program Subtitle C: Retirement Trust Subtitle D: District Government Subtitle E: The Actuarial Board Subtitle F: Federal Supplemental Fund Subtitle G: Judges Retirement Program Subtitle H: Enforcement Subtitle I: Miscellaneous Title II: Assistance Under Medicaid Program Title III: Criminal Justice Subtitle A: Corrections Subtitle B: Compliance with Truth-in-Sentencing Subtitle C: Offender Supervision and Parole Subtitle D: District of Columbia Courts Subtitle E: Pretrial Services Agency and Public Defender Service Subtitle F: Miscellaneous Provisions Title IV: Privatization of Tax Collection and Administration Title V: Financing of District of Columbia Accumulated Deficit Title VI: Revenue Bonds Title VII: District of Columbia Economic Development Corporation Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: District of Columbia Economic Development Corporation Charter Subtitle C: Operations of the Corporation Subtitle D: Capitalization and Finance Subtitle E: Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle F: Sunset Provisions Title VIII: District of Columbia Government Budget; Effective Date Title IX: Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle A: Regulatory Reform in the District of Columbia Subtitle B: Other Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle C: Effective Date; General Provisions National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 - Title I: District of Columbia Retirement Funds - District of Columbia Retirement Protection Act of 1997 - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Requires the Federal Government to make payments to finance all liabilities associated with the pension plans for District of Columbia police officers, firefighters, and teachers, including the unfunded liability transferred by the Congress to the District government under the District of Columbia Retirement Reform Act of 1979. Prohibits the reversion of the responsibility to make payments to the District. Subtitle B: Freezing of Existing Program - Prohibits service after the freeze date (date on which legislation to enact this title is introduced in the House of Representatives) from being credited under the retirement program for District fire fighters, police officers, and teachers for purposes of determining the amount of benefits an employee has accrued. (Sec. 122) Provides that in the case of a disability retirement in which benefits commence after the freeze date, the only benefit payable is the deferred or normal retirement benefit the employee would receive if the employee left service on the day before disability retirement benefits commence. (Sec. 123) Limits death benefits that are not determined by length of service to the percentage of the entire benefit represented by a fraction where the numerator represents the number of months of service prior to the freeze date and the denominator the total number of months of service. Subtitle C: Retirement Trust - Establishes the District of Columbia Retirement Trust Fund for purposes of paying benefits under this title. Transfers all assets of the District of Columbia Police Officers and Fire Fighters Retirement Fund and the District of Columbia Teachers Retirement Fund to the Retirement Trust. (Sec. 134) Provides for tax-exempt status of the Retirement Trust and sets forth provisions regarding treatment under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). (Sec. 137) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to take certain actions when assets remaining in the Retirement Trust are projected to be depleted. (Sec. 138) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for disclosure of individual tax return information for purposes of determining eligibility for, or the correct amount of, benefits under this Act. Subtitle D: District Government - Continues the District's responsibilities with respect to the retirement program until the Secretary directs the Trustee of the Retirement Trust to commence such responsibilities. (Sec. 143) Requires the District to: (1) furnish the Trustee with a final reconciliation of accounts in connection with the transfer of assets and obligations to the Retirement Trust; and (2) adopt a replacement plan to be effective as of the freeze date. (Sec. 144) Provides that if the District fails to adopt such plan, the retirement program applicable to police, fire fighters, and teachers hired on or after October 1, 1996 (as provided under District laws in effect as of June 1, 1997), shall apply. Subtitle E: The Actuarial Board - Establishes a Department of the Treasury Retirement Board of Actuaries to: (1) review the actuarial valuation reports produced by the enrolled actuary engaged by the Trustee; (2) report to the Secretary and the Congress annually on the actuarial status of the Retirement Trust and the Federal Supplemental District of Columbia Pension Fund; and (3) furnish advice and opinions on matters referred by the Secretary. Subtitle F: Federal Supplemental Fund - Establishes the Federal Supplemental District of Columbia Pension Fund, to be administered by the Secretary and used to finance Federal obligations for benefits and administrative expenses under this title. (Sec. 164) Directs the Actuarial Board to determine the amount that is the present value as of the freeze date of future benefits payable from the Federal Supplemental Fund, which shall be its original unfunded liability. Subtitle G: Judges Retirement Program - Refers to the judges retirement program described in part 2 of Subtitle D of title III. Subtitle H: Enforcement - Sets forth provisions regarding judicial review of actions brought by retirement participants or the Trustee, jurisdiction and venue, and limitations of actions. Subtitle I: Miscellaneous - Sets forth miscellaneous provisions. (Sec. 193) Provides that this title supersedes any inconsistent provision of the District of Columbia Retirement Reform Act. Prohibits the authorization of appropriations for any Federal payment to the existing District retirement funds after FY 1997. (Sec. 194) Authorizes the Comptroller General to evaluate and report on the administration of this title. Title II: Assistance Under Medicaid Program - Amends the Social Security Act to increase the Federal medical assistance percentage under Medicaid for assistance provided by the District to 70 percent for calendar quarters in any fiscal year for which the District is certified to be implementing a plan to: (1) have in effect an effective system for the identification and collection of amounts owed by third parties for medical care and services furnished under Medicaid; (2) ensure the timely audit and settlement of cost reports of institutional providers under Medicaid; (3) implement a comprehensive health care management information system for Medicaid; and (4) develop a comprehensive behavioral managed health care system under Medicaid. Title III: Criminal Justice - Subtitle A: Corrections - Requires, no later than October 1, 2001, any person convicted of a felony pursuant to the District Code or the truth-in-sentencing system under this title to be designated by the Bureau of Prisons to a Bureau penal or correctional facility for such term as the court may direct. Provides for the closure of the Lorton Correctional Complex by December 31, 2003, and for the transfer of its felony population to a Bureau facility. Makes the Bureau responsible for the care, education, treatment, and training of such persons. Transfers Lorton property to the Department of the Interior. (Sec. 302) Requires the Attorney General to appoint a Corrections Trustee, an independent officer of the District, to oversee operations of the District's Department of Corrections until all felony offenders are transferred to a Bureau facility. Provides Federal funding for incarceration of such individuals. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the Trustee to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bureau to allow the Trustee to enter into contracts to lease beds or facilities for a period that may extend longer than the trusteeship. Permits the District's felony population to be housed in any facility that meets the requirements of the American Correctional Association. (Sec. 304) Requires the Trustee to establish a priority placement program to facilitate employment placement for District employees scheduled to be separated from service due to the assumption of authority by the Trustee. (Sec. 307) Authorizes the District to expend funds necessary to carry out the Sewage Delivery System and Capacity Purchase Agreement between Fairfax County and the District for a specified project without regard to the amount appropriated in the District's budget for the fiscal year concerned. Subtitle B: Compliance with Truth-in-Sentencing - Requires any person convicted of a felony offense under a law exclusively applicable to the District to be sentenced in accordance with a system that meets truth-in-sentencing requirements applicable to a State receiving a truth-in-sentencing incentive grant under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Directs the District of Columbia Truth in Sentencing Compliance Commission to develop a system if the District fails to do so by October 1, 1997. (Sec. 312) Requires provisions designed to maximize the effectiveness of the drug court of the District's Superior Court to be enacted for the District. (Sec. 313) Establishes the District of Columbia Truth in Sentencing Compliance Commission as an independent agency of the District government if the District fails to establish a truth-in-sentencing system that meets the requirements described above. Provides that the Commission shall not have authority to provide for capital punishment under any law exclusively applicable to the District. Terminates the Commission upon adoption of a sentencing system that meets requirements or earlier, if it fails to adopt such a system. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 314) Establishes the District of Columbia Truth in Sentencing Monitoring Agency in the Department of Justice. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 316) Requires the National Institute of Justice to evaluate the sentencing system to determine its success. (Sec. 317) Directs the Attorney General to inform the Council of the District, the Congress, and the Agency of any changes in Federal or District laws and results of evaluations that may require amendment of District statutes or sentencing guidelines. Subtitle C: Offender Supervision and Parole - Transfers jurisdiction and authorities of the District Board of Parole to the U.S. Parole Commission, with respect to felons, and to the District Superior Court, with respect to misdemeanants. Abolishes the Board of Parole upon the establishment of the District of Columbia Offender Supervision, Defender, and Courts Services Agency. Amends the Parole Commission Phaseout Act of 1996 to increase the authorized number of U.S. Parole Commissioners to five. (Sec. 332) Directs the Attorney General to appoint a Pretrial Services, Defense Services, Parole, Adult Probation and Offender Supervisions Trustee, an independent officer of the District government, to effectuate the reorganization and transition of functions and funding related to such activities. (Sec. 333) Establishes the District of Columbia Offender Supervision, Defender, and Courts Services Agency within the Federal executive branch. Provides for Agency assumption of duties upon certification by the Trustee that the Agency can carry out its functions. Directs the Agency to provide supervision for offenders on probation, parole, and supervised release pursuant to the District Code. Grants Agency supervision officers the same powers as granted to U.S. Probation and Pretrial Officers. Provides that the District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency and Public Defender Service shall function as independent entities within the Agency. (Sec. 334) Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: District of Columbia Courts - Part 1: Transfer of Administration and Financing of Courts to Federal Government - Authorizes appropriations for the District Superior Court, Court of Appeals, and court system and for the Executive Office for the District of Columbia Courts. (Sec. 342) Amends the District Code to make technical and conforming changes to administrative, financing, and reporting provisions regarding the District court system to reflect the transfer of specified authorities to the Federal Government. Part 2: Judicial Retirement Program - Revises provisions regarding the District of Columbia Judicial Retirement and Survivors Annuity Fund to re-establish such fund in the Treasury. Requires, subject to the availability of appropriations, an annual deposit in the Treasury of amounts required to reduce the unfunded liability of the fund to zero. (Sec. 352) Amends the District of Columbia Retirement Reform Act to provide for the transfer of assets of the District of Columbia Judges' Retirement Fund to the District of Columbia Judicial Retirement and Survivors Annuity Fund (thus, terminating the Judges' Retirement Fund). Removes judges from the District Retirement Board. (Sec. 353) Transfers specified authorities regarding the Judicial Retirement and Survivors Annuity Fund from the District Mayor to the Secretary of the Treasury. Part 3: Miscellaneous Conforming and Administrative Provisions - Makes provisions of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995 and the District of Columbia Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 inapplicable to the District courts. Subtitle E: Pretrial Services Agency and Public Defender Service - Makes technical changes to administrative provisions regarding the District's Pretrial Services Agency and Public Defender Service. Subtitle F: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes appropriations to the National Institute of Justice for activities to assess the crime problem in the District and to establish a corporation or institute supporting research and demonstration projects for the prevention, solution, or punishment of crimes in the District. (Sec. 382) Exempts the Trustees described in this title and their respective agencies from personnel or budget limitations which otherwise apply to District agencies. Title IV: Privatization of Tax Collection and Administration - Authorizes the District's Chief Financial Officer to enter into contracts with a private entity for the administration and collection of District taxes. Title V: Financing of District of Columbia Accumulated Deficit - Amends the District of Columbia Revenue Act of 1939 to permit intermediate-term advances of funds from the Treasury for purposes of assisting the District in liquidating the outstanding accumulated operating deficit of the District general fund existing as of September 30, 1997. Conditions such advances on actions by the District, including actions to demonstrate obligations to reimburse, inability to obtain credit elsewhere, and compliance with a financial plan and budget. Limits the aggregate of all advances to $500 million. Permits the Secretary of the Treasury to require early reimbursement of the advance if the District is able to obtain credit elsewhere to refinance the unpaid balance without adversely affecting its financial stability. Title VI: Revenue Bonds - District of Columbia Revenue Bond Financing Authority Improvements Act of 1997 - Amends the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act to expand the list of activities for which revenue bonds may be issued. Authorizes the District Council to delegate authority to issue revenue bonds or other obligations to any District instrumentality. (Sec. 603) Amends the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995 to provide that the issuance of revenue bonds or other obligations shall not be considered to be borrowing. Title VII: District of Columbia Economic Development Corporation - Subtitle A: General Provisions - District of Columbia Economic Development Corporation Act of 1997 - Sets forth findings, purposes, and definitions with respect to economic development in the District. Subtitle B: District of Columbia Economic Development Corporation Charter - Establishes the District of Columbia Economic Development Corporation, a corporate instrumentality of the District. Subtitle C: Operations of the Corporation - Sets forth general powers of the Corporation. (Sec. 722) Requires the Corporation to establish a strategic plan for carrying out this title. (Sec. 723) Authorizes the Corporation to: (1) provide financial assistance for economic development projects; and (2) establish subsidiaries and revolving funds for providing different types of assistance. Sets forth conditions for assisting projects. (Sec. 724) Grants the Corporation power to acquire land through condemnation by eminent domain. (Sec. 725) Authorizes the Corporation to request the District government to give expedited consideration to applications for regulatory licenses, permits, and approvals for economic development projects assisted by the Corporation. Subtitle D: Capitalization and Finance - Authorizes appropriations for the Corporation. Requires a minimum amount to be provided to: (1) nonprofit organizations to finance job training, placement, and related activities for targeted District residents in those organizations; or (2) nonprofit third-party intermediaries to promote and finance such activities for targeted District residents in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Provides for a waiver of such requirement upon a vote and notification by the Corporation. (Sec. 732) Permits the Corporation to: (1) authorize the issuance of project revenue obligations and use the proceeds to provide financial assistance for projects; and (2) establish special or reserve funds for such purposes. Absolves the District and Federal Government of liability for such obligations and provides that issuance of such obligations shall not be considered as borrowing. Subtitle E: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth provisions concerning legal actions, judicial review of financial assistance determinations, and the independent status of the Corporation. Exempts the Corporation from any budget or personnel limitations which would otherwise apply to the District. Subtitle F: Sunset Provisions - Sets forth provisions with respect to dissolution of the Corporation. Title VIII: District of Columbia Government Budget; Effective Date - Amends the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act to repeal provisions that provide for the annual Federal payment to the District. Authorizes appropriations for a Federal contribution towards the costs of operating the District government of $140 million for FY 1998 and of such amounts as necessary for subsequent fiscal years. (Sec. 802) Amends the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995 to prohibit the District's expenditures from exceeding revenues in FY 1998 (currently, FY 1999). (Sec. 803) Permits the submission and approval of a joint consensus budget and financial plan for the District by the Mayor, Council, and the District Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority (Authority). (Sec. 804) Increases the District's borrowing limitation to allow amounts to be paid on obligations in any fiscal year to be up to 17 (currently, 14) percent of the District's revenues. Title IX: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Regulatory Reform in the District of Columbia - Directs the Authority to: (1) review District regulations and analyze the extent to which such regulations inappropriately impair economic development and the financial stability and management efficiency of the District government; (2) review current processes for obtaining permits and applications and analyze the extent to which processes and their completion times vary from those in other jurisdictions; and (3) repeal or revise such regulations or processes, as appropriate. (Sec. 902) Repeals the Clean Air Compliance Fee Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (date of enactment), except for provisions which exempt the delivery of newspapers from gross sales and compensating-use taxes. (Sec. 903) Repeals the Act incorporating Group Hospitalization, Inc., on the date Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc., files articles of incorporation under the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act. (Sec. 904) Amends the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act to exempt from specified limitations on amounts or time periods contracts entered into: (1) by the Washington Convention Center Authority for preconstruction activities or project management, design, or construction; (2) by the District Water and Sewer Authority, other than those for sale or lease of the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant; and (3) for Federal highway improvement projects, at the option of the District Council. Subtitle B: Other Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995 to permit the use of interest earned on accounts to promote the economic stability and management efficiency of the District government. (Sec. 912) Authorizes covered Federal law enforcement agencies to enter into cooperative agreements with the District Police Department to assist the Department in carrying out crime prevention and law enforcement activities. Establishes penalties for knowingly obstructing bridges between the District and Virginia. (Sec. 913) Permits garnishment of wages and other government remuneration of District employees. (Sec. 914) Amends the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act to authorize the District Water and Sewer Authority, beginning in FY 1997, to expend excess revenues for capital projects in fiscal years in which such revenues exceed estimated revenues. (Sec. 915) Requires heads of Federal agencies and the Architect of the Capitol to provide notice before carrying out activities that affect real property in the District. (Sec. 916) Changes the name of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act to the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. Subtitle C: Effective Date; General Provisions - Requires this Act to take effect on the later of October 1, 1997, or the day the Authority certifies that the financial plan and budget for FY 1998 meet specified requirements under title II of this Act. (Sec. 922) Authorizes Federal agencies to provide technical assistance to, and training for, District government personnel.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
Directs the Secretary of the Army to set aside the conviction entered on June 29, 1865, against Dr. Samuel A. Mudd of Maryland for aiding, abetting, and assisting the conspirators who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
Disadvantaged Minority Health Improvement Amendments Act of 1997 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to replace certain provisions relating to the Office of Minority Health with provisions establishing the Advisory Committee on Minority Health. Regulates the Office's activities, including regarding: (1) bilingual assistance to providers (mandating special consideration to those serving Asians and Pacific Islanders); (2) equitable allocation of grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts among racial and minority populations; (3) provision of information and services in the most appropriate language, educational, and cultural context; (4) the making of grants, cooperative agreements, contracts; and (5) evaluations. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 3) Requires: (1) that the Office of Research on Minority Health of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) coordinate minority health research conducted or supported by NIH; (2) a comprehensive research plan; (3) equitable addressing of all racial and ethnic minority groups; (4) establishment of the Advisory Committee on Research on Minority Health; (5) determination of the extent of minority representation among senior physicians and scientists of (or conducting research with funding from) the national research institutes; (6) that all grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts be competitively awarded; and (7) expansion of the Minority Health Initiative. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the National Center for Health Statistics; (2) grants to States for demonstration programs to increase the availability of primary care in health professional shortage areas; (3) Federal capital contributions to health professions student loan funds; (4) scholarships for health professions students of exceptional financial need; (5) grants to health professions schools for scholarships for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds; (6) educational loan repayments in return for serving as faculty at health professions schools; (7) grants and contracts to increase the number of underrepresented minority faculty at health professions schools; (8) grants to health professions schools for programs of excellence for minority individuals; (9) grants and contracts for health professions schools for recruiting, counseling, preparing, and providing scholarships to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds; (10) grants and contracts for research on the extent to which medical student educational debt has had a detrimental effect on students' decisions on entering primary care specialties. (Sec. 5) Mandates a conference on matters relating to the health of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Federal Employees Health Care Protection Act of 1997 - Amends Federal law concerning government organization and employees to revise provisions regarding the debarment of any health care provider found to have engaged in fraudulent practices, including requiring (currently permitting) debarment for certain fraudulent practices. (Sec. 3) Makes amendments relating to the health benefits program for Federal employees which: (1) modify the definition of a carrier; (2) specify that the Government-wide service plan be underwritten by participating affiliates licensed in each State; and (3) revise preemption provisions. (Sec. 4) Amends the FEGLI Living Benefits Act to provide for the continuation of health benefits for individuals enrolled in a plan administered separately by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System before each such plan's termination on January 3, 1998. (Sec. 5) Amends Federal law to require a carrier and its subcontractors to include in a health plan contract advance written disclosure of any discounted rate agreements entered into with health care providers, if such carrier or its subcontractors do not: (1) require financial incentives that are made known to the employee, annuitant, family member or other eligible persons prior to their use of such contracted health care providers; or (2) use other forms of steerage to direct the employee, annuitant, family member, or other eligible persons to use such contracted health care providers. Prohibits any carrier and its subcontractors from accessing discounted rate agreements entered into with health care providers for health care services provided to an employee, family member, annuitant, or other eligible person.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities, including an employing authority or office to which specified provisions of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 or the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 apply. Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares that: (1) this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's partner; and (2) a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from entering into a consent decree that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except regarding employment in a position the duties of which pertain solely to activities of the organization that generate unrelated business income subject to taxation under specified Internal Revenue Code provisions); (2) the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for all remedies (except punitive damages, with compensatory damages available to the extent specified in certain existing provisions of law) to the same extent as under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Requires posting notices for employees and applicants.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Amends Federal law concerning Government organization and employees to repeal specified requirements relating to Government contributions for health benefits for a Federal employee or annuitant enrolled in a health benefits plan. Replaces them with provisions to modify the formula under which the Government contribution for such an employee or annuitant is determined.
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 · 21 May 1997
Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act of 1997 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to proscribe bringing a private class action based upon State or municipal law in State or Federal court by any private party alleging: (1) an untrue statement or omission in connection with the purchase or sale of a covered security; or (2) that the defendant used any manipulative or deceptive device in connection with such a transaction. Declares that any class action brought in any State court involving a covered security shall be removable to the Federal district court for the district in which the action is pending.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1997
Cardiac Arrest Survival Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require that certain permitted field studies, large-scale testing and evaluation, and demonstrations of the National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung, and Blood Diseases and Blood Resources Program include: (1) the development and dissemination of a core content for a model State cardiac arrest training program for inclusion in emergency medical services educational curricula and training programs addressing lifesaving interventions; and (2) related matters. Establishes as an independent executive branch agency the Commission on Cardiac Arrest Survival. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 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 · 15 May 1997
National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1997 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to establish in the National Park Service (NPS) a program to be known as the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom under which the Secretary shall: (1) produce and disseminate educational materials about the Railroad; (2) provide technical assistance to other government agencies, private entities, or the Governments of Canada, Mexico, or any appropriate Caribbean country to ensure coordination of Federal and non-Federal elements of the Network; and (3) regulate use of an official symbol for the Network. Includes within the Network: (1) NPS units or programs pertaining to the Railroad; (2) Federal, State, local, or privately-owned properties pertaining to the Railroad that have a verifiable connection to it and that are included or eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places; and (3) governmental or nongovernmental facilities or programs of educational, research, or interpretive natures that are directly related to such Railroad. Prohibits amounts from being appropriated for the purposes of this Act except to the Secretary for carrying out his or her responsibilities.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1997
Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 1997 - Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize appointments to: (1) additional permanent bankruptcy judgeships in specified districts of California, Maryland, New Jersey, and Tennessee; and (2) additional temporary bankruptcy judgeships in California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia (provides that the first vacancy occurring in such a district five years or more after a judge is appointed under this Act shall not be filled). Extends a temporary bankruptcy judgeship position authorized for the district of Delaware.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1997
Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1997 - Establishes the Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform to study the laws relating to the financing of political activity and to report and recommend legislation to reform those laws. (Sec. 6) Requires the Commission, not later than July 1998 or 240 days after the appointment of its members (whichever occurs earlier), to submit to the President, the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate, a report of the activities of the Commission. Requires the report to include any recommendations for changes in the laws (including regulations) governing the financing of political activity, including any changes in House and Senate rules, to which nine or more Commission members may agree, together with drafts of: (1) any legislation (including technical and conforming provisions) recommended by the Commission to implement such recommendations; and (2) any proposed amendment to the Constitution recommended by the Commission as necessary to implement such recommendations, except that if the Commission includes such a proposed amendment in its report, it shall also include recommendations and drafts for legislation that may be implemented prior to the adoption of such proposed amendment. Requires the Commission, in making recommendations and preparing drafts of legislation, to consider the following to be its primary goals: (1) encouraging fair and open Federal elections that provide voters with meaningful information about candidates and issues; (2) eliminating the disproportionate influence of special interest financing of Federal elections; and (3) creating a more equitable electoral system for challengers and incumbents. (Sec. 7) Provides for expedited congressional consideration of any legislation introduced the substance of which implements a recommendation of the Commission submitted, including a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution. (Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1997
Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue one-dollar and half-dollar coins emblematic of the expedition of Lewis and Clark. Allocates surcharges from coin sales between the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council and the National Park Service for activities associated with the bicentennial commemoration of the expedition.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1997
Establishes as a nonprofit corporation the National Military Museum Foundation to: (1) preserve military artifacts having historical or technological significance; (2) facilitate research on military history; (3) promote partnerships between the Federal Government and the private sector for the preservation of such artifacts; (4) engage in related military history documentation and preservation activities; and (5) recognize and honor the individuals who have served in the armed forces. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1997
Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 1997 - Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that whenever a district court has jurisdiction in civil rights cases it shall not abstain from exercising or relinquishing its jurisdiction to a State court in an action where no claim of a violation of a State law, right, or privilege is alleged. Authorizes the district court, in such cases that cannot be decided without resolution of a significant but unsettled question of State law, to certify such question to the highest appellate court of that State (and after the State appellate court resolves the question certified to it, the district court shall proceed with resolving the merits). Bars the district court from certifying a question of State law unless such question will significantly affect the merits of the injured party's Federal claim and is so unclear and obviously susceptible to a limiting construction as to render premature a decision on the merits of the constitutional or legal issue in the case. Requires that any claim or action brought to redress the deprivation of a property right or privilege secured by the Constitution be ripe for adjudication by the district courts upon a final decision rendered by any person acting under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or territory of the United States, that causes actual and concrete injury to the party seeking redress. Provides that any claim brought under provisions regarding the United States as defendant and regarding the jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims that is founded upon a property right or privilege secured by the Constitution, but allegedly infringed or taken by the United States, shall be ripe for adjudication upon a final decision rendered by the United States that causes actual and concrete injury to the party seeking redress. Sets guidelines for what constitutes a "final decision" for purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1997
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) cost-of-living adjustments for Federal retirees should be paid in January of each year, as current law prescribes, and should not be delayed; and (2) retirement contributions on the part of Federal agencies and Federal and postal employees should not be increased, whether as part of a budget agreement or otherwise.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1997
Extends congressional gratitude to Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope for his accomplishments and service on behalf of U.S. military service members. Confers upon Mr. Hope the status of an honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1997
Expresses the commitment of the Members of the House of Representatives to the elimination of racism and to working tirelessly on behalf of justice and peace for all people.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1997
Family Services Improvement Act of 1997 - Directs the President to designate a Federal Coordination Council composed of various specified cabinet secretaries and other Federal agency heads to perform a variety of specified functions for the stated purposes of: (1) removing Federal impediments to coordination of service delivery; (2) enabling more efficient use of Federal, State, and local resources through program coordination and reduction of regulation; (3) facilitating cooperation among and coordination of programs operated by State, local, and tribal governments and private, nonprofit organizations; (4) identifying at least ten qualified consortia of such organizations and State or local agencies that receive federally appropriated funds, together with representatives of specified services, to participate in a demonstration program to determine the benefits of specified accountability procedures; and (5) placing less emphasis in Federal service programs on measuring resources and procedures and more emphasis on accountability for achieving policy goals. Requires the Federal Coordination Council to submit to the Congress: (1) not later than one year after the designation of the Council, a report detailing any legislative encumbrances preventing the Council from carrying out its duties; and (2) not later than three years after the designation of the Council, a report detailing any regulations implemented as a result of the Council's findings.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1997
Expresses the sense of the Congress that certain provisions of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 relating to transportation of merchandise between U.S. points in other than domestically built or rebuilt and documented vessels and to incineration of hazardous waste at sea (those provisions popularly known as the Jones Act) and related statutes are critically important components of our Nation's economic and military security and should be fully and strongly supported.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1997
Farmer Estate Tax Relief Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross value of an estate, for purposes of the estate tax, specified portions of the value of a qualified family-owned farm business. Provides for a limited (the lesser of certain qualified medical expenses or $500,000) one-time exclusion from gross income of the gain from the sale or exchange of certain qualified family-owned farm interests.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Early Learning and Opportunity Grants Title II: Amendment to Internal Revenue Code of 1986 Title III: Amendment to Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 Title IV: Amendments to the Head Start Act Early Learning and Opportunity Act of 1997 - Title I: Early Learning and Opportunity Grants - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to eligible States to improve the quality and increase the availability of child care services, and of family support services, for families with children less than three years of age. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop a voluntary model training program for employees of child care providers; (2) make available to Head Start agencies and child care providers the code developed for such model training program; and (3) provide technical assistance to such agencies and providers to implement it. (Sec. 105) Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Amendment to Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include imported property income (except for foreign oil and gas related income, or property subsequently exported) as foreign base company income in the gross income of a U.S. shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation. Title III: Amendment to Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to extend its coverage to employers with more than 20 employees (current law applies only to employers with more than 50 employees). Title IV: Amendment to the Head Start Act - Amends the Head Start Act to extend the authorization of appropriations. (Sec. 402) Revises a formula for allotment of certain training and technical assistance funds under such Act. Increases the amount of funds reserved for services to families with children less than three years of age (programs for families with infants and toddlers).
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1997
Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act with respect to the sugar program to: (1) reduce sugarcane loan rates through crop year 2002; (2) revise the sugar beet loan rate; (3) eliminate nonrecourse loans after FY 1997; and (4) eliminate sugar price supports after crop year 2002. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to repeal sugar and crystalline fructose marketing quota and allotment provisions. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985, beginning with the 1996-1997 quota year, to direct the President to use all available authority to ensure that U.S. market raw sugar shall be available at not more than the higher of the world sugar price or the U.S. loan rate.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1997
Expedited Rescissions Act of 1997 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to provide for the expedited consideration of certain proposed rescissions of budget authority.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1997
Medicare Medically Necessary Dental Care Act of 1997 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of medically necessary dental procedures which are cost-effective.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1997
Welcomes the efforts of many post-Communist countries to address the status of plundered properties. Urges: (1) countries to return plundered properties to their rightful owners or, as an alternative, to pay just compensation; and (2) post-Communist countries to pass and effectively implement laws that provide for restitution of, or compensation for, plundered property. Calls for: (1) the return of property formerly belonging to Jewish communities as a means of redressing the problems of aging and destitute survivors of the Holocaust; and (2) the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and other countries to remove restrictions which require those whose properties have been wrongfully plundered by Nazi or Communist regimes to reside in or have the citizenship of the country from which they seek restitution or compensation. Calls upon foreign financial institutions, and the states having legal authority over their operation, that possess wrongfully and illegally property confiscated from Holocaust victims, from residents of former Warsaw Pact states who were forbidden by Communist law from obtaining restitution of such property, and from states that were occupied by Nazi, Fascist, or Communist forces, to assist and to cooperate fully with efforts to restore this property to its rightful owners.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Programs Regarding Prevention of HIV Infection Title II: Preventive Health Programs Regarding Women and HIV Infection Title III: General Provisions William A. Bailey Comprehensive HIV Prevention Act of 1997 - Title I: General Programs Regarding Prevention of HIV Infection - Amends the Public Healht Service Act to replace title XXV (Prevention of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) with a new title (Prevention of HIV Infection). Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to plan, coordinate, and evaluate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection prevention activities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Indian Health Service, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (designated agencies). Directs the Secretary to establish the Secretary's Advisory Council on HIV Prevention. Mandates, for each designated agency, a comprehensive plan and certain implementation activities regarding the conduct and support of all HIV prevention activities. Requires annual budget requests by the Secretary and each designated agency. Requires each designated agency (except NIH) to establish an office to carry out HIV prevention activities. Requires that the remainder of this title be carried out through the CDCP. Authorizes HIV epidemiology and surveillance activities. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes financial assistance to health departments of States and subdivisions for HIV prevention projects in communities of at-risk individuals. Mandates local and statewide HIV community planning groups. Allows use of assistance for: (1) certain counseling and testing; and (2) counseling and treatment for any victim of a crime involving force or the threat of force to compel sexual activity. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary, directly or through financial assistance, to carry out HIV public education. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes HIV prevention activities regarding specific populations identified by the Secretary. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes HIV prevention activities regarding adolescents, including through school-based programs. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes, directly or through financial assistance, the conduct of HIV prevention research and the carrying out of demonstration projects. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes, directly or through financial assistance, HIV prevention activities in addition to those specified above in this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Preventive Health Programs Regarding Women and HIV Infection - Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act - Amends Public Health Service Act provisions (as amended by title I of this Act) relating to the CDCP to authorize grants, with regard to women (and their partners) and HIV, for preventive health services, referrals, follow-ups, outreach, and training on the effective provision of such services. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes grants to provide HIV prevention education to women. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to provide: (1) substance abuse treatment to women; (2) counseling to women who engage in substance abuse on the prevention of infection with, and the transmission of, the etiologic agent for AIDS; and (3) such counseling to women who are the partners of individuals who abuse substances. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations for grants under existing provisions to provide early intervention services for women and related technical assistance. Title III: General Provisions - Authorizes technical assistance to applicants and recipients under provisions of this Act relating to the CDCP.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1997
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 1997 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or local governments. Requires States to grant public safety employees the right to form and join a labor organization which excludes management and supervisory employees, and which is, or seeks to be, recognized as the exclusive bargaining agent for such employees. Specifies related requirements for public safety employers. Requires the Director the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) to issue regulations establishing collective bargaining procedures for public safety employers and employees in States that fail to comply with the requirements of this Act. Gives the FMCS the same authority as a State Labor Relations Board (or of the National Labor Relations Board where no such State Board exists) for public safety employers and employees covered by this Act. Grants a public safety employer, employee, or labor organization the right to seek enforcement of such regulations through appropriate State courts. Prohibits public safety employers, employees, and labor organizations from engaging in lockouts or strikes. Provides that existing collective bargaining units and agreements shall not be invalidated by this Act. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1997
Firefighters Pay Fairness Act of 1997 - Amends Federal law to provide that, for Federal fire fighters, the annual rate of basic pay shall be calculated on the basis of 26 administrative biweekly work periods of up to 106 hours each. Prescribes a formula for computing the basic biweekly pay of Federal employees who are not fire fighters but perform fire fighting duties. Extends existing biweekly pay period and pay computation requirements to Federal fire fighters and employees in and under the judicial branch. Removes employees of the District of Columbia government from coverage by such requirements. Repeals the current exception from such requirements for employees on the Isthmus of Panama in the service of the Panama Canal Commission. Requires compensation at time-and-a-half per hour for any hours worked in excess of 106 during a biweekly pay period by fire fighters subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Prescribes basic rates of pay for fire fighters: (1) promoted to a supervisory position; and (2) selected and assigned for training. Adds certain pay retention rights for Federal fire fighters subject to a reduction or termination of a rate of pay established under this Act. Authorizes a Federal agency to pay cash awards of up to five percent of basic pay to fire fighters or other employees performing fire fighting duties who make substantial use of: (1) special skills, such as handling hazardous materials; or (2) a certification or license, such as certification as an emergency medical technician. Requires the Office of Personnel Management to report to the Congress with respect to transition and funding increase plans and regulatory or legislative modifications necessary to prevent diminution in retirement benefits under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1997
Credit Union Membership Access Act - Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to limit Federal credit union membership to one or more groups each of which has a common bond within such group.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Pension Access and Coverage Subtitle A: Improved Access to Individual Retirement Savings Subtitle B: Improved Fairness in Retirement Plan Benefits Subtitle C: Improving Retirement Plan Coverage Subtitle D: Simplifying Plan Requirements Title II: Security Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: ERISA Enforcement Title III: Portability Title IV: Comprehensive Women's Pension Protection Subtitle A: Pension Reform Subtitle B: Protection of Rights of Former Spouses to Pension Benefits Under Certain Government and Government-Sponsored Retirement Programs Subtitle C: Modifications of Joint and Survivor Annuity Requirements Subtitle D: Spousal Consent Required for Distributions From Section 401(k) Plans Subtitle E: Women's Pension Toll-Free Phone Number Title V: Date for Adoption of Plan Amendments Retirement Security Act of 1997 - Title I: Pension Access and Coverage - Subtitle A: Improved Access to Individual Retirement Savings - Chapter 1: Contributions To Individual Retirement Plans Through Payroll Deductions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to require a private contractor with the Secretary of Labor to establish a system under which: (1) eligible employees, through employer payroll deductions, may make contributions to individual retirement plans; and (2) amounts in the individual retirement plans are invested according to certain requirements. (Sec. 103) Provides for: (1) contributions to individual retirement plans; (2) investment options; (3) accounting and information; (4) administrative costs; (5) fiduciary responsibilities, liability and penalties, bonding, and investigative authority; and (6) selection of contractor. (Sec. 108) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the Secretary of Labor to design and award the contract for such system; and (2) the contractor to begin operations. Chapter 2: Nonrefundable Tax Credit for Contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts - Amends IRC to allow a nonrefundable tax credit for a portion of contributions to individual retirement plans, calculated according to a specified scale. Chapter 3: Expanded Individual Retirement Accounts to Increase Coverage and Portability - Subchapter A: IRA Deduction - Raises the income limitations for the individual retirement account (IRA) tax deduction, with a corresponding adjustment to the formula for the phaseout of such limitations. (Sec. 122) Prescribes an inflation adjustment for the IRA deductible amount and income limitations. Subchapter B: Distributions and Investments - Allows the use of distributions from individual retirement plans, without additional tax, to: (1) purchase first homes; (2) pay higher education expenses; or (3) pay financially devastating medical expenses. (Sec. 132) Allows the use without penalty of distributions from certain plans during periods of unemployment. (Sec. 133) Requires that contributions to individual retirement plans (other than special individual retirement accounts) be held for at least five years in certain cases before they may be distributed without specified tax consequences. Chapter 4: Periodic Pension Benefits Statements - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) with respect to periodic pension benefits statements in cases of defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, and multiemployer plans. Subtitle B: Improved Fairness in Retirement Plan Benefits - Amends IRC to require a specified minimum employer contribution to simple retirement accounts. Provides for an employer option to suspend contributions with 30-days' notice. Amends ERISA with respect to fiduciary duties in the case of such accounts. (Sec. 152) Amends IRC to set forth various nondiscrimination rules for qualified cash or deferred arrangements and matching contributions. (Sec. 153) Increases from $75,000 to $80,000 per year specified compensation criteria for a highly compensated employee. Excludes specified categories of employees with respect to age, short length of service, and part-time service from the meaning of highly compensated employee. Subtitle C: Improving Retirement Plan Coverage - Allows a tax credit for up to a maximum $500 of the qualified start-up costs of eligible small employers in establishing a qualified pension plan or qualified employer payroll deduction system. (Sec. 162) Limits annual benefits under governmental and multiemployer plans to $90,000, eliminating the alternative 100 percent of high three-year average compensation limitation. Exempts from the $7,500 or one third of includible compensation limit for annual benefits certain excess benefit arrangements under deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations. Prohibits such arrangements from being taken into account in determining whether any other plan is an eligible deferred compensation plan. (Sec. 163) Declares that compensation deferred under a mirror plan shall not be taken into account in applying certain limits (with respect to deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations) to compensation deferred under any other deferred compensation plan. (Sec. 164) Sets forth special rules to treat contributions by self-employed individuals as matching contributions. (Sec. 165) Amends specified Federal law relating to Federal employees to allow immediate participation in the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal employees by eliminating certain waiting periods. (Sec. 166) Amends the IRC to revise the limits on contributions excluded from the calculation of non-deductible contributions for purposes of the tax on non-deductible contributions to a qualified employer plan. (Sec. 167) Excludes from gross income any workers' compensation received by former police officers or fire fighters for heart disease or hypertension. Subtitle D: Simplifying Plan Requirements - Amends IRC and ERISA to set a full funding limitation for multiemployer plans. (Sec. 172) Eliminates IRC partial termination rules for multiemployer plans. (Sec. 173) Revises IRC nondiscrimination and minimum participation rules with respect to governmental plans. (Sec. 174) Eliminates specified ERISA requirements for plan descriptions and for filing of summary plan descriptions and descriptions of material modifications to a plan. (Sec. 175) Replaces the 150 percent of current liability factor in the calculation of the full-funding limit with an incremental scale from 155 percent in 1998 to 170 percent in 2001, followed by zero in 2002 and succeeding years. (Sec. 176) Directs the Secretaries of the Treasury and of Labor to expand their efforts to examine existing guidance regarding notice, recordkeeping, and operational requirements for retirement plans, in order to permit the use of new technologies by plan sponsors and administrators in ways which maintain the protection of the rights of participants and beneficiaries. Title II: Security - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Amends ERISA to provide investment protection for specified plans that include qualified cash or deferred arrangements under IRC ("401(k) plans") by setting limitations on investment in employer securities and employer real property by cash or deferred arrangements. Provides a transition rule for plans holding excess securities or property. (Sec. 202) Applies an ERISA requirement for annual, detailed investment reports to certain IRC 401(k) plans. Directs the Secretary of Labor, in prescribing regulations for required information in such reports, to consider including specified types of information. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary of Labor to study and report to the Congress on: (1) the extent to which pension plans invest in collectibles; and (2) whether such investments present a risk to the pension security of the participants and beneficiaries of such plans. (Sec. 204) Amends IRC to prohibit qualified employer plans from making loans through credit cards and other intermediaries. (Sec. 205) Increases the amounts of multiemployer plan benefits guaranteed under ERISA. (Sec. 206) Increases the maximum amount of the civil penalty which may be assessed administratively for certain prohibited transactions. (Sec. 207) Amends ERISA with respect to substantial owner benefits to revise the phase-in of guarantee and the allocation of assets. (Sec. 208) Directs the Secretary of Labor to report annually to the President and the Congress on plans from which residual assets were distributed to employers (reversion report). (Sec. 209) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of the Treasury should: (1) review existing correction mechanisms to determine whether modifications might facilitate additional utilization by sponsors, improve voluntary compliance, and hasten the correction of pension plans; (2) consider whether additional means of addressing nonegregious violations should be explored; and (3) make appropriate legislative recommendations. Subtitle B: ERISA Enforcement - Amends ERISA enforcement provisions to repeal a limited scope audit requirement for employee pension benefit plans. Requires an accountant, in offering an opinion in the case of an employee pension benefit plan, to rely, to the extent consistent with generally accepted auditing standards, on the work of any independent public accountant of any bank or similar institution or insurance carrier that holds assets or processes transactions of the employee pension benefit plan, provided that such bank, institution, or insurance carrier is regulated, supervised, and subject to periodic examination by a State or Federal agency. (Sec. 212) Sets forth additional ERISA requirements for qualified public accountants. (Sec. 213) Amends ERISA and the IRC to exempt from the prohibition against assignment or alienation of an accrued pension benefit offsets for certain civil and criminal judgments against fiduciaries. Changes from mandatory to discretionary the imposition and amount of civil penalties for breach of fiduciary responsibilities. Title III: Portability - Amends ERISA and the IRC to provide for faster vesting of employer matching contributions. (Sec. 302) Revises certain restrictions on distributions from IRC 401(k) plans. (Sec. 303) Amends ERISA and IRC with respect to an accrued benefit not to be decreased by plan amendment to revise the treatment of transfers between defined contribution plans. (Sec. 304) Amends ERISA rules requiring transfer of benefits of missing participants to direct the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to prescribe similar rules for multiemployer plans that terminate. Requires transfer of missing participants' plan benefits to the PBGC by certain plans not otherwise subject to ERISA enforcement provisions. Title IV: Comprehensive Women's Pension Protection - Subtitle A: Pension Reform - Makes certain new rules for pension integration under the Tax Reform Act of 1986 applicable to all existing accrued benefits. (Sec. 401) Amends IRC to: (1) disallow integration for simplified employee pensions; and (2) provide for eventual repeal of certain pension integration rules. (Sec. 402) Sets forth rules regarding the application of minimum coverage requirements with respect to separate lines of business. (Sec. 403) Amends IRC and ERISA with respect to division of pension benefits upon divorce, at the former spouse's election, to deem any State divorce decree to be a domestic relations order specifying that half of the marital share of the participant's accrued benefit is to be provided to such former spouse. (Sec. 404) Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (RRA) to entitle divorced spouses to railroad retirement annuities independent of the employee's actual entitlement. Subtitle B: Protection of Rights of Former Spouses to Pension Benefits Under Certain Government and Government-Sponsored Retirement Programs - Amends RRA to extend Tier II railroad retirement benefits to surviving former spouses pursuant to divorce agreements. (Sec. 412) Amends Federal civil service law with respect to survivor annuities for widows, widowers, and former spouses of Federal employees who die before attaining the age for deferred annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). (Sec. 413) Amends Federal law relating to the armed forces to terminate a two-tier annuity computation and social security offset under the military survivor benefit plan. (Sec. 414) Amends Federal civil service law with respect to payment of lump-sum benefits to former spouses of Federal employees under CSRS and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS). Subtitle C: Modifications of Joint and Survivor Annuity Requirements - Modifies ERISA and IRC requirements for joint and survivor annuities to provide for an alternative joint and two-thirds survivor annuity payable while both the participant and the spouse are alive. Subtitle D: Spousal Consent Required for Distributions From Section 401(k) Plans - Amends IRC to require spousal consent for distributions from section 401(k) plans. Subtitle E: Women's Pension Toll-Free Phone Number - Directs the Secretary of Labor to contract with an independent organization to create a women's pension toll-free phone number and contact. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Date for Adoption of Plan Amendments - Sets forth dates for adoption of plan amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1997
Merchant Mariners Fairness Act of 1997 - Provides that certain qualified service of a member of the U.S. merchant marine, including a vessel crewmember of the U.S. Army or Naval Transport Service, during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of eligibility for various veterans' benefits under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977. Requires the Secretary of Defense to issue an honorable discharge under such Act to each merchant marine member whose qualified service warrants such a discharge. Prohibits the payment of any retroactive benefits under this Act. Mandates a processing fee for any benefit application of a member possessing such qualified service.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1997
Domestic Violence Legal Services Eligibility Act - Amends the Legal Services Corporation Act to require the Legal Services Corporation, in establishing income levels to determine if a client who is the victim of domestic violence is eligible for assistance, to prescribe that only that client's income will be considered in making such determination.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1997
Permits the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association to sponsor a free public event, soap box derby races, on the Capitol grounds on July 12, 1997.
![Official portrait of Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/116_rp_md_5_hoyer_steny_200.jpg)