Agriculture

Biomass Research and Development Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1999

Biomass Research and Development Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture (the Secretaries) to coordinate policies and procedures that promote research, development, and demonstration on the production of biobased products for ensuring full consideration of potential feed-stock resources for energy-efficient, economically competitive, and environmentally sound biobased products and assessing the environmental, economic, and social impact of the production of such products from biomass on a large scale. Requires the Secretaries to each designate a high-level officer as a point of contact from their respective Departments and provides for such points of contact to jointly: (1) assist in arranging interlaboratory, interagency, and site-specific supplemental agreements for research, development, and demonstration projects relating to biobased products; (2) administer the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (Initiative); and (3) respond in writing to each recommendation made by the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretaries to establish a Biomass Research and Development Board to coordinate programs within and among the departments and agencies of the Federal Government to promote the use of biobased products by maximizing the benefits deriving from Federal grants, research and development agreements, and other assistance, and bringing coherence to Federal planning. (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretaries to establish a Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) to advise the Secretaries concerning the technical focus and direction of requests for proposals issued under the Initiative and procedures for reviewing such proposals and facilitate consultations and partnerships among Federal agencies, the research community, agricultural and forestry producers, industry, consumers, and other interested groups to carry out program activities relating to the Initiative, and evaluate and perform strategic planning on such program activities. Requires the Advisory Committee to: (1) advise the points of contact respecting the Initiative and evaluate and make written recommendations to the Board to ensure that funds appropriated for the Initiative are distributed and used consistently for grants, contracts, and other financial assistance under this Act; (2) ensure that the points of contact are funding proposals that are selected on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis, as determined by an independent panel of scientific and technical peers; and (3) ensure that activities are carried out in accordance with this Act. Provides for the Advisory Committee to coordinate its activities with other Federal advisory committees working in related areas to avoid duplication of effort. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretaries, acting through their respective points of contact and in consultation with the Board, to establish and carry out the Initiative under which competitively awarded grants, contracts, and other financial assistance are provided to, or entered into with, eligible entities to carry out research, development, and demonstration respecting biobased products. Specifies the purposes for which such grants, contracts, and other financial assistance shall be provided. Requires Federal agencies to issue regulations establishing procedures to ensure that no class of applicants has an unfair advantage in competing for an award. Requires the points of contact, after consultation with the Board, to: (1) publish annually a joint request for proposals for such grants, contracts, and other financial assistance; (2) provide a preference in such grants, contracts, and other financial assistance to consortia involving experts from multiple institutions and academic disciplines working on cross-cutting or integrative research, development, and demonstration challenges; and (3) require that such assistance be awarded competitively after the establishment of procedures that provide for scientific peer review by an independent panel of scientific and technical peers. Requires such grants, contracts, or other financial assistance to be used to conduct: (1) research and development in technologies or processes determined by the Advisory Committee to be consistent with the purposes specified under this Act; (2) research into the sustainability and long-term environmental impacts of the technologies or processes; (3) research into the economic viability (including the cost, net energy and comparative energy uses) of the technologies or processes; or (4) pilot projects of processes and technologies that lead to a better understanding of the energy or environmental impacts or performance characteristics of a biobased product. Prohibits the provision of such financial assistance for a demonstration project unless at least an equal amount of funding is obtained for such project from non-Federal sources. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary of Energy to provide such administrative support and funds to the Board and the Advisory Committee as are necessary to enable them to carry out this Act. Declares that the Secretary of Agriculture and the heads of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of the Interior may, and are encouraged to, provide such support and funds to the Board and the Advisory Committee. (Sec. 9) Requires the Secretaries to transmit to Congress specified initial and final reports.

Wildland Firefighters Pay Equity Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1999

Wildland Firefighters Pay Equity Act of 1999 - Amends Federal Civil Service provisions regarding the computation of overtime pay to provide that: (1) the overtime hourly rate of pay for U.S. Forest Service employees in the Departments of Agriculture and Interior engaged in emergency wildland fire suppression is an amount equal to one and one-half times the hourly rate of such employees' basic pay, whether such pay falls below, equals, or exceeds the minimum rate of basic pay for GS-10; and (2) all that amount is premium pay.

SCHIP Improvement Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1999

SCHIP Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to promote identification of children eligible for benefits under, and enrollment of children in, the Medicaid program and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) under titles XIX and XXI, respectively, of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 2) Amends NSLA to provide a limited waiver of a confidentiality requirement, for persons directly connected with the administration of a State plan for Medicaid or SCHIP, for the purpose of identifying children eligible for benefits under, and enrolling children in, any such plan. Makes such waiver applicable with respect to the agency from which the information would be obtained only if the State and the agency so elect. (Sec. 3) Amends CNA provisions for the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC program) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary) to establish a demonstration project, in not more than 40 local agencies in not fewer than two States, under which costs of nutrition services and administration (under the WIC program) shall include the costs of identification of children eligible for benefits under, and enrollment of children in, State plans for Medicaid and SCHIP. Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate for Congress the costs associated with implementing such project, including Federal and State costs per child enrolled in such State plans. (Sec. 3(sic)) Amends NSLA to direct the Secretary to make grants to States to carry out State plans to involve eligible entities in the identification of children eligible for benefits under, and enrollment of children in, State plans for Medicaid and SCHIP. Provides that the following are eligible entities: (1) a school or school food authority participating in the school lunch program under NSLA; (2) an institution participating in the child and adult care food program under NSLA; (3) a local agency participating in the WIC program under CNA; or (4) any other nongovernmental social service provider. Includes the WIC demonstration project established under this Act among authorized uses of such grant funds. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide a specified amount of funds to the Secretary for each of FY 2000 through 2003. Entitles and directs the Secretary to accept such funds, without further Act of appropriation.

A bill to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to release and protect the release of tobacco production and marketing information.

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to release tobacco production and marketing information to State trusts or similar organizations engaged in the distribution of national trust funds to tobacco producers and other related persons, to the extent that such release is: (1) in the interest of tobacco producers; and (2) to a State trust or other organization engaged in the distribution of funds to tobacco producers or other parties with an interest in tobacco production or farms under a national or State trust or settlement. Directs the Secretary, prior to release of such information, to allow at least 15 days for persons whose release consent would otherwise be required to elect to be exempt from such release. Requires a person obtaining released information to maintain records and not to use such information for other than permitted purposes. Provides penalties for knowing violations of the provisions of this Act. Exempts from the provisions of this Act: (1) cigarette manufacturer production records; (2) tobacco quota purchase intention records; and (3) buyer aggregate purchase records.

Help Our Producers Equity Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Help Our Producers Equity Act of 1999 - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act, with respect to marketing assistance loans through crop year 2002, to: (1) eliminate loan rate caps for wheat, corn and feed grains, upland and extra long staple cotton, and oilseeds; (2) revise loan rate criteria; (3) authorize increased loan rates for rice; and (4) make such changes retroactive to crop year 1999. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase marketing loan gain and loan deficiency payment caps for crop years 1999 through 2002. (Sec. 3) Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to authorize six-month marketing assistance loan extensions. (Sec. 4) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to eliminate 1999 through 2002 conservation reserve acreage caps. (Sec. 5) Revises the wetlands reserve program to: (1) replace the total program acreage cap with an annual cap for 2000 through 2005; (2) permit inclusion of land that has not historically been wetlands, land that is suitable for wetland establishment, or land that would contribute to certain Canadian-U.S. habitat objectives; and (3) authorize cooperative agreements for goods and services. (Sec. 6) Declares that Congress finds that any Federal law or regulation prohibiting or restricting agricultural exports should be maintained only if essential to U.S. security. Directs the President to conduct a related annual assessment of such laws and regulations.

A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require warning labels on certain wine.

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require wine imported from France to contain a warning label that states that dried animal blood is occasionally used as a clarifying agent in French wines.

Pet Safety and Protection Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Pet Safety and Protection Act of 1999 - Amends the Animal Welfare Act regarding permissible sources of research facility dogs and cats which include licensed dealers, registered public pounds or shelters meeting specified requirements, and research facilities licensed by the Department of Agriculture. Establishes monetary penalties for related violations.

A bill to provide educational opportunities for disadvantaged children, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Title I: Educational Opportunities - Establishes a demonstration program of grants to States for school choice vouchers for children from low-income families who are enrolled in low-performing public schools. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for such program, and for a national evaluation of such program by the Comptroller General. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of Education to make allotment grants to States for educational choice programs that provide scholarships. (Sec. 104) Bases State allotments on relative numbers of children in elementary and secondary public (including charter) schools. (Sec. 105) Makes a school eligible for assistance under this title if the State identifies it as among public elementary and secondary schools at or below the 25th percentile for academic performance of schools in that State, based on the State's criteria for such performance. (Sec. 106) Requires each grantee State to provide scholarships to the parents of eligible children. Sets the value of each scholarship at $2,000 per year. Provides that such scholarships shall not be considered income of the parents for Federal income tax purposes or for determining eligibility for any other Federal program. Requires that a child eligible for such a scholarship be: (1) enrolled in an eligible public elementary or secondary school; and (2) a member a family with income not more than 200 percent of the poverty line. Requires the grantee State to provide scholarships for eligible children through a lottery system administered for all eligible schools in the State by the State educational agency. Provides for continuing awards to scholarship recipients for each year of the program, except under specified individual circumstances. (Sec. 107) Allows funds under this title to be used: (1) for the payment of tuition and fees at the school selected by the parents of the child for whom the scholarship was provided, and for the reasonable costs of the child's transportation to the school, if the school is not the school to which the child would be assigned in the absence of a program under this title; (2) if the parents so choose, to obtain supplementary academic services for the child, at a cost of not more than $500, from any provider chosen by the parents, that the State determines is capable of providing such services and has an appropriate refund policy; and (3) for educational programs that help eligible children achieve high levels of academic excellence in the school attended by the eligible children for whom a scholarship was provided, if they attend a public school. (Sec. 108) Requires a grantee State to allow lawfully operating public and private elementary and secondary schools, including religious schools, serving the area involved to participate in the program. (Sec. 109) Provides that this title shall not affect funding under other State or local programs, or under other Federal programs, including specified programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Declares that scholarships under this title are to aid families, not institutions, and that a parent's expenditure of such scholarship funds at a school or for supplementary academic services shall not constitute Federal financial aid or assistance to that school or to the provider of supplementary academic services. Requires, as a condition of participating and receiving scholarship funds on under this title, that a school or provider of supplementary academic services comply with specified antidiscrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (Sec.110) Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a national evaluation of such program, including certain assessments and comparisons. (Sec. 111) Prohibits any provision or requirement of this title from being enforced through a private cause of action. Title II: Revenue Provisions - Offsets title I program costs by eliminating specified tax provisions relating to the ethanol, gas and oil, and sugar industries. (Sec. 201) Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to phase out certain tax deductions with respect to oil and gas expensing of drilling and development costs. Eliminates tax credits for ethanol producers. (Sec. 202) Repeals specified tax incentives for alcohol fuels, including ones relating to: (1) alcohol used as fuel; (2) qualified methanol and ethanol; (3) fuels containing alcohol; (4) taxable fuels mixed with alcohol; (5) reduced tax rate for aviation fuel in alcohol mixture, etc.; and (6) gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, and aviation fuel used to produce certain alcohol fuels. (Sec. 203) Eliminates the tax credit for enhanced oil recovery. (Sec. 204) Terminates unlimited passive loss tax deductions for oil and gas properties. (Sec. 205) Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to eliminate authority to use sugar as collateral for loans. Eliminates, with respect to the 2003 and subsequent crops of sugarcane and sugar beets, the sugar price support and production adjustment programs. Makes a processor of any such crop ineligible for a loan with respect to such crop under any Federal law. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from making any form of price support available for any of such crops by using Commodity Credit Corporation funds or other available funds. Terminates provisions relating to sugar marketing quotas and allotments under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, the Agricultural Act of 1949, the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, and other specified Federal law.

Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area Establishment Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area Establishment Act - Title I: Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area - Establishes the Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area in Arizona. (Sec. 103) Requires the administration of the conservation area to be exercised by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management. Prohibits the Secretary from using the National Park Service or the Fish and Wildlife Service to administer the Conservation Area or to include the area as a unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System, except by express congressional authorization. Requires the Secretary to prepare a management plan for administration and use of the conservation area. Establishes the Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area Advisory Committee to advise on the preparation and implementation of the management plan. (Sec. 104) Provides that the designation of the conservation area shall not be construed to alter the existing authorized uses or rights to use Federal lands included in the area. Treats a land use as an existing land use if it was authorized as of January 1, 1999, was a historical or traditional use, or was a right of use as of such date. Permits hunting, trapping, and fishing on conservation area lands and waters. Authorizes grazing within the area to the same extent as was permitted during calendar year 1998. Guarantees grazing permit holders the right to create new improvements for grazing operations. Permits aircraft and helicopter overflights of lands and landings within the area to the same extent as was permitted during calendar year 1998. (Sec. 105) Describes procedures for the acquisition of State or private lands within the conservation area. (Sec. 106) Requires the Secretary to assess the oil, gas, coal, and other mineral potential on Federal lands in the conservation area in order to expand the data base with respect to the mineral potential of the lands. Subjects the mineral assessment program to review and approval by the Arizona State Department of Mines and Mineral Resources. Bars the Secretary from making, modifying, or extending any mineral withdrawal authorized by law within the conservation area after January 1, 1999, until the assessment, consultation with, and review by, the State are completed. Permits the removal of minerals from the conservation area after completion of such requirements. (Sec. 107) Requires the Secretary, subject to the availability of funds, to carry out ecological resources restoration projects within the conservation area. Prohibits such projects from adversely affecting grazing allotments for more than three years unless an extension has been agreed upon by the permittee. Requires the Secretary, to the extent that a project affects such an allotment, to provide alternative allotments within the same grazing district to affected permittees so that the total number of animal unit months is unaltered. Sets forth provisions regarding control of plant growth and road maintenance and improvement within the conservation area. (Sec. 110) Directs the Secretary to conduct a survey of the conservation area, noting all sites of archaeological, historical, or scientific interest. Makes survey results publicly available. (Sec. 111) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title. Title II: Land Restoration and Conveyances - Requires the Secretary of the Interior, to the extent possible, to implement the recommendations contained in the April 1999 report of the Sonoran Institute regarding the Arizona Strip-Southern Utah Restoration Area. Authorizes the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, as a demonstration project, to apply all or a part of the revenues received for timber and other resources removed from lands designated as such restoration area under stewardship end-result contracts as an offset against the costs of stewardship services. Requires the Secretaries to designate an independent scientific review panel to review and approve all projects under this section. Terminates the authority to conduct projects seven years after this Act's enactment date. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey, without consideration, all U.S. right, title, and interest in and to specified lands to Colorado City, Arizona, Fredonia, Arizona, Mohave County, Arizona, and the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians. (Sec. 203) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title.

Lyme Disease Initiative of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Lyme Disease Initiative of 1999 - Directs the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, of Agriculture, of the Interior, and of Defense to: (1) establish specified detection test, improved surveillance and reporting system, and prevention goals to provide for a reduction in the incidence and prevalence of Lyme disease and related tick borne infectious diseases; and (2) establish a five-year plan of activities toward achieving those goals, and carry them out. Establishes the Lyme Disease Taskforce to advise the Secretaries with respect to achieving such goals. Authorizes appropriations.

Farm and Ranch Emergency Assistance Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Market Loss Assistance for Contract Commodities Title II: Market Loss Assistance for Soybeans and Other Oilseeds Title III: Removal of Trade Sanctions Title IV: Temporary Removal of Limit on Loan Deficiency Payments and Marketing Loan Gains Title V: Upland Cotton Price Competitiveness Title VI: Market Loss Assistance for Livestock and Dairy Producers Title VII: Emergency Concessional Sales and Donations Title VIII: Conservation Reserve Title IX: Early Availability of AMTA Payments Title X: Crop Insurance Farm and Ranch Emergency Assistance Act of 1999 - Designates amounts made available by this Act as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Deficit Control Act of 1985. Title I: Market Loss Assistance for Contract Commodities - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to use specified amounts for 1999 contract commodity market loss assistance to producers under a production flexibility contract. Makes such assistance available in proportion to amounts received under a producer's flexibility contract. Title II: Market Loss Assistance For Soybeans and Other Oilseeds - Directs the Secretary to use specified amounts of Commodity Credit Corporation funds for 1999 market loss assistance to soybean and oilseed producers. Considers such assistance as payments for purposes of production flexibility contract limits. Title III: Removal of Trade Sanctions - Directs the Comptroller General to examine and report on specified aspects of trade sanctions. (Sec. 302) Prohibits the President from imposing unilateral agricultural or medical sanctions against a foreign government, with an exception for national security reasons. (Sec. 303) Directs the Secretary to make annual reports with respect to foreign sanctions and their effect on U.S. agricultural commodities. (Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary to expand agricultural export assistance to offset sanction-affected market losses. Title IV: Temporary Removal of Limit on Loan Deficiency Payments and Marketing Loan Gains - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to remove limits on marketing loan gains and loan deficiency payments for crop years 1999 and 2000. Title V: Upland Cotton Price Competitiveness - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to: (1) reduce specified eligibility criteria with respect to upland cotton special marketing assistance; (2) make agricultural commodities pledged to the Corporation as loan collateral eligible for marketing certificate redemption; (3) eliminate related expenditure caps; and (4) revise special import quota provisions. Title VI: Market Loss Assistance for Livestock and Dairy Producers - Directs the Secretary to use specified Corporation funds to assist livestock and dairy producers. Title VII: Emergency Concessional Sales and Donations - Directs the Secretary to use specified Corporation funds for an emergency agricultural export concessional sales and donations program. Limits the amount of such funds available to assist fruit and vegetable producers. Title VIII: Conservation Reserve - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should enroll the fully authorized acreage in the conservation reserve program. Title IX: Early Availability of AMTA Payments - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to authorize advance payments in full through FY 2002 under the production flexibility contract program. Title X: Crop Insurance - Directs the Secretary to use specified Corporation funds to assist producers in purchasing additional crop insurance for crop year 2000.

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985, to give producers greater flexibility in enrollling certain marginal land in the conservation reserve, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Amends the Food Security Act with respect to the conservation reserve program to: (1) increase maximum program acreage; (2) permit enrollment of certain small parcels of lands adjacent to highly erodible croplands and unirrigated corners of certain irrigated fields; and (3) make acreage converted to contour grass strips eligible for contract bids on a continuous basis.

Agricultural Water Quality Policy Oversight Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Agricultural Water Quality Policy Oversight Act of 1999 - Establishes in the executive branch the Interagency Water Quality Policy Working Group, to be chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture. Directs the Group to conduct an analysis of national water quality policy, including consideration of Federal, State, local, and tribal laws. Subjects all new Federal water policy affecting agricultural and rural lands to Group approval. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a related advisory committee, which shall consider: (1) the oversight and coordinating role of the Department of Agriculture; (2) mechanisms to ensure the use of sound science in policy development; (3) the financial considerations of farmers and ranchers; and (4) priority watersheds. (Sec. 5) Directs te Secretary to ensure: (1) cooperation between the Department and other Federal entities; and (2) oversight of research results. (Sec. 6) Provides for personal data confidentiality. (Sec. 7) Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to certain contracts for nonpoint source water pollution control management to: (1) replace the Soil Conservation Service with the Natural Resources Conservation Service as a coordinating entity; (2) reopen contract authority; and (3) authorize appropriations.

Supplemental Income Payments for Farmers Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Supplemental Income Payments for Farmers Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make supplemental payments to producers of eligible crops (wheat, oilseeds, feed grains, cotton, and rice) for crop years in which the national gross revenue of a crop is less than a certain percentage of the five-year average of such crop's national gross revenue. Authorizes appropriations.

Safe Air Travel for Animals Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Animal Welfare Title II: Transportation Safe Air Travel for Animals Act - Title I: Animal Welfare - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to define "transport" with respect to air carrier transport of animals. Requires airlines to report to: (1) the Secretary of Agriculture in advance of any flight that will be carrying a live animal; and (2) the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Transportation concerning injury, loss, death, or mistreatment of a carried animal. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) make such information available to the public; and (2) forward animal-injury consumer complaints to the Secretary of Agriculture. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to include animal-injury information in the annual report on animal transportation. Title II: Transportation - Amends Federal law to require airlines to include in their contract of carriage policies and procedures for animal transportation safety. Amends Federal law to provide civil penalties and compensation for animal loss, injury, or death during air transport. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to provide for animal safety cargo hold improvements.

To expand the enforcement options under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to include the imposition of civil money penalties.

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess specified civil money penalties for violations of the Federal Meat Inspection Act or the Poultry Products Inspection Act.

Rural Education Initiative Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Rural Education Initiative Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to establish a new part J, Rural Education Initiative (REI), under title X Programs of National Significance. (Replaces the current part J, Urban and Rural Education Assistance and its provisions for demonstration grants for, and White House Conferences on, urban and rural education.) Makes an local educational agency (LEA) eligible for REI alternative use formula grants and competitive grants if: (1) the total number of students in average daily attendance at all of the schools served by the LEA is less than 600; and (2) all of the schools served by the LEA are located in a community with a Rural-Urban Continuum Code of 6, 7, 8, or 9, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to waive such eligibility requirements for competitive grants. Provides, under the alternative use formula grant program, that an eligible LEA may use applicable funding that it is eligible to receive from the State educational agency (SEA) for a fiscal year, to support local or statewide education reform efforts intended to improve the achievement of elementary school and secondary school students and the quality of instruction provided for the students. Defines applicable funding as funds received under: (1) specified provisions of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1999; (2) ESEA title II (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program); (3) ESEA title IV (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities); and (4) ESEA title VI (Innovative Education Program Strategies). Requires each SEA receiving applicable funding to disburse it to LEAs for alternative uses at the same times it disburses it to LEAs that do not intend to use it for alternative uses for that fiscal year. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible LEAs to support local or statewide education reform efforts intended to improve the achievement of elementary school and secondary school students and the quality of instruction provided for the students. Sets forth formulas for determining the amounts of such grants, based on numbers of children in average daily attendance at schools served by the LEAs, minus amounts received under applicable funding. Authorizes appropriations for the REI program. Sets forth accountability provisions. Requires LEAs that receive REI alternative use formula grants or competitive grants to administer tests to assess the academic achievement of students in their schools. Requires each SEA that receives applicable funding to: (1) determine, after the fifth year of an LEA's participation in either REI grant program, whether the LEA's students are performing better on such tests than after the first year of participation; (2) only permit LEAs that perform better to continue to participate for an additional five years; and (3) prohibit LEAs that did not perform better from participating for five years from the date of determination.

George Thomas "Mickey" Leland Hunger Relief Stamp Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

George Thomas "Mickey" Leland Hunger Relief Stamp Act of 1999 - Amends Federal law to require the Postal Service to establish a special rate of postage for first class mail that is up to 25 percent higher than the regular rate as a voluntary alternative that the public may use to contribute to funding for emergency food relief within the United States. Requires 50 percent of collected amounts to be paid to the: (1) Department of Agriculture, for purposes of the Emergency Food Assistance Program; and (2) Agency for International Development, for purposes of the Africa Food Security Initiative. Expresses the sense of the Congress that nothing in this Act should: (1) cause a net decrease in total funds received by the Department of Agriculture, the Agency for International Development, or any other Federal agency below the level that would have otherwise been received but for this Act's enactment; or (2) affect first-class or other regular postage rates. Requires special postage stamps to be made available to the public.

To amend the Agricultural Market Transition Act to provide a variant of loan deficiency payments to producers who are otherwise eligible for such payments, but who elect to use acreage planted to the eligible commodity for the grazing of livestock.

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make specified payments in lieu of loan deficiency payments to a producer who uses commodity acreage to graze livestock if the producer forgoes any other commodity harvesting on such acreage during the crop year.

Food Stamp Outreach and Research for Kids Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Food Stamp Program Title II: Food Stamp Information Through Tanf Program and Tax Credit Food Stamp Outreach and Research for Kids Act of 1999 - Title I: Food Stamp Program - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to (temporarily) carry out mandatory annual onsite inspections of State food stamp program agencies. (Sec. 103) Authorizes appropriations for a caseworker training demonstration program. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for Food and Nutrition Service studies to measure food stamp program impacts on nutrition policy formulation. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary to establish a program of grants to qualifying organizations for community partnerships and innovative outreach programs. (Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations for the Secretary to conduct online and telephone program participation demonstration programs. (Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary to facilitate partnerships with State, local, private, and public entities to provide information on nutrition programs; and maintain a toll-free information number. Makes an entity maintaining a toll-free number eligible for a specified Internal Revenue Code business tax credit. (Sec. 108) Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of State outreach programs Title II: Food Stamp Information Through TANF Program and Tax Credit - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a model application for receiving benefits under a State TANF program (Social Security Act block grants to States for temporary assistance to needy families). Requires the application to provide food stamp program eligibility information, for which the Secretary shall develop a model notice. Declares that State use of the application and notice shall be voluntary unless the Secretary determines that a State is not adequately providing food stamp information. (Sec. 202) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a business credit for establishment of the toll-free number under title I of this Act.

To provide supplemental market loss payments for farm owners and producers for certain 1999 crops.

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide partial market loss assistance to farm owners and producers eligible for 1999 production flexibility contract payments under the Agricultural Market Transition Act.

Tobacco Farmers' Relief Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999

Tobacco Farmers' Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income certain payments to tobacco quota and allotment holders and growers pursuant to the Master Settlement Agreement between a State and tobacco product manufacturers.

Wildland Firefighters Pay Equity Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999

Wildland Firefighters Pay Equity Act of 1999 - Amends Federal Civil Service provisions regarding the computation of overtime pay to provide that: (1) the overtime hourly rate of pay for U.S. Forest Service employees in the Departments of Agriculture and Interior engaged in emergency wildland fire suppression is an amount equal to one and one-half times the hourly rate of such employees' basic pay, whether such pay falls below, equals, or exceeds the minimum rate of basic pay for GS-10; and (2) all that amount is premium pay.

A bill to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to release and protect the release of tobacco production and marketing information.

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999

Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to release tobacco production and marketing information to State trusts or similar organizations engaged in the distribution of national trust funds to tobacco producers and other related persons, to the extent that such release is: (1) in the interest of tobacco producers; and (2) to a State trust or other organization engaged in the distribution of funds to tobacco producers or other parties with an interest in tobacco production or farms under a national or State trust or settlement. Directs the Secretary, prior to release of such information, to allow at least 15 days for persons whose release consent would otherwise be required to elect to be exempt from such release. Requires a person obtaining released information to maintain records and not to use such information for other than permitted purposes. Provides penalties for knowing violations of the provisions of this Act. Exempts from the provisions of this Act: (1) cigarette manufacturer production records; (2) tobacco quota purchase intention records; and (3) buyer aggregate purchase records.

Take Pride in America Volunteer Recognition Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999

Take Pride in America Volunteer Recognition Act - Establishes in the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture the Take Pride in America Program to: (1) establish and maintain a public awareness campaign in cooperation with public and private organizations and individuals to instill in the public the importance of the appropriate use of, and appreciation for, Federal, State, and local land, facilities, and natural and cultural resources, to encourage an attitude of stewardship and responsibility toward such land, facilities, and resources, and to promote participation by individuals, organizations, and communities in developing a conservation ethic to care for such land, facilities, and resources; and (2) conduct a national award program to honor individuals and entities that have distinguished themselves in these activities. Directs the Secretaries of such Departments to establish a program for recognizing volunteers under the Program by awarding a Program pass that may be redeemed for free access to Federal recreational land and facilities to each volunteer who completes the required number of hours of volunteer service. Provides for the number of hours of service required for receipt of a Program pass to be determined by the Secretaries, but to be not less than 50 hours, of which not less than 20 hours shall be devoted to any one individual project. Authorizes the Secretaries to recruit, train, and accept the services of individuals or entities, without compensation, as volunteers, without regard to the Civil Service provisions relating to appointments in the competitive service or classification or general schedule pay rates. Specifies the Federal employee status of volunteers.

To ensure that land enrolled in the land conservation program of the State of Minnesota known as Reinvest in Minnesota remains eligible for enrollment in the conservation reserve upon the expiration of the Reinvest in Minnesota contract.

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999

Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from rejecting an enrollment of land into the conservation reserve program based upon the land being out of production if such land had previously been enrolled in the Reinvest in Minnesota land conservation program.

Electronic Benefit Transfer Interoperability and Portability Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999

Electronic Benefit Transfer Interoperability and Portability Act of 1999 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to provide for a national standard of interoperability and portability applicable to electronic food stamp benefit transactions. Requires systems that provide for the electronic issuance, use, and redemption of coupons in the form of electronic benefit transfer cards to be interoperable, and food stamp benefits to be made portable, among all States not later than October 1, 2002.

Farmer Owned Reserve Restoration Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Farmer Owner Reserve Program Title II: Other Provisions Farmer Owned Reserve Restoration Act of 1999 - Title I: Farmer Owner Reserve Program - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to restore the wheat and feed grain (and oilseeds) farmer owned reserve program. (Eliminates the provision suspending the program for such producers through crop or calendar year 2002.) (Sec. 102) Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 with respect to the program to: (1) include oilseeds; (2) revise extended price support loan interest charge provisions; (3) permit advance storage payments and revise storage loan termination provisions; (4) reduce maximum wheat and feed grain amounts and establish oilseed amounts; and (5) set forth prices (compared to loan rates) at which, and conditions under which, a producer may withdraw stored commodities. Title II: Other Provisions - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to increase the term of marketing assistance loans. (Sec. 202) Directs the Commodity Credit Corporation to make loans for construction or remodeling of storage facilities for: (1) dry or high moisture grain, soybeans, and rice; and (2) high moisture forage and silage.

Forest Resources for the Environment and the Economy Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1999

Forest Resources for the Environment and the Economy Act - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to report to Congress on forest carbon management on Federal land, including the impacts upon timber harvests, wildlife habitat, recreation, forest health, and other statutory objectives of national forest management on a watershed basis. (Sec. 4) Prescribes guidelines on reporting, monitoring, and verification of carbon storage from forest management actions. Directs the Secretary to establish a Carbon and Forestry Advisory Council to: (1) advise on voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas sequestration from forest management actions; (2) estimate the effect of proposed implementation on atmospheric carbon mitigation; (3) assist the Secretary in reporting annually to Congress on the results of the carbon storage program; and (4) assist the Secretary in assessing forest vulnerability to climate change. Requires each participatory State in the carbon storage program to: (1) monitor and verify the carbon storage achieved; and (2) submit annual status reports to the Secretary. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with State and local governments, Indian tribes, private and nonprofit entities and landowners for protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and other resources on public, Indian, or private land in a national forest watershed. Instructs the Secretary to establish an assistance program provided through State revolving loan funds to Indian tribes and owners of nonindustrial private forest land to undertake forestry carbon activities. Sets forth program details. Permits the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana to apply for funding from the Bonneville Power Administration for purposes of funding loans that meet both the objectives of this Act and the fish and wildlife objectives of the Bonneville Power Administration under specified law. Authorizes appropriations to implement the revolving loan program.

Regulatory Openness and Fairness Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1999

Regulatory Openness and Fairness Act of 1999 - Title I: Issuance and Continuation of Tolerances - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to apply the requirements of this paragraph to any proposed or final rule, order, notice, report, guidance document, or risk assessment (document) based on any review or reassessment by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of a tolerance or of the uses of a pesticide chemical for which a tolerance is in effect (except when the Administrator finds or recommends that no adverse action regarding a tolerance is required) issued after 1998 and before the completion of the review of tolerances mandated by current law. Requires the Administrator to conduct a transition analysis before any such document is issued and to include with the document a report (with specified contents) on the analysis. Defines "tolerance," for this paragraph and the next paragraph, to mean a tolerance for a pesticide chemical residue, or an exemption from the requirement of such a tolerance, established under specified FDCA provisions. (Sec. 102) Applies this paragraph to any review or reassessment by the Administrator of a tolerance (initiated by the Administrator or by petition) or of any registration of a pesticide chemical under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) associated with that tolerance review issued after 1998 and before the completion of the review of tolerances mandated by current law. Prohibits the Administrator, notwithstanding any other provision of law, from basing an adverse action regarding a tolerance or registration on any information, calculation, or assumption described under specified provisions of this Act. (Sec. 103) Directs the Administrator, in implementing provisions regarding pesticide chemical residue tolerances (as amended by this Act), to issue rules and guidance, including guidance regarding aggregate pesticide chemical exposure and cumulative effects of exposure to two or more chemicals having a common toxicity mechanism. (Sec. 104) Directs the Administrator to issue guidelines specifying the kinds of information that will be required to support the issuance or continuation of a tolerance or a tolerance exemption. Requires the guidelines to specify the conditions under which data requirements will apply to particular types of pesticide chemical residues. Amends the FDCA and FIFRA to mandate notice and an opportunity to comment. (Sec. 105) Amends FIFRA to require the Administrator to expedite the review of a pesticide registration or amended registration, an experimental use permit, or an emergency exemption in specified circumstances. Amends the FDCA to require the Administrator to give priority to petitions to establish or modify a tolerance or exemption that is needed in connection with an application under specified FIFRA provisions for approval of an effective and economic alternative. Authorizes establishment of a tolerance associated with an emergency exemption without regard to other tolerances and before reviewing those other tolerances if the Administrator finds that any incremental exposure that may result will not pose any significant risk to food consumers. Title II: Studies and Reports - Defines "tolerance," for this title, to mean a tolerance for a pesticide chemical residue, or an exemption from the requirement of such a tolerance, established under specified FDCA provisions. (Sec. 202) Directs the Administrator to prepare a proposal for revising the priorities of and resources available to the Administrator that will allow the Administrator to: (1) process promptly all FIFRA pesticide registration applications, FDCA tolerance petitions, experimental use permits requests, new inert ingredient approval requests, emergency exemption requests, and requests for decisions on the merits of those applications, petitions, and requests; and (2) perform tolerance reviews and other duties regarding pesticide chemicals under the FDCA and FIFRA. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare a proposal for revising the priorities of and resources available to the Secretary that will allow the Secretary to: (1) obtain and provide to the Administrator adequate and timely information on food consumption, pesticide residues in or on food and drinking water, and pesticide use; (2) review actions proposed by the Administrator under the FDCA and FIFRA; and (3) perform other duties regarding pesticide regulation. Directs the Administrator and the Secretary to report to Congress on those proposals. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to establish and administer a program to continuously assess the strength of major U.S. agricultural commodities and products in the international marketplace, including regarding the sustainability and competitive strength of each commodity and product in that marketplace and the relationship of those factors to regulatory actions under the FDCA and FIFRA. Mandates periodic reports to specified congressional committees. (Sec. 204) Establishes the Pesticide Advisory Committee to: (1) provide advice to the Administrator and the Secretary regarding implementation of specified FDCA and FIFRA provisions; (2) foster communication between the Administrator, the Secretary, and interested organizations; and (3) carry out the functions performed by the Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee. Makes inapplicable to the Pesticide Advisory Committee provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act mandating the termination of any advisory committee two years after the committee is established.

A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to allow business and industry guaranteed loans to be made for farmer-owned projects that add value to or process agricultural products.

United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1999

Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize business and industry guaranteed loans for farmer-owned projects that add value to or process agricultural products.

To reduce Federal spending in several programs.

United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Defense Title II: Other Discretionary Accounts Title III: Entitlements Title I: Defense - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to provide that any sale of major defense equipment approved under such Act shall include an appropriate charge for costs incurred by the United States in the research, development, and production of such equipment. Provides an exception. Repeals a provision of such Act which allows for the recovery of certain administrative expenses when such expenses are neither salaries of U.S. armed forces nor unfunded estimated costs of civilian retirement and other benefits. Title II: Other Discretionary Accounts - Requires the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to terminate U.S. participation in the International Space Station program. Authorizes appropriations for termination costs. (Sec. 202) Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to require the interest rates on loans and advances under such Act to equal the coupon equivalent yield on Treasury obligations of comparable maturity at the most recent Treasury auction. Provides for loan origination fees from borrowers of loans made under such Act. Eliminates references to existing interest rates under such Act. (Sec. 203) Amends the National Forest Management Act of 1976 to eliminate below-cost timber sales from National Forest System lands. (Sec. 204) Repeals provisions of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 regarding the foreign market development cooperator program. (Sec. 205) Repeals provisions of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 regarding the Cochran Fellowship Program. (Sec. 206) Prohibits the NASA Administrator from obligating funds for the Advanced Subsonic Technology Program, High-Speed Research, or the National Aeronautics Facility. (Sec. 207) Repeals the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 effective September 30, 1999. (Sec. 208) Amends the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 to prohibit the authorization of appropriations to carry out such Act after September 30, 1999. Title III: Entitlements - Requires, for any arrangement for the sale of electric power entered into by a Federal Power Marketing Administration after October 1, 1999, that: (1) the rate for the sale of power be the market rate established by competitive bidding and no discount be provided to any purchaser; and (2) no entity be entitled to any preference or priority right to contract for or purchase such power. Makes certain provisions of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act regarding a residential power exchange program inapplicable to arrangements for the purchase or sale of electric power entered into after October 1, 1999. Prohibits Federal Power Marketing Administrations from entering into or renewing a power marketing contract for a term that exceeds five years. (Sec. 302) Repeals provisions of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 regarding a market access program. (Sec. 303) Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to extend and increase tobacco price support program marketing assessments on producers, purchasers, and importers.

A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize the annual enrollment of land in the wetlands reserve program, to extend the program through 2005, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1999

Amends the Food Security Act to extend the wetlands reserve program. Replaces the total program acreage limitation with an annual acreage enrollment limitation through FY 2005. Includes within program eligibility land that: (1) is suitable for wetland functions; (2) would contribute to habitat objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan; or (3) has not historically been wetlands. Authorizes program related cooperative agreements for goods and services.

Farm Income and Trade Equity Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1999

Farm Income and Trade Equity Act of 1999 - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to authorize agricultural owners or producers subject to production flexibility contracts to permanently elect to receive payments and marketing assistance loans which factor in European Union (EU) support levels in lieu of contract payments and marketing assistance loans under such Act. Sets forth payment rate and related provisions for: (1) wheat, feed grains, and oilseeds; and (2) cotton and rice. Sets forth alternative loan rate provisions for electing owners or producers. Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to provide for increased funding (including situations affected by Uruguay Round Trade Agreement caps) for the export enhancement program and the dairy export incentive program (under the Food Security Act of 1985) equal to direct EU subsidies.

Taxpayer Refund Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Broad Based Tax Relief Title II: Family Tax Relief Provisions Title III: Retirement Savings Tax Relief Subtitle A: Individual Retirement Arrangements Subtitle B: Expanding Coverage Subtitle C: Enhancing Fairness for Women Subtitle D: Increasing Portability for Participants Subtitle E: Strengthening Pension Security and Enforcement Subtitle F: Encouraging Retirement Education Subtitle G: Reducing Regulatory Burdens Subtitle H: Plan Amendments Title IV: Education Tax Relief Provisions Title V: Health Care Tax Relief Provisions Title VI: Small Business Tax Relief Provisions Title VII: Estate and Gift Tax Relief Provisions Subtitle A: Reductions of Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes Subtitle B: Conservation Easements Subtitle C: Annual Gift Exchange Subtitle D: Simplification of Generation-Shipping Transfer Tax Title VIII: Tax Exempt Organizations Provisions Title IX: International Tax Relief Title X: Housing and Real Estate Tax Relief Provisions Subtitle A: Low-Income Housing Credit Subtitle B: Historic Homes Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Real Estate Investment Trusts Subtitle D: Private Activity Bond Volume Cap Subtitle E: Leasehold Improvements Depreciation Title XI: Miscellaneous Provisions Title XII: Extension of Expired and Expiring Provisions Title XIII: Revenue Offsets Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Loophole Closers Title XIV: Technical Corrections Title XV: Compliance with Congressional Budget Act Taxpayer Refund Act of 1999 - Title I: Broad Based Tax Relief - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the lowest individual regular income tax rate from 15 percent to 14 percent. (Sec. 102) Phases-in an increase in the size of the 14-percent rate bracket. Title II: Family Tax Relief Provisions - Permits married taxpayers to calculate separate taxable income for each spouse and to be taxed as two single individuals on the same return. Calculates the tax due is calculated by applying the tax rates for single individuals to the separate taxable incomes. Requires both spouses to elect to either use a standard deduction or to itemize their deductions. (Sec. 202) Increases the starting point of the phase-out of the earned income credit for married couples filing a joint return by $2,000. (Sec. 203) Expands the list of persons eligible to: (1) make qualified foster care payments; and (2) place foster care individuals. (Sec. 204) Increases the maximum dependent care credit percentage from 30 percent to 50 percent for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $30,000 or less. Phases-down the 50 percent credit rate by one percentage point for each $1,000 of AGI, or fraction thereof, between $30,001 and $59,000. (Sec. 205) Provides for an employer-provided child care credit (of up to $150,000) equal to the sum of: (1) 25 percent of the qualified child care expenditures; and (2) 10 percent of the qualified child care resource and referral expenditures. (Sec. 206) Permits an individual to offset the entire regular tax liability (without regard to the minimum tax) by the personal nonrefundable credit. Repeals the provision reducing the refundable child credit by the alternative minimum tax (AMT). Permits the deduction for personal exemptions in computing AMT. Title III: Retirement Savings Tax Relief - Subtitle A: Individual Retirement Arrangements - Increases the annual contribution limit for traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs in $1,000 annual increments, beginning in 2001, until the limit reaches $5,000 in 2003, and thereafter, the limit is indexed for inflation in $100 increments. Increases the AGI phase-out limits for active participants in an employer-sponsored plan. (Sec. 303) Provides for Individual Development Accounts (IDA). Permits, if an eligible individual establishes an IDA with a qualified financial institution, the qualified financial institution to deposit into a separate, parallel, individual or pooled matching account an eligible matching contribution for the taxable year. Provides a tax credit for certain matching contributions to an IDA. Prohibits matching contributions after December 31, 2005. Permits qualified distributions only if, among other things: (1) the holder of the IDA has completed an economic literacy course offered by a qualified financial institution, a nonprofit organization, or a government entity; and (2) the distribution is used for qualified expenses (qualified higher education expenses, qualified first-time homebuyer costs, qualified business capitalization costs, or qualified rollovers). (Sec. 304) Permits IRAs to invest in any coin certified by a recognized grading service. Subtitle B: Expanding Coverage - Provides for optional treatment of elective deferrals as plus contributions. (Sec. 312) Increases elective deferral contribution limits. (Sec. 313) Eliminates certain current rules concerning plan loans made to an owner-employee. (Sec. 314) Provides that elective deferral contributions are not subject to deduction limits. (Sec. 315) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974 to provide that, during the first five years of a new single-employer plan of a small employer (100 or fewer employees), the flat rate Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PGBC) premium will be five dollars per plan participant. Provides for a reduced additional PGBC variable premium for new employers. (Sec. 317) Eliminates user fee requirements for requests to the IRS concerning the status of pension plans. (Sec. 318) Amends the IRC to allow an eligible employer to establish and maintain a SAFE annuity (an individual retirement annuity) or a SAFE trust (a trust forming part of a defined benefit plan), both to be funded by the employer. Makes the employer contributions deductible without limitation and otherwise provides for the treatment of contributions and distributions. Mandates a penalty for early withdrawals. Requires simplified employer reports for SAFE annuities and simplified actuarial reports for SAFE trusts. Amends ERISA to exempt SAFE trusts from coverage requirements and SAFE annuities from certain employer reporting requirements. (Sec. 319) Modifies top-heavy rules. Subtitle C: Enhancing Fairness for Women - Provides that individuals who have attained age 50 may make additional catch-up elective contributions to employer-sponsored retirement plans and additional catch-up IRA contributions. (Sec. 322) Sets forth requirements relating to equitable treatment for contributions of employees to defined contribution plans. Requires that certain contributions by church plans are not to be treated as exceeding a specified limit. (Sec. 323) Revises requirements relating to tax treatment of division of section 457 plan benefits upon divorce. (Sec. 324) Directs the Secretary to revise regulations relating to safe harbor relief for hardship withdrawals from cash or deferred arrangements. (Sec. 325) Provides for faster vesting of certain employer matching contributions. Subtitle D: Increasing Portability for Participants - Permits rollovers from and to various types of plans. (Sec. 332) Permits individual retirement plan (IRA) rollovers only if certain conditions are met. (Sec. 333) Permits rollover of after-tax contributions in an exempt trust under specified conditions. (Sec. 334) Sets forth a hardship exception to the 60-day rule. (Sec. 335) Sets forth requirements for treatment of forms of distribution available under transferor and transferee plans. (Sec. 336) Revises restrictions on distributions, including the same desk exception. (Sec. 337) Authorizes trustee-to-trustee transfers to purchase permissive service credit with respect to governmental defined benefit plans. (Sec. 338) Allows employers to disregard rollovers for purposes of cash-out amounts, under retirement plan provisions. (Sec. 339) Revises year of inclusion in gross income requirements for section 457 plans. Subtitle E: Strengthening Pension Security and Enforcement - Amends the IRC and ERISA to phase-in increases in the percentage of the current liability funding limit. Repeals such limit beginning January 1, 2004. (Sec. 342) Amends ERISA to direct the PBGC to prescribe rules relating to missing participants for multiemployer plans covered by the PBGC that terminate. (Sec. 343) Amends the IRC to allow an employer, in determining the amount of nondeductible contributions for any taxable year, to elect not to take into account any contributions to a defined benefit plan except to the extent that they exceed the full-funding limitation. (Sec. 344) Imposes an excise tax on a plan failing to provide required notice of a significant reduction in the rate of future benefit accrual. (Sec. 345) Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to protect investment of employee contributions to 401(k) plans by providing that specified requirements apply to elective deferrals for plan years beginning after December 31, 1998. (Sec. 346) Makes certain compensation limitations for defined benefit plans inapplicable to governmental and multiemployer plans. Prohibits combining or aggregating a multiemployer plan with any other plan maintained by the employer for the purpose of applying such limitations. Subtitle F: Encouraging Retirement Education - Requires that pension benefit statements be furnished annually (once every three years for defined benefit plans) or on request. Allows written or electronic statements. Requires multiemployer plans to furnish a statement (written or electronic) on request. (Sec. 352) Excludes qualified retirement planning services from gross income (as a fringe benefit). Subtitle G: Reducing Regulatory Burdens - Directs the Secretary, by regulation, to provide that plan satisfies the nondiscrimination requirements concerning highly employees if it meets pre-1994 requirements and certain other conditions are met. (Sec. 362) Amends the IRC and ERISA to revise requirements relating to timing of plan valuations. (Sec. 363) Amends ERISA rules for substantial owners relating to plan terminations to revise: (1) the phase-in of the guarantee; and (2) the allocation of assets. (Sec. 364) Amends IRC requirements for applicable dividends to allow dividends of employee stock ownership plans to be reinvested without loss of dividend deduction. (Sec. 365) Revises the notice and consent period regarding distributions. Directs the Secretary tomodify certain regulations to provide that the description of a participant's right, if any, to defer receipt of a distribution shall also describe the consequences of failing to defer such receipt. (Sec. 367) Repeals a transition rule relating to certain highly compensated employees under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. (Sec. 368) Directs the Secretary to modify certain regulations with respect to certain plan participation by employees of tax-exempt entities under the IRC. (Sec. 369) Revises ERISA requirements for annual report dissemination. (Sec. 370) Revises rules concerning the exclusion for employer provided transit passes. Subtitle H: Plan Amendments - Prescribes requirements for plan amendments or annuity contract amendments under the IRC. Title IV: Education Tax Relief Amendments - Eliminates the 60-month limit on student loan interest deductions and increases the income limitation on student loan deductions. (Sec. 402) Permits private educational institutions to maintain qualified tuition programs which are comparable to qualified State tuition programs. Excludes qualified distributions from such accounts from gross income. (Sec. 403) Excludes from gross income certain amounts received under the National Health Corps Scholarship Program or the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program. (Sec. 404) Permanently extends the exclusion from gross income of employer-provided educational assistance and restores the exclusion for such assistance on the graduate level. (Sec. 405) Increases the amount by which certain governmental bonds used to finance public school capital expenditures may be exempted from specified arbitrage bond provisions. (Sec. 406) Provides for the treatment of qualified public educational facility bonds as exempt facility bonds. Defines a "qualified public educational facility" as any school facility which is: (1) part of a public elementary school or a public secondary school; and (2) owned by a private, for-profit corporation pursuant to a public-private partnership agreement with a State or local educational agency. Provides for an exception from the State volume cap. (Sec. 407) Permits aggregate Federal guarantees of up to $500 million in school construction bonds by the Federal Housing Finance Board. Title V: Health Care Tax Relief Provisions - Phases-in a 100 percent deduction (for both itemizers and nonitemizers) for the health and long-term care insurance costs of individuals not participating in employer-subsidized health plans. (Sec. 502) Permits offering long-term care insurance under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements. (Sec. 503) Permits a taxpayer an additional exemption for certain elderly family members who need long-term care and who reside with the taxpayer. (Sec. 504) Adds to the list of taxable vaccines any conjugate vaccine of streptococcus pneumoniae. Reduces the per dose vaccine tax rate. Requires a report on the adequacy of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund to meet claims. Title VI: Small Business Tax Relief Provisions - Provides for the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals. (Sec. 602) Increases to $30,000 the amount which may be expensed as section 179 property. (Sec. 603) Makes the 6.2 percent Federal Unemployment Tax Act rate effective through calendar year 2004 (currently, 2007) and the 6.0 percent rate effective through calendar year 2005 (currently, 2008). (Sec. 604) Coordinates, for farmers, income averaging with the alternative minimum tax. (Sec. 605) Permits an individual engaged in an eligible farming business a limited deduction for amounts paid into a Farm and Risk Management Account. Defines such an account. Title VII: Estate and Gift Tax Relief Tax Provisions - Subtitle A: Reductions of Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes - Reduces the maximum estate tax rate from 55 to 50 percent. Repeals the phaseout of graduated rates. (Sec. 702) Replaces the unified credit with a unified exemption amount. Subtitle B: Conservation Easements - Doubles the distance within which qualified conservation easements must be located from a metropolitan area, national park, or wilderness area. Subtitle C: Annual Gift Exclusion - Phases-in a doubling of the annual gift exclusion. Subtitle D: Simplification of Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax - Permits the retroactive allocation of the generation-skipping transfer tax (GST) in certain cases. (Sec. 732) Permits the severance of a trust if there is a "qualified severance." (Sec. 733) Modifies certain valuation rules. (Sec. 734) Requires regulations prescribing the circumstances and procedures under which extensions of time will be granted in the case of a GST exemption or exception. Title VIII: Tax Exempt Organizations Provisions - Exempts an organization from income tax if it is created by a State to provide property and casualty insurance coverage for property for which such coverage is otherwise unavailable. (Sec. 802) Modifies rules relating to unrelated business taxable income for amounts received from controlled entities. (Sec. 803) Repeals the separate grass roots lobbying expenditure limit. (Sec. 804) Exempts from inclusion as income individual retirement account (IRA) distributions used for qualified charitable purposes. Sets forth related rules for charitable remainder trusts, pooled income funds, and charitable gift annuities. (Sec. 805) Excludes from an individual's gross income amounts received as reimbursement regarding the use of a passenger automobile for the benefit of a charitable organization. Relieves the organization of certain reporting requirements regarding the reimbursements. (Sec. 806) Treats certain expenses incurred by whaling captains while carrying out sanctioned activities for Native Alaskan subsistence whaling as a charitable contribution deduction. (Sec. 807) Permits charitable contributions to be made to qualified low-income schools after the end of a tax year, if such contributions are made before the required filing time. (Sec. 808) Permits non-itemizers to deduct a portion of their charitable contributions. (Sec. 809) Phases-in increases in the percentage limitations applicable to charitable contributions. (Sec. 810) Sets forth a limited exception to the excess business holdings rule. Title IX: International Tax Relief - Permits treating each electing worldwide affiliated group as an affiliated group for purposes allocating and apportioning interest expense for each domestic corporation which is a member of the group. (Sec. 902) Revises provisions concerning the of application of look-thru rules to dividends from noncontrolled section 902 corporations to provide, in general, that any dividend from a noncontrolled section 902 corporation with respect to the taxpayer shall be treated as income in a separate category in proportion to the ratio of: (1) the portion of earnings and profits attributable to income in such category; to (2) the total amount of earnings and profits. (Sec. 903) Excludes from the definition of "foreign base company oil related income" the pipeline transportation of oil or gas within such foreign country. (Sec. 904) Excludes from the definition of "foreign base company services income" income derived in connection with the performance of services which are related to the transmission of high voltage electricity. (Sec. 905) Provides for the treatment of advance pricing agreements as confidential taxpayer information. (Sec. 906) Exempts certain air transportation rights sold to foreign individuals from the 7.5 percent excise tax. (Sec. 907) Repeals the 90 percent limitation on the utilization of the alternative minimum tax foreign tax credit. (Sec. 908) Repeals the special foreign corporation sales rule for military property. Title X: Housing and Real Estate Tax Relief Provisions - Subtitle A: Low-Income Housing Credit - Modifies the low-income housing credit. Subtitle B: Historic Homes - Establishes a credit equal to 20 percent of the qualified rehabilitation expenditures made by a taxpayer with respect to a qualified historic home. Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Real Estate Investment Trusts - Part I: Treatment of Income and Services Provided By Taxable REIT Subsidiaries - Excludes taxable REIT subsidiaries (TRSs) from the five and ten percent asset tests. (Sec. 1022) Allows TRSs to provide non-customary tenant services. (Sec. 1023) Allows a REIT to establish a TRS (as defined). (Sec. 1024) Includes in the definition of "disqualified interest" (Sec. 163 of the IRC) any interest paid or accrued by a TRS to the REIT. (Sec. 1025) Imposes a 100 percent tax on any interest payments by a TRS to the REIT in excess of the commercially reasonable interest rate. Part II: Health Care REITs - Includes within the definition of the term "foreclosure property" any qualified health care property acquired by a REIT as the result of the termination of a lease of such property. Part III: Conformity With Regulated Investment Company Rules - Changes the distribution requirement from 95 percent to 90 percent. Part IV: Clarification of Exception From Impermissible Tenant Service Income - Provides, with respect to the definition of an independent contractor, that in the event that any class of stock of is regularly traded on an established securities market, only owners who own, directly or indirectly, more than five percent of such class of stock shall be taken into account as owning any of the stock of such class for purposes of applying the 35 percent limitation. Part V: Modification of Earnings and Profits Rules - Provides rules for determining whether a Regulated Investment Company (RIC) has earnings and profits form a non-RIC year. Part VI: Study Relating to Taxable REIT Subsidiaries - Directs the: (1) Commissioner of the Internal Revenue shall conduct a study to determine how many taxable REIT subsidiaries are in existence and the aggregate amount of taxes paid by such subsidiaries; and (2) the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a report to the Congress describing the results of such study. Subtitle D: Private Activity Bond Volume Cap - Accelerates the increase in the volume cap on State private activity bonds. Subtitle E: Leasehold Improvements Depreciation - Includes qualified leasehold improvement property as 15 year property for purposes of the accelerated cost recovery depreciation rules. Defines "qualified leasehold improvement property" as certain improvements to an interior portion of a building which is nonresidential property. Title XI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Repeals the: (1) LUST taxes on fuel used in trains; and (2) 4.3-cents-per-gallon General Fund excise tax on diesel fuel used by railroads and on fuels used by barges operating on designated inland waterways. (Sec. 1102) Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the tax treatment of Settlement Trusts established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Exempts from income taxation any such Settlement Trust electing coverage by this Act. Declares that for an electing trust: (1) no amount shall be includible in the gross income of a Settlement Trust beneficiary by reason of a contribution to the Settlement Trust during such taxable year; and (2) the ordinary requirements for taxation of trusts and beneficiaries shall not apply. Requires an electing trust to distribute at least 55 percent of its adjusted taxable income each taxable year. Imposes a tax on a trust, in the amount of the failure, if the distribution is insufficient. Includes in the beneficiary's gross income, as ordinary income, any distribution from an electing trust (only when the actual distribution is received). Provides that distributions from the trust will be taxable as ordinary income even if the distribution represents a return of capital. Requires tax withholding on trust distributions over a certain amount. (Sec. 1103) Permits businesses to recover, as specified, long-term unused credits against the alternative minimum tax. (Sec. 1104) Permits a five-year net operating loss carryback for losses attributable to operating mineral interests of independent oil and gas producers. (Secs. 1105 and 1106) Allows both geological and geophysical expenditures on domestic oil and gas exploration and development and delay rental payments, at the taxpayer's election, to be deducted from gross income at the time incurred. (Sec. 1107) Provides that, for specified purposes of the active business definition, all members of a corporation's separate affiliated group shall be treated as one corporation. (Sec. 1108) Increases the maximum dollar limitation on reforestation expenses eligible for amortization and suspends such dollar limitation through calendar year 2003. (Sec. 1109) Revises the excise tax on arrow components. (Sec. 1110) Doubles the Joint Committee on Taxation reporting threshold for refunds and credits. (Sec. 1111) Modifies the definition of a rural airport for purposes of the air passenger tax. (Sec. 1112) Provides that the patronage dividends of cooperatives shall not be reduced by stock dividends to the extent the stock dividends are in addition to amounts otherwise payable. (Sec. 1113) Repeals certain provisions concerning the filing of consolidated returns by insurance companies. (Sec. 1114) Modifies, for lending or finance companies, the exemption from the personal holding company tax. (Sec. 1115) Expands the credit for modifications to inter-city buses to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. (Sec. 1116) Accelerates the 80 percent deduction for business meal expenses for individuals subject to Federal hours of service limitations. (Sec. 1117) Provides for the treatment of a qualified highway infrastructure project bond as an exempt private activity bond. (Sec. 1118) Extends the District of Columbia (DC) homebuyer credit by one year and increases the phase-out range. (Sec. 1119) Eliminates the ten percent poverty rate limitation for purposes of the zero-percent capital gains rate for DC zone assets. (Sec. 1120) Classifies any natural gas gathering line as seven-year property for purposes of depreciation. Defines natural gas gathering line. (Sec. 1121) Exempts small seaplanes from the air passenger excise taxes. Title XII: Extension of Expired and Expiring Provisions - Extends the: (1) research credit (permanently); (2) subpart F (Controlled Foreign Corporations) exemption for active income financing (for five years); (3) taxable income limit on percentage depletion for marginal oil and gas wells (for five years); (4) work opportunity credit and the welfare-to-work credit (for five years); (5) credit for electricity produced by wind and closed-loop biomass (for five years) and extends a credit to facilities using poultry waste; and (6) expiration date for the expensing of certain environmental remediation costs until June 30, 2004. Maintains the exemption of Alaska from dyeing requirements for diesel fuel and kerosene exempt from the gasoline tax. Repeals the exemption from such dyeing requirements for other States exempted by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from such requirements under the Clean Air Act. Title XIII: Revenue Offsets - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Modifies the foreign tax credit carryback and carryover periods. (Sec. 1302) Amends provisions involving returns relating to the cancellation of indebtedness by certain entities to include within the definition of "applicable financial entity" any organization a significant trade or business of which is the lending of money. (Sec. 1303) Increases the withholding rate for nonperiodic distributions from 10 to 15 percent. (Sec. 1304) Directs the Secretary to establish a program requiring the payment of user fees for requests to the IRS for ruling letters, opinion letters, determination letters, and other similar requests. Terminates fees October 1, 2009. (Sec. 1305) Prohibits transfers of excess pension assets to retiree health account made after September 30, 2009, (currently, after December 31, 2000) from being treated as qualified transfers. (Sec. 1306) Excludes from the definition of "capital asset" (under rules for determining capital gains and losses) any commodities derivative financial instrument held by a commodities dealer, if such instrument clearly has no connection to the activities of the dealer as a dealer. Subtitle B: Loophole Closers - Limits the use of the non-accrual experience method of accounting under provisions relating to special rules for services. (Sec. 1312) Modifies rules relating to the exemption of certain ten or more employer plans from welfare benefit fund provisions. (Sec. 1313) Prohibits, in general, the use of the installment method of accounting for accrual method dispositions. (Sec. 1314) Treats a gain as an ordinary gain to the extent such gain exceeds the net underlying long-term capital gain where the taxpayer has gain from a constructive ownership transaction with respect to any financial position and such gain otherwise would be treated as a long-term capital gain. Provides that, to the extent such gain is treated as a long-term capital gain after the application of the previous sentence, the determination of the applicable capital gain rate (or rates) shall be determined on the basis of the respective rate (or rates) that would have been applicable to the net underlying long-term capital gain. Sets forth definitions and exceptions. (Sec. 1315) Amends the IRC to disallow a deduction for the transfer of a charitable contribution to or for the use of a State or charitable tax-exempt organization or trust if in connection with such transfer: (1) the organization directly or indirectly pays, or has previously paid, any premium on any personal benefit contract (life insurance, annuity, or endowment contract, also known as charitable split-dollar life insurance) with respect to the transferor; or (2) there is an understanding (side agreement) that any person will directly or indirectly pay any premium on such contract with respect to such transferor. Imposes on such organization an excise tax equal to the premiums paid by it on the personal benefit contract. Provides that certain persons shall not be treated as indirect beneficiaries: (1) in certain cases in which a charitable organization purchases an annuity contract to fund an obligation to pay a charitable gift annuity; or (2) solely by reason of being a noncharitable recipient of an annuity or unitrust amount paid by a charitable remainder trust that holds a life insurance, annuity or endowment contract. (Sec. 1316) Prohibits from taking into account any dividend received from a closely held real estate investment trust by any person owning 10 percent or more of the stock or beneficial interests in the trust in computing annualized income installments in a manner similar to the manner under which partnership income inclusions are taken into account. (Sec. 1317) Requires any employee stock ownership plan holding employer securities consisting of stock in an S corporation to provide that no portion of the assets of the plan attributable to (or allocable in lieu of) such employer securities may, during a nonallocation year, accrue (or be allocated directly or indirectly under any qualified plan of the employer) for the benefit of any disqualified individual. (Sec. 1318) Revises the anti-abuse rules related to assumption of liability. (Sec. 1319) Provides that, as a general rule, a transfer of an interest in intangible property shall be treated (under provisions concerning the transfer of property to a corporation controlled by the transferor) as a transfer of property even if the transfer is of less than all of the substantial rights of the transferor in the property. (Sec. 1320) Makes a controlled entity ineligible to be a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust). Defines "controlled entity." (Sec. 1321) Sets forth rules concerning distributions to a corporate partner of stock in another corporation. Title XIV: Technical Corrections - Sets forth amendments concerning, among other things: (1) the Tax and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998; (2) the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998; (3) the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997; (4) the treatment of worthless securities of affiliated corporations; (5) the IRA contribution amount of the lesser earning spouse; (6) modified endowment contracts; (7) lump-sum distributions; and (8) tentative carryback adjustments of losses from section 1256 contracts. Title XV: Compliance With Congressional Budget Act - States that: (1) all provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act which are in effect on September 30, 2009, shall cease to apply as of the close of September 30, 2009; (2) all provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act which were terminated under clause (1) shall begin to apply again as of October 1, 2009, as provided in each such provision or amendment.

Conservation Security Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1999

Conservation Security Act of 1999 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a conservation security program of three-to five-year (renewable) rental contracts to assist farm and ranch owners and operators promote conservation of soil, water, and related resources such as wildlife and wetlands. Requires a participant to submit a resource security plan or a livestock nutrient management plan. (Limits the size of eligible livestock operations.) Sets forth three classes of resource security plan conservation practices, and bases rental payments upon classes implemented by the participant. Bases livestock nutrient management plan payments on the price and number of livestock covered by the contract.

Democracy for Dairy Producers Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1999

Democracy for Dairy Producers Act of 1999 - Requires, with respect to a specified referendum on Federal milk marketing orders and related reforms, that: (1) if a cooperative association of milk producers elects bloc voting on behalf of its members it shall provide each member with written notice of referendum issues, its intended voting position, and individual producer voting procedures; and (2) the Secretary of Agriculture adjust the association vote to reflect individual producer votes.

An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1999

Authorizes expenditures by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for the 106th Congress.

To terminate the Federal price support programs for sugar beets and sugarcane.

United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1999

Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to repeal the sugarcane and sugar beet price support program.

To terminate the price support and marketing quota programs for peanuts.

United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1999

Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act and the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1983 to terminate peanut price support and marketing quota programs, respectively.

To provide a temporary exception for certain Minnesota counties from the limitation on the percentage of cropland that may be enrolled in the conservation reserve and wetlands reserve programs.

United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1999

Provides a temporary exception for the Minnesota counties of Roseau, Pennington, and Marshall from the limitation on the cropland percentage that may be enrolled in the conservation reserve and wetlands reserve programs.

Ensuring the Safety of Imported Meat and Poultry Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1999

Ensuring the Safety of Imported Meat and Poultry Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to ban (with a discretionary one-time extension) all imports of meat or meat products from any country whose inspection system does not provide sanitary or phytosanitary protection equivalent to United States requirements. Amends the Poultry Products Inspection Act to provide similar provisions for poultry or poultry products. Provides for: (1) public participation in equivalency decisions; and (2) public disclosure of noncomplying foreign exporting plants and foreign country rejection rates.

To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to allow business and industry guaranteed loans to be made for farmer-owned projects that add value to or process agricultural products.

United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1999

Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize business and industry guaranteed loans for farmer-owned projects that add value to or process agricultural products.

Jackson Multi-Agency Campus Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1999

Jackson Multi-Agency Campus Act of 1999 - Provides for the exchange of certain federally owned land in Wyoming by the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) the Game and Fish Commission of Wyoming for certain State land to be used for construction of a multi-agency administrative facility (for use by specified Federal, State, and local agencies) for the Bridger-Teton National Forest; and (2) the town of Jackson, Wyoming, for construction of such facility.

Speciality Crop Insurance Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1999

Specialty Crop Insurance Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to direct the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to offer to enter into a contract with the specialty crop administrator to assume Risk Management Agency responsibility for specialty crop insurance and related products and policies under the Federal crop insurance program. Defines "specialty crops" as nonprogram crops, including fruits, nuts, vegetables, timber, turfgrass, and greenhouse and nursery plants. Defines " specialty crop administrator" as a nonprofit corporation organized to: (1) develop, assess, and rate crop insurance policies; (2) operate as a crop insurance advisory organization and a crop insurance statistical organization; and (3) perform other related activities. Authorizes the administrator to: (1) establish State or regional advisory committees for each specialty crop program; and (2) provide assistance for research and development of insurance products for underserved specialty crops. Sets forth related provisions with respect to: (1) coverage funding; (2) minimum catastrophic risk protection coverage; (3) additional coverage minimum subsidy levels; (4) premium discounts and surcharges; (5) purchase time periods; (6) cooperative or association payment of producer fees; and (7) enforcement. Authorizes the Agency to enter into partnerships with public and private entities to increase the availability of risk management tools for specialty crop producers. Directs the Corporation and the administrator to jointly study the feasibility of developing new crop insurance products. Directs the Corporation to use the administrator to operate the gross revenue pilot programs for specialty crops. Provides for such programs' expansion in any counties in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Texas, and other States as appropriate. (Sec. 4) Revises Corporation Board of Directors provisions. Gives the Board independent oversight authority over all specialty crop decisions of the Corporation, the Agency, and the administrator. (Sec. 5) Limits the administrative costs that an approved insurance provider may retain from specialty crop producer fees.. (Sec. 6) Authorizes the Corporation and the Secretary of Agriculture, in carrying out a pilot insurance or reinsurance program, to: (1) offer the program on a regional, State, or national basis; and (2) operate the program as a renewable three-year program. (Sec. 7) Includes losses due to price level changes among crop insurance eligibility criteria. (Sec. 8) Authorizes the Corporation to use specified funds for Agency development partnerships. (Sec. 9) Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act, with respect to the noninsured crop disaster assistance program, to eliminate: (1) area loss requirements; and (2) natural disaster requirements for purposes of prevented planting and reduced yield payments.

Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000

United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Strengthening the Farm Safety Net Title II: Improving Program Efficiencies Title III: Administration Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 1999 - Title I: Strengthening the Farm Safety Net - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to revise the crop insurance premium schedule for additional coverage, including elimination of the separate coverage-based premium criteria. Requires plans to disclose premium amounts paid by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. (Sec. 102) Establishes a premium schedule for other insurance plans based upon a percentage of the total premium used to define loss ratio and certain dollar amounts to be paid by the Corporation. (Sec. 103) States that if the Corporation uses actual production history to determine insurable yields for a commodity, a producer may elect to exclude certain years of production history depending upon whether the producer has a ten or five year consecutive production history. (Sec. 104) Directs the Corporation to periodically review crop insurance plan rating methodologies. (Sec. 105) Repeals authority for the cost of production risk protection and the assigned yield for new producer pilot programs. Authorizes the Corporation to offer pilot programs: (1) on a regional, State, or national basis; and (2) on a three-year, renewable, basis. Provides for the expedited consideration of certain limited-scope pilot programs. Directs the Corporation to conduct one or more livestock (cattle, sheep, swine, goats, poultry) pilot programs, including the use of futures and options contracts and insurance plans. Sets forth specified fiscal year expenditure caps. Authorizes the use of Corporation insurance fund amounts for such programs. (Sec. 106) Authorizes the Corporation to provide a cost of production price election under a production cost-based insurance plan. (Sec. 107) Authorizes the Corporation to provide performance-based discounts to producers of a commodity with good insurance or production experience relative to other producers in the same area. (Sec. 108) Directs the Corporation to offer an alternative risk protection coverage that indemnifies on an area yield and loss basis and provides, on a uniform national basis, a higher combination of yield and price protection. (Sec. 109) Authorizes cooperatives and other nonprofit trade associations to pay catastrophic insurance fees. (Sec. 110) Provides, with respect to prevented planting coverage, that: (1) a producer may elect out of coverage, with a corresponding premium reduction; (2) the Corporation shall offer an equal percentage of coverage for each commodity; and (3) substitute commodity planting shall be permitted, under specified conditions. (Sec. 112) Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to authorize noninsured crop disaster assistance to producers in certain declared disaster areas. (Sec. 113) Makes noninsured crop disaster assistance available only to persons with adjusted gross incomes of two million dollars or less. Title II: Improving Program Efficiencies - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to prohibit issuance of more than one insurance policy on the same acreage during a crop year unless such coverage is limited to catastrophic risk protection insurance, with an exception for areas with customary double-cropping practices. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to improve program compliance and integrity through development of plans to: (1) reconcile producer information received by the Corporation and the Farm Service Agency (FSA); and (2) use FSA field infrastructure to identify and eliminate waste and fraud. Provides for related Corporation consultation with State FSA committees. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Corporation to impose specified fines and program disqualifications upon an agent, producer, loss adjuster, insurance provider, or other person for willful and intentional false information provided with respect to an insurance plan or policy. (Sec. 204) Provides for protection of confidential information, including application of specified (confidentiality) penalties under the Food Security Act of 1985. Title III: Administration - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to revise the composition of the Corporation Board of Directors. (Sec. 302) Directs the Corporation to reimburse applicants for research, development, and maintenance costs for insurance policies that are approved and offered for producer sale. (Sec. 303) Directs the Corporation to contract with qualified parties to research and develop insurance policies for underserved commodities, including specialty crops Prohibits the Corporation from conducting its own policy research and development. (Sec. 304) Provides specified funding for research and development on specialty crops and under-served communities and authorizes appropriations for reimbursement for research development and maintenance costs. (Sec. 305) Authorizes an approved insurance provider, university, or trade association or cooperative, or other person to submit a policy or plan for Board approval. States that if the Board does not approve or disapprove an application within 120 days it shall be deemed approved. (Sec. 306) Directs the Corporation to contract for rating insurance plans.

To provide for a gradual reduction in the loan rate for peanuts, to repeal peanut quotas for the 2002 and subsequent crops, and to require the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase peanuts and peanut products for nutrition programs only at the world market price.

United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1999

Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to reduce quota peanut price support levels through crop year 2001 and make nonrecourse loans available to all peanut producers at 85 percent of estimated market value as of crop year 2002. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to eliminate peanut quotas as of crop year 2002. Amends the National School Lunch Act to authorize the purchase at world market price of additional (excess of poundage quota) peanuts for the school lunch and other specified food and nutrition programs. States that such peanuts shall not be considered domestic edible use peanuts under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 or the Agricultural Market Transition Act.

Market Loss Assistance Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1999

Market Loss Assistance Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide partial market loss assistance to farm owners and producers eligible for 1999 production flexibility contract payments under the Agricultural Market Transition Act.

Andrew C. Fish, of Vermont, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, vice John David Carlin, resigned.

United States · United States Senate · 19 July 1999

Chugach Alaska Natives Settlement Implementation Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1999

Chugach Alaska Natives Settlement Implementation Act of 1999 - Title I: Easement for Access - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to grant to the Chugach Alaska Corporation (Chugach) a perpetual easement for access to and utilization and development of land interests in the vicinity of Carbon Mountain, Alaska, that were conveyed to Chugach pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). States that, if within six months the Secretary and Chugach fail to agree on easement terms and conditions, then such easement is hereby granted to Chugach as a conveyance under ANCSA. Title II: Cemetery Sites and Historic Places - Directs the Secretary to withdraw from all forms of appropriations: (1) all public lands for which Chugach filed an application for conveyance pursuant to ANCSA as a cemetery site or historical place which application was denied because the land was selected by and conveyed to a Village Corporation; and (2) all lands that the Federal Government acquired from Village Corporations or other private parties in the Chugach Region in connection with the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Program. Outlines Chugach application requirements for the withdrawn lands and requires lands previously selected by Chugach for such purposes to be evaluated for their eligibility as cemetery sites and historical places. Provides a reinstatement period for Chugach to refile an application for lands previously requested. Title III: Forest System Land Management - Directs the Secretary to coordinate the development, maintenance, and revision of land and resource management plans for units of the National Forest System in Alaska with the plans of the Alaska Native Corporations for the utilization of lands which are intermingled with, adjacent to, or dependent for access upon National Forest System lands.