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Bill· HRH.R. 4524 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2000
Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to increase production eligibility for nonrecourse marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments. Repeals the prohibition on additional outlays for reconstituted farms.
Bill· HRH.R. 4497 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2000
Farmers' Value-Added Agricultural Investment Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that for purposes of the general business credit, for either an eligible farmer or a farmer-owned entity, the value-added agricultural property investment credit for any taxable year is 50 percent of the basis of any qualified value-added agricultural property placed in service during the taxable year. Provides that, in the case of a farmer-owned entity, such credit shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among eligible persons holding qualified interests in such entity as of the last day of such taxable year. Limits such credit.
Bill· SS. 2557 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2000
National Energy Security Act of 2000 - Title I: Energy Security Actions Required of the Secretary of Energy - Directs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to report annually to the President and Congress on the progress the United States has made toward obtaining the goal of not more than 50 percent dependence on foreign oil sources by 2010. (Sec. 102) Sets a deadline for the Secretary to submit to the President a certain report of the National Petroleum Council, together with recommendations for administrative or legislative actions. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to establish within the National Economic Council an Interagency Work Group on Natural Gas (the Group), whose function shall be to develop a strategy and comprehensive policy for the use of natural gas as an essential component of overall national objectives of energy security, economic growth, and environmental protection. Title II: Amendments to Energy Policy and Conservation Act and Actions Affecting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to authorize drawdown and distribution of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) if: (1) the President concurs in the determination of the Secretary of Defense that it will not impair national security; and (2) the Secretary of Energy finds that it will not have an adverse effect on the domestic petroleum industry. (Sec. 201) Extends through FY 2003 the availability of FY 2000 appropriations for SPR authorities. Extends the expiration date for authorities related to domestic supply availability from March 31, 2000, to December 31, 2003. (Sec. 202) Extends from FY 1997 through 2003 the authorization of appropriations for the interagency working group that coordinates Federal programs affecting exports of renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services. Extends the expiration date for standby energy authorities from March 31, 2000, to December 31, 2003. (Sec. 203) Instructs the President to establish immediately an Interagency Panel on the Strategic Petroleum Study to study and report to the President and Congress regarding oil markets and estimated future fluctuations in the price, supply, and demand for crude oil, and to determine appropriate SPR capacity and use. Title III: Provisions to Protect Consumers and Low Income Families and Encourage Energy Efficiencies - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to repeal: (1) the requirement that participating States share 25 percent of the cost of weatherization programs as a condition for receiving assistance grants; and (2) the mandate that forty percent of weatherization program funds be spent for weatherization program materials. Instructs the Secretary to establish energy audit procedures and techniques. Increases the financial assistance for labor and weatherization materials expenditures per dwelling unit. Includes among such weatherization materials heating and cooling modification costs, including replacement. (Sec. 301) Repeals the mandate for the Secretary to establish, pursuant to State application, a separate average per dwelling unit limitation. (Sec. 302) Amends the EPCA to direct the Secretary, upon State request, to provide information, technical assistance, and funding for specified actions (summer fill programs) to avoid severe seasonal price increases and supply shortages of kerosene, propane, and heating oil during summer months. (Sec. 303) Authorizes appropriations for an Energy Efficiency Science Initiative, managed by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, for grants for energy efficiency research. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the Secretary to establish, maintain, and operate a Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve (Reserve) (containing no more than two million barrels of petroleum distillate) in the Northeast. States that such Reserve shall not be considered to be an SPR component. Restricts release of Reserve petroleum distillate to: (1) a severe energy supply disruption; (2) a severe price increase; or (3) an emergency affecting the Northeast which the President determines to merit such release. Mandates establishment of the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve Account in the Treasury subsequent to the Secretary's decision to establish the Reserve. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Provisions to Enhance the Use of Domestic Energy Resources - Subtitle A: Hydroelectric Resources - Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and of the Army, respectively, to inventory all dams, impoundments, and other facilities under their jurisdiction and to report to Congress on the potential of such facilities to generate hydroelectric power and on actions planned to do so. (Sec. 402) Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to report to Congress on expedited hydroelectric licensing procedures. Subtitle B: Nuclear Resources - Directs the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to report to Congress on: (1) domestic nuclear power generation and production; and (2) the potential for increasing nuclear generating capacity and production as part of the domestic energy mix. Subtitle C: Development of a National Spent Nuclear Fuel Strategy - Establishes an Office of Spent Nuclear Fuel Research within the Office of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology of the Department of Energy, headed by an Associate Director, to implement an integrated research and development program on technologies for the treatment, recycling, and disposal of high-level nuclear radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, under the general supervision of the Secretary. Confers upon the Secretary grant and contract making authority. Subtitle D: Coal Resources - Directs the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress on the potential for increased generation from existing coal-fired power plants; and (2) provide grants for refinement and demonstration of new technologies for the conversion of coal to liquids. Title V: Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2000 - Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2000 - Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to establish and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program that will: (1) result in an environmentally sound program; (2) not result in significant adverse effects upon fish and wildlife; and (3) ensure the receipt of fair market value by the public for the mineral resources to be leased. (Sec. 503) Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 to repeal the prohibition against production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and any leasing or development leading to such production. States that Congress determines that the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program and activities authorized by this Act are compatible with the purposes for which the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was established, and that no further findings or decisions are required to implement this determination. States this Act is the sole authority for Coastal Plain leasing, and that such Plain is considered "Federal land" for purposes of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) designate up to a specified total of Coastal Plain acreage as "Special Areas" and close them to leasing if the Secretary determines that these Areas require special management and regulatory protection; and (2) permit leasing in those Special Areas by setting lease terms that limit or condition surface use and occupancy by lessees but permit the use of horizontal drilling technology from sites on leases located outside the designated Special Areas. Declares that this Act constitutes the Secretary's sole authority to close Coastal Plain lands to oil and gas leasing and to exploration, development, and production. Instructs the Secretary to convey the surface estate of specified lands to the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation and to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation in order to remove clouds on title and clarify land ownership patterns within the Coastal Plain. (Sec. 505) Declares that the Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement on the Coastal Plain of April 1997 is adequate to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. (Sec. 506) States that lands may be leased to any person qualified to obtain a lease for oil and gas deposits under the Mineral Leasing Act. Requires the Secretary to prescribe lease procedures. (Sec. 507) Authorizes the Secretary to grant to the highest responsible qualified bidder by sealed competitive cash bonus bid any Coastal Plain lands upon payment of such bonus and a royalty which shall not be less than a certain amount. Prescribes lease terms and conditions. Sets forth bonding requirements to ensure financial responsibility of lessee and avoid Federal liability. (Sec. 512) Directs the Secretary to grant rights-of-way and easements across the Coastal Plain for oil and gas transportation. (Sec. 513) Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations to provide for: (1) biannual scheduled onsite inspections for compliance of Coastal Plain facilities with environmental or safety regulations; and (2) annual nonscheduled onsite inspections of such facilities. Title VI: Improvements to Federal Oil and Gas Lease Management - Federal Oil and Gas Lease Management Improvement Act of 2000 - Emphasizes that this Act does not give a State a property right or interest in any Federal lease or land. Subtitle A: State Option to Regulate Oil and Gas Lease Operation on Federal Land - Permits a State to notify either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (depending upon the appropriate jurisdiction) of its intent to accept authority for regulation of certain oil and gas lease operations on Federal land within such State. Declares an automatic transfer of regulatory authority over designated operations from the appropriate Secretary to the State effective 180 days following receipt of such notification. Bars a Federal agency from exercising authority formerly held by such Secretary with respect to oil and gas lease operations on Federal land. Subtitle B: Use of Cost Savings from State Regulation - Prescribes guidelines to compensate a State for the costs of implementing such transferred authority. Subtitle C: Streamlining and Cost Reduction - Bars the appropriate Secretary from recovering costs for applications and other documents relating to oil and gas leases. (Sec. 632) Requires the Secretary to ensure: (1) timely issuance of Federal agency decisions respecting oil and gas leasing and operations on Federal land; and (2) that unwarranted denials and stays of lease issuance and unwarranted restrictions on lease operations are eliminated from the administration of oil and gas leasing on Federal land. (Sec. 635) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to publish a national inventory of oil and gas reserves and potential resources underlying Federal land and the Outer Continental Shelf. Subtitle D: Federal Royalty Certainty - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Mineral Leasing Act pertaining to oil and gas leases to reformulate the payment of their respective lease royalties. Exempts Indian lands from such reformulation. Subtitle E: Royalty Reinvestment in America - Directs the appropriate Secretary, whenever certain crude oil or natural gas prices dip below a specified level, to allow as a credit against the payment of Federal oil and gas production royalties, a specified percentage of expenditures made for capital exploration and development on Federal oil and gas leases. (Sec. 651) Prohibits capital expenditures made on Outer Continental Shelf leases from being credited against onshore Federal royalty obligations. (Sec. 652) Instructs the appropriate Secretary to reduce the royalty rate for marginal oil and gas production following prescribed guidelines whenever certain crude oil or natural gas prices dip below a specified level. (Sec. 653) Prescribes procedural guidelines under which any operator of an oil well leased under specified statutes may notify the Secretary of the Interior of suspension of operation and production at the well. Title VII: Frontier Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Incentives - Frontier Exploration and Development Incentives Act of 2000 - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act governing bidding procedures for oil and gas leases to set a certain net profit royalty share for oil and gas production in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas of Alaska. (Sec. 702) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to reduce any future royalty or rental obligation by a specified percentage after an oil and gas lease has been granted pursuant to the statutory bidding system. Title VIII: Tax Measures to Enhance Domestic Oil and Gas Production - Subtitle A: Marginal Well Preservation - Marginal Well Preservation Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to specify a tax credit for marginal domestic oil and natural gas well production. (Sec. 803) Authorizes taxpayer election to expense geological and geophysical expenditures and to delay rental payments for domestic oil and gas wells. Subtitle B: Independent Oil and Gas Producers - Amends the IRC to: (1) set forth a five-year net operating loss carryback for losses attributable to operating mineral interests of independent oil and gas producers; and (2) suspend through 2004 the limitation on the total amount of the depletion allowance to 65 percent of taxable income. Title IX: Tax Measures to Enhance the Use of Renewable Energy Sources, Improve Energy Efficiencies, Protect Consumers and Conversion to Clean Burning Fuels - Amends the IRC to: (1) set forth placed-in-service rules and special rules for biomass facilities; (2) deny renewable electricity production credit to electricity sold to utilities under certain contracts; (3) exclude from gross income as contributions to capital certain amounts received by electric energy, gas, or steam utilities; (4) extend the credit for electricity produced from steel cogeneration; (5) declare certain expense limitations on depreciable business assets inapplicable to a storage facility used in connection with home heating oil distribution; and (6) establish a tax credit for certain percentages of residential solar energy photovoltaic and solar water heating property expenditures.
Bill· SS. 2567 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2000
Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 2000 - Requires: (1) Governors of each State receiving monies from the Conservation and Reinvestment Act Fund (established under this Act) to report on June 15 of each year to the Secretaries of the Interior or of Agriculture, as appropriate, accounting for the money received for the previous fiscal year, including the funded projects and activities; and (2) the Secretary of the Interior to report annually to Congress on monies the Departments of the Interior and of Agriculture have spent out of the Fund, including a summary of such Governors' reports. (Sec. 5) Establishes the Conservation and Reinvestment Act Fund (CRAF). Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit into CRAF certain Outer Continental Shelf revenues, undisbursed amounts under title I of this Act, and certain interest earned on CRAF investments. Transfers all amounts deposited into the CRAF as follows: (1) to the Secretary of the Interior for payment of $1 billion to States for impact assistance and coastal conservation, $125 million for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978, $100 million for the National Historic Preservation Act, and $50 million to develop and implement Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Agreements; (2) to the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture for payment of $200 million for Federal and Indian land restoration; (3) to the Secretary of Agriculture $100 million to carry out the farmland protection program under the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, and the Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program and the Forest Legacy Program established under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978; (4) to the Land and Water Conservation Fund in the amount of $900 million; and (5) to the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund (FAWRF) established under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act in the amount of $350 million. Provides that any shortfalls less than $2.825 billion in a fiscal year, after FY 2000, proportionally reduce such sums for that fiscal year. Expresses the intent of Congress that amounts made available under this Act are to supplement, and not to detract from, annual appropriations for the National Park Service. Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from transferring funds to the CRAF under this Act during any fiscal year unless: (1) the Director of the Congressional Budget Office has certified that the House of Representatives and the Senate have approved legislation that ensures that a sufficient portion of the on-budget surplus is reserved for debt retirement by FY 2013, and that there is not an on-budget deficit for that fiscal year; and (2) the Boards of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, of the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund have certified that outlays from such Funds are not anticipated to exceed revenues during any of the next five fiscal years. (Sec. 6) Limits the amount available for administrative expenses to two percent. Provides that nothing in this Act shall affect the prohibition contained in the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (as amended by this Act) that bars the use of funds transferred to the FAWRF by this Act for administrative or execution of program expenses. (Sec. 8) States that it is the intent of Congress that States not use this Act as an opportunity to reduce State or local resources for the programs funded by this Act. Prohibits a State or local government from receiving funds under this Act during any fiscal year: (1) when its expenditures of non-Federal funds for recurrent expenditures for programs for which such funding is provided will be less than its expenditures were for such programs during the preceding fiscal year; or (2) for a program unless the Secretary of the Interior is satisfied that such a grant will be used to supplement and, to the extent practicable, increase the level of State, local, or other non-Federal funds available for such program. Exempts a State or local government from such prohibition if the Secretary determines that a reduction in expenditures is: (1) attributable to a non-selective reduction in the expenditures in the programs of all executive branch agencies of such entity; or (2) a result of reductions in State or local revenue as a result of a downturn in the economy. Treats all funds received by a State or local government under this Act as Federal funds for purposes of compliance with provisions in effect under other law requiring that non-Federal funds be used to provide a portion of the funding for any program or project. (Sec. 10) Prohibits: (1) the taking of private property in whole or in part, without just compensation; and (2) Federal agencies, using funds appropriated by this Act, from applying any regulation on any lands until the lands or water or an interest therein is acquired, unless authorized to do so by another Act of Congress. (Sec. 11) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to design a standardized sign and require its installation at sites receiving funds under this Act. Title I: Impact Assistance and Coastal Conservation - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to allocate such transferred CRAF payments to coastal States for impact assistance and coastal conservation only if such States have: (1) a Secretary-approved Coastal State Conservation and Impact Assistance Plan; (2) agreed to provide specified reports; and (3) certain necessary fiscal control and fund accounting procedures. (Sec. 101) Sets forth the formula for allocating such funds to coastal States and coastal political subdivisions. (Sec. 102) Requires the development and submission of a Coastal State Conservation and Impact Assistance Plan by each coastal State seeking to receive grants under this title (and in the case of a producing State, the Governor) to incorporate the plans of the coastal political subdivisions into the Statewide plan for transmittal to the Secretary of the Interior for approval or disapproval before the disbursement of CRAF funds. Specifies authorized uses of the CRAF funds. Title II: Land and Water Conservation Fund Revitalization - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to provide that all CRAF funds transferred to the Land and Water Conservation Fund shall be covered into the Fund. (Sec. 203) Makes $900 million available each fiscal year after FY 2001 for expenditure without further appropriation, to be allocated as follows: (1) 50 percent for Federal purposes; and (2) 50 percent for State grants. (Sec. 205) Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of the Federal portion of such funds for any land or water interest acquisition except those specified and approved by Congress in the appropriate appropriations Act. Prescribes: (1) a procedure for preparing and transmitting to Congress of a list of proposed Federal acquisitions; and (2) notification to specified officials of affected areas with respect to such proposed acquisitions. (Sec. 206) Revises the formula used to allocate amounts made available for State purposes from the Fund each fiscal year. Prohibits such funds from being apportioned to any State that has not established a dedicated State land acquisition fund that is funded through the State's budget process (unfunded State). Requires reapportionment of such funds to other States. Makes all federally recognized Indian tribes, or in the case of Alaska, Native Corporations eligible to receive shares of such apportionment in accordance with a competitive grant program established by the Secretary of the Interior. Requires each State, with an exception, to make available as grants to local governments at least 50 percent of its annual apportionment or an equivalent amount made available from other sources. Makes available without further appropriation to the Secretary of the Interior certain amounts in addition to CRAF funds for distribution among the several States under a competitive grant program for State projects of national or regional significance involving one or more States. Limits the award of such grants to projects that would conserve open space and either conserve wildlife habitat, protect water quality, or otherwise enhance the environment, or that would protect areas that have historic or cultural value. (Sec. 207) Revises the requirement that a State have a comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan as a prerequisite to consideration by the Secretary of the Interior of financial assistance for acquisition or development projects. Allows each State to define its own priorities and criteria for selection of outdoor conservation and recreation acquisition and development projects eligible for grants under this Act if the priorities and criteria defined are consistent with the purposes of this Act, the State provides for public involvement in this process, and publishes an accurate and current State Action Agenda for Community Conservation and Recreation, within five years after enactment of this Act, indicating the needs it has identified and the priorities and criteria it has established. Allows an existing Comprehensive State Plan to remain in effect until the appropriate State adopts a State Action Agenda. (Sec. 209) Requires the Secretary to approve, subject to certain conditions, the conversion of property (other than for public outdoor recreation use) acquired or developed with assistance under the Act only if the State demonstrates no prudent or feasible alternative exists. Exempts from such requirement those properties that no longer meet the criteria within the State Plan or Agenda as an outdoor conservation and recreation facility due to changes in demographics, or that must be abandoned because of environmental contamination which endangers public health and safety. (Sec. 210) Provides that nothing in this title shall affect any State or Federal water law or an interstate compact governing water, alter any allocations of water rights, or create any new water rights. (Sec. 211) Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture to jointly develop and issue a plan for acquisition and disposal of lands in the State of Montana that will result in consolidation of private and Federal public lands. Title III: Wildlife Conservation and Restoration - Amends the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (FAWRA) to require CRAF funds transferred for FAWRA purposes to be deposited in a new subaccount in the FAWRF, to be made available without further appropriation, for apportionment in each fiscal year for State wildlife conservation and restoration programs. (Sec. 304) Sets forth requirements for: (1) apportionment of such subaccount funds; (2) applications for approval of, and development grants for, State wildlife conservation and restoration programs; and (3) coordination. Prohibits such funds from being used for expenses incurred in the administration and execution of programs. Limits to ten percent the use of such funds for wildlife-associated recreation. (Sec. 305) Allows the subaccount funds to be used for a wildlife conservation education program. Exempts education efforts, projects, or programs that promote or encourage opposition to the regulated taking of wildlife. (Sec. 306) Prohibits a State from receiving FAWRA matching funds if it diverts any funds from wildlife conservation purposes. Title IV: Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program Amendments - Amends the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 to make transferred CRAF funds available to the Secretary of the Interior, without further appropriation, to assist local governments in improving their park and recreation systems. Sets forth limits on the use of such funds. (Sec. 404) Provides for the development of new recreation areas and facilities (including the acquisition of lands for such development) under the urban park and recreation recovery program. (Sec. 406) Revises requirements for: (1) Federal assistance grant eligibility; (2) matching grants to local governments for rehabilitation, development, acquisition, and innovation purposes; (3) local park and recreation recovery action programs; (4) State action incentives; and (5) conversion of recreation property for any other purposes other than public recreation purposes. (Sec. 411) Repeals sunset provisions and congressional reporting requirements with respect to: (1) the impact of the urban park and recreation recovery program; and (2) the annual achievements of the innovation grant program. Title V: Historic Preservation Fund - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to provide that amounts transferred from the CRAF each fiscal year shall be deposited into the Historic Preservation Fund to be available without further appropriation to carry out the Act. (Sec. 501) Requires at least one half of the funds obligated or expended each fiscal year under this Act to be used for preservation projects on historic properties (giving priority to the preservation of endangered historic properties). (Sec. 502) Authorizes a State to provide financial assistance to the management entity for any national heritage area or national heritage corridor to support cooperative historic preservation planning and development. Title VI: Federal and Indian Lands Restoration - Makes CRAF funds transferred to the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture available to be used as a dedicated source of funding for a coordinated program on Federal and Indian lands to restore degraded lands, protect resources that are threatened with degradation, and protect public health and safety. Allocates: (1) 60 percent to the Secretary of the Interior for lands within the National Park System, National Wildlife Refuge System, and public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management; (2) 30 percent to the Secretary of Agriculture for lands within the National Forest System; and (3) ten percent to the Secretary of the Interior for competitive grants to qualified Indian tribes (giving priority to projects based upon the protection of significant resources, the severity of damages or threats to resources, and the protection of public health). (Sec. 603) Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) each establish priority lists for the use of funds (giving priority to projects based upon the protection of significant resources, the severity of damages or threats to resources, and the protection of public health or safety); and (2) jointly establish a coordinated program for tracking the progress of activities carried out with amounts made available by this title and determining the extent to which demonstrable results are being achieved. Title VII: Farmland Protection Program and Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery - Subtitle A: Farmland Protection Program - Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to revise requirements for the farmland protection program. Repeals the mandate that the Secretary purchase conservation easements or other interests in lands with prime, unique, or other productive soil subject to a pending offer from a State or local government. Authorizes the Secretary, instead, to provide matching grants, under specified conditions, to State or local governments, Indian tribes, or certain private organizations to provide the Federal share of up to 50 percent of the total cost of purchasing permanent conservation easements in such lands or conservation easements or other interests in such lands when they are subject to a pending offer from a State or local government. (Sec. 702) Provides that CRAF funds transferred to the Secretary under this Act in a fiscal year shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation, to carry out the programs specified in section five of this Act. Subtitle B: Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery - Makes CRAF funds transferred from the CRAF for this title in a fiscal year available to the Secretary of the Interior without further appropriation, in that fiscal year, to provide financial assistance to persons for development and implementation of Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Agreements entered into under this title. Requires the Secretary to give priority to the development and implementation of Agreements that: (1) implement actions identified under recovery plans approved by the Secretary; (2) have the greatest potential for contributing to the recovery of an endangered or threatened species; and (3) require use of the assistance on land owned by a small landowner. (Sec. 713) Prohibits the Secretary from providing financial assistance for any action that is required by a permit or an incidental take statement issued under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 or that is otherwise required under Federal law. (Sec. 714) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into such Agreements and sets forth Agreement requirements, including: (1) requiring activities not otherwise mandated by law that contribute to species recovery; and (2) specifying species recovery goals. Requires the Secretary to review Agreements in compliance, periodically monitor the implementation of each Agreement, and disburse financial assistance to implement the Agreement. Title VIII: Protection of Social Security and Medicare Benefits - Prohibits funds from being expended under this Act if such expenditure diminishes benefit obligations of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, or the Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.
Law· HRH.R. 4461 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2000
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 - Title I: Agricultural Programs - Appropriates funds for FY 2001 for the following Department of Agriculture programs and services: (1) Office of the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) executive operations ; (3) Office of the Chief Information Officer; (4) Office of the Chief Financial Officer; (5) Common Computing Environment ; (6) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration; (7) agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments; (8) hazardous materials management; (9) departmental administration; (10) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations; (11) Office of Communications; (12) Office of the Inspector General; (13) Office of the General Counsel; (14) Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics; (15) Economic Research Service; (16) National Agricultural Statistics Service; (17) Agricultural Research Service; (18) Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; (19) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; (20) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; (21) Agricultural Marketing Service; (22) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; (23) Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety; (24) Food Safety and Inspection Service; (25) Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; (26) Farm Service Agency; (27) Risk Management Agency; (28) Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund; and (29) Commodity Credit Corporation Fund. Title II: Conservation Programs - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment; and (2) Natural Resources Conservation Service. Title III: Rural Development Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development; (2) Rural Housing Service; (3) rural development; (4) Rural Business-Cooperative Service; and (5) Rural Utilities Service. Title IV: Domestic Food Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; and (2) Food and Nutrition Service. Title V: Foreign Assistance and Related Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Foreign Agricultural Service; (2) Public Law 480 program account, title I ocean freight differential grants, and titles II and III grants; and (3) Commodity Credit Corporation export loans program account. Title VI: Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Food and Drug Administration; (2) Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and (3) Farm Credit Administration. Title VII: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses and limits on or prohibitions against the use of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 736) Makes the Town of Lloyd, New York, and the Town of Harris, New York, eligible for loans and grants through the rural community advancement program. (Sec. 749) Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize loans to certain uninsured poultry farmers to cover poultry house losses. (Sec. 750) Amends the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, with respect to the indemnity fund for cotton stored in bankrupt Georgia warehouses, to: (1) extend the use of remaining funds for producers; and (2) authorize fund use for cotton ginners and other cotton-related businesses. (Sec. 751) Provides assistance for: (1) apple market loss; and (2) apple and potato quality loss. Title VIII: Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement - Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 - Sets forth provisions respecting presidential and congressional authorities and procedures for the imposition of new, and termination of existing, unilateral agricultural or medical sanctions.
Bill· HRH.R. 4452 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2000
Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for FY 2000 for: (1) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Land Management, wildland fire management, for emergency rehabilitation and wildfire suppression activities; and (2) the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service, wildland fire management, for emergency rehabilitation, presuppression, and wildfire suppression.
Bill· SS. 2551 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2000
Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 - Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes such Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, carry out architectural planning and design activities, and improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 2000 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. (Sec. 2105) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 to: (1) decrease the amount authorized for a construction project at Fort Stewart, Georgia; (2) cancel a construction project at Fort Riley, Kansas; and (3) increase the amount authorized for unspecified minor construction projects. (Sec. 2106) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to increase amounts authorized for construction projects at Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Riley, Kansas. (Sec. 2107) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 to increase the amount authorized for a construction project at Fort Stewart, Georgia. (Sec. 2108) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to accept funds from the Federal Highway Administration or the State of Kentucky for a military construction project involving a rail connector at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the previous title. (Sec. 2205) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to carry out a military construction project at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia, using funds authorized under a prior-year military construction authorization Act for a sanitary landfill at such facility. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under Title XXI. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for fiscal years after 2000 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of DOD. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. (Sec. 2402) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out certain energy conservation projects. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 2000 for such purpose. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 2000 for the Guard and reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in Titles XXI through XXVI of this Act on October 1, 2003, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 2004, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Expresses the sense of Congress that in preparing the budget for a fiscal year, the Secretary should: (1) seek to identify military construction projects that are suitable as joint construction projects; and (2) identify and give priority to such projects. Directs the Secretary to include within each fiscal year budget a certification by each military department Secretary concerned that such Secretary evaluated the feasibility of carrying out projects as joint construction projects. Requires an annual report from the Secretary to the appropriate congressional committees on such projects. (Sec. 2802) Excludes certain installation, maintenance, and repair costs from a spending limit on the improvement of military family housing. (Sec. 2803) Removes certain limitations on housing space based on pay grade and directs the Secretary concerned to ensure that room patterns and floor areas are generally comparable to patterns and areas of similar housing units in the private sector in that locality. (Sec. 2804) Amends provisions concerning the leasing of military family housing units at the United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida, to: (1) remove an annual $60,000 limit on individual housing lease costs; (2) allow such leases to extend for up to five years; and (3) require the Secretary of the Army to adjust the maximum annual limit on such leases by the amount of annual basic allowance for housing increase in the Miami area. (Sec. 2805) Directs the Secretary concerned to use competitive procedures when entering into contracts under certain alternative authority for the acquisition or improvement of military housing. Allows a waiver of such requirement when such Secretary: (1) determines that such procedures would be inconsistent with the public interest; and (2) submits to Congress a written notification of such determination at least 30 days before entering into such a contract. (Sec. 2806) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to furnish specified utilities and related services in connection with any military housing acquired or constructed pursuant to such alternative authority. Requires reimbursement for such utilities and services. (Sec. 2807) Extends such alternative authority through February 10, 2004. (Sec. 2808) Includes a military readiness center within the definition of an armory. Subtitle B: Real Property and Facilities Administration - Increases from $200,000 to $500,000 the minor real property transaction threshold before certain congressional notification and reporting is required from the Secretary concerned. (Sec. 2812) Amends provisions concerning the leasing of non-excess property of military departments to: (1) remove the requirement that such property is not currently needed for public use; (2) prohibit such leases from providing for the maintenance, protection, or restoration of such property; and (3) provide for the acceptance of additional in-kind consideration with regard to such leases, including environmental restoration. Adds additional requirements before the acceptance of in-kind consideration valued in excess of $500,000. Authorizes the use of lease proceeds for protection, alteration, improvement, or restoration of property or facilities, leasing of other facilities, or facilities operation support. (Currently, such uses are limited to maintenance, repair, and environmental restoration.) Requires at least 50 percent of lease proceeds to be used at the installation where the leased property is located. Prohibits the Secretary concerned from constructing or acquiring facilities valued in excess of $500,000 until 30 days after notifying the defense and appropriations committees of such construction or acquisition. Revises reporting dates with respect to such leases, and requires such reports to be submitted to the appropriations (currently, only defense) committees. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to enter into agreements indemnifying any person or entity leasing such property from damage or loss resulting from: (1) the release or threatened release of any hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant, petroleum or petroleum derivative, or unexploded ordnance as a result of DOD activities on the installation on which the leased property is located; and (2) any environmental remediation obligations required by any such release. Provides agreement provisions, conditions, and limitations. (Sec. 2813) Provides limited authority for the Secretary concerned to use procedures other than competitive procedures for selecting conveyees of utility systems of a military department. Subtitle C: Defense Base Closure and Realignment - Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 and the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act to limit to the initial transfer of property the right of the Secretary to transfer at or below its estimated fair market value real and personal property located at a military installation to be closed or realigned. Subtitle D: Land Conveyances - Part I: Army Conveyances - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to: (1) the Tri-City Regional Port District of Granite City, Illinois, the Charles Melvin Price Support Center, for a port facility and other public purposes; (2) the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Lieutenant General Malcolm Hay Army Reserve Center; (3) the Ellis School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Colonel Harold E. Steele Army Reserve Center and Maintenance Shop; (4) the city of Seattle, Washington, specified real property at Fort Lawton, Washington, for inclusion in Seattle's Discovery Park; and (5) the city of Vancouver, Washington, the west barracks at Vancouver Barracks, for inclusion within the Vancouver National Historic Reserve. Part II: Navy Conveyances - Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1990 and 1991 to modify a land conveyance with respect to the Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California. (Sec. 2852) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to authorize the Secretary to replace the electric utility service removed during the course of environmental remediation at the Defense Fuel Supply Point, Casco Bay, Maine. (Sec. 2853) Modifies a land conveyance at the former Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland, to allow the Secretary of the Navy to choose whether to receive consideration upon the further transfer of such property to the State of Maryland. (Sec. 2854) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to convey to the State of Maine, or a subdivision or agency thereof, the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station in Cutler, Maine. Part III: Defense Agencies Conveyances - Authorizes the Secretary to convey the Army and Air Force Exchange Service in Farmers Branch, Texas, requiring a cash payment equal to the fair market value of such property. Requires a report from the Secretary to the defense and appropriations committees following such conveyance. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Designates the Army missile testing range at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands as the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll.
Bill· SS. 2549 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2000
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 - Division A: Department of Defense Authorizations - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) the Defense Inspector General; (3) the chemical demilitarization program; and (4) the Defense Health Program. Subtitle B: Army Programs - Requires a report from the Secretary of the Army to the defense and appropriations committees on the process for developing the objective force in the transformation of the Army. Directs such Secretary to develop and carry out, and report to such committees on, a plan comparing the costs and operational effectiveness of the medium armored combat vehicles selected for the infantry battalions of the interim brigade combat teams with the costs and effectiveness of such vehicles currently in the Army inventory for use by infantry battalions. Requires the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation of the Department of Defense (DOD) to review such plan and report results to such Secretary. Prohibits more than 60 percent of the amount authorized for the procurement of such vehicles for FY 2001 and FY 2002 from being obligated until 30 days after such Secretary's reports are submitted. Subtitle C: Navy Programs - Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to procure the aircraft carrier designated CVNX-1, and authorizes such Secretary to enter into contracts for advanced procurement and construction of components for such carrier (earmarking funds authorized under this section for such purpose). (Sec. 122) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to increase the number of Arleigh Burke class destroyers that may be procured by the Navy and to extend through FY 2005 the authority for such multiyear procurement. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Navy, with respect to any such destroyers procured after FY 2001, should achieve the most economical rate of procurement by procuring three destroyers in each of FY 2002 and 2003 and one in FY 2004. Requires a report from such Secretary to the defense committees updating information required in a 1993 report on DDG-51 (destroyer) class ships. Requires such update to be transmitted to the Comptroller General (CG), and requires the CG to review such report and report review results to the defense committees. (Sec. 123) Earmarks FY 2001 procurement funds for the Virginia class submarine program, authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to enter into contracts for the procurement of up to five of such submarines during FY 2003 through 2006. Requires a report from the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to the defense and appropriations committees on the Navy's fleet of fast attack submarines. (Sec. 124) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to procure the construction of all ADC(X) class ships in one shipyard when determined to be more cost effective than construction in more than one shipyard. (Sec. 125) Earmarks FY 2001 procurement funds for commencement of nuclear refueling and overhaul of the CVN-69 aircraft carrier during FY 2001. Subtitle D: Air Force Programs - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1990 and 1991 to repeal a required annual report on the B-2 bomber aircraft program. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary, in determining technologies for the destruction of lethal chemical agents and munitions at the Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado, to consider only incineration or any technologies demonstrated under the Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment on or before May 1, 2000. Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E). Earmarks specified amounts for basic and applied research projects. Subtitle B: Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations - Directs the Secretary to carry out a joint field experiment in FY 2002 for exploring war fighting challenges for joint U.S. military forces after 2010. Provides experiment funding from RDT&E funds. (Sec. 212) Earmarks RDT&E funds for the conversion and development of nuclear aircraft carrier design data. (Sec. 213) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to pursue a technology insertion approach for the construction of the DD-21 destroyer on a specified construction schedule. Expresses the sense of Congress: (1) calling for the sequential construction of such destroyers until 32 are constructed; and (2) that the Secretary of the Navy, in providing for the acquisition of such destroyers, should take into consideration certain needs of the Navy and Marine Corps for the surface fire support of such destroyers, along with certain related considerations. Directs the Secretary of: (1) the Navy to submit to the defense committees a plan for pursuing a technology insertion approach for such construction; and (2) Defense to report to such committees on the Navy's plan for the acquisition and maintenance of such destroyers. (Sec. 214) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 to allow a one percent increase for certain development and production expenditures for the F-22 aircraft program if the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation determines such increase is necessary to ensure adequate testing. (Sec. 215) Requires a report from the Secretary to Congress on the joint strike fighter program. Authorizes limited transfers to such program from other Navy and Air Force accounts. (Sec. 216) Directs the Secretary to require and coordinate a concept demonstration of the Global Hawk high altitude endurance unmanned vehicle. Requires such demonstration to: (1) take place as early as practicable in FY 2001; and (2) be conducted in a counter-drug surveillance scenario for the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Southern Command. Requires a demonstration report from the Secretary to Congress. (Sec. 217) Provides future-years goals for unmanned, advanced capability aircraft and ground combat vehicles. Requires a report from the Secretary to the defense and appropriations committees on all demonstration programs undertaken by the various military departments with respect to such vehicles. Provides program funding from RDT&E funds. (Sec. 218) Earmarks RDT&E funds for Army space control technology development, including the kinetic energy anti-satellite technology program. (Sec. 219) Prohibits funds for the Russian American Observation Satellites program from being obligated or expended until 30 days after the Secretary submits to Congress a plan for protecting U.S. advanced military technology associated with such program. (Sec. 220) Prohibits this Act's funds from being obligated for the procurement of an anthrax vaccine until the Secretary has submitted to the defense and appropriations committees certain information concerning Food and Drug Administration production approval of such a vaccine, as well as contingencies associated with continuing to rely on the current manufacturer to supply such vaccine. (Sec. 221) Directs the Secretary to report to the defense and appropriations committees on the acquisition of biological warfare defense vaccines for DOD. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to report to the defense and appropriations committees on long-term challenges and short-term objectives of the Air Force science and technology program. Directs such Secretary to establish a task force for identifying the short-term objectives. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for operation and maintenance (O&M) for the armed forces and specified activities and agencies of DOD. (Sec. 302) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for: (1) working capital and revolving funds; and (2) the Armed Forces Retirement Home. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the transfer of up to $150 million from the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund to specified military O&M accounts for FY 2001. Subtitle B: Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations - Earmarks specified defense-wide O&M funds for: (1) payments for children with disabilities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and (2) analyses by the joint warfighting capabilities assessment teams of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council. Subtitle C: Humanitarian and Civic Assistance - Authorizes the Secretary to provide humanitarian and civic assistance in connection with military operations for areas of a country that are underserved by medical, dental, and veterinary professionals. Authorizes the use of up to ten percent of such assistance for pay and allowances of special operations command reserves furnishing demining training and related assistance. Subtitle D: Department of Defense Industrial Facilities - Expresses policy with respect to the U.S. armaments industrial base. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a program to be known as the Armament Retooling and Manufacturing Support Initiative which shall, among other things: (1) encourage commercial firms to use Government-owned, contractor-operated Army ammunition manufacturing facilities for commercial purposes; (2) increase the opportunities for small businesses to use such facilities; (3) maintain an appropriate workforce to meet industrial emergency requirements for national security purposes; (4) demonstrate innovative business practices for future defense conversion initiatives; and (5) reduce or eliminate Army costs of owning such facilities. Requires the Secretary of the Army to fully utilize facility use contracts, leases, and other appropriate arrangements. Authorizes such Secretary to accept consideration for facility use other than rental payments or revenue generated at such facility. Requires a report from such Secretary to the defense committees on procedures and controls implemented to carry out this section. Authorizes such Secretary to carry out a loan guarantee program to encourage commercial firms to use such facilities. Provides loan guarantee limits of: (1) $20 million per borrower; and (2) $320 million for all borrowers. Authorizes such Secretary to carry out programs for the support of armaments retooling and manufacturing in the national defense industrial and technology base. Repeals the Armament Retooling and Manufacturing Support Act of 1992. (Sec. 332) Authorizes the Secretary, or the Secretary of the military department concerned, to designate depot-level activities of the military departments and defense agencies (current law) and each Army arsenal as Centers of Industrial and Technical Excellence in recognized core competencies. Includes as objectives for public-private partnerships in connection with such Centers: (1) maximizing the capacity utilization of such Centers; (2) reducing or eliminating ownership and production costs of such Centers; (3) leveraging private sector investment in such Centers; and (4) fostering cooperation between the armed forces and private industry. Authorizes a designating Secretary to waive certain commercial nonavailability requirements for articles and services produced at such Centers when necessary to achieve one or more of the objectives. Allows the Secretary to charge the full cost of manufacturing articles at, or performing services through, such Centers. Authorizes private sector use of excess Center capacity. Authorizes the acceptance of consideration for use of Center property. Allows, under limited conditions, the use by private sector partners of Center excess equipment or facilities. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a loan guarantee program to encourage commercial firms to use such Centers for stated purposes. Provides loan guarantee limits of: (1) $20 million per borrower; and (2) $320 million for all borrowers. (Sec. 333) Requires the Secretary, at least 30 days before any DOD official enters into a contract for the private sector performance of a workload already being performed by more than 50 employees at a Center or ammunition plant, to report to Congress describing the effect that the performance and administration of the contract will have on the overhead costs of the Center or plant. (Sec. 334) Authorizes the President (currently, the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department) to waive certain limitations on the performance by non-Government personnel of depot-level maintenance of materiel for reasons of national security. Requires the President to notify Congress of any such waiver and the reasons therefor. Subtitle E: Environmental Provisions - Establishes in DOD the Environmental Restoration Account, Formerly Used Defense Sites. (Sec. 342) Prohibits the Secretary or a military department Secretary from paying a fine or penalty imposed for an environmental violation unless the payment is specifically authorized by law if the fine or penalty: (1) is $1.5 million or more; or (2) is based on the application of economic benefit criteria or size-of-business criteria. (Sec. 343) Repeals required annual reports of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board. Requires the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Council to summarize Board activities in their annual reports. (Sec. 344) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to revise the Secretary's authority for indemnification of transferees of defense property closed under the base closure laws to include within such indemnification the release or threatened release of petroleum or petroleum derivatives or unexploded ordnance at a closed or realigned military installation, or the payment of environmental costs in connection with all covered releases. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to enter into agreements specifying the contribution of any person to a covered release or threatened release. Adds indemnification conditions and limitations. (Sec. 345) Authorizes the Secretaries of the Army and Navy to use O&M funds to pay certain fines and penalties imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a State in connection with environmental violations at specified sites. (Sec. 346) Authorizes the Secretary to reimburse a specified account within the Hazardous Substance Superfund to reimburse the EPA for certain environmental costs in connection with the former Nansemond Ordnance Depot Site in Suffolk, Virginia. (Sec. 347) Authorizes the Secretary concerned, during FY 2000 through 2003, to use DOD environmental restoration account funds for the costs of permanently relocating facilities because of a release or threatened release of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants from real property or facilities: (1) currently under the Secretary's jurisdiction; or (2) that were under the Secretary's jurisdiction at the time of the actions leading to such release or threatened release. Prohibits more than five percent of account funds from being used for such purpose. Requires three annual reports from the Secretary to Congress on each such response action. (Sec. 348) Directs the Secretary of: (1) the Navy to continue during FY 2001 a ship disposal project (requiring a project report to the defense and appropriations committees); (2) Defense to report to the defense and appropriations committees on the Defense Environmental Security Corporate Information Management program; and (3) the Army to report to the defense and appropriations committees on the Plasma Energy Pyrolysis System. Subtitle F: Other Matters - Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on effects of worldwide U.S. contingency operations on the readiness of military aircraft and ground equipment. (Sec. 362) Directs the Secretary of the Army to develop a new methodology for ensuring more accurate future years Army O&M requirements. Expresses the sense of Congress calling for such methodology, and to use such methodology in the preparation of such budget requests for fiscal years after 2001. (Sec. 363) Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to require additional elements in a plan for ensuring visibility over all in-transit end items and secondary items. Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress any plan revisions required by any law enacted after October 17, 1998. (Sec. 364) Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from converting to contractor performance the emergency response functions of any chemical weapons storage installation that are currently performed by U.S. employees until such Secretary submits to the defense committees a certification that there will be no lapse of the capability to perform such functions during the performance transition period. (Sec. 365) Requires the Secretary, before a decision is made to enter into the engineering and manufacturing development phase for the acquisition of a system to use the radio frequency spectrum, to notify the defense and appropriations committees of the frequencies to be used and related information. (Sec. 366) Directs the Secretary to establish a system for monitoring the performance of DOD functions that: (1) are performed by 50 or more DOD employees; and (2) have been subjected to a workforce review. Requires the system to measure costs and benefits of selecting one workforce over another workforce after a workforce review. Requires an annual report from the Secretary to Congress. Directs the Secretary, in preparing the future years defense program, to consider costs incurred and savings derived from changed workforces after such a review. Requires specified information in a required congressional notification of changed workforces. (Sec. 367) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to suspend all activities associated with the reorganization or relocation of the performance of Navy auditing functions until 60 days after a report to the defense and appropriations committees setting forth the Navy's plans and justifications for such reorganization or relocation. (Sec. 368) Directs the Secretary to invest that portion of the Commissary Trust Revolving Fund not required to meet current withdrawals. (Sec. 369) Repeals a provision requiring a nonappropriated fund instrumentality, under certain conditions, to be considered the most economical method of distribution of alcoholic beverages within the commissary system. (Sec. 370) Requires that, whenever the Secretary of the Army carries out a disposal (by sale or otherwise) of armor-piercing ammunition or a component of such ammunition, such Secretary shall include as a disposal condition that the recipient agree in writing not to sell or transfer such ammunition or component to any purchaser in the United States other than a law enforcement or other governmental agency (with an exception for transfers for metal reclamation only). Provides a special rule for non-piercing components of such ammunition. (Sec. 371) Directs the Secretary to assess damage caused to DOD aviation facilities by alkali silica reactivity. Authorizes the Secretary to develop and carry out during FY 2001 through 2006 a plan to prevent and mitigate such damage. Provides funding from authorized O&M funds. (Sec. 372) Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to extend through FY 2010 a pilot program for the acceptance and use of landing fees charged for the use of domestic military airfields by civilian aircraft. Extends related report requirements. (Sec. 373) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to require payments by a civil air carrier for support provided by the United States at Johnston Atoll that is either: (1) requested by such carrier; or (2) determined necessary to accommodate such carrier's use of the Atoll. Requires amounts charged to equal the total costs of such support. Prohibits landing fees to be charged if support costs are charged. (Sec. 374) Requires the CG to: (1) review annual costs incurred by DOD to comply with requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act; and (2) report review results to the defense and appropriations committees. (Sec. 375) Amends the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 to extend through FY 2005 the authority of the Secretary to sell certain aircraft for use in wildfire suppression, and to extend a related report requirement. (Sec. 376) Amends provisions which authorize the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department to contract with private air carriers for the interstate transportation of passengers or property by transportation category aircraft to: (1) remove a requirement that contracts for such transportation be for a period in excess of 31 days; (2) authorize such transportation between a place in the United States and a place outside the United States; and (3) allow such transportation between two foreign places by a carrier that has aircraft in the civil reserve air fleet whenever such transportation is reasonably available. Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths for active-duty forces as of the end of FY 2001. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 2001 for the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel on active duty in support of the reserves. (Sec. 413) Sets forth the minimum number of military technicians (dual status) within the Army and Air Force Reserves and National Guards as of the end of FY 2001. (Sec. 414) Sets forth the maximum number of military technicians (non-dual status) within the Army and Air Force Reserves and National Guards as of the end of FY 2001. Postpones until October 1, 2002 (currently a year earlier) a provision limiting such number to 1,950. (Sec. 415) Increases the number of certain officers and enlisted personnel authorized to serve on active duty in support of the reserves. Subtitle C: Other Matters Relating to Personnel Strengths - Authorizes the President to suspend end strength limitations in times or war or national emergency declared by Congress or the President with respect to senior enlisted personnel and senior reserve officers on active duty or full-time National Guard or reserves administrative duty. Limits such suspension period to two years from the suspension or one year after the declaration of war or national emergency, whichever occurs first. (Sec. 422) Excludes from personnel end strength limitations reserve personnel on active duty for more than 180 days to perform special work in support of the armed forces and combatant commands, except that such number may not exceed two tenths of one percent of the end strength for all active-duty personnel. (Sec. 423) Excludes Army and Air Force medical and dental officers from end strength limitations on reserve commissioned officers in grades below brigadier general. (Sec. 424) Authorizes an increase in the number of certain reserve and enlisted personnel serving on active duty or full-time National Guard duty for administrative support of the Guard and reserves by the same percentage as the increase in a fiscal year for active-duty and full-time National Guard duty personnel who are to be paid from funds appropriated for reserve personnel. (Sec. 425) Excludes, until the end of FY 2005, an Air Force officer serving as Director of the National Security Agency from end strength limitations on the number of Air Force officers above the grade of major general. Subtitle D: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for military personnel. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy - Allows Army Reserve colonels and brigadier generals to be recommended for position vacancy promotions under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army. (Sec. 502) Amends Coast Guard provisions to direct the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, before convening a selection board to recommend Reserve officers for promotion, to establish a promotion zone for officers serving in each grade and competitive category to be considered by a selection board. Requires such Secretary, before convening a selection board to recommend Reserve officers for a promotion to a grade above lieutenant (junior grade), to determine the maximum number of officers in that grade and competitive category that the board may recommend. Authorizes such Secretary, when the needs of the Coast Guard require, to allow the consideration of officers in a grade above lieutenant (junior grade) for promotion to the next higher grade from below the promotion zone. Outlines provisions for determination by such Secretary of the maximum number that may be recommended for promotion in both of the above categories. Authorizes such Secretary to use a running mate system during consideration of Reserve officers in an active status for promotion to the next higher grade. Allows such running mate system to be used when selecting officers for promotion from below the promotion zone only when considered appropriate to meet the needs of the Coast Guard. (Sec. 503) Provides revised times for the release to the armed force concerned of the names of active-duty and reserve active-status list officers recommended for promotion, such times varying within the various promotion grades. Prohibits any such list from including any name removed by the President from the report of a selection board, or the name of any officer whose promotion the Senate failed to confirm. (Sec. 504) Allows for the posthumous commissions and warranting of officers who were recommended for appointment or promotion to a commissioned grade but died in the line of duty before it was approved by the Secretary concerned or before accepting the appointment or promotion. (Sec. 505) Makes certain active-duty list promotion, separation, and involuntary retirement authorities inapplicable to reserve general and flag officers serving in certain positions designated by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). (Sec. 506) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to correct a person's military records in accordance with a recommendation made by a special board. Requires the appropriate relief associated with such correction (restoration to duty status, eligibility for additional pay). Considers as final a previous corrective action taken when a special board recommends not to correct the action taken, but allows for judicial review of such decision after such board's consideration. Makes such provisions inapplicable to the Coast Guard when not operating as a service in the Navy. Prohibits U.S. courts from taking any action on a claim based on the failure of an officer for selection for promotion by a promotion board until: (1) the claim has been considered and acted upon by a special selection board; or (2) the claim has been rejected by the Secretary without consideration by a special selection board. Authorizes judicial review after either event. (Sec. 507) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to retain Medical Service Corps officers in an active status until 67 years of age. (Sec. 508) Removes an application requirement for the continuation of officers on the reserve active-status list. (Sec. 510) Requires the Chiefs of the Army and Air Force Reserve, while in such position, to hold the grade of lieutenant general (currently, major general). Requires the Chief of Naval Reserve to hold the grade of vice admiral (currently, rear admiral). Requires National Guard Bureau Directors to hold the grade of lieutenant general. Allows an officer to be appointed as Commander, Marine Forces Reserve, in the grade of lieutenant general (usually, major general) if appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Authorizes the waiver of the latter requirement, until October 1, 2002, when necessary for the good of the service. Subtitle B: Joint Officer Management - Requires an officer, in order to qualify for the joint specialty designation, to: (1) have successfully completed a program of education in residence at a joint professional military education school accredited by the JCS Chairman, and a full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment; or (2) have successfully completed two full tours of duty in a joint duty assignment (without the education). Authorizes the Secretary to waive such qualifications for an officer who, due to unusual circumstances, has one or more qualifications comparable to the qualification waived. Allows such qualifications to be waived in the case of a general or flag officer only when determined necessary to meet a critical need. Requires the: (1) Secretary to designate joint duty assignments for general and flag officers that must be filled by joint specialty officers; and (2) JCS Chairman to accredit joint professional military education schools. (Sec. 522) Revises promotion policy objectives for joint officers. Requires the appropriate military department Secretary to validate the qualifications of officers for eligibility for joint duty assignments, including satisfaction of requirements for promotion to brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half). Directs the Secretary to prescribe policies to ensure that promotion-eligible joint specialty officers are appropriately considered for such promotion. (Sec. 523) Repeals the requirement that an officer graduating from an accredited joint professional military education school be assigned to a joint duty assignment as that officer's next duty assignment. (Sec. 524) Repeals provisions specifying the length of joint duty assignments. Requires such length to be equivalent to the standard length for assignments of other officers at such installation or place of duty. Allows the Secretary to: (1) waive such requirement when critical to meet military personnel management requirements; and (2) curtail by up to two years a joint duty assignment of more than two years for an officer who has served in that assignment for at least two years. Provides conditions under which an officer shall be considered to have completed a full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment. Prohibits joint duty credit for joint task force assignments of less than one year in more than one such assignment in the headquarters of a joint task force. (Sec. 525) Revises generally information required in an annual report from the Secretary to Congress on joint specialty officers and assignments. (Sec. 526) Considers multiple assignments as a single tour of duty for joint duty assignment purposes if such assignments consist of joint duty assignments and one or more assignments that provide significant experience in joint matters, as determined by the Secretary. Subtitle C: Education and Training - Entitles to appointment to a service academy the children of members of the reserves who: (1) are currently so serving and are credited with at least eight years of service; or (2) would be, or who died while they would have been, entitled to retired pay except for not having attained 60 years of age. (Sec. 542) Authorizes the Secretary concerned, in selecting persons from approved foreign countries to receive instruction at a service academy, to give a priority to persons who have a national service obligation to their countries upon academy graduation. (Sec. 543) Repeals a provision authorizing a certain funding increase to be used for the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. (Sec. 544) Revises provisions concerning the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class program to: (1) make Marine Corps Reserve officers (currently only Marine Corps Reserve enlisted personnel) eligible for such program; (2) remove certain age limitations; (3) allow assistance to eligible individuals for the pursuit of a law degree requiring no more than four (currently three) academic years; and (4) make program noncompletion sanctions inapplicable to officers. Subtitle D: Matters Relating to Recruiting - Directs the Secretary of the Army, during the period beginning on October 1, 2000, and ending on December 31, 2005, to carry out pilot programs to test various recruiting approaches. Requires one pilot program to be a program: (1) of public outreach that associates the Army with motor sports competition; (2) a program under which Army recruiters are assigned at postsecondary vocational institutions and community colleges to recruit such students and graduates; and (3) a program that expands the scope of the Army's current recruiting initiatives. Authorizes such Secretary to expand or extend a pilot program after notification of the defense committees. Requires a pilot program report. (Sec. 552) Directs the Secretary to enhance the effectiveness of the Joint and Service Recruiting and Advertising Programs through advertising and market research targeted to prospective recruits and persons who influence such recruits. (Sec. 553) Amends Federal provisions requiring access to secondary schools for military recruiting purposes to provide that if a local educational agency denies such access, then the Secretary concerned shall designate a general or flag officer of that armed force to visit such school and seek such access. Provides that if the agency continues to deny such access, then the Secretary shall transmit to the chief executive of such State a notification of such denial and a request for assistance in obtaining the requested access. Directs the Secretary, upon determining that agency denial of recruiting access extends to at least two of the armed forces, to notify the defense committees and the Senators and appropriate Representative of the State in which the denial has occurred. Makes such requirements effective as of July 1, 2002. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Ed W. Freeman, James K. Okubu, and Andrew J. Smith for service during the Vietnam conflict, World War II, and the Civil War, respectively. (Sec. 562) Waives certain time limitations with respect to recommendations for the award of the: (1) Silver Star to Louis Rickler, for service during World War I; and (2) Distinguished Flying Cross to certain individuals for service during World War II or Korea. (Sec. 563) Makes ineligible for involuntary separation pay individuals who decline to continue to serve on active duty. (Sec. 564) Exempts a military testamentary instrument from State testamentary laws. Accords such instruments the same legal effect as State testamentary instruments presented for probate. Outlines requirements for the legal execution of such instruments. Makes such instrument self-proving upon such execution, signature, and witnessing. Requires each instrument to include a statement that it meets applicable testamentary requirements. (Sec. 565) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the American people should recognize the lack of culpability of then-Captain Charles B. McVay III in connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS by a Japanese submarine in the Philippine Sea during World War II, as well as his lack of culpability for the tragic loss of the INDIANAPOLIS and the lives of the men who died as a result of her sinking; (2) Captain McVay's military record should reflect such exoneration; and (3) the Secretary of the Navy should award a Navy Unit Commendation to the U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS and its final crew. Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 2001 pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases by 3.7 percent, effective January 1, 2001, the rates of basic pay for military personnel. (Sec. 602) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 to revise certain pay table amounts. (Sec. 603) Authorizes members performing funeral honors duty to receive either the allowance for such duty or the rate of pay for members of the reserves or National Guard performing inactive-duty training. (Sec. 604) Excludes from creditable service as a Marine Corps officer only that service performed concurrently as an enlisted member with the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class program. (Sec. 605) Repeals the current calculation of the monthly amount of basic allowance for housing (BAH) for housing inside the United States. Requires the Secretary to base such amount on the costs of adequate housing determined for such area. Repeals provisions requiring BAH reductions and adjustments. (Sec. 606) Authorizes the payment of BAH for members without dependents in pay grade E-4 (currently only E-5) who are on sea duty. (Sec. 607) Authorizes the payment of a personal money allowance of $2,000 yearly for senior enlisted members serving in Sergeant Major, Master Chief Petty Officer, or Chief Master Sergeant positions. (Sec. 608) Increases the initial and annual allowance for officers for the purchase of required uniforms and equipment. (Sec. 609) Authorizes the Secretary (currently, the President) and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when not operating as a service in the Navy to prescribe requirements and allowances for clothing for enlisted personnel. Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays - Extends through 2001 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2000 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve armed forces. (Sec. 614) Includes as eligible activities for the payment of special pay currently provided for reserve medical and dental officers active duty for training, annual training, or special work. (Sec. 615) Authorizes special pay for Coast Guard physician assistants. (Sec. 616) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay special pay to an officer who is: (1) a pharmacy officer in the Medical Service Corps of the Army or Navy or the Biomedical Sciences Corps of the Air Force; and (2) on active duty under a call or order for a period of at least one year. Authorizes similar payments from the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to such officers in the Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service. Prohibits such payments for pay grades above O-6. Provides varying rates of such special pay based on creditable years of service and whether or not the officer is undergoing pharmacy internship training. Authorizes the payment of an accession bonus to individuals graduating from an accredited pharmacy school who, between the enactment of this Act and September 30, 2004, execute a written agreement to accept a commission as an officer and to remain on active duty for at least four years. Limits such bonus to $30,000. Requires pro rata repayment for unserved periods. (Sec. 618) Entitles Public Health Service Regular or Reserve Corps health officers to the same special pay as health professions officers of the armed forces. (Sec. 619) Entitles a member on sea duty to career sea pay at a monthly rate prescribed by the Secretary concerned, but not to exceed $750. (Currently, such rates vary depending on the length of such duty, with a high-end limit of $520.) Authorizes a pay premium of up to $350 for every month served after 36 consecutive months. (Sec. 620) Increases the monthly rate of special duty assignment pay for enlisted members. Eliminates the separate rate for military recruiters. (Sec. 621) Authorizes the payment of a critical skills enlistment bonus for all military departments (currently, only the Army). Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances - Authorizes the advance payment of temporary lodging expenses incurred by a member and his or her dependents while making a change in permanent duty stations. Allows such payment for up to ten days. Revises generally provisions concerning the per diem for members on duty outside the United States or in Hawaii or Alaska. (Sec. 632) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay to a member a share of the savings resulting from less-than-average shipping and storage costs of the member's baggage and household effects in connection with a change of duty station. (Sec. 633) Allows the payment of certain travel and transportation expenses of military dependents of overseas personnel when such dependents are engaged in obtaining a formal education (currently, only a secondary or undergraduate college education) (thereby allowing graduate or vocational educational programs to be included). (Sec. 634) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay a member a share of the savings realized from not having a vehicle transported or stored overseas. Authorizes a member to elect to have a vehicle stored at Government expense in lieu of a transportation allowance for an unaccompanied assignment. Subtitle D: Retirement Benefits - Provides an exception to the high-36 month retired pay computation for: (1) enlisted personnel who are reduced in grade; or (2) officer personnel who do not serve satisfactorily in the highest grade held. States that such retired pay base shall be determined as if the member first became a member before September 8, 1980. (Sec. 642) Provides automatic participation in the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) for reserve personnel who are married or have a dependent child unless such member declines such participation with his or her spouse's concurrence. Requires spousal consent for a member to elect: (1) not to participate in the SBP; or (2) to designate as the effective date for the commencement of SBP payments in the event that the member dies before becoming 60 years of age the 60th anniversary of such member's birth. (Sec. 643) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 to make 180 days after the enactment of this Act the effective date for the authority of members of the Ready Reserve to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Allows the Secretary to postpone such effective date by up to 360 additional days if the Secretary determines that permitting such members to participate earlier would place an excessive burden on accommodating TSP participants. Requires notification of specified congressional committees when such a postponement is utilized. (Sec. 644) Outlines procedures for retirement from active reserve service which is performed after retirement from the regular armed forces. (Sec. 645) Repeals a Federal provision suspending the payment of military retired pay while an individual serves as a Federal judge. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary to reimburse a member for parking expenses incurred for a private vehicle being used to commute to a duty station to perform recruiting activities, duty with a military entrance processing facility, or instructional or administrative duties at an institution where a unit of the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps is maintained. (Sec. 652) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to authorize the Secretary to extend for up to 18 additional months the deadline for filing claims associated with the capture and internment of certain persons by North Vietnam. (Sec. 653) Authorizes the Secretary to settle claims for payments for unused accrued leave and for retired pay. (Sec. 654) Entitles to Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance a person who volunteers for assignment to a category in the Individual Ready Reserve that is subject to an involuntary call to active duty. (Sec. 655) Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a gratuity of $20,000 to veterans of Bataan and Corregidor who were captured, held as prisoners of war, and forced to perform slave labor in Japan during World War II. Title VII: Health Care - Subtitle A: Senior Health Care - Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to extend through 2005 the TRICARE Senior Supplement demonstration program. (Sec. 702) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend through 2005 the Senior Prime demonstration program. Includes a DOD major medical center as a facility participant in such program, and allows such centers to be designated as additional sites. (Sec. 703) Extends through 2005 a demonstration project for including certain eligible military beneficiaries for health care coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Includes additional areas for participation in the project. (Sec. 704) Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to authorize the Secretary to require DOD pharmacy system participants to pay an enrollment fee for such participation, but requires the Secretary to ensure that any such fee charged after December 31, 2000, is lower than the fee charged on such date. Allows the Secretary to impose other cost-sharing requirements on system participants. Allows for the monthly or quarterly payment of premiums. Subtitle B: TRICARE Program - Authorizes coverage under the TRICARE Program (a DOD managed-care program) for remote areas of the continental United States for members of the Coast Guard when not operating as a service in the Navy and members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Public Health Service. Requires coverage for the medical care of eligible military dependents to be comparable to medical care coverage and timely access standards under the TRICARE Prime option. (Sec. 712) Prohibits a copayment from being charged to a dependent of a member eligible for care under TRICARE Prime. (Sec. 713) Directs the Secretary to take all necessary action to improve the business practices used in administering TRICARE. Subtitle C: Joint Initiatives With Department of Veterans Affairs - Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to jointly prescribe a centralized process for the reporting, compiling, and analysis of errors in the provision of health care under their respective health care systems that endanger patients beyond the normal risks associated with such care and treatment. (Sec. 722) Directs such Secretaries to jointly develop a system for the use of bar codes for the identification of pharmaceuticals, and directs the Secretary to experiment with the use of such bar codes in the DOD mail order pharmaceuticals program. (Sec. 723) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 to require certain additional information in an annual report from the Secretary to Congress on DOD medical informatics. Earmarks specified FY 2001 O&M funds for pharmaceuticals-related medical informatics. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Directs the Secretary to carry out a program to provide the following persons with prescription pharmaceuticals by mail: (1) persons eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); and (2) persons who would be eligible for CHAMPUS medical care except for concurrent eligibility for hospital insurance under Medicare part A. (Sec. 732) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 to authorize the Secretary to provide domiciliary and custodial care to CHAMPUS beneficiaries whose eligibility for such care was discontinued due to their concurrent eligibility for hospital insurance benefits under Medicare and subsequently reestablished under other legal authority. Limits to $100 million per fiscal year the total cost for the individual case management program for CHAMPUS beneficiaries. (Sec. 733) Entitles Medal of Honor recipients and their dependents to CHAMPUS medical and dental care. (Sec. 734) Directs CHAMPUS administering Secretaries to furnish an eligible CHAMPUS minor dependent (at least 5 and less than 12 years old) a school-required physical examination. (Sec. 735) Extends until three year after an eligible member's death (currently, one year) the continuation of CHAMPUS medical and dental benefits for such member's survivors. (Sec. 736) Extends through FY 2002 the authority to contract for medical services at locations outside of military medical treatment facilities. (Sec. 737) Directs the Secretary to complete the development and implementation of a program to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits for all TRICARE Prime enrollees as a permanent part of the military health care system. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to continue certain chiropractic benefits under such Act until the new program is implemented. (Sec. 738) Directs the Secretary to take necessary actions to use, in at least one TRICARE program region, commercially available information technology systems and products to simplify critical administrative processes of the defense health program and otherwise improve the performance of such services. (Sec. 739) Directs the Secretary to establish a patient care error reporting and management system, with specified purposes and requirements. Directs the Secretary to expand the health care team coordination program to integrate that program into all DOD health care operations. (Sec. 740) Directs the Secretary to carry out a demonstration program to explore opportunities for improving the planning and management of the DOD health care system. Terminates the program on December 31, 2001. Requires a program report. Provides funding from O&M funds. (Sec. 741) Directs the Secretary to carry out two studies to assess the feasibility and desirability of financing the military health care program for retirees on an accrual basis. Requires one study to be conducted by: (1) one or more DOD organizations; and (2) an independent organization with expertise in financial programs and health care. Requires a final report to the Secretary on each study, to be transmitted to Congress. (Sec. 742) Authorizes the Secretaries of the Army and Health and Human Services to jointly conduct a program to augment the Army Medical Department by exercising available authority for detailing reserve commissioned officers of the Public Health Service not in an active status to the Army Medical Department. Requires a report to the defense committees. Title VIII: Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters - Directs the Secretary to ensure that, no later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation is revised to establish a preference for performance-based contracts or task orders for the purchase of DOD services. Outlines conditions under which such a contract or task order will be treated as a contract for the procurement of commercial items. Directs the Secretary of each military department to establish at least one center of excellence in contracting for services for assistance to the acquisition community. Requires the Secretary to ensure that classes focusing on such contracting are offered by the Defense Acquisition University and the Defense Systems Management College and available to contracting personnel throughout DOD. Requires appropriate training for defense contracting personnel. (Sec. 802) Adds a $500 million threshold prior to the applicability of a reporting requirement relating to DOD multiyear contracting authority. (Sec. 803) Includes additional responsibilities of DOD Chief Information Officers with respect to the maintenance of mission critical and mission essential information technology systems. Prohibits the Milestone I, II, or III approval of a major automated information system within DOD until the Chief Information Officer of that department has determined that the system is being developed in accordance with requirements under the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 and related requirements, including appropriate registration. Requires reports from the Secretary to the defense and appropriations committees during FY 2001 through 2003 on the implementation of such requirements. (Sec. 804) Directs the Secretary of each military department to administer an automated system for tracking and managing the purchase of information technology products and services by that department. Requires such system, at a minimum, to apply to purchases of information products and services in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold. Prohibits such a purchase in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold unless: (1) data concerning such purchase is included in the tracking system; or (2) the purchase is approved by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics or the senior procurement executive of that military department. Requires: (1) an annual report from the Secretary to the defense committees; and (2) a report from the CG to the defense and appropriations committees on systems developed under this section. (Sec. 805) Repeals the requirement for certain contractor assurances regarding the completeness, accuracy, and contractual sufficiency of contractor-provided technical data. (Sec. 806) Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to extend until October 1, 2007, the authority for certain DOD acquisition pilot programs. (Sec. 807) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 to add cost-sharing requirements for DOD prototype project agreements. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a pilot program for follow-on contracting for the production of items and processes that are developed by nontraditional defense contractors under prototype projects. Terminates the pilot program authority at the end of FY 2004. Extends through such date the authority to enter into prototype projects and agreements. (Sec. 808) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 to limit the right of the CG to review records of prototype project participants to only those records that are of the same type that the Government has the right to examine under audit access clauses or previous agreements or transactions. (Sec. 809) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to make small businesses owned and controlled by women eligible for assistance under the mentor-prot?g? program. (Sec. 810) Prohibits the performance of a contract for the acquisition of a Navy-Marine Corps Intranet from commencing until the Secretary of the Navy submits to Congress specified contract information. Prohibits the part of such program that is implemented during the first year from including any activities of the Marine Corps, the naval shipyards, or the naval aviation depots. Requires such Intranet acquisition to be managed by the Navy in accordance with the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 and all directives applicable to major investments in information technology and related services. Requires the CG to review such Intranet and submit comments to Congress. (Sec. 811) Amends provisions concerning qualifications for employment and assignment in DOD contracting positions to: (1) make members of the armed forces eligible; and (2) provide the occupational series and requirements for positions to be filled by members of the armed forces (with an exception for those already employed in such position on September 30, 2000). (Sec. 812) Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the sufficiency of the acquisition and support workforce of DOD, including sufficient size and expertise to ensure the cost-effective management of the defense acquisition system to obtain needed products and services at the best value. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to extend through November 17, 2003, a demonstration project on revising personnel management policies and procedures applicable to the DOD acquisition workforce. Prohibits the defense acquisition and support workforce from being reduced during FY 2001 through 2003 below such level as of September 30, 2000, but authorizes the Secretary to waive such prohibition and reduce such levels upon certification that the reduced workforce will efficiently and effectively perform its required workloads. (Sec. 813) Directs the Secretary to carry out, and report to the defense and appropriations committees on, a financial analysis of the costs and benefits of the use of dual rates for quantifying overhead costs at Army industrial facilities. Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management - Repeals Federal provisions reducing the number of major headquarters activities personnel in DOD, as well as a related reporting requirement. (Sec. 902) Designates one of the Assistant Secretaries of Defense as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, with appropriate duties in such areas. Provides as an additional duty the supervision of all DOD activities for combating terrorism. (Sec. 903) Directs the Secretary to establish a non-partisan, independent National Defense Panel 2001 to: (1) assess defense strategy, force structure, force modernization plans, infrastructure, budget plan, and other elements of the defense program and policies established since the quadrennial defense review of 1996; and (2) identify the most critical changes that should be made to the defense strategy for the ensuing ten years and the ensuing 20 years. Requires two reports from the Panel to the Secretary and the defense committees. Terminates such Panel at the end of the next year following submission of its second report. (Sec. 904) Requires the Secretary, each year preceding a year in which a President is to be inaugurated, to establish a non-partisan, independent National Defense Panel to undertake specified assessments, identifications, and recommendations with respect to the current and projected strategic environment. Requires two reports as above, and terminates each Panel as above. (Sec. 905) Includes within the definition of an Inspector General, for purposes of general investigations, an officer of the armed forces or DOD employee assigned or detailed to serve as an inspector general at any level in DOD. (Sec. 906) Directs the Secretary to: (1) report to the defense and appropriations committees on the development and implementation of network centric warfare concepts in DOD; and (2) conduct a study of, and report to the defense and appropriations committees on, the present and future use of the joint experimentation program of DOD in the development of such concepts. Requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics to report to such committees describing the coordination of the science and technology investments of the military departments and defense agencies in the development of future joint network centric warfare capabilities. (Sec. 907) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 to add specified duties for the Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization. (Sec. 908) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide base operating support for Fisher houses associated with Navy health care facilities. (Sec. 909) Defines the Civil Air Patrol as a federally chartered nonprofit corporation and not an instrumentality of the Federal Government for any purposes. Makes the Patrol a voluntary civilian auxiliary of the Air Force when used by any Federal department or agency. Authorizes the Patrol, at the request of State or local governmental entities, to provide disaster relief missions and activities and other emergency and nonemergency missions and activities. Authorizes the Patrol to use Air Force equipment, supplies, and resources to perform such missions and activities. Requires funds appropriated for the Patrol to be available only for their use. Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to use Patrol chaplains in support of Air Force active duty and reserve personnel. Makes the Patrol Board of Governors its governing body. Requires Patrol regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force to be approved by the Secretary of Defense. (Sec. 910) Makes the Secretary solely responsible (currently, acting through the Chief of the National Guard Bureau) for administering the National Guard Challenge Program. Requires all Program costs to be funded by DOD (currently, Federal) expenditures. Requires the Secretary to prescribe specified regulations in carrying out such Program. (Sec. 911) Amends the Armed Forces Retirement Home Act of 1991 to empower the Secretary with supervisory control over the Retirement Home Board. Requires all Board appointments to be subject to the Secretary's approval, and allows the Secretary to terminate a member at any time. Makes the Board Chairman responsible to the Secretary. (Sec. 912) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer all amounts in the: (1) Naval Historical Center Fund to the Department of the Navy General Gift Fund; and (2) United States Naval Academy Museum Fund to the gift fund maintained for the benefit and use of the U.S. Naval Academy. Requires closure of the depleted Funds. Combines the latter funds under (1) and (2), above, into the United States Naval Academy Gift and Museum Fund, and allows such Fund to accept loans of personal property other than money in addition to gifts and bequests. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to prescribe written guidelines to determine whether the acceptance of any gift, bequest, or loan would reflect unfavorably on the Navy or any of its officers and employees. (Sec. 913) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to disburse to an entity designated by a gift donor the current cash value of a gift accepted before the enactment of this Act for the Naval Academy general gift fund. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Authorizes the Secretary, in the national interest, to transfer up to $2 billion of the amounts made available to DOD in this Division for FY 2001 between any such authorizations for that fiscal year, with limitations. Requires congressional notification of each transfer. (Sec. 1002) Adjusts amounts authorized to be appropriated to DOD for FY 2000 by the amounts by which such appropriations were increased or decreased in any law making supplemental appropriations for that fiscal year. (Sec. 1003) Prohibits the total amount that may be contributed by the Secretary in FY 2001 for the common-funded budgets of NATO from being greater than the total that would otherwise be applicable under the fiscal year 1998 baseline limitation. (Sec. 1004) Requires the annual joint Office of Management and Budget/Congressional Budget Office report on the scoring of budget outlays to reflect the differences between the relevant defense budget outlay rates or assumptions used by the two offices. Requires the inclusion of additional information for each account for which a difference is reported by the two offices. (Sec. 1005) Requires that, of the contract vouchers received by the Defense Finance and Accounting System by means of the mechanization of contract administration service, the number of such vouchers that remain unpaid for more than 30 days at the end of each month may not exceed five percent of the total number of vouchers received. Directs the Secretary, for any month that such requirement is not met, to report to Congress on the magnitude of the unpaid vouchers. (Sec. 1006) Repeals specified provisions of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000 relating to the timing of defense contract payments. (Sec. 1007) Directs the Secretary to report to the defense and appropriations committees and to carry out a plan for: (1) the prompt posting throughout DOD of defense contractual obligations; and (2) ensuring that all documentation submitted to DOD in support of claims for payment under contracts is submitted electronically. (Sec. 1009) Provides for the crediting of amounts deducted from amounts due a carrier and representing an administrative offset for an overpayment previously made to such carrier under any DOD contract for transportation services, or as liquidated damages due under such contract. Provides a simplified offset procedure for the collection of claims not in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold. Subtitle B: Counter-Drug Activities - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 to extend through FY 2006 the authority of the Secretary to provide counter-drug support assistance to the Governments of Peru and Columbia. Authorizes the transfer of one light observation aircraft as part of such assistance. Increases the maximum annual amount of such support from $20 million to $40 million (with a limit of $10 million for assistance for Peru). (Sec. 1012) Directs the Secretary to recommend to the defense committees whether expanded support for counter-drug activities in Peru and Columbia should be authorized. (Sec. 1013) Directs the Secretary to review the riverine counter-drug support program in such countries and report to the defense committees on such program. Subtitle C: Strategic Forces - Directs the Secretary to conduct a comprehensive review of the nuclear posture of the United States for the next five to ten years. Requires a report to Congress. Expresses the sense of Congress that a revised nuclear posture should be conducted and that the posture review should be used as the basis for establishing future U.S. arms control objectives and negotiating positions. (Sec. 1016) Directs the Secretary to develop a long-range plan for sustaining and modernizing U.S. strategic nuclear forces to counter emerging threats and to satisfy the evolving requirements of deterrence. Requires such plan to be submitted to Congress. (Sec. 1017) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 to apply to any strategic nuclear delivery system the authority of the Secretary to waive funding limitations for the retiring or dismantling of specified systems below certain levels. (Sec. 1018) Directs the Secretary to conduct a study relating to the defeat of hardened and deeply buried targets. Requires study results to be reported to the defense and appropriations committees. Subtitle D: Miscellaneous Reporting Requirements - Requires the inclusion of additional information after FY 2000 in an annual report of the JCS Chairman on combatant command requirements. (Sec. 1022) Directs the JCS Chairman to report semiannually to the defense and appropriations committees on activities of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council. (Sec. 1023) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on DOD preparedness of first responders with regard to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction on military installations. (Sec. 1024) Revises the date for submission of certain reports on shortfalls within future-years defense programs in equipment procurement and military construction for the reserve components. (Sec. 1025) Directs the CG to: (1) review the efficiency of each operation of the Defense Logistics Agency and Defense Information Systems Agency; and (2) report findings to the defense committees. Subtitle E: Information Security - Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish an Institute for Defense Computer Security and Information Protection, with appropriate responsibilities; and (2) enter into a contract with a non-profit entity or consortium to organize and operate the Institute. Provides Institute funding through DOD O&M funds. Requires an implementation report from the Secretary to the defense and appropriations committees. (Sec. 1042) Authorizes the Secretary, in order to encourage the recruitment and retention of DOD personnel with computer and network security skills necessary to meet DOD information assurance requirements, to establish a program to provide educational assistance to persons pursuing a program of education in such skills. Requires, in exchange for such assistance, that a person enter into a service agreement to either serve on active duty in a military department or to continue in the employment of a military department for a period of one year for each year that such assistance is provided. Requires a pro rata refund of assistance amounts for unserved periods. Makes the program inapplicable to the Coast Guard when not operating as a service in the Navy. Provides program funding from DOD O&M funds. Requires the Secretary to report to the defense and appropriations committees a plan for implementing an information security scholarship program. (Sec. 1043) Directs the Secretary to prescribe a process for expediting the completion of background investigations necessary for granting security clearances for DOD personnel engaged in sensitive duties critical to the national security. Requires the Secretary to annually review and revise such process. (Sec. 1044) Authorizes the national security official concerned (the Secretary of Defense with respect to DOD, the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when not operating in the Navy, and the Secretary of Energy with respect to Department of Energy national security programs) to withhold from otherwise-required public disclosure certain sensitive information of foreign governments and international organizations if such official determines that the release of such information would have an adverse effect on the ability of the U.S. Government to obtain the same or similar information in the future. Provides limitations and exceptions. (Sec. 1045) Authorizes the Secretary to withhold from public disclosure operational files of the Defense Intelligence Agency, subject to judicial review. Subtitle F: Other Matters - Requests the President to issue a proclamation commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Calls upon DOD, the armed forces, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces to commemorate the occasion with appropriate ceremonies and activities. (Sec. 1053) Authorizes the Secretary to allow a dependent of an employee of the American Red Cross performing armed forces emergency services in Puerto Rico to enroll in a DOD domestic dependent school in Puerto Rico. Requires reimbursement for such educational services. (Sec. 1054) Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to the American Red Cross for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2003 for support of the Armed Forces Emergency Services program. Requires Red Cross matching funds to support such program. Provides funding from DOD O&M funds. (Sec. 1055) Directs the Secretary to establish a transit pass program for the transportation to and from work of DOD personnel who reside in areas that do not meet revised national ambient air quality standards provided under the Clean Air Act. (Sec. 1056) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, Navy, or Air Force to charge a fee for providing requested information from the United States Army Military History Institute, the United States Naval Historical Center or Marine Corps Historical Center, or the United States Air Force Military History Institute, respectively. Limits the fee to the actual cost of providing the information. (Sec. 1057) Amends provisions concerning access by Federal agencies to individual criminal history information for national security purposes to authorize the Department of Transportation to request such information. Allows the use of such information to determine eligibility for: (1) acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or (2) appointment, retention, or assignment to a position of public trust or a critical or sensitive position while employed with the Federal Government or performing a Federal contract. Prohibits fees charged from exceeding actual costs. Prohibits a criminal justice agency providing such information from requiring the requester to enter into an indemnification agreement indemnifying the State or locality for damages or loss caused by the release of such information. Requires automated information delivery systems to be used to provide such information whenever possible. (Sec. 1058) Expresses the sense of Congress that the CVN-77 aircraft carrier should be named the U.S.S. LEXINGTON to honor the men and women who served in the armed forces during World War II, as well as citizens on the home front who provided mobilization support. (Sec. 1059) Directs the Secretary of the Army to convey to the Edward Dorr Tracey, Jr. Camp 18 of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, a specified 12-pound Napoleon cannon. (Sec. 1060) Revises the maximum size of parcel post packages transported overseas for military post offices. Title XI: Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Policy - Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistive technology, devices, and services to DOD employees, organizations within DOD that have requirements to make programs or facilities accessible by the handicapped, and any other Federal department or agency requesting such technology, devices, or services. Provides funding from DOD O&M funds. (Sec. 1102) Authorizes the payment of special pay for foreign language proficiency determined to be beneficial to U.S. national security interests. (Sec. 1103) Increases from 492 to 517 the maximum authorized number of positions in the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service. (Sec. 1104) Extends through FY 2010 the authority for tuition reimbursement and training for civilian employees in the defense acquisition workforce. (Sec. 1105) Directs the Secretary to carry out a defense employees work safety demonstration program, requiring the use of private sector work safety models. Requires such program to be carried out: (1) at no fewer than two installations of each military department; and (2) in at least two defense agencies. Requires such program to commence within 180 days after enactment of this Act and to terminate on September 30, 2002. Requires a program interim and final report from the Secretary to the defense committees. Provides funding from DOD O&M funds. (Sec. 1106) Outlines employment and compensation provisions for employees of temporary organizations (a commission, committee, board, or other organization with a duration of three years or less which is established by law or Executive Order to perform a specific project or study, and is terminated upon the completion of such project or study). (Sec. 1107) Extends through FY 2005 the authority for DOD civilian employees to participate in voluntary reductions in force. (Sec. 1108) Authorizes the head of a Federal agency to administer and maintain its performance appraisal systems electronically. (Sec. 1109) Authorizes the Secretary to grant a cash award in excess of $10,000 without regard to certain Federal certification and approval requirements. (Sec. 1110) Authorizes payment for accrued but unused leave for civil service mariners of the Military Sealift Command on temporary promotion aboard ship. (Sec. 1111) Requires a DOD employee who is designated as an emergency essential employee to be insured under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance program if such employee elects to be so insured within 60 days after such designation. (Sec. 1112) Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot program to assess the extent to which the effectiveness and efficiency of the performance of civilian personnel services for DOD could be increased by conducting competitions for the performance of such services between the public and private sectors. Requires the Secretary to ensure that, in the case of conversion to private sector performance under the program, displaced Federal employees have the right of first refusal for such jobs. Requires the program to be conducted from October 1, 2000, through December 31, 2004. Requires a program report from the Secretary to the defense committees. (Sec. 1113) Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to: (1) extend until October 16, 2005, a program for the experimental use of special personnel management authority to facilitate the recruitment of experts in science or engineering for research and development projects administered by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; (2) include under such program the recruitment of individuals for designated research and development projects from among the laboratories of each of the military departments; (3) limit the number of such appointments; and (4) extend a required annual report. Title XII: Matters Relating to Other Nations - Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to transfer, on either a combined lease-sale basis or grant basis, specified naval vessels to Australia, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Greece, and Turkey. Prohibits the value of any of the transferred vessels from being counted against the aggregate value of excess defense articles authorized to be transferred to other countries under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Requires transfer expenses to be borne by vessel recipients. Directs such Secretary, as a transfer condition, to require any needed vessel repair or refurbishment to be performed at a U.S. shipyard, including a Navy shipyard. Provides conditions for vessels transferred on a combined lease-sale basis. Authorizes appropriations into the Defense Vessels Transfer Program Account to cover costs connected with the lease-sale transfers. Terminates such transfer authority two years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 1202) Limits to $15 million the total amount of FY 2001 DOD funds that may be used in support of United Nations-sponsored efforts to inspect and monitor Iraqi weapons activities under the Weapons of Mass Destruction Control Act of 1992. Extends through FY 2001 the authority to provide such support. (Sec. 1203) Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting the Secretary from entering into military airlift agreements with allied countries under any authority other than that currently provided. (Sec. 1204) Directs the Secretary to operate an education and training facility to be called the Western Hemisphere Institute for Professional Education and Training, under which professional education and training is provided to military and law enforcement personnel and civilians (whether or not employed by a government of the Western Hemisphere). Requires within the Institute's curriculum instruction on human rights, the rule of law, due process, civilian control of the military, and the role of the military in a democratic society. Establishes a Board of Visitors for the Institute to review its curriculum for compliance with such educational requirements. Requires an annual report from the Secretary to Congress on Institute activities. Repeals a provision authorizing the Secretary of the Army to operate the United States Army School of the Americas. (Sec. 1205) Requires a semiannual report from the President to specified congressional committees on the contributions of European nations and organizations to peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. (Sec. 1206) Authorizes the Secretary to accept funds, services, or property from a foreign government, international organization, or other entity for the development, procurement, installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of equipment for monitoring test explosions of nuclear devices, or for communications relating to the operation of such equipment. Authorizes the Secretary to assist a foreign government in monitoring such tests under limited conditions, including that the Secretary receive timely access to data collected, as well as access to such equipment for repair and maintenance. (Sec. 1207) Requires an annual report from the Secretary to Congress on activities and assistance under Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) programs. Requires the CG to report to Congress an assessment of each report. Repeals superseded reporting requirements. (Sec. 1208) Prohibits CTR funds for FY 2000 and thereafter from being used for construction of the Schuch'ye chemical weapons destruction facility in Russia until 30 days after the Secretary certifies to the defense committees that specified conditions have been met by Russia. (Sec. 1209) Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of more than 50 percent of the funds authorized for the elimination of weapons grade plutonium until 30 days after the Secretary submits to the defense committees a report on an agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation regarding a new option for the shutdown or conversion of Russian reactors that produce such plutonium. Title XIII: Navy Activities on the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico - Authorizes the President to provide economic assistance for the people and communities of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, with a total limit of $40 million. (Sec. 1302) Directs the President to conduct on the Island a referendum to determine whether the people approve or disapprove of the continuation of the conduct of Navy live-fire training and other training on the Island. Makes the referendum unnecessary if the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps jointly certify to the defense and appropriations committees that the Vieques Naval Training Range is no longer needed for training purposes. Limits live-fire training under the referendum to 90 days each year. States that if the referendum is approved, then the President may provide additional economic assistance of up to $50 million. (Sec. 1304) Requires certain actions if either the referendum is not approved or there is a certification that such training is no longer necessary, including: (1) terminating all Navy and Marine Corps training operations on the Island; (2) terminating all Navy and Marine Corps activities at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, that are related to such training; (3) closing all DOD installations and facilities on the Island; and (4) a review by the CG of the continued use of Fort Buchanan by active Army forces (with a required report to the defense and appropriations committees). (Sec. 1305) Makes non-transferable certain DOD property on the Island. (Sec. 1306) Prohibits, with exceptions, any acquisition, construction, conversion, rehabilitation, extension, or improvement of any facility at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, after the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 1307) Directs the Secretary, except for non-transferable property, to transfer to the Secretary of the Interior all DOD properties on the western part of the Island that are identified as conservation zones. (Sec. 1308) Directs the Secretary of the Interior, pending the enactment of an alternative law, to assume responsibility for administration of the Live Impact Area on the Island, and to deny public access to such Area. Division B: Military Construction Authorizations - Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 - Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes such Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, carry out architectural planning and design activities, and improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 2000 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. (Sec. 2105) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 to: (1) decrease the amount authorized for a construction project at Fort Stewart, Georgia; (2) cancel a construction project at Fort Riley, Kansas; and (3) increase the amount authorized for unspecified minor construction projects. (Sec. 2106) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to increase amounts authorized for construction projects at Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Riley, Kansas. (Sec. 2107) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 to increase the amount authorized for a construction project at Fort Stewart, Georgia. (Sec. 2108) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to accept funds from the Federal Highway Administration or the State of Kentucky for a military construction project involving a rail connector at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the previous title. (Sec. 2205) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to carry out a military construction project at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia, using funds authorized under a prior-year military construction authorization Act for a sanitary landfill at such facility. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under Title XXI. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for fiscal years after 2000 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of DOD. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. (Sec. 2402) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out certain energy conservation projects. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 2000 for such purpose. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 2000 for the Guard and reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in Titles XXI through XXVI of this Act on October 1, 2003, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 2004, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Expresses the sense of Congress that in preparing the budget for a fiscal year, the Secretary should: (1) seek to identify military construction projects that are suitable as joint construction projects; and (2) identify and give priority to such projects. Directs the Secretary to include within each fiscal year budget a certification by each Secretary concerned that such Secretary evaluated the feasibility of carrying out projects as joint construction projects. Requires an annual report from the Secretary to the appropriate congressional committees on such projects. (Sec. 2802) Excludes certain installation, maintenance, and repair costs from a spending limit on the improvement of military family housing. (Sec. 2803) Removes certain limitations on housing space based on pay grade and directs the Secretary concerned to ensure that room patterns and floor areas are generally comparable to patterns and areas of similar housing units in the private sector in that locality. (Sec. 2804) Amends provisions concerning the leasing of military family housing units at the United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida, to: (1) remove an annual $60,000 limit on individual housing lease costs; (2) allow such leases to extend for up to five years; and (3) require the Secretary of the Army to adjust the maximum annual limit on such leases by the amount of annual basic allowance for housing increase in the Miami area. (Sec. 2805) Directs the Secretary concerned to use competitive procedures when entering into contracts under certain alternative authority for the acquisition or improvement of military housing. Allows a waiver of such requirement when such Secretary: (1) determines that such procedures would be inconsistent with the public interest; and (2) submits to Congress a written notification of such determination at least 30 days before entering into such a contract. (Sec. 2806) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to furnish specified utilities and related services in connection with any military housing acquired or constructed pursuant to such alternative authority. Requires reimbursement for such utilities and services. (Sec. 2807) Extends such alternative authority through February 10, 2004. (Sec. 2808) Includes a military readiness center within the definition of an armory. Subtitle B: Real Property and Facilities Administration - Increases from $200,000 to $500,000 the minor real property transaction threshold before certain congressional notification and reporting is required from the Secretary concerned. (Sec. 2812) Amends provisions concerning the leasing of non-excess property of military departments to: (1) remove the requirement that such property is not currently needed for public use; (2) prohibit such leases from providing for the maintenance, protection, or restoration of such property; and (3) provide for the acceptance of additional in-kind consideration with regard to such leases, including environmental restoration. Adds additional requirements before the acceptance of in-kind consideration valued in excess of $500,000. Authorizes the use of lease proceeds for protection, alteration, improvement, or restoration of property or facilities, leasing of other facilities, or facilities operation support. (Currently, such uses are limited to maintenance, repair, and environmental restoration.) Requires at least 50 percent of lease proceeds to be used at the installation where the leased property is located. Prohibits the Secretary concerned from constructing or acquiring facilities valued in excess of $500,000 until 30 days after notifying the defense and appropriations committees of such construction or acquisition. Revises reporting dates with respect to such leases, and requires such reports to be submitted to the appropriations (currently, only defense) committees. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to enter into agreements indemnifying any person or entity leasing such property from damage or loss resulting from: (1) the release or threatened release of any hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant, petroleum or petroleum derivative, or unexploded ordnance as a result of DOD activities on the installation on which the leased property is located; and (2) any environmental remediation obligations required by any such release. Provides agreement provisions, conditions, and limitations. (Sec. 2813) Provides limited authority for the Secretary concerned to use procedures other than competitive procedures for selecting conveyees of utility systems of a military department. Subtitle C: Defense Base Closure and Realignment - Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 and the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act to limit to the initial transfer of property the right of the Secretary to transfer at or below its estimated fair market value real and personal property located at a military installation to be closed or realigned. Subtitle D: Land Conveyances - Part I: Army Conveyances - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to: (1) the Tri-City Regional Port District of Granite City, Illinois, the Charles Melvin Price Support Center, for a port facility and other public purposes; (2) the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Lieutenant General Malcolm Hay Army Reserve Center; (3) the Ellis School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Colonel Harold E. Steele Army Reserve Center and Maintenance Shop; (4) the city of Seattle, Washington, specified real property at Fort Lawton, Washington, for inclusion in Seattle's Discovery Park; and (5) the city of Vancouver, Washington, the west barracks at Vancouver Barracks, for inclusion within the Vancouver National Historic Reserve. Part II: Navy Conveyances - Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1990 and 1991 to modify a land conveyance with respect to the Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California. (Sec. 2852) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to authorize the Secretary to replace the electric utility service removed during the course of environmental remediation at the Defense Fuel Supply Point, Casco Bay, Maine. (Sec. 2853) Modifies a land conveyance at the former Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland, to allow the Secretary of the Navy to choose whether to receive consideration upon the further transfer of such property to the State of Maryland. (Sec. 2854) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to convey to the State of Maine, or a subdivision or agency thereof, the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station in Cutler, Maine. Part III: Defense Agencies Conveyances - Authorizes the Secretary to convey the Army and Air Force Exchange Service in Farmers Branch, Texas, requiring a cash payment equal to the fair market value of such property. Requires a report from the Secretary to the defense and appropriations committees following such conveyance. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Designates the Army missile testing range at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands as the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll. Division C: Department of Energy National Security Authorizations and Other Authorizations - Title XXXI(sic): Department of Energy National Security Programs - Subtitle A: National Security Programs Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for FY 2001 for operating expenses, capital equipment, and plant projects necessary in carrying out the following activities for national security programs: (1) weapons activities; (2) defense nuclear nonproliferation; (3) naval reactors activities; (4) defense environmental restoration and waste management; (5) other defense activities; (6) defense environmental management privatization activities; (7) an energy employees compensation initiative; and (8) defense nuclear waste disposal. Subtitle B: Recurring General Provisions - Prohibits the use of funds appropriated pursuant to this title for: (1) the cost of a program exceeding 110 percent of the program authorization or $1 million more than the amount authorized; or (2) programs which have not been presented to, or requested of, Congress until the Secretary of Energy (Secretary, for purposes of this Division) transmits to the defense and appropriations committees a full statement of the action proposed and 30 days have since expired. (Sec. 3122) Places certain funding limits for general plant and construction projects of DOE. Requires congressional reports when amounts exceed such limits. (Sec. 3124) Authorizes the Secretary to transfer DOE-authorized funds: (1) to other Federal agencies for the performance of work for which such funds were authorized; or (2) between authorizations within DOE, to be merged with and available for the same purposes. Requires congressional notification to the defense committees of any such transfer. (Sec. 3125) Directs the Secretary, before submitting a funding request for a construction project in support of a DOE national security program, to complete a conceptual design for such project. Requires a separate funding requests for designs for which the estimated cost exceeds $3 million. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out construction design services in connection with any proposed construction project if the total estimated cost for the design does not exceed $600,000. Requires specific authorization by law for designs exceeding such amount. (Sec. 3126) Authorizes the use of DOE funds for planning, design, or construction activities for any DOE national security program that must proceed expeditiously in order to protect public health and safety, meet the needs of national defense, or protect property. Requires the Secretary to report to the defense and appropriations committees when funds are so used. (Sec. 3127) Makes amounts appropriated pursuant to this title for management and support activities and for general plant projects available for use in connection with all DOE national security programs. (Sec. 3129) Directs the Secretary, during FY 2001, to empower each DOE field office manager with the authority to transfer defense environmental management funds from a program or project under such office's jurisdiction to another program or project in order to address a risk to health, safety, or the environment or to assure the most efficient use of such funds at that field office. Limits such transfer to a total of $5 million per fiscal year. Directs the Secretary to notify Congress within 30 days after any such transfer. Subtitle C: National Nuclear Security Administration - Mandates a three-year term of office for the person first appointed to the position of Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of the Department of Energy. Limits the reasons for removal from such position to inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Includes such Under Secretary as a member of the Joint Nuclear Weapons Council. (Sec. 3133) Amends the National Nuclear Security Administration Act to specifically limit the authority of the Secretary to establish, alter, or discontinue any unit of the National Nuclear Security Administration (Administration) to that provided under such Act. (Sec. 3134) Amends the above Act to prohibit any DOE funds made available after FY 2000 from being obligated or expended to pay an officer or employee of DOE who: (1) serves concurrently in a position within and outside such Administration; or (2) performs concurrently the duties of a position within and outside such Administration. (Sec. 3135) Requires the Administrator of such Administration to submit to the defense committees a plan for assigning roles and responsibilities to and among the headquarters and field organizational units of the Administration. (Sec. 3136) Requires the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security to submit to the defense and appropriations committees a future-years nuclear security program for FY 2001 and the five succeeding fiscal years. Outlines the required level of detail of such program. Requires such program to be submitted by November 1, 2000. Limits the use of certain funds pending submission of such program and a waiting period of 45 days thereafter. (Sec. 3137) States as an objective of the Administration to obligate certain percentages of the total funds appropriated for the Administration for cooperative research and development agreements or similar cooperative, cost-shared partnerships with non-Federal organizations. Requires the Administrator to report to the defense and appropriations committees recommending the appropriate percentages for such funding during each fiscal year. Requires follow-up reports on whether such funding objectives were achieved. Subtitle D: Program Authorizations, Restrictions, and Limitations - Directs the Secretary to continue operations and to maintain a high state of readiness at the F- and H-canyon facilities at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, and to provide technical staff necessary to maintain such facilities. Prohibits any DOE funds from being used to decommission the F-facility until the Secretary and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board jointly submit to the defense and appropriations committees a certification concerning the stability of materials and that future needs can be met utilizing only the H-facility. Directs the Secretary to submit to the defense committees a plan for the transfer of all long-term chemical separation activities from the F- to the H-facility. (Sec. 3152) Prohibits, as of March 1, 2001, any DOE funds from being used for travel expenses by the Secretary or any employees of the Office of the Secretary unless the Secretary certifies to the defense and appropriations committees that DOE is in compliance with certain requirements prohibiting the use of funds for treatment, storage, or disposal activities at formerly used defense sites. (Sec. 3153) Directs the Secretary to report annually to the defense committees on the status of efforts to secure weapons-usable nuclear materials in Russia that have been identified as being at risk for theft or diversion. Prohibits FY 2001 funds for the Nuclear Cities Initiative from being obligated or expended until 30 days after the Secretary submits to the defense committees a copy of an agreement between Russia and the United States which provides that Russia will close some of its facilities engaged in nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly work. Provides a further Nuclear Cities Initiative funding limitation until the Secretary establishes and implements project review procedures for Initiative projects. Requires a report to the defense committees on such procedures. (Sec. 3154) Amends the Department of Energy Facilities Safeguards, Security, and Counterintelligence Enhancement Act of 1999 to include within the counterintelligence polygraph requirements of such Act certain individuals involved in or applying for high-risk positions, as specified under the Code of Federal Regulations. Authorizes the Secretary to waive the polygraph requirements if: (1) the Secretary determines the waiver to be in the national security interests; (2) the covered person has been previously granted a security clearance; and (3) the covered person acknowledges in writing that such requirements must be met after the expiration of the waiver. Allows such a waiver if: (1) another Federal agency certifies that the covered person has successfully completed a full scope of such an examination during a five-year period prior to such certification; or (2) the Secretary determines that the treatment of a medical or psychological condition should preclude the administration of such polygraph. Limits any waiver to 120 days. Includes as authorized examination questions those concerning terrorism and deliberate damage to or malicious use of a U.S. Government information or defense system. (Sec. 3155) Authorizes the Secretary to provide certain incentives to an individual who: (1) is a Federal employee who has worked continuously at a closure facility for at least two years; (2) has a fully satisfactory or equivalent performance rating; and (3) meets any other required incentive conditions as determined by the Secretary. Includes among such incentives: (1) the right to accumulate annual leave (with limitations); (2) the right to be paid a retention bonus; (3) an administrative detail; and (4) the right to receive a voluntary separation incentive payment. Requires such employee to enter into an agreement to remain in such employment until a date to be determined by the Secretary, in return for the receipt of one of more of the incentives. Authorizes the Secretary to waive the agreement requirement for good cause shown. Requires a report on such incentives by the Secretary as part of a required annual report under a prior defense authorization Act. Terminates the authority for such incentives at the end of FY 2011. Authorizes the head of an executive agency to detail within such agency, within another executive agency, or to a non-Federal employer an employee who has been identified as being, or likely to become, a surplus or displaced employee. Provides temporary health care coverage for employees who are voluntarily or involuntarily separated from DOE by reason of a closure project. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to extend through FY 2002 the authority of the Secretary to appoint up to 200 positions in DOE for scientific, engineering, and technical personnel whose duties will relate to safety at defense nuclear facilities. (Sec. 3172) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to require biennial updates of a report concerning DOE nuclear test readiness postures, and to require certain additional information in such reports. (Sec. 3173) Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to require the Secretary on a quarterly basis (currently, only 30 days after an inadvertent release) to notify specified committees and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs of the inadvertent release of records containing restricted or formerly restricted data during the automatic declassification of records. (Sec. 3174) Requires any certification submitted to the President by the Secretaries of Energy or Defense concerning the safety or reliability of a nuclear weapon type in the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile to be submitted in classified form only. (Sec. 3175) Allows the Secretary to authorize the plant manager of a covered nuclear weapons production plant to engage in research, development, and demonstration activities to maintain and enhance the engineering and manufacturing capabilities at such plant. Provides funding from DOE national security programs funds. Includes as covered plants those in Kansas City, Missouri, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Amarillo, Texas. (Sec. 3176) Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to authorize the Federal waiver of a license from a DOE laboratory to a party to have such party practice an invention discovered in a DOE laboratory by or on behalf of the Government when the designated official finds that the retention of such license would substantially inhibit the commercialization of an invention that would otherwise serve an important Federal mission. Terminates such waiver authority five years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 3177) Authorizes the Secretary to present a certificate of commendation to any current or former DOE employee, or current or former employee of a DOE contractor, whose service in matters relating to stockpile stewardship and security assisted DOE in furthering U.S. national security interests. Title XXXII: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Title XXXIII: Naval Petroleum Reserves - Amends Federal provisions concerning the naval petroleum reserves to: (1) remove a requirement that the Secretary sell such petroleum at a price equal to at least 90 percent of comparable petroleum in the same area; (2) remove Naval Petroleum Reserve Number 1 from inclusion in any price requirements; and (3) repeal provisions authorizing the Secretary to enter into cooperative plans for the exploration, development, use, and operation of lands inside Naval Petroleum Reserve Number 1. Title XXXIV: National Defense Stockpile - Authorizes the National Defense Stockpile (NDS) Manager, during FY 2001, to obligate up to $75 million of the funds in the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund (Fund) for authorized Fund uses, including the disposal of hazardous materials that are environmentally sensitive. Authorizes the NDS Manager to obligate amounts in excess of such amount 45 days after notifying Congress that extraordinary or emergency conditions necessitate the additional obligations. (Sec. 3402) Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to increase the authorized receipts for NDS disposals occurring by the end of FY 2002, 2003, and 2005.
Bill· SS. 2548 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2000
Securing Heightened Opportunities for Workers, Manufacturers, and Agriculture Exporters Act (SHOW-ME Act) - Requires the President to enter into a 15-year bilateral agreement regarding enforcement of the People's Republic of China's World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments before extending nondiscriminatory trade treatment (permanent normal trade relations) to China under the Trade Act of 1974. Requires such bilateral agreement to declare that if the United States initiates a dispute settlement proceeding against China in the WTO and prevails and the appeals procedures are exhausted, China will not challenge or request arbitration on the level of the suspension of concessions or other obligations the United States may take with respect to China pursuant to the Understanding On Rules And Procedures Governing The Settlement of Disputes.
Bill· SS. 2536 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2000
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 - Division A - Title I: Agricultural Programs - Appropriates funds for FY 2001 for the following Department of Agriculture programs and services: (1) Office of the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary); (2) executive operations; (3) Office of the Chief Information Officer; (4) Office of the Chief Financial Officer; (5) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration; (6) agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments; (7) hazardous materials management; (8) departmental administration; (9) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations; (10) Office of Communications; (11) Office of the Inspector General; (12) Office of the General Counsel; (13) Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics; (14) Economic Research Service; (15) National Agricultural Statistics Service; (16) Agricultural Research Service; (17) Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; (18) Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; (19) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; (20) Agricultural Marketing Service; (21) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; (22) Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety; (23) Food Safety and Inspection Service; (24) Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; (25) Farm Service Agency; (26) Risk Management Agency; (27) Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund; and (28) Commodity Credit Corporation Fund. Title II: Conservation Programs - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment; and (2) Natural Resources Conservation Service. Title III: Rural Development Programs - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development; (2) Rural Housing Service; (3) Rural Business-Cooperative Service; and (4) Rural Utilities Service. Title IV: Domestic Food Programs - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; and (2) Food and Nutrition Service. Title V: Foreign Assistance and Related Programs - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Foreign Agricultural Service; and (2) Public Law 480 program account, title I ocean freight differential grants, and titles II and III grants. Title VI: Related Agencies and Food and Drug Administration - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Food and Drug Administration; (2) Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and (3) Farm Credit Administration. Title VII: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses and limits on or prohibitions against the use of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 714) Authorizes the Natural Resources and Conservation Service to enter into noncompetitive cooperative agreements. (Sec. 728) Prohibits, with an exception for field laboratory facilities, funds under this Act from being used to: (1) reduce the Detroit, Michigan, Food and Drug Administration District Office below specified 1999 staffing levels; (2) change the Office to a station or similarly modified office; or (3) reassign residence posts. Establishes the income eligibility level for Alaskan rural development programs at 150 percent. (Sec. 736) Requires, with exceptions, Foreign Agricultural Service approval of sales of residences used by agricultural attaches abroad. (Sec. 737) Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to acquire personal services agreements for overseas operations. (Sec. 738) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to close or relocate a State Rural Development office unless cost and operation effective. (Sec. 739) Requires the Secretary to use specified amounts of commodities for foreign HIV and AIDS related assistance. Division B - Title I: National Disaster Assistance and Other Emergency Appropriations - Chapter 1 - Appropriates funds for FY 2000 for the following Department of Agriculture programs and services: (1) Farm Service Agency; (2) Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund; (3) Rural Community Advancement Program; (4) Rural Housing Service; and (5) Rural Utilities Service. (Sec. 1101) Provides additional FY 2000 amounts for technical assistance activities related to the conservation reserve and the wetlands reserve programs. (Sec. 1102) Extends certain livestock assistance eligibility through February 7, 2000. (Sec. 1104) Reduces specified crop and upland cotton loan indebtedness for entities and persons in qualifying North Carolina counties who suffered losses from Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, or Irene. (Sec. 1105) Conforms the definition of "livestock" for livestock indemnity program purposes. (Sec. 1106) Provides supplemental assistance for qualifying dairy producers. (Sec. 1107) Authorizes assistance for agricultural losses due to: (1) Mexican fruit fly quarantines in San Diego and San Bernadino-Riverside counties, California; (2) Pierce's disease; (3) grasshoppers and mormon crickets; and (4) citrus canker. (Sec. 1108) Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to extend the milk price support program through 2001. (Sec. 1109) Provides assistance for livestock producers in designated emergency counties (for 2000 losses) through September 30, 2001. Requires the Secretary to consider the effects of drought in establishing payment levels. (Sec. 1110) Directs the Secretary to offset the assessment on peanut producers for 1999 program losses using excess assessments to be collected in 2000 and subsequent years. Chapter 2: Department of Defense- Civil Department of the Army - Appropriates additional amounts for the: (1) Corps of Engineers- Civil; and (2) Appalachian Regional Commission. Chapter 3: Department of the Interior - Appropriates additional amounts for the: (1) Bureau of Land Management; (2) United States Fish and Wildlife Service; (3) National Park Service; (4) United States Geological Survey; (5) Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; (6) Bureau of Indian Affairs; and (7) Forest Service (Department of Agriculture). Chapter 4: Department of Health and Human Services - Appropriates additional amounts for the: (1) Health Care Financing Administration; and (2) Administration for Children and Families. Chapter 5: Legislative Branch - Appropriates additional amounts for the : (1) Capitol Police Board; (2) Capitol Police; and (3) Architect of the Capitol. (Sec. 1501) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1993 to increase the amount of private donations that the Architect of the Capitol may accept for the National Garden. (Sec. 1502) Amends the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 with respect to Trade Deficit Review Commission funding and reporting requirements. Chapter 6: Department of Transportation and Related Agencies - Appropriates additional amounts for the National Transportation Safety Board. Chapter 7: Department of the Treasury - Appropriates additional amounts for: (1) departmental offices; (2) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; and (3) General Services Administration (Independent Agencies). Chapter 8: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Appropriates additional amounts for: (1) community planning and development; and (2) Federal Emergency Management Agency (Independent Agencies). Chapter 9: General Provision - Appropriates additional amounts for: (1) Saint John's Lutheran Hospital, Libby, Montana; and (2) Libby, Montana. (Sec. 1902) Appropriates additional amounts for fisheries disaster relief for: (1) Pribilof Island and east Aleutian area of the Bering Sea; (2) affected families in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon; (3) Bering Sea ecosystem research; and (4) Alaskan crab fisheries. (Sec. 1903) Appropriates additional amounts for the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department related to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Organization Spring Conference, April 2000. Title II: Supplemental Appropriations and Offsets - Chapter 1 - Authorizes specified funds to be used for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (Department of Agriculture). (Sec. 2101) Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act make cities or towns with more than 50, 000 persons eligible for rural business and industry loan guarantees if the primary beneficiaries of a project are agricultural producers. (Sec. 2102) Directs the Natural Resources Conservation Service to provide financial and technical assistance to the: (1) Long Park Dam, Utah; (2) Kuhn Bayou Project, Arkansas; and (3) Snake River Project, Minnesota. Chapter 2 - Provides funds for the: (1) Radiation Exposure Trust Fund (Department of Justice); (2) Economic Development Administration, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce); and (3) Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States. Chapter 3 - Provides additional amounts for the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund. Chapter 4 - Provides additional amounts for the: (1) Employment and Training Administration, and Mine Safety and Health Administration (Department of Labor); (2) Administration for Children and Families, and Administration on Aging (Department of Health and Human Services); (3) Railroad retirement Board; and (4) Social Security Administration. Extends the availability of specified Department of Education higher education funds through September 30, 2000. Chapter 5 - Provides additional amounts for the Federal Aviation Administration. (Sec. 2501) Expands permitted fund use for the Salt Lake City, Utah, regional commuter system project. (Sec. 2502) Directs the Coast Guard to transfer specified funds to Unalaska, Alaska, for municipal pier construction and harbor improvements. (Sec. 2503) Makes specified funds available for testing the potential for ultra- wideband signals to interfere with global positioning system receivers by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. (Sec. 2504) Appropriates funds to the Federal Highway Administration for transfer to the Utah Department of Transportation. Directs the Utah Department of Transportation to make specified State funds available for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Chapter 6 - Makes funds available to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for: (1) homeless assistance grants; (2) FHA- General and Special Risk Program Account; and (3) Office of the Inspector General. Provides additional amounts for: (1) National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and (20 National Science Foundation. (Sec. 2601) Amends Federal law with respect to enhanced vouchers. (Sec. 2604) Makes technical revisions with respect to specified grants to Alaska and South Dakota. (Sec. 2608) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to exempt State housing finance agencies that administer public or section 8 housing programs from the requirement to appoint a resident of such housing to the board of directors. Requires appointment of resident advisory committees. Chapter 7 - Cancels specified amounts transferred to the Department of Agriculture's Office of the Chief Information Officer for information technology system conversion. Rescinds specified amounts made available to the Department of Justice for: (1) general administration; (2) United States Parole Commission; (3) legal activities; (4) Federal Bureau of Investigation (information sharing initiative); (5) Immigration and Naturalization Service; and (6) Office of Justice programs. Rescinds specified amounts from the: (1) Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (advanced technology program); and (2) Small Business Administration (new markets venture capital program). Cancels specified amounts transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services for information technology systems and computer conversions. Rescinds specified amounts from: (1) Executive Office of the President for Federal drug control programs; and (2) Department of Housing and Urban Development for the housing certificate fund. (Sec. 2701) Rescinds specified nondefense, general purpose amounts for information technology. Chapter 8 - Extends the patent term held for an elemental biologic (as defined by this Act). (Sec. 2802) Amends Federal law to designate Ketchikan, Alaska, as the new home port of the vessel RAINIER. (Sec. 2804) Directs the Department of Justice to transfer back to any Federal department or agency tobacco litigation funds. (Sec. 2807) Makes additional amounts available for the purchase of two Sabreliner-class aircraft for Department of Justice prisoner and alien transportation. (Sec. 2808) Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State , the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 to: (1) obligate funds for reimbursement of Seattle and other Washington State jurisdictions for security costs in connection with the Third World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference; and (2) make additional amounts available for a new site for the National Domestic Preparedness Office and related "Blueprint" implementation. (Sec. 2809) Provides for the transfer of specified funds to the Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth in Sentencing Incentive Grants program for construction of the Hoonah Spirit Camp. (Sec. 2811) Obligates specified Department of Commerce amounts for the Commission on Online Child Protection. Title III: General Provisions - Prohibits fund use to reallocate Cental Arizona Project water until Congress directs the Secretary of the Interior to allocate funds and enter into contracts for delivery of such water. (Sec. 3104) Prohibits fund use related to closure or post-closure of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, New Mexico. (Sec. 3105) Limits certain fund use by the Secretary of the Interior to specified matters of the National Research Council's Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands report. (Sec. 3106) Prohibits FY 2000 fund use by the Federal Communications Commission for certain spectrum competitive bidding procedures. (Sec. 3107) Provides interim compensation for certain closed Alaskan fisheries. (Sec. 3108) Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and the Army to jointly designate land for the jetty and sand transfer system for the Oregon Inlet on the North Carolina coast. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer administrative jurisdiction over such land to the Secretary of the Army. (Sec. 3109) Authorizes the Indian Health Service to improve municipal, tribal, or private lands for construction of a clinic in King Cove, Alaska. (Sec. 3110) Amends federal law to repeal a provision respecting Federal salary payment due dates. Title IV: Food and Medicine for the World Act - Food and Medicine for the World Act - Prohibits the President from imposing a unilateral agricultural sanction or unilateral medical sanction against a foreign country, except for specified circumstances, unless: (1) not less than 60 days before the sanction is proposed to be imposed, the President makes a specified report to Congress; and (2) Congress enacts a joint resolution approving the report. Sets forth license and sanction provisions for countries supporting international terrorism.
Bill· SS. 2540 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2000
Domestic Carbon Storage Incentive Act of 2000 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, to establish a carbon sequestration program to permit owners and operators of eligible land (excluding conservation reserve land) to enroll in minimum ten-year contracts. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory panel, which shall develop: (1) criteria for evaluating carbon sequestration practices; and (2) estimates of carbon sequestration rates. Directs the Secretary, through the Extension Service, to conduct educational outreach programs respecting agricultural practices that will increase sequestration of carbon. Sets forth contract provisions, including cost-sharing and rental payments by the Secretary to participating owners and operators. States that the program shall be funded from Commodity Credit Corporation funds, and at the option of other agencies, from funds available for climate change initiatives or greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Bill· HRH.R. 4415 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2000
Sets forth certain requirements respecting the enclosure space and diet in the raising of calves for veal. Subjects violators to specified civil and criminal penalties. Authorizes inspections by the Secretary of Agriculture.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 500 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2000
Extends support to the majority of the citizens of the Republic of Zimbabwe who are committed to peace, economic prosperity, and an open, transparent parliamentary election process. Urges the Government of Zimbabwe to enforce the rule of law and fulfill its responsibility to protect the political and civil rights of all citizens. Expresses support for international efforts to assist with land reform which are consistent with accepted principles of international law and which take place after the holding of free and fair parliamentary elections. Condemns government-directed violence against farm workers, farmers, and opposition party members. Encourages the local media, civil society, and all political parties to work together toward a campaign environment conducive to free, transparent and fair elections within the legally prescribed period. Recommends international support for voter education, domestic election monitoring, and violence monitoring activities. Urges the United States to continue to monitor violence and condemn brutality against law abiding citizens. Congratulates all the democratic reform activists in Zimbabwe for their resolve to bring about political change peacefully, even in the face of violence and intimidation. Recommends that the United States send a bipartisan delegation under the auspices of the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs to observe such election process in Zimbabwe. Expresses desire for a lasting, warm, and mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and a democratic, peaceful Zimbabwe.
Bill· SS. 2522 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2000
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2001 - Title I: Export and Investment Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2001 for: (1) direct loans, loan guarantees, tied-aid grants, insurance, and administrative expenses under Export-Import Bank programs; (2) Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) direct and guaranteed loans and credit and insurance programs, including administrative expenses; and (3) the Trade and Development Agency. Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2001 for: (1) expenses of the President in carrying out certain programs under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (2) the Agency for International Development (AID) for specified development assistance (allowing availability of limited amounts for the African Development Foundation, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), agriculture and rural development programs (including plant biotechnology research and development), the University of Missouri International Laboratory for Tropical Agriculture Biotechnology, research and training of foreign scientists at the University of California, Davis, California, the Center to Promote Biotechnology in International Agriculture at Tuskegee University, Alabama, the International Fertilizer Development Center, the United States Telecommunications Training Institute, the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad program, an international media training center, and Carelift International); (3) global health and related activities, including the prevention, treatment, and control of, and research on, infectious diseases (like HIV-AIDS) in developing countries; (4) specified projects aimed at reunification of Cyprus; (5) specified assistance for Lebanon for scholarships and direct support of the American educational institutions there; (6) food, medicine, and other humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people; (7) democracy and humanitarian activities in Burma; (8) specified assistance for the preservation of habitats and related activities for endangered wildlife; (9) international disaster assistance; (10) administrative expenses to carry out direct and guaranteed loan programs under the development credit authority program account; (11) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (12) operating expenses of AID and the AID Office of Inspector General; (13) Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance (earmarking amounts for Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and East Timor); (14) ESF assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States (earmarking amounts for Montenegro, Croatia, Kosova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, subject to specified conditions); (15) assistance for the Independent States of the former Soviet Union (earmarking amounts for Russia, the Russian Far East, Georgia, Armenia, and Mongolia, subject to specified conditions); (16) the Peace Corps (but with a prohibition on the use of such funds for abortions); (17) international narcotics control and law enforcement; (18) migration and refugee assistance; (19) the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund; (20) nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining, and related programs and activities (including U.S. contributions to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), subject to a specified condition, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Preparatory Commission, the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), subject to specified conditions, and the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund); (21) international affairs technical assistance activities of the Department of the Treasury; and (22) debt restructuring of concessional loans, guarantees, and credits made to least developed countries. Bars the use of development assistance funds for: (1) coercive abortions or involuntary sterilizations (but allowing them for voluntary family planning projects in developing nations that meet specified requirements); and (2) U.S. private and voluntary organizations which obtain less than 20 percent of annual funding from sources other than the U.S. Government. Prohibits the availability of certain funds to the Government of the Russian Federation until the Secretary of State certifies that it is: (1) fully cooperating with international efforts to investigate allegations of war crimes and atrocities in Chechnya; and (2) providing full access to international non-government organizations providing humanitarian relief to refugees and internally displaced persons there. Withholds 50 percent of funds appropriated to the Government of the Russian Federation until the President certifies to the Committees on Appropriations that it has terminated arrangements to provide Iran with technology to develop a nuclear program. Title III: Military Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2001 for: (1) expanded international military education and training (IMET) to Indonesia and Guatemala (subject to a specified condition); (2) foreign military financing grants (earmarking amounts for Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, and Georgia (including drawdowns of defense articles and services)); and (3) international peacekeeping operations (subject to certain conditions). Grants U.S. consent to the transfer by Turkey to Georgia of defense articles sold by the United States to Turkey. Prohibits foreign military financing for Sudan, Liberia, and Guatemala. Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2001 for the U.S. contribution to: (1) the Global Environment Facility of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank); (2) the International Development Association; (3) the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency; (4) the Inter-American Investment Corporation; (5) the Asian Development Fund; (6) the African Development Bank; (7) the African Development Fund; and (8) the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Makes appropriations for FY 2001 for international programs and organizations. Sets certain restrictions on international organization funding, including prohibiting the use of funds made available to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) for activities in China. Prohibits the use of funds for the KEDO, the United Nations Fund for Science and Technology, or the IAEA. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth limits on the use of appropriations, including that no more than 15 percent of such appropriations shall be obligated during the last month of availability. (Sec. 502) Prohibits the use or transfer of funds for bilateral funding of international financial institutions. (Sec. 503) Sets forth limits on the use of appropriations, including no more than specified maximums for official residence expenses, entertainment expenses, and representation allowances for AID, and for entertainment and representation allowances for the Trade and Development Agency. Limits the use of funds for entertainment expenses of the Peace Corps, and of entertainment and representation allowances under the Foreign Military Financing Program. (Sec. 506) Prohibits the use of funds for: (1) the export of nuclear equipment, fuel, or technology (except for nuclear safety purposes); (2) direct assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, or Syria; (3) assistance to any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree; (4) certain transfers between appropriations accounts without prior presidential consultation with Congress; (5) assistance to any government in default in excess of a year on payments on a U.S. loan (except for any narcotics-related assistance for Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru); and (6) assistance (except in certain circumstances) for production of any commodity for export by a foreign country, if the commodity is likely to be in surplus on world markets when the resulting productive capacity is expected to become operative, and if the assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar commodity. (Sec. 514) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified international financial institutions to oppose any assistance for the production or extraction of any commodity or mineral for export if it is in surplus on world markets and such assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar commodity. (Sec. 516) Declares that funds appropriated for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs, that are returned or not made available for international organizations and programs shall remain available for obligation until FY 2002. (Sec. 517) Prohibits the availability of assistance for the Independent States of the former Soviet Union to a Government of such an Independent State, unless such Government is making progress in implementing comprehensive economic reforms based on market principles, private ownership, respect for commercial contracts, and equitable treatment of foreign private investment. Prohibits the availability of assistance also: (1) if such a Government applies or transfers U.S. assistance to any entity for the purpose of expropriating or seizing ownership of assets, investments, or ventures (unless the President determines such assistance is in the national interest); (2) if such a Government directs action in violation of the territorial integrity or national sovereignty of any other Independent State of the former Soviet Union; or (3) to enhance its military capability (except for demilitarization, demining, or nonproliferation programs). (Sec. 518) Prohibits the use of development assistance funds for abortions or involuntary sterilizations as methods of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions, or provide any financial incentive to undergo sterilization. (Sec. 519) Limits to no more than five percent the amount of export financing funds (other than for administrative expenses) that can be transferred from one appropriation to another, with no appropriation being increased by more than 25 percent by such transfer. (Sec. 520) Prohibits the use of funds for Colombia, Haiti, Liberia, Pakistan, Panama, Serbia, Sudan, or the Democratic Republic of Congo, except through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 522) Makes funds available to AID for health, family planning, child survival, environment, basic education, infectious disease activities, and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) research and control in developing countries. (Sec. 523) Bars funding for indirect assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, Iran, Syria, North Korea, or China unless the President certifies that the withholding of such funds is contrary to the U.S. national security interest. (Sec. 524) Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to notify the Committees on Appropriations before providing excess DOD articles to certain NATO and major non-NATO countries. (Sec. 526) Authorizes the availability of ESF funds to provide general support and grants for nongovernmental organizations located outside of China that have as their primary purpose fostering democracy in that country. (Sec. 527) Prohibits bilateral assistance funds to any country which the President determines grants sanctuary from prosecution to any individual or group which has committed an act of international terrorism or otherwise supports such activities. Authorizes a waiver of this prohibition by the President for national security and humanitarian reasons, requiring notification to the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 528) Authorizes the commercial leasing of defense articles (instead of government-to-government sale) to Israel, Egypt, NATO, and major non-NATO allies if the President determines that there are compelling foreign policy or national security reasons. (Sec. 529) Requires all AID contracts and subcontracts to include a clause requiring that U.S. insurance companies have a fair opportunity to bid for insurance when insurance is necessary or appropriate. (Sec. 530) Prohibits U.S. sale of Stinger missiles in the Persian Gulf region, with certain exceptions. (Sec. 531) Authorizes nongovernmental organizations which are AID grantees or contractors to place funds made available to them under this Act in interest bearing accounts in order to enhance their participation in economic activities under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, including endowments and debt-for-development and debt-for-nature exchanges. (Sec. 532) Directs the Administrator of AID to require foreign countries that receive foreign assistance which results in the generation of local currencies to deposit such currencies in a separate account to be used to finance foreign assistance activities. (Sec. 533) Prohibits payments to any international financial institution while the U.S. Executive Director to the institution is compensated at a rate in excess of that for Level IV of the Executive Schedule. (Sec. 534) Bars assistance to any country that is not in compliance with the United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iraq, unless the President certifies to the Congress that such assistance: (1) is in the U.S. national interest; (2) will directly benefit the needy people in that country; or (3) will be humanitarian assistance for foreign nationals who have fled Iraq and Kuwait. (Sec. 535) Declares that provisions under this or any other Act authorizing appropriations for foreign operations or export financing shall not be construed to prohibit activities authorized by the Peace Corps Act or the African Development Foundation Act. Requires an agency to report to the Committees on Appropriations whenever it is conducting or proposing activities in a country for which such assistance is prohibited. Declares that limits on the availability of funds for international organizations and programs shall not be construed as applying to the International Fund for Agricultural Development. (Sec. 536) Prohibits the use of funds to provide: (1) any financial incentive to a business for purposes of inducing it to relocate outside the United States if it will reduce the number of employees in the United States; (2) assistance for establishing or developing in a foreign country an export processing zone or other designated area in which a country's tax, tariff, labor, environment, and safety laws do not apply to activities in the area, unless the President certifies that such assistance is not likely to cause a loss of U.S. jobs; or (3) assistance for any project that contributes to the violation of internationally recognized workers rights in the recipient country. (Sec. 537) Prohibits the availability of funds under this Act for the Republic of Serbia (except for Kosova or Montenegro or for assistance to promote democratization). (Sec. 538) Declares that funds appropriated under this Act for Afghanistan, Lebanon, Montenegro, and for victims of war, displaced children, displaced Burmese, humanitarian assistance for Romania, and humanitarian assistance for the peoples of Kosova may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law. Prohibits the use of funds made available to Cambodia for military or paramilitary purposes. Authorizes the use of foreign assistance funds to support tropical forestry and biodiversity conservation programs, and (subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations) energy programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Authorizes AID to employ personal services contractors to administer programs for the West Bank and Gaza. Authorizes the President to waive certain prohibitions with respect to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) if the President determines and certifies to Congress that it is in the national interest. (Sec. 539) Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to: (1) immediate public renunciation by Arab League countries of the boycott of Israel (reinstated in 1997) and of American firms having commercial ties with Israel; and (2) steps the President should take to encourage such renunciation. (Sec. 540) Authorizes the use of ESF funds to strengthen the administration of justice in countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and in other regions. Repeals certain provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 that earmark foreign assistance funds for strengthening the administration of justice in such countries. (Sec. 541) Declares that restrictions on assistance to foreign countries contained in this Act or any other Act (except those relating to international terrorism or human rights violations) shall not be construed to restrict assistance: (1) in support of certain programs of nongovernmental organizations; or (2) under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (Public Law 480). (Sec. 542) Authorizes the reprogramming of earmarked appropriations for other programs within the same account, provided certain requirements are met. (Sec. 544) Prohibits the use of funds for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States that were not authorized before the enactment of this Act. Makes specified funds available to private and voluntary organizations to deal with world hunger problems abroad. (Sec. 545) Declares that assistance under this Act should make full use of American resources, including commodities, products, and services, to the maximum extent possible. Declares the sense of Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all agricultural commodities, equipment, and products purchased with funds made available in this Act should be American-made. Requires Federal agency heads, in providing financial assistance to or entering into any contract with any entity using funds made available in this Act, to notify such entity of this intention. (Sec. 548) Prohibits the use of funds to pay any assessments, arrearages, or dues of any U.N. member (including costs for attendance of another country's delegation at international conferences). (Sec. 548) Prohibits the provision of funds to a private voluntary organization that fails to provide any document, file, or record necessary to the auditing requirements of AID. (Sec. 549) Prohibits the provision of funds to any foreign government that provides lethal military equipment to a country that the Secretary of State has determined has a terrorist government, unless the President determines that the furnishing of such assistance is in the U.S. national interest. (Sec. 550) Withholds assistance to a foreign country in an amount equal to 110 percent of the total unpaid parking fines and penalties owed by the country to the District of Columbia. (Sec. 551) Prohibits the obligation of any appropriations for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the West Bank and Gaza unless the President has exercised certain authorities to suspend prohibitions on assistance to the PLO. (Sec. 552) Permits the President to provide up to a specified amount of commodities and services to the UN War Crimes Tribunal if doing so will contribute to a just resolution of charges regarding genocide or other violations of international law in the former Yugoslavia. (Sec. 553) Authorizes disposal on a grant basis in foreign countries of demining equipment used in support of the clearance of land mines and unexploded ordnance for humanitarian purposes. (Sec. 554) Prohibits the obligation of appropriations to create in Jerusalem a new U.S. agency office for the purpose of conducting U.S. business with the Palestinian Authority over Gaza and Jericho (or any successor Palestinian governing entity) provided for in the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles. (Sec. 555) Prohibits the obligation of certain funds appropriated for Informational Program activities to pay for: (1) alcoholic beverages; (2) food (other than food provided at a military installation) not provided in conjunction with Informational Program trips where students do not stay at a military installation; or (3) entertainment expenses for recreational activities. (Sec. 556) Declares that direct costs associated with a foreign customer's additional or unique requirements with respect to the sale of defense articles shall continue to be an allowable cost under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 557) Authorizes the President to reduce amounts owed to the United States by eligible countries as a result of: (1) housing guarantees made pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (2) credits extended or guarantees issued under the Arms Export Control Act; or (3) any obligation to pay for purchases of U.S. agricultural commodities guaranteed by the Commodity Credit Corporation. Permits exercise of such authority only: (1) to implement multilateral official debt relief and referendum agreements known as the Paris Club Agreed Minutes; and (2) with respect to countries with heavy debt burdens that are eligible to borrow from the International Development Association (but not from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) (IDA-only countries). Prescribes additional conditions for the exercise of such authority. Declares that a reduction of debt shall not be considered assistance for purposes of any provision limiting assistance to a country. (Sec. 558) Authorizes the President to engage in certain debt buybacks or sales. Authorizes sale, reduction, or cancellation of certain loans to foreign governments, upon receipt of payment from an eligible purchaser that plans to use such loans only for the purposes of engaging in debt-for-equity swaps, debt-for-development swaps, or debt-for-nature swaps. Limits such authority to funds appropriated by this Act under the heading of debt restructuring. (Sec. 559) Bars the use of funds made available by this Act for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs from being made available to the Government of Haiti until the Secretary of State reports to the Committees on Appropriations that it has held free and fair elections to seat a new parliament. (Sec. 560) Requires a specified annual report of the Secretary of State containing the voting record of each foreign member country of the UN to include a side-by-side comparison of each country's overall support for the United States at the UN and the amount of U.S. assistance provided to it in FY 1999. (Sec. 561) Prohibits the United States from paying any voluntary contribution to the UN, including the UN Development Program, unless the President certifies to Congress 15 days in advance of such payment that the UN is not engaged in any effort to implement or impose any taxation on U.S. persons in order to raise revenue for itself or any of its specialized agencies. (Sec. 562) Makes the Government of Haiti eligible to purchase U.S. defense articles and services for the civilian-led Haitian National Police and Coast Guard. (Sec. 563) Prohibits the obligation of any appropriations for the PLO unless the President certifies to Congress that it is in the U.S. national security interests. (Sec. 564) Prohibits the use of funds for the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State believes they have committed gross violations of human rights, unless the Secretary reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such country is taking steps to bring the responsible persons to justice. (Sec. 565) Provides for bilateral and multilateral assistance sanctions (with humanitarian, democratization, and certain infrastructure project exceptions) against countries harboring war criminals indicted with respect to the former Yugoslavia. Prohibits the provision of bilateral assistance for programs in which publicly indicted war criminals are known to have any financial interest or communities that are not in compliance with specified sections of the Dayton Agreement relating to war crimes and the Tribunal. Requires the Secretary of State to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the location, if known, of publicly indicted war criminals, on country, entity, and municipality authorities known to have obstructed the work of the Tribunal, and on sanctioned countries, entities, and municipalities. (Sec. 566) Prohibits the use of funds for the Government of Russian Federation unless the President certifies to specified congressional committees that the Federation has not enacted laws or promulgated executive orders that discriminate against religious minorities in violation of international agreements on human rights and religious freedoms to which it is a party. (Sec. 567) Subjects the availability of funds in this Act to support programs or activities promoting country participation in the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 568) Prohibits funds appropriated under this Act from being provided to the Central Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Sec. 569) Requires the President to submit to specified congressional committees a plan for the distribution of the assets of an Enterprise Fund before any distribution resulting from liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Fund. (Sec. 570) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive directors of international financial institutions to oppose loans to Cambodia (except loans to support basic human needs). Prohibits the availability of funds under this Act for assistance for the Central Government of Cambodia. (Sec. 571) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1993, with respect to a certain human rights report, to repeal the requirement that countries receiving U.S. foreign assistance report on their military expenditures and efforts to reduce them. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the Committees on Appropriations on how provisions of such Act are being implemented requiring the U.S. director of each international financial institution to: (1) oppose any loan to a country that does not have in place a civilian audit system that reviews the receipts and expenditures with respect to its armed forces and security forces; and (2) request their institution to prepare an annual report which identifies its lending practices with respect to each major borrowing country. (Sec. 572) Earmarks specified funds for KEDO for administrative expenses and heavy fuel oil costs associated with the Agreed Framework (Joint Declaration on Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula). Earmarks other amounts to KEDO if the President certifies to Congress that North Korea is complying with the provisions of the Agreed Framework. (Sec. 573) Authorizes investment of funds made available to grantees of the African Development Foundation pending expenditure for project purposes when authorized by the President of the Foundation. (Sec. 574) Bars the use of funds appropriated under this Act to provide equipment, technical support, consulting services, or any other assistance to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation. (Sec. 575) Authorizes voluntary separation incentive payments to AID employees to eliminate AID positions and functions contained in a mandatory strategic plan outlining such payments. (Sec. 576) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated under this Act to propose or issue rules, regulations, decrees, or orders for implementation, or in preparation for implementation, of the Kyoto Protocol to the United States Framework Convention on Climate Change, which has not been submitted to the Senate for advice and consent to ratification pursuant to the U.S. Constitution, and which has not entered into force. (Sec. 577) Makes funds available for FY 2001 for defense article stockpiles in foreign countries, including the Republic of Korea. (Sec. 578) Authorizes the President to abolish the Inter-American Foundation. Transfers all functions of the Foundation to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who also shall be responsible for its administration and the wind-up of any outstanding affairs of the Foundation. (Sec. 579) Directs the Secretary of State, 30 days prior to the initial obligation of ESF funds for the bilateral West Bank and Gaza program, to certify to the appropriate congressional committees that procedures have been established to assure the Comptroller General will have access to appropriate U.S. financial information in order to review the uses of such funds for the Program. (Sec. 580) Makes IMET and foreign military financing program funds available to the Government of Indonesia if the President determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the Indonesian government and the Indonesian armed forces are taking specified actions to: (1) bring to justice, and cooperate with investigations and prosecutions of, members of the armed forces and militia groups with respect to human rights violations in Indonesia and East Timor; (2) allow safe passage for refugees returning home to East Timor from West Timor; and (3) not impede the activities of the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor. (Sec. 581) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to establish a working capital fund for AID expenses of personal and nonpersonal services, equipment and supplies. (Sec. 582) Declares that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) (except Montenegro or Kosova) shall be deemed a state sponsor of terrorism for purposes of granting U.S. courts jurisdiction to award money damages for personal injury caused to or death of a U.S. national by an act of terrorism by an official, employee, or agent of FRY. (Sec. 583) Requires the Secretary of State to consult with the appropriate congressional committees and leadership of Congress to devise a mechanism to provide for congressional input before making any determination on the nature or quantity of defense articles and services to be made available to Taiwan. (Sec. 584) Imposes certain economic and political sanctions against Serbia unless the President certifies to specified congressional committees that Serbia has met specified requirements with respect to succession issues following the dissolution of Yugoslavia, cooperation with war crimes investigations and prosecutions, democratic reforms, and the future of Kosova. Exempts the governments of Montenegro and Kosova from such sanctions. (Sec. 585) Urges the export of U.S. clean coal technology, especially its promotion for use in environmental and energy infrastructure programs, projects, and activities. (Sec. 586) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2000 to repeal the requirement that a specified amount of foreign military financing funds to Israel be disbursed within 30 days of enactment of such Act. (Sec. 587) Repeals a specified provision under the International Financial Institutions Act requiring a certain annual report on the financial operations of the IMF. (Sec. 588) Extends the authorities of the General Accounting Office (GAO) until all available funds appropriated under the 1999 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act are expended. (Sec. 590) Declares, for purposes of eligibility for U.S. foreign assistance, that foreign nongovernmental organizations and multilateral organizations shall not be: (1) subject to requirements related to the use of non-U.S. Government funds for advocacy and lobbying activities more restrictive than those that apply to U.S. nongovernmental organizations receiving such assistance; and (2) ineligible for such assistance solely on the basis of health or medical services provided by such organizations with non-U.S. Government funds if such services do not violate U.S. laws or the country's laws. Title VI: Plan Colombia - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 (sic) for expenses of the President and the Department of State to support Central and South America and Caribbean counternarcotics activities (earmarking amounts for Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and other countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean which are cooperating with the U.S. counternarcotics objectives), procurement, refurbishing, and support for UH-1H Huey II helicopters, and administration of demobilizing and rehabilitating activities for child soldiers in Colombia. Requires the Secretary of State to report to the Committees on Appropriations on the proposed uses of such assistance on a country-by-country basis. (Sec. 6101) Makes such counternarcotics assistance available to Colombia for FY 2000 and 2001 only if the Secretary of State certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that: (1) the President of Colombia has directed that Colombian Armed Forces personnel who have committed gross violations of human rights will be brought to justice in Colombia's civilian courts; (2) the Commander of such forces is promptly suspending from duty any Colombian Armed Forces personnel who have committed such violations or who have aided or abetted paramilitary groups; and (3) that the Colombian Armed Forces and Colombian Government are cooperating with civilian authorities in investigating, prosecuting, and punishing such violators. (Sec. 6102) Directs the President to report to specified congressional committees on the current U.S. policy and strategy regarding U.S. counternarcotics assistance for Colombia and neighboring countries. (Sec. 6103) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Government of Colombia should develop and apply ecologically sound methods for eradicating illicit crops which in turn could reduce loss of life there and in the United States; (2) the effectiveness of U.S. counternarcotics assistance to Colombia depends on their law enforcement officials' having unimpeded access to all of its national territory for purposes of carrying out the interdiction of illegal narcotics and the eradication of illicit crops; and (3) the governments of countries receiving assistance under this title should take steps to prevent the creation of safe havens for narcotics traffickers by ensuring their prompt arrest, prosecution, and sentencing, and if requested, extradition to the United States. (Sec. 6104) Directs the Secretary of State, during the period of the Plan Colombia, to report to specified congressional committees on the extradition of narcotics traffickers. (Sec. 6105) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated under this title for the support of the aerial spraying of any herbicide unless specified conditions are met. (Sec. 6106) Bars the use of appropriated funds under any Act, with specified exceptions, for support of Plan Colombia until: (1) the President reports to Congress requesting the availability of such funds; and (2) Congress enacts a joint resolution approving the request. Bars the use of appropriated funds under this or any other Act, with specified exceptions, for the assignment in Colombia of U.S. military personnel that would cause the number of such personnel to exceed 250, or the employment of any U.S. civilians as contractors in support of Plan Colombia that would cause their number to exceed 100. Authorizes the President to waive such limitations. Makes additional funds available to the President and AID for international disaster assistance for Mozambique and Southern Africa. Declares that the value of defense articles and services and IMET to Southern Africa shall not be counted against the ceiling limitation in any fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 to the Department of Defense as reimbursement for such drawdowns for southern Africa. Makes additional funds available for salaries and expenses of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Rescinds a specified amount of unobligated funds earmarked for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.
Bill· SS. 2503 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2000
Renewable Fuels Act of 2000 - Amends provisions of the Clean Air Act regarding motor vehicle emission and fuel standards to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control or prohibit the introduction into commerce, manufacture, or sale of fuels or fuel additives if such a fuel or additive or its emission product causes or contributes to air, water, or soil pollution that may be anticipated to endanger the public health or welfare or the environment (currently, if any emission product causes or contributes to air pollution that may be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare). Prohibits States or political subdivisions, except as otherwise provided, from prescribing or enforcing any control or prohibition on methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a fuel additive in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine for purposes of motor vehicle emission control or water or soil quality protection. Adds water or soil quality protection to the list of purposes for which States may prescribe or enforce controls or prohibitions on fuel or fuel additives in certain circumstances. Requires States seeking to prescribe or enforce such controls or prohibitions for water or soil quality protection (in cases where the State implementation plan for attainment of national ambient air quality standards so provides) to petition the Administrator for authority to take such action. Sets forth criteria for granting such petitions, including that the authority is necessary to protect the environment or public health or welfare or is not likely to have an adverse effect on fuel availability or price that outweighs any benefits associated with the control or prohibition. Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations applicable to gasoline refiners, blenders, or importers to ensure that gasoline sold or introduced into commerce in an area after January 1, 2004, has an MTBE content at a level that: (1) may not be reasonably anticipated to endanger natural resources and the public health; and (2) does not exceed the annual average volume of MTBE per gallon of gasoline used in the area before 1995. (Sec. 3) Authorizes the Administrator to adjust the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) performance standard with respect to the use of reformulated gasoline in specified nonattainment areas in the case of a fuel formulation that achieves reductions in the quantity of mass emissions of carbon monoxide that are greater than or less than the reductions associated with such a gasoline that contains 2.0 percent oxygen by weight and meets other applicable requirements. Bases the adjustment amount on the effect on ozone concentrations of the combined reductions in VOC and carbon monoxide emissions. Permits the Administrator to waive the oxygen content requirement for reformulated gasoline for any ozone nonattainment area if a State Governor submits an application that: (1) demonstrates that the State is in full compliance with Federal regulations concerning the control and prevention of leaking underground storage tanks (USTs); or (2) provides a plan that outlines the measures the State will take to fully comply with the UST regulations by no later than two years after such application is received. Limits the aromatic hydrocarbon content of reformulated gasoline to 22 (currently, 25) percent by volume. Requires the Administrator to revise performance standards regarding reformulated gasoline to ensure that: (1) the ozone-forming potential, taking into account all ozone precursors, of the aggregate emissions during the high ozone season from baseline vehicles when using reformulated gasoline does not exceed such potential of the emissions from such vehicles when using reformulated gasoline that complies with regulations that were in effect on January 1, 2000, and applicable to such gasoline sold in 2000 and subsequent calendar years; and (2) the aggregate emissions of specified pollutants, including toxics, from such vehicles when using such gasoline do not exceed such emissions from such vehicles when using reformulated gasoline that complies with the regulations described in (1). (Sec. 4) Requires the Administrator, upon the application of a State Governor, to apply prohibitions on the sale of conventional gasoline in covered areas (areas requiring the use of reformulated gasoline), to any nonclassified areas (opt- in areas). (Sec. 5) Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations for gasoline renewable source (including biomass ethanol) content requirements applicable to refiners, blenders, or importers. Increases such requirement annually to require a content of 1.3 percent in 2000 and 3.3 percent by 2010 and thereafter. Provides for credits for persons who refine, blend, or import gasoline that contains a quantity of fuel derived from such sources or a quantity of biomass ethanol that exceeds applicable requirements. Authorizes the use or transfer of such credits for compliance purposes. Permits the Administrator to waive renewable source content requirements on petition by a State and upon determining that: (1) implementation of the requirements would severely harm the U.S. or a State or regional economy or environment; or (2) there is an inadequate domestic supply or distribution capacity to meet such requirements. Terminates waivers after one year but authorizes renewals. Permits renewable source content regulations to provide exemptions for small refiners. Directs the Administrator to report to Congress on reductions in emissions of criteria air pollutants listed under the Act and greenhouse gases that result from implementation of renewable source content requirements. Requires the Administrator to promulgate renewable source content regulations applicable to diesel fuel. Amends Federal highway provisions to provide that for purposes of determining the estimated tax payments attributable to highway users paid into the Highway Trust Fund, the amount paid into the Fund with respect to the sale or gasohol or other fuels containing alcohol by reason of taxes imposed on special fuels or gasoline shall be treated as equal to the amount that would have been imposed without regard to the reduction in revenues resulting from renewable source content regulations under the Clean Air Act and specified Internal Revenue Code provisions concerning alcohol fuels. (Sec. 6) Changes references to calendar year 1990 to 1999 in reformulated gasoline provisions concerning anti-dumping. Updates the baseline from 1990 to 1999 for purposes of such provisions. (Sec. 7) Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require the EPA Administrator to distribute to States at least 85 percent of the funds appropriated to EPA from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund for paying reasonable costs incurred under cooperative agreements with States of: (1) certain corrective actions and compensation programs; (2) administrative expenses directly related to such programs; or (3) enforcement of State or local requirements regulating USTs. Directs the Administrator to: (1) implement a strategy to take corrective action in response to releases from leaking USTs located within the exterior boundaries of an Indian reservation or another area within tribal jurisdiction; and (2) enforce requirements regulating such USTs. Requires the Administrator to conduct studies to: (1) determine the corrosive effects of MTBE and other widely used fuels and fuel additives on USTs; and (2) assess the potential public health and environmental risks associated with the use of aboveground storage tanks and the effectiveness of State and Federal regulations or voluntary standards to provide adequate public health and environmental protection. (Sec. 8) Authorizes the Administrator to enter into cooperative agreements with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Department of Agriculture, States, local governments, private landowners, and other interested parties to establish voluntary pilot projects to protect the water quality of private wells and provide technical assistance to users of water from such wells.
Bill· HRH.R. 4377 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2000
Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 2000 - Requires: (1) Governors of each State receiving monies from the Conservation and Reinvestment Act Fund (established under this Act) to report on June 15 of each year to the Secretaries of the Interior or of Agriculture, as appropriate, accounting for the money received for the previous fiscal year, including the funded projects and activities; and (2) the Secretary of the Interior to report annually to Congress on monies the Departments of the Interior and of Agriculture have spent out of the Fund, including a summary of such Governors' reports. (Sec. 5) Establishes the Conservation and Reinvestment Act Fund (CRAF). Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit into CRAF certain Outer Continental Shelf revenues, undisbursed amounts under title I of this Act, and certain interest earned on CRAF investments. Transfers all amounts deposited into the CRAF as follows: (1) to the Secretary of the Interior for payment of $1 billion to States for impact assistance and coastal conservation, $125 million for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978, $100 million for the National Historic Preservation Act, and $50 million to develop and implement Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Agreements; (2) to the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture for payment of $200 million for Federal and Indian land restoration; (3) to the Secretary of Agriculture $100 million to carry out the farmland protection program under the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, and the Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program and the Forest Legacy Program established under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978; (4) to the Land and Water Conservation Fund in the amount of $900 million; and (5) to the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund (FAWRF) established under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act in the amount of $350 million. Provides that any shortfalls less than $2.825 billion in a fiscal year, after FY 2000, proportionally reduce such sums for that fiscal year. (Sec. 6) Limits the amount available for administrative expenses to two percent. Provides that nothing in this Act shall affect the prohibition contained in the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (as amended by this Act) that bars the use of funds transferred to the FAWRF by this Act for administrative or execution of program expenses. (Sec. 8) States that it is the intent of Congress that States not use this Act as an opportunity to reduce State or local resources for the programs funded by this Act. Prohibits a State or local government from receiving funds under this Act during any fiscal year: (1) when its expenditures of non-Federal funds for recurrent expenditures for programs for which such funding is provided will be less than its expenditures were for such programs during the preceding fiscal year; or (2) for a program unless the Secretary of the Interior is satisfied that such a grant will be used to supplement and, to the extent practicable, increase the level of State, local, or other non-Federal funds available for such program. Exempts a State or local government from such prohibition if the Secretary determines that a reduction in expenditures is: (1) attributable to a non-selective reduction in the expenditures in the programs of all executive branch agencies of such entity; or (2) a result of reductions in State or local revenue as a result of a downturn in the economy. Treats all funds received by a State or local government under this Act as Federal funds for purposes of compliance with provisions in effect under other law requiring that non-Federal funds be used to provide a portion of the funding for any program or project. (Sec. 10) Prohibits: (1) the taking of private property in whole or in part, without just compensation; and (2) Federal agencies, using funds appropriated by this Act, from applying any regulation on any lands until the lands or water or an interest therein is acquired, unless authorized to do so by another Act of Congress. (Sec. 11) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to design a standardized sign and, where appropriate, require its installation at sites receiving funds under this Act. Title I: Impact Assistance and Coastal Conservation - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to allocate such transferred CRAF payments to coastal States for impact assistance and coastal conservation only if such States have: (1) a Secretary-approved Coastal State Conservation and Impact Assistance Plan; (2) agreed to provide specified reports; and (3) certain necessary fiscal control and fund accounting procedures. (Sec. 101) Sets forth the formula for allocating such funds to coastal States and coastal political subdivisions. (Sec. 102) Requires the development and submission of a Coastal State Conservation and Impact Assistance Plan by each coastal State seeking to receive grants under this title (and in the case of a producing State, the Governor) to incorporate the plans of the coastal political subdivisions into the Statewide plan for transmittal to the Secretary of the Interior for approval or disapproval before the disbursement of CRAF funds. Specifies authorized uses of the CRAF funds. Title II: Land and Water Conservation Fund Revitalization - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to provide that all CRAF funds transferred to the Land and Water Conservation Fund shall be covered into the Fund. (Sec. 203) Makes $900 million available each fiscal year after FY 2001 for expenditure without further appropriation, to be allocated as follows: (1) 50 percent for Federal purposes; and (2) 50 percent for State grants. (Sec. 205) Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of the Federal portion of such funds for any land or water interest acquisition except those specified and approved by Congress in the appropriate appropriations Act. Prescribes: (1) a procedure for preparing and transmitting to Congress of a list of proposed Federal acquisitions; and (2) notification to specified officials of affected areas with respect to such proposed acquisitions. (Sec. 206) Revises the formula used to allocate amounts made available for State purposes from the Fund each fiscal year. Requires reapportionment of such funds to other States. Makes all federally recognized Indian tribes, or in the case of Alaska, Native Corporations eligible to receive shares of such apportionment in accordance with a competitive grant program established by the Secretary of the Interior. Requires each State, with an exception, to make available as grants to local governments at least 50 percent of its annual apportionment or an equivalent amount made available from other sources. (Sec. 207) Revises the requirement that a State have a comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan as a prerequisite to consideration by the Secretary of the Interior of financial assistance for acquisition or development projects. Allows each State to define its own priorities and criteria for selection of outdoor conservation and recreation acquisition and development projects eligible for grants under this Act if the priorities and criteria defined are consistent with the purposes of this Act, the State provides for public involvement in this process, and publishes an accurate and current State Action Agenda for Community Conservation and Recreation, within five years after enactment of this Act, indicating the needs it has identified and the priorities and criteria it has established. Allows an existing Comprehensive State Plan to remain in effect until the appropriate State adopts a State Action Agenda. (Sec. 209) Requires the Secretary to approve, subject to certain conditions, the conversion of property (other than for public outdoor recreation use) acquired or developed with assistance under the Act only if the State demonstrates no prudent or feasible alternative exists. Exempts from such requirement those properties that no longer meet the criteria within the State Plan or Agenda as an outdoor conservation and recreation facility due to changes in demographics, or that must be abandoned because of environmental contamination which endangers public health and safety. (Sec. 210) Provides that nothing in this title shall affect any State or Federal water law or an interstate compact governing water, alter any allocations of water rights, or create any new water rights. Title III: Wildlife Conservation and Restoration - Amends the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (FAWRA) to require CRAF funds transferred for FAWRA purposes to be deposited in a new subaccount in the FAWRF, to be made available without further appropriation, for apportionment in each fiscal year for State wildlife conservation and restoration programs. (Sec. 304) Sets forth requirements for: (1) apportionment of such subaccount funds; (2) applications for approval of, and development grants for, State wildlife conservation and restoration programs; and (3) coordination. Prohibits such funds from being used for expenses incurred in the administration and execution of programs. Limits to ten percent the use of such funds for wildlife-associated recreation. (Sec. 305) Allows the subaccount funds to be used for a wildlife conservation education program. Exempts education efforts, projects, or programs that promote or encourage opposition to the regulated taking of wildlife. (Sec. 306) Prohibits a State from receiving FAWRA matching funds if it diverts any funds from wildlife conservation purposes. Title IV: Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program Amendments - Amends the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 to make transferred CRAF funds available to the Secretary of the Interior, without further appropriation, to assist local governments in improving their park and recreation systems. Sets forth limits on the use of such funds. (Sec. 404) Provides for the development of new recreation areas and facilities (including the acquisition of lands for such development) under the urban park and recreation recovery program. (Sec. 406) Revises requirements for: (1) Federal assistance grant eligibility; (2) matching grants to local governments for rehabilitation, development, acquisition, and innovation purposes; (3) local park and recreation recovery action programs; (4) State action incentives; and (5) conversion of recreation property for any other purposes other than public recreation purposes. (Sec. 411) Repeals sunset provisions and congressional reporting requirements with respect to: (1) the impact of the urban park and recreation recovery program; and (2) the annual achievements of the innovation grant program. Title V: Historic Preservation Fund - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to provide that amounts transferred from the CRAF each fiscal year shall be deposited into the Historic Preservation Fund to be available without further appropriation to carry out the Act. (Sec. 501) Requires at least one half of the funds obligated or expended each fiscal year under this Act to be used for preservation projects on historic properties (giving priority to the preservation of endangered historic properties). (Sec. 502) Authorizes a State to provide financial assistance to the management entity for any national heritage area or national heritage corridor to support cooperative historic preservation planning and development. Title VI: Federal and Indian Lands Restoration - Makes CRAF funds transferred to the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture available to be used as a dedicated source of funding for a coordinated program on Federal and Indian lands to restore degraded lands, protect resources that are threatened with degradation, and protect public health and safety. Allocates: (1) 60 percent to the Secretary of the Interior for lands within the National Park System, National Wildlife Refuge System, and public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management; (2) 30 percent to the Secretary of Agriculture for lands within the National Forest System; and (3) ten percent to the Secretary of the Interior for competitive grants to qualified Indian tribes (giving priority to projects based upon the protection of significant resources, the severity of damages or threats to resources, and the protection of public health). (Sec. 603) Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) each establish priority lists for the use of funds (giving priority to projects based upon the protection of significant resources, the severity of damages or threats to resources, and the protection of public health or safety); and (2) jointly establish a coordinated program for tracking the progress of activities carried out with amounts made available by this title and determining the extent to which demonstrable results are being achieved. Title VII: Farmland Protection Program and Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery - Subtitle A: Farmland Protection Program - Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to revise requirements for the farmland protection program. Repeals the mandate that the Secretary purchase conservation easements or other interests in lands with prime, unique, or other productive soil subject to a pending offer from a State or local government. Authorizes the Secretary, instead, to provide matching grants, under specified conditions, to State or local governments, Indian tribes, or certain private organizations to provide the Federal share of up to 50 percent of the total cost of purchasing permanent conservation easements in such lands or conservation easements or other interests in such lands when they are subject to a pending offer from a State or local government. (Sec. 702) Provides that CRAF funds transferred to the Secretary under this Act in a fiscal year shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriations, to carry out the programs specified in section five of this Act. Subtitle B: Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery - Makes CRAF funds transferred from the CRAF for this title in a fiscal year available to the Secretary of the Interior without further appropriations, in that fiscal year, to provide financial assistance to persons for development and implementation of Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Agreements entered into under this title. Requires the Secretary to give priority to the development and implementation of Agreements that: (1) implement actions identified under recovery plans approved by the Secretary; (2) have the greatest potential for contributing to the recovery of an endangered or threatened species; and (3) require use of the assistance on land owned by a small landowner. (Sec. 713) Prohibits the Secretary from providing financial assistance for any action that is required by a permit or an incidental take statement issued under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 or that is otherwise required under Federal law. (Sec. 714) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into such Agreements and sets forth Agreement requirements, including: (1) requiring activities not otherwise mandated by law that contribute to species recovery; and (2) specifying species recovery goals. Requires the Secretary to review Agreements in compliance, periodically monitor the implementation of each Agreement, and disburse financial assistance to implement the Agreement.
Bill· HRH.R. 4378 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2000
Farmers for Africa Act of 2000 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Farmers for Africa Program to provide grants for exchange programs with African-American farmers and other agricultural specialists and (sub-Saharan) African farmers. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 4381 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to income averaging for farmers to take into account as negative taxable income, in the case of any prior taxable year, any excess of : (1) the deductions allowed for such taxable year reduced by the net operating loss for such year; over (2) the gross income for such year.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 316 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2000
Congratulates the Administration for providing up to 500,000 metric tons of food in Africa and a $7 million annual program for a Famine Early Warning System. Urges the Agency for International Development (AID) to provide emergency food assistance and farmer-to-farmer assistance under programs that fund technical assistance to improve food production and distribution and improve farming and marketing in eligible countries. Congratulates the Ethiopian Government for going on the open market to provide 100,000 metric tons of food to the southern region of Ethiopia from the food surplus region in the western part of the country. Encourages international humanitarian organizations to provide wheat to the needed regions and grain to the southern region of Ethiopia.. Calls on the President to work with the international community to provide funding for dams, irrigation systems, and wells to provide clean drinking water. Encourages increased water conservation, water quality enhancement, and more efficient use of water supplies to meet increased demands on water resources. Suggests that food aid be distributed in Ethiopia before the long rains which occur in the July - August period. Urges the Nile Basin countries to engage in cooperative efforts for achieving a just share of the Nile waters for irrigation and water resources. Expresses support for increased planning and initiatives by the Nile Basin Initiative secretariat to promote proper use of the River Nile and to alleviate poverty in the region.
Bill· SS. 2480 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2000
Imported Perishable Product Safety Improvement Act - Title I: Improvements to the Safety System for Imported Perishable Products - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a system to deny the importation of any perishable product if the Secretary makes and publishes: (1) a determination that such product has been associated with repeated outbreaks of disease or has been repeatedly determined to be adulterated, presents a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death, and is likely to cause disease or be adulterated again; or (2) an emergency determination that such product has been strongly associated with a single outbreak of disease that has caused such consequences or death. Prohibits the distribution of perishable products designated by the Secretary for examination until authorized by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to hold a perishable product in a secure storage facility until such a determination can be made. Requires the destruction of products adversely designated. Prohibits: (1) port shopping when a product has been refused admission; and (2) imports of perishable products by debarred persons. Authorizes the Secretary to require the owner of a refused product to clearly label such product as having been refused entry. Title II: Enforcement and Penalties for Importing Contaminated Perishable Products - Provides for the promulgation and enforcement of regulations governing, and the imposition of penalties against, the importing of contaminated perishable products. Authorizes the debarment of repeat offenders. Title III: Improvements to Public Health Infrastructure and Awareness - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to: (1) make grants or agreements with, and provide technical assistance to, eligible agencies to enhance their capacity to carry out activities relating to surveillance and prevention of pathogen-related disease borne in a perishable product; and (2) conduct related research, training, education, and public awareness activities.
Bill· SS. 2447 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Rural Telework Act of 2000 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Rural Utility Service, to establish a National Centers for Distance Working Program to provide grants to eligible organizations for the Federal share of establishing National Centers for Distance Working in rural areas. Directs a recipient Center to use grants for five-year projects to: (1) identify needed skills and provide training and employment-related services to persons in rural areas and Indian tribes to support the use of teleworking (the use of telecommunications to perform work functions over a distance) in technology fields; and (2) recruit employers and provide for high-speed employer-employee communications. Authorizes the Secretary to make limited grants for teleworking studies, including development of best practices for businesses that employ teleworkers. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 2441 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Fishable Waters Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to add that it is the national policy to achieve: (1) the protection and restoration of sustained fish production and fisheries habitat; and (2) the enhancement of access for fisheries use through voluntary watershed planning and incentives for site-specific projects. Provides for the establishment of federally- assisted State programs for fisheries habitat protection and access enhancement. Requires States to: (1) establish advisory councils to provide recommendations with respect to program decisions; and (2) maintain a fisheries habitat account. Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to approved State programs. Sets forth processes for watershed planning, including: (1) data collection; (2) evaluation of geomorphological characteristics; (3) short- and long-term objectives; (4) identification of existing threats to the fisheries habitat; and (5) monitoring for water quality and quantity. Provides processes for plan approval, public participation, and use of funds. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to establish a communities fisheries habitat revitalization program for funding to approved project sponsors for watershed restoration, creation of flood plain riparian zones, creation of wetlands, stormwater management, and other revitalization projects. Requires the establishment by the Secretary of an electronic database of community fisheries habitat clearinghouse information. Requires compilation of other scientific fisheries-related indicators and habitat characteristics. Directs the Secretary to make grants to State for approved projects. Authorizes funding for restricting livestock access to water within a designated watershed. Gives grant priority to States exceeding other States in certain categories, including hydroelectric instream use, sales of fishing and migratory bird hunting licenses, and the degree of degraded water in the State.
Bill· SS. 2442 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Apple Orchard Diversification Act -Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish an apple orchard diversification program of long- term low-interest loans to convert existing orchards into new varieties; and (2) provide for stakeholder input in program development.
Bill· SS. 2422 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Farm Relief and Economic Development Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to farmers, to among other things: (1) allow a deduction from gross income for amounts paid into an interest-bearing Farm and Ranch Risk Management (FARRM) Account, created for the farmer's exclusive benefit; (2) exclude net earnings from a lease agreement (currently, an arrangement) from income with respect to farmland; (3) treat conservation reserve program payments as real estate rentals for self-employment earnings purposes; (4) provide a limited exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale of qualified farm property, to the extent such property does not exceed 160 acres; (5) exempt certain small issue bonds from the State volume cap; (6) exclude from gross income gain from the transfer of farm property to satisfy up to $350,000 of qualified farm indebtedness; (6) increase the number of years for which a loss may be carried back; and (7) coordinate income averaging with the alternative minimum tax.
Law· HRH.R. 4285 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Texas National Forests Improvement Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to convey: (1) specified National Forest System lands and improvements in Texas; and (2) specified land and improvements in the Sam Houston National Forest, Walker County, Texas, to the New Waverly Gulf Coast Trades Center. Makes proceeds from such conveyances available to the Secretary for: (1) acquisition, construction, or improvement of National Forest System administrative facilities in Texas;or (2) land acquisition in Texas.
Bill· HRH.R. 4321 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Antitrust Enforcement Improvement Act of 2000 - Amends the Sherman Act to include trade or commerce of sellers, wholesale purchasers, or of both among illegal trade restraints of trade or commerce. Increases related fines. (Sec. 3) Amends the Clayton Act to state that covered competition may include competition among sellers, wholesale purchasers, or of both with respect to anticompetitive acquisitions. Extends certain premerger notification (additional information) extension periods. Establishes and sets forth related filing fee schedules. Sets forth provisions respecting recovery of overcharges by "injured" indirect purchasers in the chain of manufacture, production, or distribution. (Sec. 4) Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to define "undue or unreasonable preference or advantage" and "public market based on a competitive bidding process." States that covered commerce may include trade or commerce of sellers, wholesale purchasers, or of both. (Sec. 5) Establishes the Agriculture Concentration and Market Power Review Commission, which shall: (1) study concentration and vertical integration in the agricultural economy; and (2) recommend antitrust law changes in order to maintain a competitive market for family and other small and medium producers. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 6) Directs the Attorney General to establish in the Department of Justice an Office of Special Counsel for Agriculture.
Bill· HRH.R. 4339 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Agriculture Competition Enhancement Act of 2000 - Makes it unlawful for a business purchaser of livestock, poultry, or a basic agricultural commodity for (wholesale) resale, either unprocessed or processed, to acquire the voting assets of any person if: (1) the total amount of such assets or annual sales of each person exceeds specified limits; and (2) such acquisition would reduce competition so as have a negative effect on prices paid to producers. (Sec. 3) Requires such a purchaser filing a premerger notice under the Clayton Act to also file with the Secretary of Agriculture. Provides for: (1) public comment; and (2) review by the Secretary respecting such action's anticompetitive effects. (Sec. 4) Subjects such actions to specified enforcement provisions of the Clayton Act. (Sec. 5) Directs the Attorney General to establish in the Department of Justice an Office of Special Counsel for Agriculture to handle agricultural antitrust issues. (Sec. 6) Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study respecting whether: (1) the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration needs additional resources to monitor and investigate the competitive implications of meat packing industry practices; and (2) disparities exist in the Administration's authority respecting the poultry, meat, and pork industries.
Bill· HRH.R. 4278 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Fishable Waters Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (the Act) to require States, in order to be eligible for assistance under the Fishable Waters Act of 2000, to establish programs for the protection and restoration of fresh water, estuarine, and marine fisheries habitat and for the enhancement of access for fisheries uses through watershed planning and the implementation of projects and measures that meet such Act's requirements. Establishes minimum program requirements. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary), upon approval of a program submitted by a State, to: (1) make grants to the State for program administration; and (2) enter into a memorandum of understanding with the State under which the State may make grants to designated watershed councils for development of comprehensive fisheries habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement plans and interim recommendations that address high priority factors causing imminent adverse impacts or threats to fisheries habitat located in high priority portions of waters within a watershed. Permits States to designate watershed councils to carry out comprehensive fisheries habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement plans that meet specified minimum requirements. Sets forth council requirements. Requires States, in designating such councils, to give preference to existing councils or similar bodies organized under other authorities for purposes similar to those under this Act. Makes designated councils eligible to receive funding to carry out planning functions. Requires councils to collect and consider the best available scientific information and develop additional data and information as necessary. Provides for revisions or updates of comprehensive fisheries plans at least once every five years. Requires submission of plans or interim recommendations to the State for approval. Makes projects and measures that support or implement specific recommendations contained in a plan or interim recommendation eligible for financial support from a State's fisheries habitat account established pursuant to this Act. Authorizes States to provide funds from a fisheries habitat account to persons who enter into binding contracts for implementation of projects and measures recommended by councils pursuant to approved plans or interim recommendations. Prohibits expenditures from such accounts for the planning, engineering, design, or construction of dams or of roads on public lands. Requires States to establish a system of limits on the maximum percentage of total costs for a project that may be provided from such accounts based on a priority ranking of recommendations. Permits expenditures from such accounts for the payment of up to 15 percent of required non-Federal shares under certain Federal environmental, agriculture, forestry, wildlife, flood control, and water resources programs if recommended in a plan or interim recommendations. Authorizes, if specifically recommended in a plan or interim recommendations, increases in expenditures pursuant to Federal programs for flood damage compensation for loss of crops, livestock, or structures with respect to specifically designated lands within a watershed that would be subject to increased flooding due to certain recommended projects. Requires the baseline jurisdictional status of any agricultural lands on which wetlands may be created or expanded as a result of flooding or altered drainage pursuant to such projects to revert to their baseline jurisdictional status upon termination of any project agreement. Provides that a permit under the Act shall not be required for discharges from any wetlands created or expanded for agricultural pollution control purposes if pollutants entering such wetlands result only from normal agricultural practices such as crop production, raising of livestock, or silvicultural activities. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, to establish a community fisheries habitat revitalization program. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, pursuant to such program, to provide funding and technical assistance to State fish and wildlife agencies for development and construction of projects designed to improve urban watersheds and public access to the waters of such watersheds in order to restore fisheries habitat or enhance fisheries uses and to provide recreational opportunities. Describes eligible projects and project priorities. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to report annually to Congress on the program. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a community fisheries habitat clearinghouse to support local implementation of projects under the program. Sets forth limitations on funding under the program. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to publish a report at least biennially on the progress of watershed council programs. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to publish a report at least biennially describing the state of the Nation's fishery habitats as well as the overall progress being achieved in protecting and restoring such habitats. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to compile and provide scientific information for consideration by State fish and wildlife agencies in developing fisheries-related indicators and associated habitat characteristics and for consideration by councils in characterizing waters and establishing watershed objectives pursuant to this Act. Authorizes such factors to be established by such agencies to set forth the appropriate factors, indicators, measurements, and other considerations which will be indicative of a healthy, resilient, diverse, and productive aquatic system and may distinguish among general categories of fisheries based upon natural variations. Requires the Secretary to make grants to States for fisheries programs approved under this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Requires States with approved programs to establish fisheries habitat accounts for providing financial support for projects and measures recommended by watershed councils. Authorizes appropriations for grants to States to enable States to provide funds to any person, through a fisheries habitat account, for implementation of: (1) any measures for restricting livestock access to waters within a designated watershed and for providing alternative water supplies for such livestock; and (2) approved recommendations. Requires the Secretary to provide Congress with an annual survey of projected funding needs for States with approved fisheries programs. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out responsibilities under this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Directors of the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Geological Survey, to establish a national planning program for protection and restoration of fisheries habitat through improved floodplain management practices on major waterways. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue information describing methodologies for identifying instream flows necessary to protect fisheries habitat. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Directors of the Geological Survey and the Fish and Wildlife Service, to provide technical assistance and prepare and disseminate technical information on fisheries-related needs for instream flows to the public. Authorizes appropriations for expenditures related to support the maintenance of designated instream flows or volumes. Treats Indian tribes as States for purposes of this Act. (Sec. 4) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY 2002 through 2006 under the Act for grants for: (1) implementation of nonpoint source pollution control management programs; and (2) groundwater quality protection activities to advance States toward implementation of comprehensive nonpoint source pollution control programs. Authorizes appropriations for such years to carry out this Act as well.
Bill· SS. 2411 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
Farmers and Ranchers Fair Competition Act of 2000 - Sets forth prohibitions against specified unfair practices involving agricultural commodity transactions. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Family Farmer and Rancher Claims Commission to review related violation claims. Funds the Commission from related civil penalties and authorizations of appropriations. (Sec. 5) Sets forth the conditions under which a dealer, processor, commission broker, or operator of a warehouse or other agricultural operation must file premerger notice with the Secretary for discretionary review (mandatory upon a member of Congress' request). (Sec. 6) Sets forth plain language and disclosure requirements for contracts. (Sec. 7) Requires certain dealers, processors, commission merchants, or brokers to file annual corporate structure reports with the Secretary. (Sec. 8) Provides specified Treasury funds to the Secretary to hire and train staff to carry out the additional responsibilities under this Act. (Sec. 9) Directs the General Accounting Office to conduct a study of competition in the domestic farm economy.
Bill· SS. 2389 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2000
21st Century Fire and Emergency Services Act of 2000 - Establishes within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the Burn Services Grant Program. Authorizes the Director of FEMA to make Program grants to: (1) experienced safety organizations to conduct or augment burn safety programs; (2) hospitals that serve as regional burn centers to conduct acute burn care research; and (3) governmental or nongovernmental entities to provide after-burn treatment and counseling to burn victims. Requires the Director to establish within FEMA a Fire Services Grant Program to award grants to volunteer, paid, and combined volunteer-paid departments that provide fire and emergency medical services. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to use the funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out certain cooperative forestry assistance with respect to rural fire prevention and control.
Law· HRH.R. 4226 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2000
Black Hills National Forest and Rocky Mountain Research Station Improvement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange certain land and administrative sites in the Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota, and to use the resulting proceeds for: (1) acquisition of land and interests in South Dakota; and (2) acquisition or construction of administrative improvements within the Forest. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations for construction of a replacement laboratory for the Rocky Mountain Research Station at Rapid City, South Dakota, to be colocated with at least one of the Forest administrative improvements.
Bill· SS. 2382 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2000
Technical Assistance, Trade Promotion, and Anti-Corruption Act of 2000 - Title I: Promoting Trade and Protecting United States Jobs - Subtitle A: Private Sector Development - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to designate a private, nonprofit organization as eligible to receive Enterprise Funds with respect to any country for promoting: (1) development of the private sectors of eligible countries, including small businesses, the agricultural sector, and joint ventures with United States and host country participants; and (2) policies and practices conducive to private sector development in such countries on the same basis as Enterprise Funds are provided for Poland and Hungary under the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989. Subtitle B: Protection of United States Jobs and Exports - Prohibits: (1) U.S. bilateral assistance (including direct and guaranteed loans and credit and insurance programs by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)) to finance any loan to establish or expand production of any commodity for export by any country other than the United States, if such commodity is likely to be in surplus on world markets and such assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of the same, similar, or competing commodity; and (2) U.S. development assistance for any testing or breeding feasibility study, variety improvement or introduction, consultancy, publication, conference, or training in connection with the growth or production in a foreign country of an agricultural commodity grown or produced in the United States, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 112) Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified international financial institutions to use the U.S. vote to oppose any assistance by them for the production or extraction of any commodity or mineral for export, if it is in surplus on world markets and such assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of the same, similar, or competing commodity. (Sec. 113) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit U.S. assistance (other than direct and guaranteed loans and credit and insurance programs by OPIC) to provide: (1) financial incentive to a business enterprise located in the United States to relocate outside the United States if such incentive is likely to reduce the number of employees of such enterprise because U.S. production is being replaced by it outside the United States; (2) assistance to establish or develop in a foreign country any export processing zone in which the tax, tariff, labor, environment, and safety laws of such country do not apply to activities within the zone, unless the President determines and certifies that such assistance is not likely to cause a loss of jobs within the United States; or (3) assistance for any project that contributes to the violation of internationally recognized workers rights within a recipient country or zone, except that such assistance shall not be precluded for the informal sector of such country, micro and small-scale enterprise, and smallholder agriculture. (Sec. 114) Declares that assistance under this Act should make full use of American resources, including commodities, products, and services, to the maximum extent possible. Expresses the sense of Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all agricultural commodities, equipment, and products purchased with funds made available in this Act should be American-made. Requires Federal agency heads, in providing financial assistance to or entering into any contract with any entity using funds made available in this Act, to notify such entity of this intention. Subtitle C: Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement - Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 - Sets forth provisions respecting presidential and congressional authorities and procedures for the imposition of new, and termination of existing, unilateral agricultural and medical sanctions. (Sec. 125) Requires prohibitions on certain U.S. assistance to a country supporting international terrorism to remain in effect until the Secretary of State determines that such country has repeatedly provided support for such terrorism. Title II: Economic Assistance - Subtitle A: Assistance Authorities - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise certain principles in the provision of U.S. bilateral development assistance to a foreign country to state that the successful transition of a developing country is dependent upon the economic reform and development of its institutions of democratic governance and its adherence to the rule of law. (Sec. 202) Increases from 25 million to $50 million the amount of foreign assistance funds that the President is authorized to use for emergency contingencies during any fiscal year. (Sec. 203) Provides for a waiver of restrictions on foreign assistance for narcotics-related assistance to foreign countries. (Sec. 204) Establishes a working capital fund for the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) which shall be available without fiscal year limitation for expenses of personal and nonpersonal services, equipment, and supplies for international cooperative administrative support services, and rebates from the use of U.S. Government credit cards. (Sec. 205) Provides that an organization shall be eligible for population planning assistance in a fiscal year if the AID Administrator determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that it has not used such assistance for abortions or involuntary sterilizations. (Sec. 206) Authorizes appropriations for development assistance to foreign countries. Earmarks specified amounts from such appropriations for: (1) certain activities of the Global Environment Center of the AID; (2) certain water and coastal resources activities; and (3) assistance to East Timor. (Sec. 208) Amends the Horn of Africa Recovery and Food Security Act to make Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance available for certain activities to aid the poor majority in the Horn of Africa. (Sec. 209) Declares that the total amount of development assistance made available for FY 2001 for sub-Saharan Africa shall bear the same proportion to the total amount of development assistance made available for that fiscal year as the total amount of development assistance for such region made available for FY 2000 bears to the total amount of development assistance made available for FY 2000. (Sec. 210) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make U.S. foreign assistance funds available for nonmilitary education programs and for anticorruption programs. Subtitle B: International Disaster Assistance - Authorizes the President to provide, through international disaster assistance, for the reconstruction of foreign countries affected by natural disasters. (Sec. 212) Requires the Administrator of AID, in processing applications for the transportation of humanitarian assistance abroad, to afford priority to applications for the transportation of disaster relief assistance. Subtitle C: Sudan Peace Act - Sudan Peace Act - Declares that Congress: (1) condemns violations of human rights on all sides of the conflict in Sudan (including the Government of Sudan), the ongoing slave trade there, and the Government's increasing use and organization of "murahalliin" or "mujahadeen", Popular Defense Forces (PDF), and regular Sudanese Army units into raiding and slaving parties in Bahr al Ghazal, the Nuba Mountains, Upper Nile, and Blue Nile regions; and (2) recognizes that the use of raiding and slaving parties is a tool for creating food shortages as a systematic means to destroy the societies, culture, and economies of the Dinka and Nuba peoples in a policy of low-intensity ethnic cleansing. (Sec. 225) Expresses the sense of Congress that it: (1) declares its support for the efforts by U.S. executive branch officials and the President's Special Envoy for Sudan to lead in a reinvigoration of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-sponsored peace process; (2) calls on IGAD member states, the European Union, the Organization of African Unity, Egypt, and other key states to support such process; (3) urges Kenya's leadership in the implementation of the process; and (4) declares that any such diplomatic efforts toward resolution of the conflict in Sudan are best made through a peace process based on the Declaration of Principles reached in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 20, 1994, and that the President should not create any process which could be viewed as a parallel or competing diplomatic track. (Sec. 226) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President, acting through the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, should take specified actions to increase pressure on the combatants involved in the war in Sudan. (Sec. 227) Directs the President to report to Congress on: (1) the specified sources (including any U.S. sources) and current status of Sudan's financing and construction of oil exploitation infrastructure and pipelines; (2) such financing's relation to sanctions contained in the Executive Order of November 4, 1997; (3) the extent of aerial bombardment by the Government of Sudan forces in areas outside its control; (4) the number, duration, and locations of air strips or other humanitarian relief facilities to which access is denied by any party to the conflict; and (5) the status of the IGAD-sponsored peace process or any other ongoing effort to end the conflict, including specific and verifiable steps taken by the parties to the conflict, the members of the IGAD Partners Forum, and the members of IGAD toward a comprehensive solution to the war. (Sec. 228) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should organize and maintain a formal consultative process with the European Union, the United Nations Security Council, and other relevant parties on coordinating an effort within the UN to revise the terms of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) to end the Government of Sudan's veto power over OLS plans for air transport relief flights. (Sec. 229) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should continue to increase the use of non-OLS agencies in the distribution of relief supplies in southern Sudan. (Sec. 230) Directs the President to develop and report to Congress on a contingency plan to provide, outside UN auspices, the greatest amount of U.S. Government and privately donated relief to all affected areas in Sudan, including the Nuba Mountains, Upper Nile, and Blue Nile, in the event the Government of Sudan imposes a ban on OLS air transport relief flights. (Sec. 231) Supports the President's ongoing efforts to diversify and increase the effectiveness of U.S. assistance to populations in areas of Sudan outside the control of the Government of Sudan, especially the long-term focus shown in the Sudan Transition Assistance for Rehabilitation (STAR) program with its emphasis on promoting democracy, self-reliance, and actively supporting people-to-people reconciliation efforts. Authorizes appropriations. Grants the President authority to undertake any appropriate programs using Federal agencies, contractual arrangements, or direct support of indigenous groups, agencies, or organizations in areas outside the control of the Government of Sudan (including northern, southern, and eastern regions) in an effort to provide emergency relief, economic self-sufficiency, build civil authority, provide education, enhance rule of law and the development of the judiciary, support people-to-people reconciliation efforts, or implementation of any programs in support of any viable peace agreement. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should immediately and to the fullest extent possible utilize the Office of Transition Initiatives at the Agency for International Development to pursue such programs in the Sudan; and (2) priority should be given in current and future development or transition programs undertaken by the U.S. Government to rebuilding and supporting the Rumbek Secondary School in the Sudan. (Sec. 232) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should assess the humanitarian needs in the Nuba Mountains, Red Sea Hills, and Blue Nile regions of Sudan, and respond appropriately to those needs. (Sec. 233) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees detailing possible options or plans of the U.S. Government for the provision of nonlethal assistance to participants of the National Democratic Alliance. Subtitle D: Assistance to Countries With Large Populations Having HIV/AIDS - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise requirements for assistance for health programs in developing countries to declare that Congress recognizes: (1) the growing international dilemma of children with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and (2) that mother-to-child transmission prevention strategies can serve as a major force for change in developing regions, and that it is therefore a major objective of the foreign assistance program to control the acquired immune deficiency syndrom (AIDS) epidemic. Provides that Congress expects the agency primarily responsible for administering this Act to make the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS a priority in the foreign assistance program for developing countries. Authorizes appropriations (earmarking amounts for training and training facilities in sub-Saharan Africa and U.S. contributions to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative). (Sec. 245) Directs the President to enter into negotiations with foreign government officials and other interested parties to establish an international vaccine purchase fund that would: (1) accept contributions from governments to purchase and distribute in developing countries vaccines for malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and any infectious disease which causes the deaths of over one million people worldwide each year; and (2) be a significant market incentive for private sector vaccine research. (Sec. 246) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into negotiations with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) or the International Development Association (IDA), and with their member nations and other interested parties, for the creation of two trust funds which would accept contributions from governments, the private sector, and nongovernmental entities to: (1) address the AIDS epidemic in countries eligible to borrow from the IDA; and (2) provide support for or the establishment of programs which provide primary and secondary education for orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 248) Directs the President to coordinate the development of multidonor strategy to provide for the support and education of AIDS orphans and the families, communities, and institutions most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the United States to ensure that classroom training under the African Crisis Response Initiative includes military-based education on the prevention of the spread of AIDS. Subtitle E: International Tuberculosis Control - International Tuberculosis Control Act of 2000 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise requirements for assistance for health programs in developing countries to declare that Congress recognizes: (1) the growing international problem of tuberculosis; and (2) that the means exist to control and treat it, and that it is therefore a major objective of the foreign assistance program to control the disease. (Sec. 253) Declares that Congress expects the agency primarily responsible for administering this Act to: (1) coordinate with the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, and other organizations toward the development and implementation of a comprehensive tuberculosis control program; and (2) set as a goal the detection of at least 70 percent of the cases of infectious tuberculosis, and the cure of at least 85 percent of the cases detected, in those countries in which the agency has established development programs, by December 31, 2010. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Global Opportunities for Biotechnology in Agriculture - Advancing the Global Opportunities for Biotechnology in Agriculture Act of 2000 - Authorizes the appropriation of certain foreign assistance funds to the President for programs and projects designed, through the establishment of technical exchange programs for foreign officials and U.S. biotechnology experts, to educate government officials in developing countries regarding the use of biotechnology in the agricultural sector and the regulatory procedures used by the United States with respect to agricultural products using biotechnology. Declares that such programs shall encourage acceptance by such countries of products approved under the U.S. regulatory system or, in the case of countries which choose to establish a national regulatory system based on science, to encourage adoption of domestic approval processes based on objective scientific principles. (Sec. 265) Directs the President to establish an interagency process for all relevant executive branch agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, the Office of the U.S. Trade of Representative, the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), the Department of Commerce, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, to coordinate efforts and to generate support for the acceptance of agricultural biotechnology. Urges U.S. policies to stress the prominence of science as the foundation for regulatory decision-making and work aggressively in international fora such as the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, including its CODEX Alimentarius, and the United Nations, to advocate for science-based decision-making. Urges AID and the Department of Agriculture to ensure that all food and grain products that meet U.S. health and safety requirements are acceptable to foreign countries under relevant food aid programs. (Sec. 266) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should work with U.S. embassies abroad to develop bilateral support from foreign governments for the approval of science-based trading regimes in multilateral forums and organizations. Title III: Peace Corps of the United States - Amends the Peace Corps Act to redesignate the Peace Corps as the Peace Corps of the United States. Title IV: Strengthening Anticorruption Measures and Accountability - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreement Act to authorize appropriations through FY 2003 for U.S. contributions to the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Trust Fund of the World Bank. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of each multilateral development bank to exert U.S. influence to strengthen each bank's procedures and management controls to ensure that funds disbursed by it to borrowing countries are used as intended and in a manner that complies with the conditions of the bank's loan to such country. (Sec. 403) Directs the Comptroller General to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on the sufficiency of audits of the financial operations of each multilateral development bank conducted by persons or entities outside of such bank. (Sec. 404) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the President's discretionary authority to transfer certain funds to certain international financial institutions for the purpose of bilateral funding. Title V: Serbia Democratization Act - Serbia Democratization Act of 2000 - Subtitle A: Support for the Democratic Forces - Authorizes the President to furnish assistance and other support to promote and strengthen institutions of democratic government and the growth of an independent civil society in Serbia, including ethnic tolerance and respect for internationally recognized human rights. Authorizes appropriations. Urges the President to take all necessary steps to ensure that such assistance shall not be provided to the Government of Yugoslavia or the Government of Serbia. (Sec. 512) Authorizes the President to provide assistance to the Government of Montenegro, unless the President determines, and reports to the appropriate congressional committees, that the leadership of such government is not committed to, or is not taking steps to promote, democratic principles, the rule of law, or respect for internationally recognized human rights. (Sec. 513) Directs the Broadcasting Board of Governors to further the open communication of information and ideas through the increased use of radio and television broadcasting (Voice of America and Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, Incorporated) to Yugoslavia in both the Serbo-Croatian and Albanian languages. Subtitle B: Assistance to the Victims of Oppression - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Government of Yugoslavia and the Government of Serbia bear responsibility to the victims of the conflict in Kosovo, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and for property damage in Kosovo; (2) under President Milosevic's direction neither government has provided the resources to assist innocent, civilian victims of oppression in Kosovo; and (3) because neither government has fulfilled the responsibilities of a sovereign government toward the Kosovar people, the international community offers the only course for humanitarian assistance to victims of oppression in Kosovo. (Sec. 523) Authorizes the President to furnish assistance (including economic support funds) under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 for: (1) relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction in Kosovo; and (2) refugees and persons displaced by the conflict there. Prohibits assistance to any organization that has been designated as a terrorist organization. Subtitle C: "Outer Wall" Sanctions - Imposes certain economic and non-economic ("Outer Wall") sanctions against Yugoslavia until the President determines, and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees, that the Government of Yugoslavia has made significant progress in meeting certain conditions, including: (1) agreement on a lasting settlement in Kosovo; (2) compliance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina; (3) implementation of internal democratic reform; (4) settlement of all succession issues with the other republics that emerged from the break-up of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; and (5) cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, including the transfer to the Hague of all individuals in Yugoslavia indicted by the Tribunal. (Sec. 531) Sets forth such sanctions, including instructing: (1) the U.S. executive directors of the international financial institutions to oppose, and vote against, any extension of any financial assistance of any kind to the Government of Yugoslavia; (2) the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to oppose and block any consensus to allow the participation of Yugoslavia in the OSCE; (3) the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) to oppose any resolution in the UN Security Council to admit Yugoslavia to the UN, including any proposal to allow it to assume the membership of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the UN General Assembly; (4) the U.S. Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council to oppose the extension to Yugoslavia of membership in the Partnership for Peace program or any other affiliated NATO organization; and (5) the U.S. Representatives to the Southeast European Cooperation Initiative (SECI) to actively oppose the extension of SECI membership to Yugoslavia. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President: (1) should not restore full diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia until the President has determined, and reported to the appropriate congressional committees, that Yugoslavia has met the aforementioned conditions; and (2) should encourage all other European countries to diminish their level of diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia. (Sec. 532) Expresses the sense of Congress that if any international financial institution approves a loan or other financial assistance to the Government of Yugoslavia over the opposition of the United States, then the Secretary of the Treasury should withhold from payment the U.S. share of any increase in the paid-in capital of such institution in an amount equal to the amount of such loan or other assistance. Subtitle D: Other Measures Against Yugoslavia - Blocks all property of the Government of Serbia or the Government of Yugoslavia (including commercial, industrial, or public utility or entities) that is in the United States. (Sec. 542) Directs the President to use the authorities under the Immigration and Nationality Act to suspend the entry into the United States of any alien who: (1) holds a position in the senior leadership of the Government of Yugoslavia or the Government of Serbia; or (2) is a spouse, minor child, or agent of such person. (Sec. 543) Prohibits the export of computers, computer software, or goods or technology intended to manufacture or service computers to or for use by the Government of Yugoslavia or by the Government of Serbia (including the military, the police, the prison system, and the national security agencies of such republics). Declares that nothing in this section shall prevent the issuance of licenses to ensure the safety of civil aviation and safe operation of U.S.-origin commercial passenger aircraft and to ensure the safety of ocean-going maritime traffic in international waters. (Sec. 544) Prohibits: (1) any Government agency (including the Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation) from extending any loan, credit guarantee, insurance, financing, or other similar financial assistance to the Government of Yugoslavia or the Government of Serbia; and (2) any funds being made available for activities of the Trade and Development Agency in or for Serbia. Urges all other countries, particularly European countries, to suspend any of their programs that provide similar financial assistance to the Government of Yugoslavia or the Government of Serbia, including rescheduling either government's debt under more favorable conditions. Prohibits any U.S. national from making or approving any loan or other extension of credit (unless it is for housing, education, or humanitarian benefit to assist the victims of repression in Kosovo), directly or indirectly, to the Government of Yugoslavia or to the Government of Serbia. (Sec. 545) Prohibits the U.S. Government (including any Federal agency or entity) from providing assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or the Arms Export Control Act (including the provision of Foreign Military Financing or international military education and training (IMET)) or providing any defense articles or defense services under such Acts, to the armed forces of the Government of Yugoslavia or of the Government of Serbia. (Sec. 546) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should continue to seek to coordinate with other countries, particularly European countries, a comprehensive, multilateral strategy to further the purposes of this Act, including, as appropriate, encouraging other countries to take similar measures contained in this title. (Sec. 547) Exempts from the sanctions imposed in this Act both Kosovo and Montenegro (unless the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the leadership of the Government of Montenegro is not committed to, or is not taking steps to promote, democratic principles, the rule of law, or respect for internationally recognized human rights). Provides for a waiver and termination of sanctions imposed against Yugoslavia. Subtitle E: Miscellaneous Provisions - Declares it is U.S. policy to support the investigation of President Slobodan Milosevic by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and grave breaches of the Geneva Convention. (Sec. 552) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should call on NATO allies in negotiating the future of Kosovo to establish guarantees for the rights of the ethnic Hungarian community of Vojvodina. (Sec. 553) Declares it is U.S. policy to insist that the Government of Yugoslavia has the responsibility to engage in good faith negotiations with the Governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Slovenia for resolution of outstanding property issues and disposition of specified properties located in the United States. Expresses the sense of Congress that if the Government of Yugoslavia refuses to negotiate in good faith, the President should take steps to return such properties to such governments. (Sec. 554) Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to Yugoslavia if he determines, and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees, that the Government of Yugoslavia is committed to democratic principles and the rule of law and respects internationally recognized human rights. Title VI: Microenterprise Assistance - Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to set forth congressional findings and policy, including that: (1) the development of microenterprise (including micro- and small enterprises) is a vital factor in the growth of developing countries and in the development of free, open, and equitable international economic systems; (2) it is in the best interest of the United States to assist the development of microenterprises and of enterprises of the poor in developing countries; and (3) the support of microenterprise can be served by programs that provide credit, savings, training, technical assistance, and business development services. (Sec. 604) Authorizes the President to provide grants and other assistance for programs to increase the availability of credit and other services to microenterprises (including micro- and small enterprises) lacking full access to capital training, technical assistance, and business development services through: (1) grants to microfinance institutions; (2) loans and guarantees to credit institutions (with a limit of $30 million per borrower); (3) grants to microenterprise institutions for training, technical assistance, and business development services; and (4) policy and regulatory programs at the country level. (Sec. 606) Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) to establish: (1) a monitoring system that provides, among other things, for performance goals for microenterprise development grant assistance; (2) eligibility criteria for determining which entities shall carry out activities receiving credit assistance; and (3) a U.S. Microfinance Loan Facility to prevent the bankruptcy of microfinance institutions caused by natural disasters, war or civil conflict, national financial crisis, or other short-term financial movements that threaten the long-term development of such institutions. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 607) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the most cost-effective methods and measurements for increasing the access of poor people overseas to credit, other financial services, and related training. (Sec. 608) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the administrator of AID and the Secretary of State should seek to support and strengthen the effectiveness of microfinance activities in United Nations (UN) agencies, such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the UN Development Program, which have provided key leadership in developing the microenterprise sector; and (2) the Secretary of the Treasury should instruct each U.S. Executive Director of the multilateral development banks to advocate the development of a coherent and coordinated strategy to support the microenterprise sector, including an increase of multilateral resource flows for building microenterprise retail and wholesale intermediaries. Title VII: Defense and Security Assistance - Subtitle A: Military and Related Assistance - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for foreign military financing grants and direct loans. (Sec. 711) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase the aggregate value of the emergency drawdown of defense articles from the stocks of the Department of Defense (DOD), defense services of DOD, and international military education and training (IMET) to foreign countries in any fiscal year. Authorizes the drawdown of such articles, services, and training for counterterrorism and nonproliferation purposes. (Sec. 712) Authorizes the President to provide for the transportation of excess defense articles without charge to a country for the costs of such transportation if, among other things, the total weight of such transfer does not exceed 50,000 pounds (currently, 25,000 pounds). Subtitle B: International Military Education and Training - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for IMET assistance to foreign countries. Sets forth certain additional requirements with respect to the provision of such assistance. Subtitle C: Nonproliferation and Export Control Assistance - Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to foreign countries in order to enhance their ability to halt the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and advanced conventional weaponry. (Sec. 731) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 (earmarking amounts for training and education of personnel from friendly countries in the United States, science and technology centers in the independent states of the former Soviet Union, and static cargo x-ray facility in Malta). Subtitle D: Antiterrorism Assistance - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for antiterrorism assistance to foreign countries. Subtitle E: Integrated Security Assistance Planning - Requires the Secretary of State to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on a National Security Assistance Strategy for the United States. (Sec. 752) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for security assistance surveys used in preparing the Strategy. (Sec. 761) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for foreign military financing grants for the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. Earmarks specified amounts of IMET assistance funds for such countries, including Greece and turkey. (Sec. 763) Earmarks specified amounts for FY 2001 for foreign military financing grants for Israel and Egypt. Earmarks specified amounts for such grants (including IMET assistance) for: (1) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; (2) Philippines; (3) Georgia; (4) Malta; (5) Slovenia; (6) Slovakia; (7) Romania; and (8) Bulgaria. (Sec. 765) Earmarks certain funds for FY 2001 to assist GUUAM countries (group of countries that signed a protocol on quadrilateral cooperation on November 25, 1997) and Armenia to: (1) strengthen national control of their borders (including to prevent the trafficking of illegal narcotics and the proliferation of technology and materials related to weapons of mass destruction, and to contain and inhibit transnational organized criminal activities); and (2) promote the independence and territorial sovereignty of such countries. Subtitle F: Other Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the use of defense articles and defense services made available through the provision of U.S. military assistance to foreign countries for antiterrorism and nonproliferation purposes. (Sec. 772) Amends the Arms Export Control Act to authorize the President to reduce the price for the sale of DOD and Coast Guard defense articles to eligible foreign countries if certain conditions are met. (Sec. 773) Repeals certain congressional reporting and certification requirements with respect to cooperative projects with North American Treaty Organization countries. (Sec. 774) Exempts a prohibition on U.S. assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan from certain congressional oversight provisions under the National Security Act of 1947. (Sec. 775) Sets forth the maximum value of additions to stockpiles in foreign countries for FY 2001. Makes amounts available for such stockpiles in the Republic of Korea. (Sec. 776) Authorizes the President to transfer to Israel certain obsolete or surplus defense articles in return for concessions to be negotiated by the Secretary of Defense. (Sec. 777) Prohibits US sale of Stinger missiles in the Persian Gulf, with certain exceptions. (Sec. 778) Amends Federal law to increase: (1) the bond required to be filed with the Secretary of the Treasury in cases where certain required export information may be filed with the Secretary by a carrier in connection with the exportation or transportation of cargo after the departure of such carrier from the port or place of exportation or transportation; and (2) the penalty for a carrier's failure to file such information within the prescribed period. Subjects a person who knowingly fails to file, or knowingly files false or misleading, export information through the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) or the Automated Export System (AES) to a fine not to exceed $10,000, or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. Increases the civil penalty with respect to the violation of the other reporting requirements under this Act. (Sec. 779) Authorizes for FY 2001 the use of DOD funds for crating, packing, handling, and transporting excess defense articles to Mongolia. (Sec. 780) Directs the President to certify annually to the appropriate congressional committees that any Russian person engaged in a commercial operation involving Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) equipment or technology with a U.S. person pursuant to an arms export license issued within the 36 months preceding the certification is not suspected of contributing to the acquisition, design, development, or production of MTCR-class ballistic missiles in Iran at any time since January 1, 2000. Authorizes the President to terminate such license if it is determined that the foreign person has engaged in the transfer of any MTCR equipment or technology. (Sec. 781) Makes specified amounts of economic support fund (ESF) and foreign military financing funds available only to Israel for FY 2001 through 2008. Subtitle G: Transfers of Naval Vessels - Authorizes the President to transfer certain naval vessels to: (1) Australia; (2) Brazil; (3) Chile; (4) Egypt; (5) Greece; and (6) Turkey. (Sec. 792) Sets forth requirements with respect to: (1) the inapplicability of aggregate annual limitation on the value of transferred excess defense articles; (2) who should be charged the costs related to such transfers; (3) conditions related to the transfer of naval vessels on a combined lease-sale basis; and (4) the funding of costs related to such transfers. Subtitle H: Definition - Defines "appropriate committees of Congress". Title VIII: Special Authorities and Other Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to set forth additional authority under the Arms Export Control Act for the prohibition on assistance to any foreign government that provides lethal military equipment to a country that the Secretary of State has determined has a terrorist government, unless the President determines that furnishing such assistance is in the U.S. national interest. (Sec. 802) Authorizes the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance to foreign countries to provide program and management oversight for activities that are funded by such assistance in countries in which such agency does not have a field mission or office. (Sec. 803) Sets forth revised requirements with respect to the availability of foreign assistance funds for the winding up of programs that have been terminated. (Sec. 804) Authorizes the President to furnish foreign assistance to support or strengthen the administration of justice in countries in Latin American and the Caribbean. Repeals the prohibition against the participation of DOD personnel and members of the U.S. armed forces in the provision of training with respect to the administration of justice in such countries. (Sec. 805) Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to require the annual reporting of environmental impact of multilateral development bank assistance proposals (currently made semi-annually). (Sec. 806) Expresses the sense of the Senate on environmental contamination and health effects emanating from former U.S. military facilities in the Philippines. (Sec. 807) Repeals obsolete provisions of specified Federal laws.
Bill· HRH.R. 4207 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
FDA Tobacco Authority Amendments Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to, among other things: (1) include "nicotine in a tobacco product" in the definition of the term "drug" and to include "a tobacco product" in the definition of the term "device;" and (2) set forth provisions for tobacco products concerning special standards for such products, warnings regarding such products, and a rule of construction regarding farmers and related entities.
Bill· HRH.R. 4218 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act , reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to authorize dissemination of statistical industry information where there are only two regulated olive handlers, and both have so consented.
Bill· SS. 2356 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2000
Child and Adult Care Food Program Management Improvement Act of 2000 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to revise provisions for management of the child and adult care food program (CACFP). (Sec. 2) Excludes from CACFP eligibility institutions that State agencies responsible for CACFP administration determine to have been seriously deficient in the administration or operation of any Federal, State, or local program during the previous five-year period, or another period determined appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture. (Sec. 3) Revises provisions for CACFP institutional approval and applications. Requires the State agency to: (1) determine that the institution is administratively capable of operating the program described in its application, and that its participation is necessary to ensure adequate availability of benefits to eligible participants; (2) establish criteria for selecting among institutions if the number of eligible institutions exceeds that necessary to ensure the adequate availability of program benefits to eligible participants; and (3) in the case of private institutions, with the exception of family or group day care homes, conduct a satisfactory prior inspection of institutions which must have tax-exempt status, operate a federal program requiring nonprofit status, or receive compensation under the Social Security Act for providing nonresidential child care or day care outside school hours for at least 25 percent of its enrolled children or licensed capacity. (Sec. 4) Prohibits the Secretary from requiring public organizations acting as sponsoring organizations for one or more family or group day care homes to compare costs to receive administrative reimbursement under CACFP. Directs the Secretary to permit such public organizations to submit biennial budgets for administrative costs. (Sec. 5) Allows State agencies to withhold reimbursements temporarily without a hearing for up to 90 days under specified conditions. (Sec. 6) Requires State agencies to limit the ability of family or group day care homes to transfer from a sponsoring organization to another sponsoring organization more frequently than once a year or to a sponsoring organization that ceases to participate in CACFP. Authorizes State agencies to permit or require such homes to transfer from a sponsoring organization to another sponsoring organization more frequently than once a year in the case of extenuating circumstances. (Sec. 7) Limits payments for administrative expenses for sponsoring organizations to costs incurred in administrating CACFP. Requires State agencies to limit such administrative expense payments to no more than 15 percent of the CACFP payment to the sponsoring organization. Directs the Secretary to evaluate and adjust such maximum limitation on the basis of the results of a study of administrative costs required under this Act. (Sec. 8) Requires a State to return, and the Secretary to reallocate to other States on the basis of need, any audit funds allocated under CACFP that are not obligated by the State for that fiscal year. (Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to reserve a specified portion of funds to provide training and technical assistance to State agencies to improve their CACFP management and oversight. (Sec. 10) Establishes a program of grants to not more than five State agencies to improve CACFP programs. Directs the Secretary to reserve a specified amount of funds for such grants. Requires State agencies to meet specified eligibility requirements and use such grants to collaborate with State and local licensing agencies and lead agencies that administer grants under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to establish State or local licensing requirements for all categories of family or group day care homes and child care centers located within the State. (Sec. 11) Allows State agencies to: (1) retain up to 50 percent of any funds collected as a result of their audits or reviews of institutions participating in CACFP; and (2) use such funds for program costs they incur to improve management and operation of CACFP. (Sec. 12) Directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, to study and report to specified congressional committees on the administrative rate structure and administrative costs of institutions acting as sponsoring organizations of family or group day care homes and sponsoring organizations of other specified organizations. Reserves specified funds for such study.
Bill· HRH.R. 4175 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2000
Fresh Meat and Poultry Consumer Awareness Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to extend nutrition information labeling requirements to nutritional information prescribed by regulation. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to issue final regulations to require nutrition information labeling for single-ingredient raw meat and poultry products sold at retail to consumers.
Resolution· SCONRESS.Con.Res. 101 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2000
Sets forth the congressional budget for the Government for FY 2001, including the appropriate budgetary levels for FY 2002 through 2005 and the revised budgetary levels for FY 2000. Title I: Levels and Amounts - Lists recommended budgetary levels and amounts, for FY 2001 through 2005 (and revised levels and amounts for FY 2000), with respect to: (1) Federal revenues; (2) new budget authority; (3) budget outlays; (4) deficits; (5) public debt; and (6) debt held by the public. (Sec. 102) Sets forth for such fiscal years specified amounts of revenues and outlays of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, including amounts of new budget authority and outlays for administrative expenses. (Sec. 103) Lists the appropriate levels of new budget authority and budget outlays for specified major functional categories for FY 2001 through 2005 (and revised levels for FY 2000). (Sec. 104) Requires the Senate Finance Committee to report to the Senate a reconciliation bill proposing changes in laws within its jurisdiction to reduce revenues by specified amounts in FY 2001 and the period of FY 2001 through 2005. Title II: Budgetary Restraints and Rulemaking - Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any revision to this or any other concurrent budget resolution (or an amendment or conference report) that sets forth a deficit for any fiscal year. Makes such point of order inapplicable if: (1) the most recent of the Department of Commerce's advance, preliminary, or final reports of real economic growth indicate that the rate of real economic growth for the most recently reported quarter and immediately preceding quarter is less than one percent; or (2) a declaration of war is in effect. Provides that if the social security surplus in any fiscal year is used to finance general Federal Government operations, such amount shall be deducted from the available amount of discretionary spending for the following fiscal year for purposes of any concurrent budget resolution. Waives or suspends the point of order under this section in the Senate only by an affirmative three-fifths majority vote. Requires the same majority to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on such point of order. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the adjustment of spending aggregates and other budgetary levels and limits and revision of allocations in the Senate for legislation reported by the Finance Committee to provide a prescription drug benefit for FY 2001 through 2003, provided the legislation will not reduce the on-budget surplus by a total of $20 billion during these years and will not cause an on-budget deficit. Requires such adjustments to be made for legislation or an amendment that provides prescription drug coverage if the Finance Committee has not reported such legislation before September 1, 2000. Authorizes the Chairman of the Budget Committee (Chairman), if legislation is reported by the Finance Committee that extends the solvency of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund without the use of transfers of new subsidies from the general fund, decreasing beneficiaries' access to health care, and excluding the cost of extending and modifying the prescription drug benefit described above, to change committee allocations and spending aggregates by up to $20 billion total for FY 2004 and 2005 to fund such benefit if such legislation will not cause an on-budget deficit. (Sec. 203) Permits the Chairman, whenever the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee reports a bill (or an amendment or conference report is submitted) that provides additional resources for counties and complies with this section, to increase the allocation of budget authority (and resulting outlays to that committee by the amount) provided by such legislation, with limitations. Provides that legislation complies if it provides for the stabilization of receipt-based payments to counties that support school and road systems and provides that a portion of those payments would be dedicated toward local investments in Federal lands within the counties. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the appropriate Budget Committee Chairman, if the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry reports a bill before June 29, 2000 (or an amendment or conference report is submitted), that provides assistance for producers of program and specialty crops and enhancements for agriculture conservation that does not cause a specified net increase in budget authority and outlays, to increase the allocation of budget authority (and resulting outlays to that committee by the amount) provided by such legislation, with limitations. (Sec. 205) Authorizes the Chairman to reduce spending and revenue aggregates and revise committee allocations for legislation that reduces revenues if such legislation will not increase the deficit or decrease the surplus for FY 2001 or for the period of FY 2001 through 2005. (Sec. 206) Requires the: (1) Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to update its economic and budget outlook for FY 2001 through 2010 by July 1, 2000; and (2) appropriate Budget Committee Chairman to make certain budget adjustments if such update estimates a budget surplus that exceeds the surplus set forth in the CBO's March 2000 outlook. (Sec. 207) Directs the Chairman, if the reconciliation legislation provided for in section 104 or the Medicare legislation provided for in section 202 of this resolution does not become law by October 1, 2000, to make certain adjustments to the pay-as-you-go scorecard and the level of debt held by the public set forth in this resolution. (Sec. 208) Provides that the criteria to be considered in determining whether a proposed expenditure or tax change is an emergency requirement in legislation are whether it is: (1) necessary, essential, or vital; (2) sudden, quickly coming into being, and not building up over time; (3) an urgent, pressing, and compelling need requiring immediate action; (4) unforeseen, unpredictable, and unanticipated; and (5) not permanent, temporary in nature. Requires a committee report or the statement of managers to justify why a requirement should be accorded emergency status if it does not meet such criteria. Strikes emergency requirements in legislation under consideration in the Senate when a point of order is sustained against such requirements. Waives or suspends such point of order only by an affirmative three-fifths majority vote. Requires the same majority to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair. (Sec. 209) Requires the appropriate Budget Committee chairman, if legislation becomes law that increases the discretionary spending limit for FY 2001 set out in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), to increase a specified allocation called for in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to the appropriate Appropriations Committee. Prohibits such allocation from exceeding the total budget authority and outlays set forth under such Act. (Sec. 210) Provides a point of order in the Senate against consideration of legislation that exceeds certain discretionary spending limits in the defense and nondefense categories for FY 2001. Makes this section inapplicable if a declaration of war is in effect. Waives or suspends such point of order only by an affirmative three-fifths majority vote. Requires the same majority to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair. (Sec. 211) Provides a point of order in the Senate against consideration of legislation or motions that provide an appropriation of new budget authority for any fiscal year: (1) after the budget year that exceeds a specified amount; and (2) subsequent to the year after the budget year. Makes a point of order in the Senate against consideration of legislation (with exceptions) or motions that contain an appropriation of new budget authority for any fiscal year which does not become available upon the later of enactment of such legislation or the first day of that fiscal year. Waives or suspends such points of order only by an affirmative three-fifths majority vote. Requires the same majority to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair. Terminates this section on October 1, 2002. (Sec. 212) Provides that for purposes of points of order of this resolution and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, provisions contained in legislation, amendments, or motions that affect any surplus funds of the Federal reserve banks shall not be scored with respect to the levels of budget authority, outlays, or revenues contained in such legislation. (Sec. 213) Provides that provisions contained in an appropriations bill (or related amendment or conference report) that result in increased revenues shall continue not to be scored with respect to the level of budget authority or outlays in such legislation for purposes of points of order under this resolution and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. (Sec. 214) Provides for the application and effect of changes in allocations and aggregates made pursuant to this resolution. (Sec. 215) Authorizes the Chairman, whenever the Finance Committee reports a bill (or an amendment or conference report is submitted) that facilitates children with disabilities receiving health care at home and finances health programs designed to allow such children to access the health services they need to remain at home while allowing their families to become or remain employed, to increase the spending aggregate and allocation of budget authority (and resulting outlays) to that committee by the amount provided by such legislation, with limitations. Title III: Sense of the Senate Provisions - Expresses the sense of the Senate with respect to: (1) funding international tuberculosis control efforts; (2) tax relief for parents and funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant; (3) tax relief for college tuition and interest paid on student loans; (4) increased funding for the National Institutes of Health; (5) funding for elementary and secondary education being in proportion to levels authorized in the Educational Opportunities Act; (6) elimination of wasted Federal expenditures and the use of revenue for tax relief or debt reduction; (7) the skilled nursing benefit and Medicare; (8) full funding as discretionary programs of certain conservation, historic preservation, and wildlife programs and funds; (9) increased appropriations for veterans' medical care; (10) educational impact aid; (11) raised acreage limits under the Conservation and Wetlands Reserve Programs; (12) tax simplification; (13) antitrust enforcement regarding agriculture mergers and anticompetitive activity; (14) trade support for American farmers; (15) the effects of social security reform on women; (16) full funding for programs established by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994; (17) the use of the False Claims Act to combat Medicare fraud; (18) funding for the National Guard; (19) protection of the defense readiness accounts; (20) compensation for the Chinese Embassy bombing in Belgrade; (21) access to information technologies and information technology training to address the digital divide; (22) funding for immunization grants; (23) tax credits for small businesses that provide health insurance to low-income employees; (24) funding for certain criminal justice programs; (25) Pell Grant funding; (26) public education reform; (27) funding for U.S. international leadership; (28) the HIV-AIDS epidemic; and (29) funding for tribal colleges.
Bill· SS. 2329 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2000
Exempts any migratory bird management carried out by the Secretary of Agriculture through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (including regulations). Authorizes a Service employee acting under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to: (1) issue a depredation permit to a Service stakeholder or cooperator; and (2) manage and take migratory birds.
Bill· SS. 2332 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2000
Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to provide an alternative loan deficiency payment computation permitting producers to lock in a rate of up to 85 percent of the loan commodity (yield) from the date that the Secretary of Agriculture determines that a fall- or spring-planted commodity is beginning to be harvested until producers begin harvesting such commodity. States that payments shall be received after: (1) harvest of the total quantity of the loan commodity; and (2) receipt of related documentation by the Secretary.
Bill· HRH.R. 4146 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2000
Help Emergency Responders Operate Act - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Agriculture for FY 2001 and 2002 for carrying out provisions authorizing the Secretary to: (1) cooperate with State foresters or equivalent State officials in developing systems and methods for the prevention, control, suppression, and prescribed use of fires on rural lands and in rural communities that will protect human lives, agricultural crops and livestock, property and other improvements, and natural resources; (2) provide financial, technical, and related assistance to such foresters or officials, and through them to other agencies and individuals, for the prevention, control, suppression, and prescribed use of fires on non-Federal forest lands and other non- Federal lands; and (3) provide financial, technical, and related assistance to such foresters or officials in cooperative efforts to organize, train, and equip local firefighting forces, including those of Indian tribes or other native groups, to prevent, control, and suppress fires threatening human lives, crops, livestock, farmsteads or other improvements, pastures, orchards, wildlife, rangeland, woodland, and other resources in rural areas. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), using amounts in an account for the purpose of providing loan guarantees (established under this Act), to guarantee loans to volunteer fire and rescue agencies for the entire principal and interest on the loan for specified volunteer fire and rescue services, including to purchase equipment necessary for proper performance of the agency's duties, to repair, rehabilitate, or otherwise improve the agency's existing facilities, and for carrying out public education programs regarding fire prevention, life safety, and arson. Sets forth loan terms and conditions. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations to the Director for FY 2001 and 2002 for making grants directly to local fire and rescue services for equipment, including interoperability radio equipment. Authorizes the Director to make grants on a competitive basis to: (1) safety organizations that have experience in conducting burn safety programs for assisting those organizations in conducting such programs or augmenting existing burn prevention programs; (2) hospitals that serve as regional burn centers to conduct acute burn research; and (3) governmental and nongovernmental entities to provide after-burn treatment and counseling to individuals that are burn victims. Creates an office in FEMA to establish specific criteria of grant recipients and to administer such grants. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director to establish a program to award grants to volunteer, paid, and combined departments that provide fire and emergency medical services. Permits such grants to be used, among other things, to: (1) acquire personal protective equipment required for firefighting personnel by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other personal protective equipment for firefighting personnel; (2) acquire additional firefighting equipment, including equipment for communication and monitoring; (3) establish wellness and fitness programs for firefighting personnel to reduce the number of injuries and deaths related to health and conditioning problems; (4) promote professional development of fire code enforcement personnel; (5) integrate computer technology to improve records management and training capabilities; (6) fund fire prevention programs and public education programs about arson prevention and detection, and juvenile fire setter intervention; and (7) modify fire stations, fire training facilities, and other facilities to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel. Provides for grant recipients to be subject to audits to ensure that the funds are spent for their intended purposes. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission, in addition to the allocations and assignments otherwise made with respect to new public safety services licenses and commercial licenses, within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, to allocate the electromagnetic spectrum between 139 megahertz and 140.5 megahertz, inclusive, and between 141.5 megahertz and 143 megahertz, inclusive, to interoperability use by public safety services. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior for FY 2001 for the U.S. Geological Survey for the Hazard Support System for system improvements and for operation and maintenance. Directs such Secretary to transmit to Congress a report on the results of a study, carried out in consultation with the National Interagency Fire Center and State fire services, of the best methods of disseminating data from such System to State and local fire mitigation entities for realtime fire detection. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to include as activities eligible for assistance under the community development block grant program the provision of assistance to local firefighting, emergency medical, or rescue units serving low-income communities for: (1) acquisition, repair, or rehabilitation of equipment or vehicles for firefighting, emergency medical, or rescue services; (2) construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, or improvement of facilities for local firefighting, emergency medical, or rescue services; or (3) training or planning involved in providing fire fighting, emergency medical, or rescue services. States that such an assisted activity shall be considered to benefit persons of low and moderate income if the service provides such services to low- and moderate-income persons.
Bill· HRH.R. 4135 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2000
Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish a procedure to identify, by State, inholdings within federally designated areas for which the landowner has indicated a desire to sell the land or an interest in land to the Federal Government and to establish the date upon which the land or interest in land identified became an inholding; and (2) provide in the Federal Register and through other means as deemed appropriate periodic notice to the public of such policy, including any information to consider an inholding for acquisition. Provides that an inholding shall be considered for identification only if the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture receives notification of a desire to sell from the owner in response to such a notice and shall be deemed to have been established as of the later of the earlier of the date on which the land was withdrawn from the public domain or established or designated for special management, or the date on which the inholding was acquired by the current owner. Directs the Secretary to establish a program, using funds from a Federal Land Disposal Account of the Treasury established by this Act, to complete appraisals and satisfy other legal requirements for the sale or exchange of public land identified for disposal under approved land use plans. Sets forth reporting and program termination requirements. Requires that gross proceeds generated by the sale or exchange of public land under this Act be deposited in the Federal Land Disposal Account. Sets forth provisions regarding use of the Account, contaminated sites and sites difficult and uneconomic to manage, and program termination.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 296 (106th)failed
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2000
Expresses the sense of Congress that the settlement process and claims of African-American farmers against the Department of Agriculture should be resolved expeditiously.
Bill· SS. 2315 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2000
Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include genetically engineered food and related materials in the definition of "food additive." Requires that a petition to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for a regulation prescribing the conditions of safe use of a genetically engineered food additive include all data collected or developed pursuant to safety investigations, including data that does not support the claim of safety. Mandates a fee from petitioners to cover related costs and to provide for a program of basic and applied research on genetic food additive safety.
Bill· HRH.R. 4122 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2000
Rural Broadband Enhancement Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a proceeding to provide Federal universal service support for the deployment of broadband telecommunications service (high speed voice, data, graphic, and video telecommunications) to eligible rural communities ( non-metropolitan areas with no more than 20,000 inhabitants). Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administrative Organization Act to direct the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture to make loans or other credit extensions to eligible telecommunications carrier providers, or to companies that accept the obligations of such carriers, to finance the deployment of broadband service to eligible rural communities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2005.
Bill· HRH.R. 4128 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2000
Help Emergency Responders Operate Act - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Agriculture for FY 2001 and 2002 for carrying out provisions authorizing the Secretary to: (1) cooperate with State foresters or equivalent State officials in developing systems and methods for the prevention, control, suppression, and prescribed use of fires on rural lands and in rural communities that will protect human lives, agricultural crops and livestock, property and other improvements, and natural resources; (2) provide financial, technical, and related assistance to such foresters or officials, and through them to other agencies and individuals, for the prevention, control, suppression, and prescribed use of fires on non-Federal forest lands and other non- Federal lands; and (3) provide financial, technical, and related assistance to such foresters or officials in cooperative efforts to organize, train, and equip local firefighting forces, including those of Indian tribes or other native groups, to prevent, control, and suppress fires threatening human lives, crops, livestock, farmsteads or other improvements, pastures, orchards, wildlife, rangeland, woodland, and other resources in rural areas. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), using amounts in an account for the purpose of providing loan guarantees (established under this Act), to guarantee loans to volunteer fire and rescue agencies for the entire principal and interest on the loan for specified volunteer fire and rescue services, including to purchase equipment necessary for proper performance of the agency's duties, to repair, rehabilitate, or otherwise improve the agency's existing facilities, and for carrying out public education programs regarding fire prevention, life safety, and arson. Sets forth loan terms and conditions. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations to the Director for FY 2001 and 2002 for making grants directly to local fire and rescue services for equipment, including interoperability radio equipment. Authorizes the Director to make grants on a competitive basis to: (1) safety organizations that have experience in conducting burn safety programs for assisting those organizations in conducting such programs or augmenting existing burn prevention programs; (2) hospitals that serve as regional burn centers to conduct acute burn research; and (3) governmental and nongovernmental entities to provide after-burn treatment and counseling to individuals that are burn victims. Creates an office in FEMA to establish specific criteria of grant recipients and to administer such grants. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director to establish a program to award grants to volunteer, paid, and combined departments that provide fire and emergency medical services. Permits such grants to be used, among other things, to: (1) acquire personal protective equipment required for firefighting personnel by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other personal protective equipment for firefighting personnel; (2) acquire additional firefighting equipment, including equipment for communication and monitoring; (3) establish wellness and fitness programs for firefighting personnel to reduce the number of injuries and deaths related to health and conditioning problems; (4) promote professional development of fire code enforcement personnel; (5) integrate computer technology to improve records management and training capabilities; (6) fund fire prevention programs and public education programs about arson prevention and detection, and juvenile fire setter intervention; and (7) modify fire stations, fire training facilities, and other facilities to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel. Provides for grant recipients to be subject to audits to ensure that the funds are spent for their intended purposes. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission, in addition to the allocations and assignments otherwise made with respect to new public safety services licenses and commercial licenses, within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, to allocate the electromagnetic spectrum between 139 megahertz and 140.5 megahertz, inclusive, and between 141.5 megahertz and 143 megahertz, inclusive, to interoperability use by public safety services. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior for FY 2001 for the U.S. Geological Survey for the Hazard Support System for system improvements and for operation and maintenance. Directs such Secretary to transmit to Congress a report on the results of a study, carried out in consultation with the National Interagency Fire Center and State fire services, of the best methods of disseminating data from such System to State and local fire mitigation entities for realtime fire detection. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to include as activities eligible for assistance under the community development block grant program the provision of assistance to local firefighting, emergency medical, or rescue services for: (1) acquisition, repair, or rehabilitation of equipment or vehicles for fire fighting, emergency medical, or rescue services; (2) construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, or improvement of facilities for local fire fighting, emergency medical, or rescue services; or (3) training or planning involved in providing fire fighting, emergency medical, or rescue services. States that such an assisted activity shall be considered to benefit persons of low and moderate income if the service provides such services to all persons in the geographical area served, including any low and moderate income persons.
Bill· SS. 2307 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2000
Rural Broadband Enhancement Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a proceeding to provide Federal universal service support for the deployment of broadband telecommunications service (high speed voice, data, graphic, and video telecommunications) to eligible rural communities ( non-metropolitan areas with no more than 20,000 inhabitants). Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administrative Organization Act to direct the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture to make loans or other credit extensions to eligible telecommunications carrier providers, or to companies that accept the obligations of such carriers, to finance the deployment of broadband service to eligible rural communities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2005.
Bill· SS. 2282 (106th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2000
Native American Agricultural Research, Development and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 - Establishes within the Department of Agriculture a Native American Agricultural Research, Development and Export Office. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of such Office, to ensure the coordination of all programs that provide assistance to Native American communities within seven specified mission areas of the Department of Agriculture and to ensure the coordination of, or carry out, activities to: (1) promote Indian agricultural programs; (2) facilitate water and waste programs, housing, utility and other infrastructure development with respect to Native American communities; (3) provide assistance to Indian tribal college programs; (4) implement rural economic development programs for Native American communities; and (5) promote food and nutrition services for such communities. Requires the Director to provide: (1) financial and technical assistance and administrative services to assist eligible entities in identifying and taking advantage of business development opportunities and complying with laws and regulatory practices; and (2) such other assistance necessary for the development of business opportunities to enhance Indian tribes' economies. Requires the Director to establish and implement a Native American export and trade promotion program and, in carrying out such program, to ensure the coordination of: (1) Federal programs and services designed to develop Indian tribes' economies and stimulate the demand for Indian goods and services that are available from eligible entities; and (2) Federal programs that are designed to provide technical or financial assistance to eligible entities and any activities related to the development of markets for Indian goods and services. Requires the Director to provide technical assistance and administrative services to assist eligible entities in: (1) identifying and entering markets for Indian goods and services; (2) complying with foreign or domestic laws and practices with respect to financial institutions concerning the export and import of such goods and services; and (3) entering into financial arrangements to provide for the export and trade of Indian agricultural and related products.
Bill· HRH.R. 4073 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2000
Amends the Poultry Products Inspection Act to include within the definition of poultry pigeons that are distributed in commerce as human food. States that certain small enterprise and within-jurisdiction exemptions from specified provisions of such Act shall not apply to the slaughter or processing of pigeons.
Bill· HRH.R. 4056 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2000
Agricultural Job Opportunity Benefits and Security Act of 2000 - Title I: Adjustment to Legal Status - Directs the Attorney General to adjust the status of a qualifying alien agricultural worker to that of a lawfully admitted nonimmigrant. Provides, with respect to such status, for: (1) a maximum seven-year period of validity; and (2) termination and removal for failure to meet specified agricultural work requirements. Sets forth employer record-keeping requirements. Provides for adjustment to permanent resident status upon completion of required agricultural work for five years. Provides for: (1) status termination and removal for fraud or misrepresentation, or certain criminal activities; and (2) deportation for failure to apply for status adjustment within the specified application period. Sets forth provisions with respect to: (1) adjustment of status applications, including penalties for false statements; (2) waiver of numerical limitations and certain grounds for inadmissibility; (3) temporary stay of removal and work authorization; (4) administrative and judicial review; and (5) dissemination of program information. Title II: Agricultural Worker Registries - Directs the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to establish a database system of U.S. worker and nonimmigrant agricultural worker registries to provide temporary and seasonal agricultural job opportunity and referral information. States that such registries may be established as part of the "America's Job Bank" and "America's Talent Bank" databases. Bases registry coverage on job opportunities in a single State, except for the New England States which may be represented by a single registry. Requires prospective employers of H-2A visa agricultural workers to first apply for registry workers before a petition to import H-2A workers may be approved. Sets forth individual registrant requirements. States that an agricultural worker may apply for registry inclusion in the State of his or her residency. Grants referral preference to U.S. workers. Provides that adjusted nonimmigrants: (1) may only be employed in the State of their registration, or in contiguous States; and (2) shall be temporarily or permanently removed from the registry for failure to report for a committed job or jobs. Title III: H-2A Reform - Sets forth registry application requirements for H-2A employers and employer associations, including assurances: (1) that the job opportunity is not the result of a labor dispute, and is temporary or seasonal; (2) respecting required wages and benefits, and compliance with labor laws; (3) respecting advertising in the registry and other labor market sources; and (4) respecting provision of workers compensation. Provides that: (1) the Secretary, upon application approval, shall complete a registry search and notify an employer of available registered workers within seven days of the beginning work date; (2) if insufficient workers are available, the Secretary shall so notify an employer, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State; (3) an employer shall pay a user fee for each admitted alien worker; (4) an employer may apply directly to the Secretary of State for alien worker admissions if such worker referral has not been received within the seven-day period; and (5) an employer may file a request for redetermination of need. (Sec. 304) Sets forth employment requirements with respect to: (1) wages; (2) housing; (3) transportation reimbursement; and (4) obligation to employ U.S. workers. (Sec. 305) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise provisions respecting the admission and extension of stay of temporary H-2A workers. Directs the Attorney General to conduct a study regarding H-2A workers overstays, and whether a partial wage withholding is a necessary inducement to assure timely departure. States that nothing in this Act shall preclude the Secretary and the Attorney General from continuing to apply special procedures to the employment, admissions, and extension of aliens in the range production of livestock. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary to establish a process to receive and enforce complaints against employers by aggrieved persons or third party organizations (including bargaining representatives). Sets forth related provisions respecting: (1) expedited investigation of housing, wage, and child labor violations; (2) written notice of findings and opportunity for appeal; (3) ability of alien workers to change employers; and (4) remedies. Establishes the Commission on Housing Migrant Agricultural Workers which shall study the problem of in-season housing for migrant agricultural workers. Directs the Secretaries of Labor, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services to conduct a study of the relationship between child care of migrant agricultural workers and child labor violations in agriculture. Directs the Secretaries of Labor and Agriculture to conduct a study of agricultural field sanitation conditions. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of persistent and serious agricultural labor standards violations. (Sec. 402) Authorizes and requests the Attorney General to establish bilateral commissions between the United States and each country having specified numbers of H-2A workers in the United States. (Sec. 404) Directs the Secretary to establish registry user and alien employment user fee schedules and related collection processes. (Sec. 405) States that additional funds for agricultural worker registry startup costs may be taken from amounts available to Federal or State entities under the Wagner-Peyser Act. (Sec. 406) Sets forth reporting requirements to the congressional Judiciary committees describing the results of a review of the implementation of this Act. Establishes an advisory board to advise the Comptroller General in the preparation of such report.
Bill· SS. 2252 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2000
Agriculture Competition Enhancement Act - Establishes within the Department of Agriculture a Special Counsel for Competition Matters, to be appointed by the President subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. (Sec. 4) Directs the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission to notify the Secretary of Agriculture of specified (size- and market share-related) agribusiness premerger filings under the Clayton Act, and provide the Secretary with an opportunity to participate in such review. States that in addition to such antittrust review the Special Counsel shall conduct a contemporaneous review of the proposed action's marketplace effect on independent producers and family farmers, and may challenge such merger or acquisition. Authorizes the Special Counsel to request notification of a smaller merger or acquisition that may threaten market competition. Sets forth procedural provisions. Amends the Clayton Act with respect to proposed agricultural mergers or acquisitions. (Sec. 5) Sets forth: (1) unlawful practices for agricultural dealers, processors, commission merchants, or brokers; and (2) related enforcement provisions. (Sec. 6) Requires specified dealers, processors, commission merchants, or brokers to report annually respecting their corporate structure. (Sec. 7) Prohibits confidentiality clauses in livestock and poultry production contracts. (Sec. 8) Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to: (1) remove the slaughter requirement from the definitions of "poultry grower," "poultry growing arrangement," and "live poultry dealer;" and (2) extend administrative enforcement authority to live poultry dealers. (Sec. 9) Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize business and industry guaranteed loans for non-rural sited, farmer-owned projects that add value to or process agricultural commodities. (Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary to hire sufficient staff to carry out agribusiness merger review and related enforcement activities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations for the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration to monitor the competitive implications of structural changes in the meat packing industry. Earmarks funds for enforcement activities. (Sec. 12) Establishes within the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice an Assistant Attorney General for Agricultural Antitrust Matters. (Sec. 13) Increases certain Federal Trade Commission premerger filing fees (Hart-Scott-Rodino filing fees), to be partially earmarked for agribusiness-related staff increases at the Transportation, Energy and Agriculture section of the Department of Justice.