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351 records in US in 1999
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1999
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in Georgia and make a specified payment to the Georgia Power Company in exchange for certain land within or near the Chattahoochee and the Oconee National Forests, Georgia.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1999
Lake Oconee Land Exchange Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in Georgia and make a specified payment to the Georgia Power Company in exchange for certain land within or near the Chattahoochee National Forests, Georgia.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1999
Farmland Protection Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 with respect to the farmland protection program to: (1) specify that the program shall be a matching grant program carried out through eligible entities such as State and local government, Indian tribes, and nonprofit conservation organizations which do not operate farmland protection programs; (2) eliminate acreage limits; and (3) increase the existing funding cap, revising it from a total program to a fiscal year cap.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1999
Consumer Health Free Speech Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exclude food (including dietary supplements) from the definition of "drug." Deems a food adulterated if it is a dietary supplement, or contains a dietary ingredient, that: (1) presents a significant and unreasonable (currently, significant or unreasonable) risk of illness or injury under ordinary or label-suggested use; or (2) is a new dietary ingredient for which there is inadequate information to provide reasonable assurance that the ingredient does not present a significant and unreasonable (currently, significant or unreasonable) risk of illness or injury.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1999
Twenty-First Amendment Enforcement Act - Amends the Webb-Kenyon Act to authorize a State attorney general (State AG) who has reasonable cause to believe that a person is engaging in any act that would constitute a violation of State law regulating the importation or transportation of any intoxicating liquor to bring a civil action for injunctive relief to: (1) restrain the person from engaging in the violation; and (2) enforce compliance with State law. Grants U.S. district courts jurisdiction over any such action. Directs the court, in such action and upon a proper showing by the State AG, to issue a preliminary or permanent injunction or other order without requiring the posting of a bond. Prohibits such issuance without notice to the adverse party. Sets forth provisions regarding the form and scope of the order. Authorizes the court to order the trial of the action on the merits to be advanced and consolidated with the hearing on the application. Specifies that such an action shall be tried before the court.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1999
Redesignates the National School Lunch Act as the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1999
Children's Smoking Prevention, Health, and Learning Trust Fund Act of 1999 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prohibit as the treatment of an overpayment for Medicaid-related purposes any amount recovered or paid to a State as part of a settlement or judgment reached in litigation initiated or pursued by a State against one or more manufacturers of tobacco products (recovered amounts), if the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) finds that specified conditions will be met, including that the State has filed an HHS-approved plan with the Secretary that outlines specified expenditure guidelines requiring, among other things, that at least 35 percent of the Federal share (50 percent of any recovered amounts for a fiscal year) be spent on certain tobacco use prevention programs such as smoking cessation programs and other anti-smoking State-initiated programs to assist smokers with smoking- induced disease, with the remainder of the Federal share to be spent on various specified health care and early learning programs, including the Children's Health Insurance program (SSA title XXI). Establishes an exception for tobacco-growing States with regard to expenditure of the remainder of the Federal share to allow them to use up to a specified percentage of such remainder for assistance programs for tobacco farmers and workers adversely impacted directly because of such settlement or judgment. Provides that: (1) if the Secretary determines that recovered amounts are not being spent accordingly the Secretary shall take appropriate action to offset such amounts from the amounts otherwise paid to the State under Medicaid; and (2) payment for administrative expenses incurred in pursuing tobacco litigation is prohibited. Makes this Act effective with regard to amounts recovered or paid to a State before, on, or after the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1999
Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to require a permit, establish a fee, and collect related costs for commercial filming activities in a site or resource under their respective jurisdictions. Prohibits fee imposition for still photography in public areas, and authorizes fees in other areas under specified conditions. Directs the Secretaries to require a permit and fee for still photography utilizing non-site models or props.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1999
Dairy Promotion Fairness Act - Amends the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 to define"imported dairy product" and "importer" for purposes of the dairy promotion program. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to appoint (up to two) dairy importers to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board if such representation is required by another law or treaty to which the United States is a party. Requires dairy importers to contribute to the dairy promotion program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1999
Makes amounts available for expenses, including expenses of staff salaries, of the following committees of the House of Representatives in the 106th Congress: (1) Agriculture; (2) Armed Services; (3) Banking and Financial Services; (4) Budget; (5) Commerce; (6) Education and the Workforce; (7) Government Reform; (8) House Administration; (9) Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; (10) International Relations; (11) Judiciary; (12) Resources; (13) Rules; (14) Science; (15) Small Business; (16) Standards of Official Conduct; (17) Transportation and Infrastructure; (18) Veterans' Affairs; and (19) Ways and Means. Sets forth first and second session limitations on such amounts. Grants the Committee on House Administration the authority to make adjustments in such amounts if necessary to comply with a presidential sequestration order issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) or to conform to any reduction in appropriations. Establishes a reserve fund for unanticipated expenses of committees for the 106th Congress to be paid to them pursuant to allocations approved by such Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1999
Agricultural Trade Freedom Act - Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to exempt, with specified exceptions, commercial sales of agricultural commodities from unilateral economic sanctions imposed by the United States upon another country. States that the President: (1) may determine that for reasons of foreign policy or national security such exemption shall not apply; and (2) shall determine whether such exemption shall apply to each existing sanction. Sets forth related reporting requirements. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to: (1) U.S. agricultural trade negotiation objectives; (2) sale or barter of food assistance; and (3) relief from foreign trade practices restricting U.S. agricultural commodities, including the use of specified agricultural authorities in instances of undue delay in resolving disputes. Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to repeal the micronutrient fortification pilot program. Makes specified amendments to the: (1) Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996; (2) Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990; and (3) Agricultural Trade Act of 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Chapter 1: Department of Agriculture Chapter 2: Funds Appropriated to the President Chapter 3: Department of the Interior Chapter 4: Independent Agency Title II: Supplemental Appropriations Chapter 1: Department of Justice Chapter 2: Department of Defense--Military Chapter 3: Department of the Interior Chapter 4: Related Agency Chapter 5: Department of Defense Chapter 6: Department Of Housing and Urban Development Title III: Rescissions and Offsets Chapter 1: Department of Agriculture Chapter 2: Department of Justice Chapter 3: Department of Defense--Military Chapter 4: Bilateral Economic Assistance Chapter 5: Department of the Interior Chapter 6: Department of Labor Chapter 7: Department of Defense Chapter 8: Department of Housing and Urban Development Title IV: Technical Corrections Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1999 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations and rescissions for recovery from natural disasters and foreign assistance, for FY 1999. Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations - Chapter 1 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for: (1) the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, for emergency grants to assist low-income migrant and seasonal farm workers; (2) the Farm Service Agency, for salaries and expenses, the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund program account, and the Emergency Conservation Program; (3) the Commodity Credit Corporation Fund, for a livestock indemnity program; (4) the Natural Resources Conservation Service, for Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations; and (5) the Rural Housing Service, for the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account and for rural housing assistance grants. Chapter 2 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the President for : (1) the Agency for International Development, for the Central America and the Caribbean Emergency Disaster Recovery Fund to provide relief from the effects of the hurricanes in Central America and the Caribbean and the earthquake in Colombia, international disaster assistance, and other bilateral economic assistance; and (2) the Foreign Military Financing Program. Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of the Treasury for debt restructuring, allowing a specified amount to be used for a contribution to the Central America Emergency Trust Fund, administered by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Provides that the value of articles, services, and military education and training authorized as of a specified date to be drawn down by the President under certain provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 shall not be counted against the ceiling limitation. Chapter 3 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of the Interior, for construction by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and (2) the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. Chapter 4 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster assistance for unmet needs. Emergency Steel Loan Guarantee Act of 1999 - Establishes the Emergency Steel Guaranteed Loan Program, to be administered by a Loan Guarantee Board, to provide loan guarantees to qualified steel companies. Sets limits on loan duration and on the aggregate amounts of loans and guarantees outstanding at any one time under the program or with respect to a single qualified company. Designates the entire amount made available for the program as an emergency requirement. Title II: Supplemental Appropriations - Chapter 1 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Justice, for the Immigration and Naturalization Service's salaries and expenses for enforcement and border affairs; (2) Department of Commerce, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's operations, research, and facilities; and (3) the U.S. Supreme Court. Chapter 2 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense: (1) for military personnel of the Army Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air Force National Guard; (2) operation and maintenance, defense-wide and for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Army National Guard; (3) overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid; and (4) the New Horizons Exercise transfer fund. (Sec. 201) Allows a specified portion of appropriations for defense-wide operation and maintenance, under the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-262), to be made available for a grant to a consortium of non-profit, higher education institutions to create a computer network to enhance teaching and learning opportunities in science, technology and communications. (Sec. 202) Revises specified Federal law to raise the ceiling on the number of persons from a foreign country who may enter the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, or Air Force Academy. Chapter 3 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of the Interior for: (1) the Bureau of Indian Affairs operation of Indian programs, for suppression of western spruce budworm (transferring funds from previous appropriations for Forest Service wildland fire management); (2) the Bureau of Land Management, for its management of lands and resources through the Automated Land and Mineral Record System; and (3) the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, Federal Trust programs activities under the Trust Management Improvement Project High Level Implementation Plan. Requires transfer to the Knudson-Vandenberg fund of specified funds made available for the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service wildland fire management. Chapter 4 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's National Public Radio, for acquisition of satellite capacity for the Public Radio Satellite System. Chapter 5 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense, for military construction, Army National Guard, for incremental costs due to Hurricane Georges. Chapter 6 - Extends the period of availability for specified funds for management and administration of the Office of Inspector General, Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Sec. 2001) Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999, which is a specified part of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (OCESAA), to provide for direct payment to Auburn University, Alabama, of funds appropriated for Forest Service construction of a new forestry research facility there, in a limited amount prior to October 1, 1999. Requires Auburn University to provide rent-free any additional space within such new facility that the Forest Service may need for collaborative laboratory activities. (Sec. 2002) Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from using funds under this or any other Act to issue and finalize a rule to revise a specified regulation or the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Surface Management Regulations for Locatable Mineral Operations, unless a minimum 120-day period has been provided for accepting public comment on such proposed rule after a required report of the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands is submitted to the appropriate Federal agencies, the Congress, and the Governors of the affected States. (Sec. 2003) Authorizes the Attorney General to transfer, from any funds available to the Department of Justice, a limited amount of additional funds to the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund to pay restitution to individuals who are : (1) eligible under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and have filed timely claims for the restitution; or (2) found eligible under the settlement agreement in the case of Carmen Mochizuki et al. vs.United States and filed timely claims covered by the agreement. (Sec. 2004) Revises a specified part of OCESAA to prohibit charging against a program of honey recourse loans any administrative costs other than those necessary for such program's operation. (Sec. 2005) Prohibits use of funds in this or any other Act to issue a notice of final rulemaking with respect to the valuation of crude oil for royalty purposes, including a rulemaking derived from specified proposed rules, until October 1, 1999, or until there is a negotiated agreement on the rule. (Sec. 2006) Requires a certain amount of funds for sewer infrastructure needs associated with the 2002 Winter Olympic Games to be awarded to Wasatch County, Utah, for both water and sewer. (Sec. 2007) Prohibits the Department of the Interior, for the remainder of FY 1999, from using any funds to implement a Secretarial Order regarding the Reorganization of the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians. Requires that FY 1999 appropriations for reforming trust funds management practices continue to be administered as if such Order had not been issued. (Sec. 2008) Revises specified Federal law, as amended by OCESAA, to extend the authorization of appropriations and the obligational authority for the Airport Improvement Program. Amends the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999, under OCESAA, to provide that a specified maximum amount of funds, which are limited under provisions for liquidation of contract authorization, may be obligated before the enactment of a bill extending contract authorization for the Grants-in-Aid for airports program beyond May 31, 1999. (Sec. 2009) Extends through FY 1999 the period of reenactment, under OCESAA, of specified Federal bankruptcy law relating to family farmers. (Sec. 2010) Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to revise: (1) debt service margin requirements; and (2) a formula used in loan restructuring determinations. (Sec. 2011) Amends the Social Security Act to prohibit treatment of funds recovered or paid from tobacco companies to a State, in a comprehensive or individual State settlement or court judgement, as an overpayment under Medicaid. Allows States to use such funds for any expenditures they deem appropriate, but prohibits certain payments for administrative expenses incurred in pursuing such tobacco litigation. Title III: Rescissions and Offsets - Chapter 1 - Rescinds a specified amount of funds from the Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service food stamp program. Chapter 2 - Rescinds specified amounts of funds from the Department of Justice's: (1) Office of Inspector General; and (2) Immigration and Naturalization Service, for salaries and expenses for enforcement and border affairs, and for citizenship and benefits, immigration support and program direction. Rescinds specified amounts of funds from the Department Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for operations, research and facilities procurement, acquisition, and construction. Rescinds specified amounts of funds from the Department of State and related agencies, for international organizations and conferences, including contributions to international organizations, contributions for international peacekeeping activities, and international broadcasting operations. Chapter 3 - Rescinds a specified amount of funds from the Department of Defense for military operation and maintenance defense-wide. Chapter 4 - Rescinds specified amounts, from bilateral economic assistance funds appropriated to the President, from: (1) Haiti; (2) Bosnia and Herzegovina; and (3) Russia. Rescinds specified amounts, from multilateral economic assistance funds appropriated to the President, from: (1) the contribution to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development's global environment facility; and (2) international organizations and programs. Chapter 5 - Rescinds a specified amount of funds from the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management's management of lands and resources. Chapter 6 - Reduces the amount of specified funds for the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration's State unemployment insurance and employment service operations. Defers the availability for obligation of specified amounts of funds for the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Rescinds a specified amount of funds from the Department of Education for education research, statistics, and improvement. Chapter 7 - Rescinds a specified amount of funds from the Department of Defense's Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part IV. Chapter 8 - Rescinds a specified amount of funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for community development block grants. Rescinds a specified amount from the Environmental Protection Agency for research associated with the Climate Technology Initiative. (Sec. 3001) Repeals OCESAA provisions for FY 1999 emergency supplemental appropriations for the Agricultural Research Service of the Department of Agriculture for counterdrug research and development activities, (Sec. 3002) Rescinds a specified amount of funds appropriated with an emergency designation in OCESAA emergency supplemental provisions, other than those appropriated to the Department of Defense--Military. Requires such reductions to be applied proportionally to each appropriation account and budget activity being reduced. (Sec. 3003) Rescinds a specified amount of FY 1999 funds from the non-defense discretionary category, as a result of revised economic assumptions from inflation adjusted accounts. (Sec. 3004) Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Comptroller General to audit, and report to the Congress on, HUD's compliance with the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 over the last two years. Title IV: Technical Corrections - Revises and makes technical corrections to various Acts contained in OCESAA, including: (1) the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999; (2) the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1999 (and provisions of the International Financial Institutions Act added by such Act); (3) the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999; (4) the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999; (5) the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999; (6) the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1999; and (7) the Denali Commission Act of 1998. Revises and makes other technical corrections to the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1999, the American Fisheries Act, and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Crop Insurance Coverage Title II: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Risk Management Agency Crop Insurance for the 21st Century Act - Title I: Crop Insurance Coverage - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to specify expected market price criteria for revenue or production-based insurance. Provides for 75 percent additional coverage. Revises Federal Crop Insurance Corporation premium subsidy provisions, including making provision for certain mandatory and discretionary payments. (Sec. 102) Provides average production history adjustments for: (1) new producers; (2) producers who are working new land or rotating crops; or (3) producers suffering from multiyear disaster losses. (Sec. 104) Authorizes the Corporation to pay a part of the premiums for specified additional coverage. (Sec. 105) Directs the Office of Risk Management to contract for a rating methodologies development pilot program. (Sec. 106) Includes livestock within crop insurance coverage. Title II: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Risk Management Agency - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to revise the membership of the Corporation's Board of Directors. (Sec. 202) Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to place the Office of Risk Management under the direction of the Board. (Sec. 203) Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an Office of Private Sector Partnership to provide specified Board-private sector liaison functions (Sec. 204) Directs the Board to review approved providers' insurance plans for commodity coverage adequacy, including development of insurance plans where appropriate. (Sec. 205) Authorizes specified insurance plan fees. (Sec. 206) Directs the Corporation to carry out a flexible subsidy pilot program to encourage private sector innovation through exclusive marketing rights and premium rate competition.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999
Renames the Export Apple and Pear Act as the Export Apple Act. Eliminates references to pears from such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999
Safe and Fair Enforcement and Recall for Meat and Poultry Act - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to: (1) require a person, other than a household consumer, who has reason to believe meat or poultry products to be adulterated or misbranded to so notify the Secretary of Agriculture; and (2) provide the Secretary with authority for voluntary and mandatory nondistribution and recall, withdrawal of inspectors from violating facilities, and civil penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: United States-Caribbean Trade Partnership Title II: Foreign Assistance For Central America and the Caribbean Subtitle A: Microcredit and Agricultural Assistance Subtitle B: Overseas Private Investment Corporation Subtitle C: Economic Support Fund Assistance Title III: Department of Defense Title IV: Immigration and Naturalization Service Title V: Debt Rescheduling and Reduction for Honduras and Nicaragua; Funding for the Central American Emergency Trust Fund of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Subtitle A: Debt Rescheduling and Reduction for Honduras and Nicaragua Subtitle B: Authorization of Funding for the Central American Emergency Trust Fund of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Caribbean and Central America Relief and Economic Stabilization Act - Title I: United States-Caribbean Trade Partnership - United States-Caribbean Trade Partnership Act -Amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) to accord, for a specified period, the same tariff and quota treatment (duty-free or reduced duty treatment, free of any quantitative limitations) given certain textile and apparel articles (including those imported from North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries) to such articles from CBERA partnership countries, or beneficiary countries (other than Central American countries) planning to become parties to NAFTA, or a comparable free trade agreement. Subjects to certain penalties exporters that engage in the transshipment of such articles (preferential treatment claimed on the basis of material false information concerning the country of origin, manufacture, processing, or assembly of the article or any of its components). (Sec. 104) Directs the Commissioner of Customs to analyze and report to Congress on the extent to which partnership countries have cooperated with the United States with respect to the circumvention of existing quotas on imports of textile and apparel goods, and taken appropriate measures against circumvention violators (including exporters and importers involved in false information declarations relating to such goods). (Sec. 105) Directs the President to: (1) monitor the effects, if any, that implementation of NAFTA has on the access of beneficiary countries to the U.S. market for sugars, syrups, and molasses; and (2) in the event such implementation is adversely affecting such countries' access to the U.S. market, to take specified action to ameliorate such adverse effect. (Sec. 106) Grants duty-free treatment to rum liqueurs and spirituous beverages from Canada if certain conditions are met. (Sec. 107) Directs the President to convene a meeting with the trade ministers of the partnership countries in order to reach agreement for initiating negotiations for partnership countries to accede to the NAFTA. (Sec. 108) Directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to assess, and report to specified congressional committees on, the economic development efforts and market oriented reforms in each partnership country, and the ability of each country, on the basis of such efforts and reforms, to undertake the obligations of the NAFTA. Title II: Foreign Assistance for Central America and the Caribbean - Subtitle A: Microcredit and Agricultural Assistance - Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) to use credit and microcredit assistance to provide disaster assistance to rehabilitate agriculture production in the hurricane-affected areas of Central America and the Caribbean. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Administrator of AID to utilize relevant foreign assistance programs and initiatives for the Central America and Caribbean region to support private producer-owned cooperative marketing associations there, including rural business associations owned and controlled by farmer shareholders. (Sec. 204) Directs the Administrator of AID to develop a comprehensive plan to coordinate and build on the research and extension activities of U.S. land-grant universities, international agricultural research centers, and national agricultural research and extension centers in Central America and the Caribbean. (Sec. 205) Provides assistance through the nonemergency food assistance programs of the Agriculture Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to the hurricane-affected Central American and Caribbean areas. Subtitle B: Overseas Private Investment Corporation - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) should foster U.S. private investment and enhance the ability of private enterprise to make its full contribution in the hurricane- affected areas of Central America and the Caribbean. Subtitle C: Economic Support Fund Assistance - Authorizes appropriations for reconstruction and disaster mitigation assistance for the areas of Central America and the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Mitch and Hurricane Georges. Earmarks specified amounts for operating expenses of AID. (Sec. 222) Authorizes appropriations to reimburse the international disaster assistance account for expenses incurred with respect to such assistance provided to the affected areas of Central America and the Caribbean. Title III: Department of Defense - Authorizes appropriations for: (1) replenishment of the Department of Defense (DOD) accounts used in providing disaster relief and reconstruction to the hurricane- affected areas of Central America and the Caribbean (earmarking amounts for replenishment of operation and maintenance and military personal accounts, the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster and Civic Aid account, and the Commanders in Chief (CINC) Initiative Fund); and (2) the New Horizons Program (earmarking amounts for expanding National Guard and Reserve exercises in Central American countries and the Dominican Republic). Title IV: Immigration and Naturalization Service - Authorizes appropriations for Enforcement and Border Affairs within the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to: (1) support increased detention requirements for Central American criminal aliens held in detention by the INS; and (2) address the expected influx of illegal immigrants from Central America. Title V: Debt Rescheduling and Reduction for Honduras and Nicaragua; Funding for Central American Emergency trust Fund of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - Subtitle A: Debt Rescheduling and Reduction for Honduras and Nicaragua - Authorizes the President to reschedule the repayment of interest on, and (subject to specific appropriations) reduce the amount of, the indebtedness owed by the Honduran and Nicaraguan governments to the United States. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Authorization of Funding for the Central American Emergency Trust Fund of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), subject to specific appropriations, to contribute $25 million on behalf of the United States to the Central American Emergency Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Transfers of Excess Defense Articles Title II: Foreign Military Sales Authorities Title III: Stockpiling of Defense Articles for Foreign Countries Title IV: International Arms Sales Code of Conduct Act of 1999 Title V: Authority to Exempt India and Pakistan from Certain Sanctions Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions Security Assistance Act of 1999 - Title I: Transfers of Excess Defense Articles - Amends Federal law to extend through FY 2001 Department of Defense (DOD) authority to transfer excess defense articles to countries eligible to participate in the Partnership for Peace program and eligible for assistance under the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989. (Sec. 102) Authorizes for FY 2000 and 2001 the use of funds made available to DOD for crating, packing, handling, and transportation of excess defense articles to Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Title II: Foreign Military Sales Authorities - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to extend assistance to countries for foreign military training programs under the Arms export Control Act (AECA) for up to eight months from the program termination date for necessary expenses of winding up program related activities. (Sec. 202) Amends the AECA to authorize the sale of excess Coast Guard defense articles and defense services to eligible foreign countries and international organizations. (Sec. 203) Declares that direct costs associated with meeting additional or unique requirements of the purchaser shall be an allowable cost (including loadings applicable to such direct costs) at the same rates applicable to procurement of like items purchased by the DOD for its own use. (Sec. 204) Requires certain numbered certifications to Congress with respect to any letter of offer to sell (Government-to-Government sale), or license for export (commercial sale) of, major defense equipment in the amount of $14 million or more, or defense articles or services in the amount of $50 million or more, to include a description of any offset agreement. Authorizes such description to be included in the classified portion of such numbered certification. (Sec. 205) Applies certain numbered congressional certification requirements with respect to the upgrade of major defense articles, equipment, or services to their direct commercial sale as well. (Sec. 206) Extends to exports of defense articles or services the current prohibition against incentive payments by U.S. suppliers to satisfy any offset agreement with a foreign country to which such articles or services are sold. (Sec. 207) Authorizes the President lease defense articles from DOD stocks to an eligible foreign country or international organization if, among other conditions, such country or entity agrees to pay in U.S. dollars a fee for the administrative services associated with processing such leasing. Title III: Stockpiling of Defense Articles For Foreign Countries - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase the maximum value of additions to stockpiles in foreign countries in FY 1999 and 2000. Makes amounts available for such stockpiles in South Korea and Thailand. (Sec. 302) Authorizes the President to transfer to South Korea and Thailand certain obsolete or surplus defense articles in return for concessions to be negotiated by the Secretary of Defense. Requires the value of such concessions to be at least equal to the fair market value of the transferred items. Requires the President to notify the Congress of the proposed transfer, including the identity of the items to be transferred and the concessions to be received. Terminates transfer authority five years after enactment of this Act. Title IV: International Arms Sales Code of Conduct Act of 1999 - International Arms Sales Code of Conduct Act of 1999 - Directs the President to attempt, through negotiations with all Wassenaar Arrangement countries, to achieve the foreign policy goal of an international arms sales code of conduct that restricts or prohibits arms transfers to countries that: (1) do not promote democracy; (2) do not adhere to internationally recognized norms on human rights; (3) are engaged in acts of armed aggression; or (4) do not participate in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. Directs the President to report on such negotiations to the appropriate congressional committees. Title V: Authority to Exempt India and Pakistan From Certain Sanctions - Authorizes the President to waive, upon proper notification to Congress, certain economic and military assistance sanctions against India or Pakistan with respect to the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. (Sec. 503) Directs the Secretary of State to report to the appropriate congressional committees on economic and national security developments in India and Pakistan. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require a specified annual report to Congress regarding the export of defense articles (including excess defense articles) and services to foreign countries to specify, among other things, whether such defense articles were furnished with U.S. aid, including through loans and guarantees. (Sec. 603) Requires a U.S. person to whom a license has been granted to export significant military equipment listed on the U.S. Munitions List to report to the Department of State on all shipment information, including a description of the equipment and the quantity, value, port of exit, and its destination. Requires the President to include, among other things, a report on all such exports in a certain quarterly unclassified report to Congress. (Sec. 604) Amends the AECA to make applicable certain provisions authorizing the Secretary of State to commence a civil action to recover civil penalties with respect to violations regarding the export of defense articles and services to foreign countries and terrorist supporting countries (instead of the imposition of certain administrative sanctions, including the requirement of notice and opportunity for a hearing). (Sec. 606) Authorizes the President to consent to the retransfer by the Government of Greece of HS Rodos (ex-U.S.S. Bowman County (LST 391)) to the USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc. Sets forth specified conditions for the granting of the consent. (Sec. 607) Amends the Agriculture Export Relief Act of 1998 to repeal provisions exempting (through September 30, 1999) Department of Agriculture assistance for the purchase or other provision of food or other agricultural commodities (including fertilizer, medicines, and medical equipment) from the prohibition against extensions of U.S. Government credit, credit guarantees, or other financial assistance to countries involved in the transfer or use of nuclear explosive devices. (Sec. 608) Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to increase the penalties for exporting controlled goods or technology in violation of the provisions of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1999
Farm and Ranch Risk Management Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual engaged in an eligible farming business to deduct a limited amount from gross income for amounts paid into an interest-bearing Farm and Ranch Risk Management (FARRM) Account, created for the taxpayer's exclusive benefit. Requires withdrawal of contributions within five years, upon which they are taxable as ordinary income in the year of withdrawal. Prescribes penalties on amounts not distributed within five years.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1999
Spanish Peaks Wilderness Act of 1999 - Amends the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 to designate certain lands in the San Isabel National Forest, Colorado, as the Spanish Peaks Wilderness. Requires: (1) the Secretary of Agriculture to allow the continuation of historic uses of the Bulls Eye Mine Road; and (2) access to be provided to any privately owned land within the Wilderness in accordance with the Wilderness Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1999
Spanish Peaks Wilderness Act of 1999 - Amends the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 to designate certain lands in the San Isabel National Forest, Colorado, as the Spanish Peaks Wilderness. Requires: (1) the Secretary of Agriculture to allow the continuation of historic uses of the Bulls Eye Mine Road; and (2) access to be provided to any privately owned landwithin the Wilderness in accordance with the Wilderness Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1999
Swine Producers Market Loss Assistance Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to administer a market loss assistance program for eligible swine producers. Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish a temporary mandatory livestock reporting program for certain packers regarding livestock and livestock product prices, volume, and terms of sale. Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as added by the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (as contained in P.L. 105-277) to repeal provisions for the pilot price reporting investigation (concerning the reporting of certain meat and livestock price information.)
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1999
Nullifies any reservation of funds during FY 1999 for guaranteed loans under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act for qualified beginning farmers and ranchers. Provides guaranteed loan priority for such farmers and ranchers.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1999
Freedom to E-File Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish in the Department of Agriculture a public use electronic filing and information retrieval system.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1999
Federal Home Loan Bank System Modernization Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLBA) to instruct the Federal Housing Finance Board (the FHF Board) to divide the States into not fewer than one Federal Home Loan Bank district (currently 8 to 12 districts). (Sec. 4) Amends Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) membership parameters to make a Federal savings association's membership in the FHLB system voluntary instead of mandatory. (Sec. 5) Modifies guidelines governing long-term advances to: (1) allow advances to any community financial institution for small businesses, agricultural, rural development, or low-income community development lending; (2) make the cash (as well as the deposits) of an FHLB eligible collateral for securing a bank's interest in a loan or advance; and (3) repeal the 30 percent of capital cap on the aggregate amount of outstanding advances secured by real estate related collateral. Includes within the categories of collateral eligible for a bank loan secured loans for small business, agriculture, rural development, or low-income community development, or securities representing a whole interest in such secured loans in the case of any community financial institution. Authorizes the FHF Board to review certain collateral standards and require an increase in such standards for safety and soundness purposes. Authorizes an FHLB to renew certain advances on its own determination without concurrence by the FHF Board. Requires an FHLB member with an advance secured by insufficient eligible collateral to reduce its level of outstanding advances according to a schedule determined by the FHLB (currently, by the FHF Board). (Sec. 6) Revises eligibility criteria to permit certain community financial institutions to gain FHLB membership regardless of the percentage of total assets represented by residential mortgage loans. (Sec. 7) Repeals certain requirements for advances to qualified thrift lenders (QTLs) and to FHLB members that are not QTLs. Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to repeal the ineligibility of a non-QTL savings association to obtain new advances from a FHLB bank (thus making such savings associations eligible for such advances). Declares that, beginning three years after a savings association should have become or ceases to be a QTL, the savings association shall not retain any investment (including an investment in any subsidiary) or engage, directly or indirectly, in any activity unless that investment or activity would be permissible for the savings association if it were a national bank, and is also permissible for the savings association as a savings association. (Sec. 8) Amends the FHLBA to establish the Federal Home Loan Bank Finance Corporation (Corporation) as a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States to issue and service consolidated debt obligations of the Federal Home Loan Banks. Vests management of the Corporation in a board of directors. Prescribes procedural guidelines for Corporation issuance of voting capital stock to each member Bank. Transfers to the Corporation the functions of the Office of Finance of the Federal Home Loan Banks. (Sec. 9) Permits an FHLB to include as part of its capital structure plan provisions establishing a structure for its elective and appointive directors other than the structure prescribed by the FHLBA. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Corporation to issue consolidated bonds. (Sec. 11) Modifies mergers and consolidations guidelines to permit: (1) voluntary mergers, combinations, or consolidations of FHLB banks; and (2) FHLBs to establish, subject to FHF Board approval and supervision, a subsidiary or holding company to perform administrative or operational functions. (Sec. 12) Terminates the Housing Opportunity Hotline program. Repeals the requirement that an FHLB receive prior approval of the FHF Board for the purchase, construction, or leasing of buildings. Specifies the FHF Board's power to issue notices of violations to any FHLB, and to take affirmative action to correct resulting conditions. Repeals: (1) the FHF Board's authority to approve FHLB advances; and (2) the attendant loan limitation restriction. Requires each Federal home loan bank to contribute annually ten percent of the preceding year's net income or the prorated sums required to assure that the aggregate contribution of the banks shall not be less than $100 million for each such year, to support subsidies, including subsidized advances, through the Affordable Housing Program. Declares that no FHLB dividends shall be paid except out of previously retained earnings or current net earnings (currently, net earnings) remaining after certain reductions. Repeals the FHF Board's authority to levy a special one-time assessment upon FHLBs for its estimated transitional expenses. (Sec. 13) States that FHLB payments to the Resolution Funding Corporation to cover interest payments on obligations shall be a specified percentage of net earnings (currently an aggregate sum certain). (Sec. 14) Revamps FHLB capital structure parameters to direct: (1) the Finance Board to issue uniform capital standards regulations governing FHLB leverage limitation and risk-based capital requirements; and (2) each FHLB board of directors to submit for FHF Board approval a capital structure plan determined to be best suited for the bank's condition and operation as well as for the interests of its shareholders. Prescribes plan contents.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1999
Authorizes expenditures by the following Senate committees from March 1, 1999, through September 30, 1999: (1) Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; (2) Armed Services; (3) Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; (4) Budget; (5) Commerce, Science, and Transportation; (6) Energy and Natural Resources; (7) Environment and Public Works; (8) Finance; (9) Foreign Relations; (10) Governmental Affairs; (11) Judiciary; (12) Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; (13) Rules and Administration; (14) Small Business; (15) Veterans' Affairs; (16) Aging; (17) Intelligence; and (18) Indian Affairs. Authorizes the transfer of any unexpended balance of any committee for the period ending February 28, 1999, to a special reserve to be available to any committee to meet specified unpaid obligations or expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1999
United States Agricultural Trade Act of 1999 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the principal agricultural trade negotiating objectives of the United States for future multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations, including the World trade Organization (WTO), shall be to achieve, on an expedited basis, and to the maximum extent feasible, more open and fair conditions for trade in agricultural commodities by: (1) developing, strengthening, and clarifying rules for agricultural trade, including disciplines on restrictive or trade-distorting import and export practices; (2) increasing U.S. agricultural exports by eliminating barriers to trade (including transparent and nontransparent barriers) and other constraints to fair and more open markets access in foreign markets, such as export subsidies, quotas, and other non-tariff import barriers; (3) developing, strengthening, and clarifying rules that address practices that unfairly limit U.S. market access opportunities or distort agricultural markets to the detriment of the United States; (4) ensuring that there are reliable suppliers of agricultural commodities international commerce by encouraging countries to treat foreign buyers no less favorably than domestic buyers of the commodity involved; and (5) eliminating barriers for meeting the food needs of the world through the use of biotechnology by ensuring access to U.S. commodities derived from biotechnology that is scientifically defensible, opposing the establishment of protectionist trade measures disguised as health standards, and protecting continual delays by other countries in their approval processes which constitute nontariff trade barriers. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the President, if it is determined that the exemption of certain agricultural food programs should not apply to unilateral economic sanctions for reasons of foreign policy or national security, to include such programs in such sanctions. Requires the President to report to specified congressional committees if it is determined that such programs are not exempt from such sanctions. (Sec. 5) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish a Congressional Oversight Group for Agricultural Negotiations that shall provide oversight and guidance with respect to agricultural trade policy and negotiation of agricultural trade issues. (Sec. 6) Expresses the sense of Congress that a certain amendment made to the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 was intended to allow the sale or barter of U.S. agricultural commodities included in U.S. food assistance only within the recipient country or countries adjacent to the recipient country, unless it: (1) is not practicable; and (2) will not disrupt commercial markets for the agricultural commodity involved. (Sec. 7) Directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR), not later than 30 days after the submission of the National Trade Estimate report, to identify those foreign countries that: (1) engage in unfair trade practices with respect to U.S. agricultural commodities, or unreasonably delay or preclude implementation of a report of a dispute panel of the World Trade Organization (WTO); or (2) are determined by the USTR to be priority foreign countries. Sets forth special rules with respect to such identification. Directs the USTR to report annually to specified congressional committees on actions taken under this Act to achieve fair and equitable market access for U.S. agricultural commodities. Authorizes the USTR with respect to those identified countries to: (1) take specified trade action; and (2) request that the secretary of Agriculture target the use of existing U.S. export programs that are administered within the Department of Agriculture to the commodity that is subject to the unfair trade practice by the priority foreign country. (Sec. 8) Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to declare that the Department of Agriculture shall be the lead agency for sanitary and phytosanitary issues that affect agricultural exports. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to identify sanitary and phytosanitary measures currently negatively affecting agricultural exports, by country and commodity, noting: (1) whether such measures are consistent with the WTO sanitary and phytosanitary agreement; and (2) whether issues arising from such measures are being addressed and resolved. Directs the Secretary to report the findings to Congress not later than July 31, 1999.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1999
Federal Home Loan Bank System Modernization Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLBA) to instruct the Federal Housing Finance Board (the FHF Board) to divide the States into not fewer than one Federal Home Loan Bank district (currently 8 to 12 districts). (Sec. 4) Amends Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) membership parameters to make a Federal savings association's membership in the FHLB system voluntary instead of mandatory. (Sec. 5) Modifies guidelines governing long-term advances to: (1) allow advances to any community financial institution for small businesses, agricultural, rural development, or low-income community development lending; (2) make the cash (as well as the deposits) of an FHLB eligible collateral for securing a bank's interest in a loan or advance; and (3) repeal the 30 percent of capital cap on the aggregate amount of outstanding advances secured by real estate related collateral. Includes within the categories of collateral eligible for a bank loan secured loans for small business, agriculture, rural development, or low-income community development, or securities representing a whole interest in such secured loans in the case of any community financial institution. Authorizes the FHF Board to review certain collateral standards and require an increase in such standards for safety and soundness purposes. Authorizes an FHLB to renew certain advances on its own determination without concurrence by the FHF Board. Requires an FHLB member with an advance secured by insufficient eligible collateral to reduce its level of outstanding advances according to a schedule determined by the FHLB (currently, by the FHF Board). (Sec. 6) Revises eligibility criteria to permit certain community financial institutions to gain FHLB membership regardless of the percentage of total assets represented by residential mortgage loans. (Sec. 7) Repeals certain requirements for advances to qualified thrift lenders (QTLs) and to FHLB members that are not QTLs. Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to repeal the ineligibility of a non-QTL savings association to obtain new advances from a FHLB bank (thus making such savings associations eligible for such advances). Declares that, beginning three years after a savings association should have become or ceases to be a QTL, the savings association shall not retain any investment (including an investment in any subsidiary) or engage, directly or indirectly, in any activity unless that investment or activity would be permissible for the savings association if it were a national bank, and is also permissible for the savings association as a savings association. (Sec. 8) Amends the FHLBA to establish the Federal Home Loan Bank Finance Corporation (Corporation) as a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States to issue and service consolidated debt obligations of the Federal Home Loan Banks. Vests management of the Corporation in a board of directors. Prescribes procedural guidelines for Corporation issuance of voting capital stock to each member Bank. Transfers to the Corporation the functions of the Office of Finance of the Federal Home Loan Banks. (Sec. 9) Permits an FHLB to include as part of its capital structure plan provisions establishing a structure for its elective and appointive directors other than the structure prescribed by the FHLBA. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Corporation to issue consolidated bonds. (Sec. 11) Modifies mergers and consolidations guidelines to permit: (1) voluntary mergers, combinations, or consolidations of FHLB banks; and (2) FHLBs to establish, subject to FHF Board approval and supervision, a subsidiary or holding company to perform administrative or operational functions. (Sec. 12) Terminates the Housing Opportunity Hotline program. Repeals the requirement that an FHLB receive prior approval of the FHF Board for the purchase, construction, or leasing of buildings. Specifies the FHF Board's power to issue notices of violations to any FHLB, and to take affirmative action to correct resulting conditions. Repeals: (1) the FHF Board's authority to approve FHLB advances; and (2) the attendant loan limitation restriction. Requires each Federal home loan bank to contribute annually ten percent of the preceding year's net income or the prorated sums required to assure that the aggregate contribution of the banks shall not be less than $100 million for each such year, to support subsidies, including subsidized advances, through the Affordable Housing Program. Declares that no FHLB dividends shall be paid except out of previously retained earnings or current net earnings (currently, net earnings) remaining after certain reductions. Repeals the FHF Board's authority to levy a special one-time assessment upon FHLBs for its estimated transitional expenses. (Sec. 13) States that FHLB payments to the Resolution Funding Corporation to cover interest payments on obligations shall be a specified percentage of net earnings (currently an aggregate sum certain). (Sec. 14) Revamps FHLB capital structure parameters to direct: (1) the Finance Board to issue uniform capital standards regulations governing FHLB leverage limitation and risk-based capital requirements; and (2) each FHLB board of directors to submit for FHF Board approval a capital structure plan determined to be best suited for the bank's condition and operation as well as for the interests of its shareholders. Prescribes plan contents.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1999
Imported Food Safety Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the prior approval of the Secretary of Health and Human Services for commercial distribution of food imported into the United States. Cites factors for mandatory consideration by the Secretary when determining whether to grant such approval. Requires the Secretary to: (1) deny approval of foreign food for import if the foreign system for food inspection does not provide at least the same level of protection as domestic laws, or if the foreign country does not permit the Secretary to conduct food inspections within its borders; and (2) give high priority to increasing significantly the number of inspections, including port-of-entry testing for pesticide and microbial contamination. Sets forth criminal penalties for noncompliance. Deems certain foods to be misbranded if the country-of-origin labeling is not provided at the time they are offered for retail sale. Instructs the Secretary to prioritize research on port-of-entry food safety testing techniques whose results are available within 60 minutes after test administration. Directs the Secretary to impose user fees on imported food in order to defray increased expenses needed to implement this Act. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1999
Resources 2000 Act - Reduces according to a specified formula the amount of qualified Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues that shall be deposited for a limited fiscal year into the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, or any other fund or account established by this Act. (Sec. 6) Limits the amount available for administrative expenses to two percent. (Sec. 7) Requires off-budget treatment of the receipts and disbursements of funds under this Act. Title I: Land and Water Conservation Fund Revitalization - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965 to extend indefinitely the period for: (1) depositing amounts into the Land and Water Conservation Fund (currently, such period ends September 30, 2015); and (2) under specified conditions, annual authorization of appropriations to the Fund in certain amounts for FY 1977 through 1978 and each succeeding fiscal year. (Sec. 103) Makes $900 million available each fiscal year for obligation or expenditure without further appropriation, to be allocated as follows: (1) 50 percent for Federal purposes; and (2) 50 percent for State grants. (Sec. 105) Removes the "outdoor recreation" limitation on the use of financial assistance to States to carry out planning, land acquisition, and development projects for land and water conservation purposes. (Sec. 106) Revises the formula used to allocate amounts made available for State purposes from the Fund each fiscal year, including distributing one-third of such funds among the several States under a competitive grant program. (Sec. 107) 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 a State, in order to reduce costly repetitive planning efforts, to use for such a plan a current State comprehensive outdoor recreation plan, a State recreation plan, or a State action agenda under criteria developed by the Secretary. (Sec. 108) Removes the restriction on providing financial assistance to States for incidental costs relating to land and water acquisition. Permits local funding and a limited percentage of the amount of State allocated funds in any one year to be used for sheltered facilities for swimming pools and ice skating rinks in areas where the Secretary determines a need to enhance public safety. (Sec. 109) 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 that no prudent or feasible alternative exists. Exempts from such requirement conversion of property that is no longer viable as an outdoor conservation or recreation facility due to changes in demographics, or that must be abandoned because of environmental contamination which endangers public health and safety. Title II: Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program Amendments - Amends the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 to provide 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. 205) Revises requirements for: (1) Federal assistance grant eligibility; (2) matching grants to local governments for rehabilitation, development, and innovation purposes; (3) local park and recreation recovery action programs; (4) State action incentives; and (5) conversion of recreation property for any other purpose other than public recreation purposes. (Sec. 210) Establishes in the Treasury the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Fund. Specifies the amount to be deposited into the Fund each fiscal year out of qualified OCS revenues, which shall be available, without further appropriation, until expended. Sets forth limitations on annual State grants under this Act and grant and program administration. (Sec. 211) 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 III: Historic Preservation Fund - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to specify the amount to be deposited into the Historic Preservation Fund each fiscal year after FY 1998 out of qualified OCS revenues, which shall remain available, without further appropriation, and until expended, only to carry out the purposes of such Act. (Sec. 301) 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). Title IV: Farmland, Ranchland, Open Space, and Forestland Protection - Establishes in the Treasury the Farmland, Ranchland, Open Space, and Forestland Protection Fund. (Sec. 403) Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to use specified amounts from the Fund for the farmland protection and forest legacy programs. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to use specified amounts from the Fund for the ranchland protection program. (Sec. 404) Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 with respect to the farmland protection program to: (1) specify that the program shall be a matching grant program carried out through eligible entities such as State and local government, Indian tribes, and nonprofit conservation organizations; (2) eliminate acreage limitations; and (3) increase the existing funding cap, revising it from a total program cap to a fiscal year cap. (Sec. 405) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a ranchland protection program similar to the farmland protection program. Title V: Federal and Indian Lands Restoration Fund - Establishes the Federal and Indians Lands Restoration Fund which shall 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. Deposits $250 million of qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues received by the United States each fiscal year into the Fund and 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 Indian tribes under this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) each establish priority lists for the use of funds which give 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 and determining the extent to which demonstrable results are being achieved. Title VI: Living Marine Resources Conservation, Restoration, and Management Assistance - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to use amounts from the Living Marine Resources Conservation Fund for allocation to a coastal State with a Living Marine Resources Conservation Plan to reimburse the State for the costs of developing, implementing, and revising such a plan. Sets forth plan requirements. Establishes the Living Marine Resources Conservation Fund. Provides for the deposit in such fund of specified amounts received by the United States as qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants from such fund for the conservation, restoration, or management of living marine resources. Sets forth criteria for grant approval. Defines "living marine resources" as indigenous fin fish, anadromous fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life, including marine mammals and birds, that inhabit marine or brackish waters of the United States during all or part of their life cycle. Title VII: Funding for State Native Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Restoration - Amends the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980 to revise the purposes and applicability of such Act so as to: (1) provide for promoting conservation of native (currently, nongame) fish and wildlife; and (2) preserving biological diversity by maintaining natural assemblages of native fish and wildlife. Replaces the definition of "fish and wildlife" and "nongame fish and wildlife" with a definition of "native fish and wildlife" as a fish, animal, or plant species that: (1) historically occurred or occurs in an ecosystem, other than as a result of an introduction, and lives in an unconfined state; and (2) does not include any population of a domesticated species that has reverted to a feral existence. (Sec. 703) Requires State conservation plans to promote balanced and diverse assemblages of native fish and wildlife. (Sec. 704) Repeals the provision specifying that conservation actions set forth in a conservation plan approved by the Secretary of the Interior shall be eligible for reimbursement as fish and wildlife projects. (Sec. 705) Makes amendments relating to the reimbursement of State costs for the development, revision, and implementation of conservation plans to: (1) extend eligibility for reimbursement of costs incurred by States for developing conservation plans through FY 2010, and for implementing conservation plans through FY 2005; (2) repeal specified reimbursement requirements; (3) prohibit paying reimbursement to any State for any cost incurred in implementing an approved conservation plan or action to the extent that more than 50 (currently ten) percent of such costs in any such year are accounted for by inkind contributions; and (4) prohibit the amount of reimbursement paid to any State for any fiscal year after FY 2010 from exceeding 75 percent of the cost of implementing and revising the plan during the fiscal year. (Sec. 706) Establishes the Native Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Fund into which the following amounts received as qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues shall be deposited: (1) $100 million for each of FY 2000 and 2001; (2) $200 million for each of FY 2002 through 2004; and (3) $350 million for FY 2005 and each proceeding fiscal year. Makes up to the amount stated for a fiscal year available to the Secretary of the Interior for that fiscal year to reimburse States for conservation plans and actions. Title VIII: Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce to use amounts in the Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Fund to provide financial assistance to persons for development and implementation of Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Agreements. Requires either 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 or on a family farm by the owner or operator. Prohibits the Secretary from providing financial assistance for any action that is required by a permit issued under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 or that is otherwise required under Federal law. (Sec. 803) 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 for compliance with such requirements, propose necessary revisions, approve Agreements in compliance, periodically monitor the implementation of each Agreement, and disburse financial assistance to implement the Agreement. (Sec. 804) Establishes the Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Fund in the Treasury and requires $100 million to be deposited into the Fund each fiscal year from amounts received as qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1999
Human Rights, Opportunity, Partnership, and Empowerment for Africa Act (or the Hope for Africa Act) - Declares the policy of Congress toward sub-Saharan African countries. Title I: Cancellation of Debt Owed By Sub-Saharan African Countries - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President to cancel all concessional and nonconcessional loans made, guarantees issued, or credits extended by the United States to sub-Saharan African countries. Directs the President to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees concerning the cancellation of debt. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of State to notify foreign governments that have provided loans, guarantees, or credits to the government of a sub-Saharan African country that it is U.S. policy to forgive all such debts and that such foreign governments should do the same. (Sec. 104) Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) to use the U.S. vote to advocate that such financial institutions: (1) unconditionally cancel all debts owed by a sub-Saharan African country to such institution; (2) encourage each country benefitting from such debt cancellation to allocate 20 percent of the country's national budget (including savings from such debt cancellation) to basic services, as the country has committed to do under the United Nations 20- 20 Initiative; and (3) after canceling such debt, require that any future loans not be used to finance in whole or part the implementation of any agreement which requires the country to pay more than five percent of its annual export earnings toward the servicing of foreign loans. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report to specified congressional committees with respect to the response by foreign governments to the policies advocated by this section. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) report to Congress on the amount of debt owed to any U.S. person by any country in sub-Saharan Africa; and (2) acquire and cancel each debt obligation owed to each U.S. person. (Sec. 106) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1999 to include as an additional duty of the International Financial Institution Advisory Commission that it advise the Secretary of the Treasury and report to Congress on the viability and desirability of having each indebted sub-Saharan African country repay foreign loans in their currency. (Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary of State to encourage the government of each sub-Saharan African country to allocate 20 percent of its national budget (including the savings from cancellation of debt owed by it to the United States) to other foreign countries, to the IMF and the World Bank, and to U.S. persons for the provision of basic services to individuals in their respective country, as provided for in the United Nations 20-20 Initiative. (Sec. 108) Expresses the sense of Congress that, prior to the cancellation of debt owed by sub-Saharan African countries, each such country should not pay in any calendar year an aggregate amount greater than five percent of the export earnings of the country for the prior calendar year. Title II: Trade Provisions Relating to Sub-Saharan Africa - Directs the United States, pursuant to the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, to eliminate existing quotas on textile and apparel exports to the United States from Kenya and Mauritius not later than 30 days after each country demonstrates that it: (1) does not engage in significant violations of internationally recognized human rights; (2) provides for the enforcement of certain internationally recognized worker rights; and (3) takes adequate measures to prevent illegal transshipment of goods. Directs the President to continue the no quota policy for each of the other sub-Saharan African countries that are in compliance with such requirements. (Sec. 201) Provides that, when the quota for either Kenya or Mauritius is first eliminated, the quota for textile and apparel products from China for each calendar year shall be reduced by an amount equal to the volume of imports of all textile and apparel products from all sub-Saharan African countries into the United States in the preceding calendar year, plus five percent of that amount. Requires the Secretary of Labor to determine, and report annually to Congress on, whether or not each sub-Saharan African country is providing for effective enforcement of internationally recognized worker rights. Directs the President to report annually to Congress on the growth in textiles and apparel exports to the United States from countries in sub-Saharan Africa in order to inform U.S. consumers, workers, and textile manufacturers about the effects of the no quota policy. Directs the President to provide an additional benefit of 50 percent tariff reduction for any textile and apparel product of a sub-Saharan African country that meets the requirements (relating to human rights, workers rights, and illegal transshipments) and that is imported directly into the United States from such country if the business enterprise, or a subcontractor of the enterprise, producing the product is in compliance with specified conditions. Sets forth specified conditions for the import of textile and apparel goods into the United States, including such goods from a sub-Saharan African country. Sets forth penalties for violations committed under this Act. Directs the U.S. Customs Service to monitor and the Commissioner of Customs to report annually on measures taken by sub-Saharan African countries which export textiles or apparel goods to the United States to prevent unlawful transshipment of such goods and circumvention of this Act or any agreement regulating trade in such goods between such country and the United States. (Sec. 202) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the President to provide duty-free treatment for certain import-sensitive articles, or articles set forth in the product list of the Lome Treaty, that are the product of a beneficiary developing sub-Saharan African country and that are in compliance with certain human rights requirements with respect to such articles if the President determines that such articles are not import-sensitive in the context of imports from such countries. Sets forth certain rules of origin for purposes of duty-free treatment of products from beneficiary developing sub-Saharan African countries. Extends duty-free treatment to: (1) products from beneficiary developing sub-Saharan African countries through June 30, 2005; and (2) products of other beneficiary developing countries through June 30, 1999. (Sec. 203) Grants a U.S. citizen a cause of action in the U.S. district court to seek compliance of sub-Saharan African countries with the requirements of this Act. Title III: Development Assistance for sub-Saharan African Countries - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise congressional findings with respect to long-term development assistance for sub-Saharan Africa to declare that the HIV- AIDS epidemic, along with other conditions, have caused countless deaths and untold suffering among the people of sub-Saharan Africa. (Sec. 302) Directs the Agency for International Development (AID) to provide capacity building assistance through participatory planning to private and voluntary organizations that are involved in providing assistance for sub-Saharan Africa. (Sec. 303) Prohibits military assistance to sub-Saharan African countries. (Sec. 304) Revises critical sectoral priorities provisions to give priority to: (1) increasing food security by promoting agriculture policies in sub-Saharan African countries; (2) improving health conditions in such countries by emphasizing, among other things, HIV-AIDS prevention and treatment programs; (3) providing increased access to voluntary family planning services, including access to prenatal healthcare; (4) improving education and vocational education, with particular emphasis on primary education and vocational education for women; and (5) developing income-generating opportunities, including development of manufacturing and processing industries and microcredit projects. (Sec. 305) Increases the minimum amount of long-term development assistance that should be targeted to certain critical sectors with respect to sub-Saharan African countries. (Sec. 306) Directs the Administrator of AID to report semiannually to Congress on: (1) how, and to what extent, AID has consulted with nongovernmental organizations in sub-Saharan Africa regarding the use of long-term development assistance to sub-Saharan African countries; (2) the extent to which such assistance has been successful in capacity building among local nongovernmental organizations and in increasing food security and access to health and education services among the people of sub-Saharan Africa; and (3) how, and to what extent, such assistance has furthered the goals of sustainable economic and agricultural development, gender equity, environmental protection, and respect for workers' rights there. (Sec. 307) Authorizes appropriations for the Development Fund for Africa. Title IV: Sub-Saharan Africa Equity and Infrastructure Funds - Directs the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to initiate one or more equity funds in support of infrastructure projects in sub-Saharan Africa, including basic health services (including AIDS prevention and treatment), hospitals, potable water, sanitation, schools, electrification of rural areas, and publicly-accessible transportation. Title V: Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Export-Import Bank Initiatives - Directs the Board of Directors of OPIC to establish and work with an advisory committee to assist it in developing and implementing policies, programs, and financial instruments with respect to sub-Saharan Africa, including with respect to equity and infrastructure funds established under this Act. Sets forth requirements with respect to the composition and administration of the advisory committee. (Sec. 502) Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to revise provisions establishing an advisory committee to require such committee to assist the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States in developing, among other things, financial instruments with respect to sub-Saharan African countries. Sets forth requirements with respect to the composition and administration of the advisory committee. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to any Federal agency to be used to seek the revocation or revisions of any sub-Saharan African intellectual property or competition law or policy that is designed to promote access to pharmaceuticals or other medical technologies. (Sec. 603) Directs the President to: (1) provide notice and opportunity to the public for comments on the success or failure of the implementation of this Act; and (2) report such comments to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1999
Resources 2000 Act - Reduces according to a specified formula the amount of qualified Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues that shall be deposited for a limited fiscal year into the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, or any other fund or account established by this Act. (Sec. 6) Limits the amount available for administrative expenses to two percent. (Sec. 7) Requires off-budget treatment of the receipts and disbursements of funds under this Act. Title I: Land and Water Conservation Fund Revitalization - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965 to extend indefinitely the period for: (1) depositing amounts into the Land and Water Conservation Fund (currently, such period ends September 30, 2015); and (2) under specified conditions, annual authorization of appropriations to the Fund in certain amounts for FY 1977 through 1978 and each succeeding fiscal year. (Sec. 103) Makes $900 million available each fiscal year for obligation or expenditure without further appropriation, to be allocated as follows: (1) 50 percent for Federal purposes; and (2) 50 percent for State grants. (Sec. 105) Removes the "outdoor recreation" limitation on the use of financial assistance to States to carry out planning, land acquisition, and development projects for land and water conservation purposes. (Sec. 106) Revises the formula used to allocate amounts made available for State purposes from the Fund each fiscal year, including distributing one-third of such funds among the several States under a competitive grant program. (Sec. 107) 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 a State, in order to reduce costly repetitive planning efforts, to use for such a plan a current State comprehensive outdoor recreation plan, a State recreation plan, or a State action agenda under criteria developed by the Secretary. (Sec. 108) Removes the restriction on providing financial assistance to States for incidental costs relating to land and water acquisition. Permits local funding and a limited percentage of the amount of State allocated funds in any one year to be used for sheltered facilities for swimming pools and ice skating rinks in areas where the Secretary determines a need to enhance public safety. (Sec. 109) 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 that no prudent or feasible alternative exists. Exempts from such requirement conversion of property that is no longer viable as an outdoor conservation or recreation facility due to changes in demographics, or that must be abandoned because of environmental contamination which endangers public health and safety. Title II: Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program Amendments - Amends the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 to provide 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. 205) Revises requirements for: (1) Federal assistance grant eligibility; (2) matching grants to local governments for rehabilitation, development, and innovation purposes; (3) local park and recreation recovery action programs; (4) State action incentives; and (5) conversion of recreation property for any other purpose other than public recreation purposes. (Sec. 210) Establishes in the Treasury the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Fund. Specifies the amount to be deposited into the Fund each fiscal year out of qualified OCS revenues, which shall be available, without further appropriation, until expended. Sets forth limitations on annual State grants under this Act and grant and program administration. (Sec. 211) 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 III: Historic Preservation Fund - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to specify the amount to be deposited into the Historic Preservation Fund each fiscal year after FY 1998 out of qualified OCS revenues, which shall remain available, without further appropriation, and until expended, only to carry out the purposes of such Act. (Sec. 301) 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). Title IV: Farmland, Ranchland, Open Space, and Forestland Protection - Establishes in the Treasury the Farmland, Ranchland, Open Space, and Forestland Protection Fund. (Sec. 403) Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to use specified amounts from the Fund for the farmland protection and forest legacy programs. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to use specified amounts from the Fund for the ranchland protection program. (Sec. 404) Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 with respect to the farmland protection program to: (1) specify that the program shall be a matching grant program carried out through eligible entities such as State and local government, Indian tribes, and nonprofit conservation organizations; (2) eliminate acreage limitations; and (3) increase the existing funding cap, revising it from a total program cap to a fiscal year cap. (Sec. 405) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a ranchland protection program similar to the farmland protection program. Title V: Federal and Indian Lands Restoration Fund - Establishes the Federal and Indians Lands Restoration Fund which shall 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. Deposits $250 million of qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues received by the United States each fiscal year into the Fund and 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 Indian tribes under this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) each establish priority lists for the use of funds which give 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 and determining the extent to which demonstrable results are being achieved. Title VI: Living Marine Resources Conservation, Restoration, and Management Assistance - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to use amounts from the Living Marine Resources Conservation Fund for allocation to a coastal State with a Living Marine Resources Conservation Plan to reimburse the State for the costs of developing, implementing, and revising such a plan. Sets forth plan requirements. Establishes the Living Marine Resources Conservation Fund. Provides for the deposit in such fund of specified amounts received by the United States as qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants from such fund for the conservation, restoration, or management of living marine resources. Sets forth criteria for grant approval. Defines "living marine resources" as indigenous fin fish, anadromous fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life, including marine mammals and birds, that inhabit marine or brackish waters of the United States during all or part of their life cycle. Title VII: Funding for State Native Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Restoration - Amends the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980 to revise the purposes and applicability of such Act so as to: (1) provide for promoting conservation of native (currently, nongame) fish and wildlife; and (2) preserving biological diversity by maintaining natural assemblages of native fish and wildlife. Replaces the definition of "fish and wildlife" and "nongame fish and wildlife" with a definition of "native fish and wildlife" as a fish, animal, or plant species that: (1) historically occurred or occurs in an ecosystem, other than as a result of an introduction, and lives in an unconfined state; and (2) does not include any population of a domesticated species that has reverted to a feral existence. (Sec. 703) Requires State conservation plans to promote balanced and diverse assemblages of native fish and wildlife. (Sec. 704) Repeals the provision specifying that conservation actions set forth in a conservation plan approved by the Secretary of the Interior shall be eligible for reimbursement as fish and wildlife projects. (Sec. 705) Makes amendments relating to the reimbursement of State costs for the development, revision, and implementation of conservation plans to: (1) extend eligibility for reimbursement of costs incurred by States for developing conservation plans through FY 2010, and for implementing conservation plans through FY 2005; (2) repeal specified reimbursement requirements; (3) prohibit paying reimbursement to any State for any cost incurred in implementing an approved conservation plan or action to the extent that more than 50 (currently ten) percent of such costs in any such year are accounted for by inkind contributions; and (4) prohibit the amount of reimbursement paid to any State for any fiscal year after FY 2010 from exceeding 75 percent of the cost of implementing and revising the plan during the fiscal year. (Sec. 706) Establishes the Native Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Fund into which the following amounts received as qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues shall be deposited: (1) $100 million for each of FY 2000 and 2001; (2) $200 million for each of FY 2002 through 2004; and (3) $350 million for FY 2005 and each proceeding fiscal year. Makes up to the amount stated for a fiscal year available to the Secretary of the Interior for that fiscal year to reimburse States for conservation plans and actions. Title VIII: Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce to use amounts in the Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Fund to provide financial assistance to persons for development and implementation of Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Agreements. Requires either 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 or on a family farm by the owner or operator. Prohibits the Secretary from providing financial assistance for any action that is required by a permit issued under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 or that is otherwise required under Federal law. (Sec. 803) 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 for compliance with such requirements, propose necessary revisions, approve Agreements in compliance, periodically monitor the implementation of each Agreement, and disburse financial assistance to implement the Agreement. (Sec. 804) Establishes the Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Fund in the Treasury and requires $100 million to be deposited into the Fund each fiscal year from amounts received as qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1999
Forest Tax Relief Act - Terminates the Secretary of Agriculture's authority (through the Forest Service) to participate in the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1999
Amends the National Forest and Public Lands of Nevada Enhancement Act of 1988 to modify the boundary of the Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada, to include specified lands transferred by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1999
Kake Tribal Corporation Public Interest Land Exchange Act - Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to valid existing rights, to convey to the Kake Tribal Corporation and the Sealaska Corporation the surface and subsurface estates, respectively, of specified lands in the Hamilton Bay and Saginaw Bay areas (to be identified by the Kake Tribal Corporation) in exchange for the surface and subsurface estates of specified municipal watershed lands. Requires that the exchange of lands be on an equal value basis. Requires the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the City of Kake, Alaska, to provide for management of the municipal watershed. Prohibits: (1) timber harvested from land conveyed to Kake Tribal Corporation from being exported as unprocessed logs from Alaska; and (2) the Kake Tribal Corporation from selling, trading, substituting, or otherwise conveying that timber to any person for export from Alaska.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1999
Huna Totem Corporation Public Interest Land Exchange Act - Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to valid existing rights, to convey to the Huna Totem Corporation and the Sealaska Corporation the surface and subsurface estates, respectively, of specified lands that are readily accessible to the Village of Hoonah and, where possible, located on the road system to such Village (to be identified by the Huna Totem Corporation) in exchange for the surface and subsurface estates of specified municipal watershed lands. Requires the exchange of lands be on an equal value basis. Prohibits: (1) timber harvested from land conveyed to Huna Totem Corporation from being exported as unprocessed logs from Alaska; and (2) the Huna Totem Corporation from selling, trading, substituting, or otherwise conveying that timber to any person for export from Alaska.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1999
Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to provide uniform rates for marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments for all classes of soft white wheat, including club wheat.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1999
Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the implementation of the amendments made by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1999
Safeguarding America's Farms Entering the Year 2000 Act - Amends the Federal Bankruptcy Code to: (1) reenact Chapter 12, Adjustment of Debts of a Family Farmer with Regular Annual Income (thereby reinstating family farmer bankruptcy relief); (2) cite circumstances under which the claim of a governmental unit that arises as a result of the disposition of a farm asset used in the debtor's farming operation shall be treated as an unsecured claim that is not entitled to priority; and (3) revise the criteria defining family farmer, including the size of the attendant aggregate debt.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1999
Amends the Poultry Products Inspection Act to include within the definition of poultry birds of the order Ratitae (ostriches, emus, rheas) that are raised for commercial distribution as human food.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1999
Amends the Federal Power Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to discontinue its licensing and regulatory authority over certain new, small (power production capacity of 5,000 kilowatts or less) qualifying hydroelectric project works in Alaska, effective upon FERC certification that Alaska has a regulatory program in place for water-power development meeting specified criteria. Prescribes such criteria as: (1) protection of certain public and environmental interests to the same extent provided by FERC and specified Federal law; (2) equal consideration given to energy conservation, fish and wildlife protection, recreational opportunities, environmental quality, the interests of Alaska Natives, and beneficial public uses; and (3) licensing requirements for construction, operation and maintenance of lights, signals, and fishways by a licensee at its own expense, operation of navigation facilities subject to Secretary of the Army regulations, and fish and wildlife protection and enhancement based upon Federal and State agency recommendations. Authorizes the licensee of a project works licensed before enactment of this Act to elect to subject such works to licensing and regulation by Alaska in accordance with this Act. Declares that, with respect to project works on an Indian reservation, a conservation system unit, or Federal public lands, a State license or exemption from license shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary having jurisdiction over such lands, and such conditions as the Secretary may prescribe. Requires FERC to consult with the Secretaries of the Interior, of Agriculture, and of Commerce before certifying Alaska's regulatory program. Requires the State of Alaska to notify FERC within 30 days after making any significant modification to its regulatory program. Requires FERC to reassert its regulatory and licensing authority if Alaska has not complied with one or more requirements of this Act. Prescribes FERC compliance review procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1999
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a specified parcel of land to the city of Sisters, Oregon, for use by the city for a sewage treatment facility and for the disposal of treated effluent. Conditions such conveyance on the city agreeing to conduct a public process before the final determination is made regarding land use for the disposition of such effluent. Requires the Secretary to issue a special use permit for such conveyed land that allows the city access to the land for commencing construction of the sewage treatment plant. Requires the Secretary to: (1) sell, at fair market value, not less than six acres of unimproved land in the city that is currently designated for administrative use; and (2) deposit proceeds of such a sale in the fund established by the Sisk Act. Makes available: (1) not more than 25 percent of such funds for administrative improvements at the Sisters Ranger District; and (2) the remainder for improving the long-term condition of the watershed of Squaw Creek, a tributary of the Deschutes River, Oregon. Permits the supervisor of the Deschutes National Forest to expend such funds directly or provide the funds in the form of grants to local watershed councils.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1999
Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 1999 - Amends the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial assistance to an eligible local organization to cover a portion of the total costs incurred for the rehabilitation of structural measures originally constructed as part of a covered water resource project (except that the local organization shall be responsible for securing all land, easements, or rights-of-ways necessary for the project). Limits the amount of Federal funds that may be made available to such an organization for construction of a particular rehabilitation project to 65 percent of the total rehabilitation costs, but not exceed 100 percent of actual construction costs incurred, and makes the local organization responsible for resource rights costs and all Federal, State, and local permits. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, to provide technical assistance to a requesting organization in planning, designing, and implementing rehabilitation projects. Prohibits any assistance authorized under this Act from being used to perform operation and maintenance activities. Outlines assistance application requirements. Directs the Secretary to establish a system of approving rehabilitation assistance requests from eligible organizations equitably. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2009 to provide financial and technical assistance. Earmarks funds authorized for the first two fiscal years for an assessment by the Secretary of the rehabilitation needs of covered projects. Requires: (1) the Secretary to maintain a database to track the benefits derived from rehabilitation projects and expenditures and report annually to the Congress on the status of activities conducted; and (2) eligible local organizations that received assistance to report to the Secretary on the status of rehabilitation efforts undertaken using financial assistance after the completion of the specific projects for which assistance was provided.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1999
Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from making a premium adjustment for club wheat loan deficiency payments under the Agricultural Market Transition Act. Provides specified compensation for club wheat producers who received discounted loan deficiency payments.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1999
Provides amounts for expenses of the House Committee on Agriculture for the 106th Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1999
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President and the Secretary of Agriculture are commended for their efforts to alleviate economic conditions faced by pork producers; and (2) specified additional assistance is necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1999
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to convey a specified parcel of real property known as the Old Jicarilla Site located in San Juan County, New Mexico, to San Juan College to be used for educational and recreational purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1999
Livestock Industry Fairness and Enhancement Act - Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish a temporary mandatory livestock reporting program for certain packers regarding livestock and livestock product prices, volume, and terms of sale. Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended by the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (as contained in P.L. 105-277) to repeal the pilot price reporting investigation. (Sec. 3) Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to provide for a monthly collection and reporting of specified data and statistics regarding swine, pork, and pork product production. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to report on the Secretary's: (1) jurisdiction, duties, and authorities regarding packers, livestock, and livestock products; and (2) ability to provide reliable periodic retail price reports.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1999
Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to permit State registration of a Canadian pesticide for distribution and use within such State.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1999
Central American and Caribbean Relief Act - Title I: United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Enhancement - United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Enhancement Act - Amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) to accord, for a specified period, the same tariff and quota treatment (duty-free treatment, free of any quantitative limitations) given certain textile and apparel articles imported from North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries to such articles from CBERA beneficiary countries planning to become parties to the Free Trade Area of the Americas, or a comparable trade agreement. Subjects to certain penalties exporters or countries that engage in the transshipment of such articles (preferential treatment claimed on the basis of material false information concerning the country of origin, manufacture, processing, or assembly of the article or any of its components). (Sec. 104) Directs the U.S. International Trade Commission to report biennially to Congress and the President on the economic impact of this Act on U.S. industries and consumers, including its effectiveness in promoting drug-related crop eradication and crop substitution efforts of CBERA beneficiary countries. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the President (with respect to factors considered in the designation of a country as a beneficiary country) to determine that a country is not providing adequate protection of intellectual property rights even if it is in compliance with its obligations under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. (Sec. 106) Grants duty-free treatment of rum liqueurs and spirituous beverages from Canada and Mexico if certain conditions are met. Title II: Economic Support Fund and Other Assistance - Authorizes appropriations to: (1) provide economic support fund (ESF) assistance to areas of Central America and the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Mitch in October 1998 for roads, agricultural investment, microcredit loans, water sanitation, health clinics, vaccinations, and technical assistance for housing; (2) provide international disaster assistance for such areas; and (3) the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct imaging and analysis in Honduras and Nicaragua to minimize future loss of life and property. Earmarks specified amounts, over a five year period, for eligible expenses in connection with developing new or renovating existing structures to provide decent, safe, and sanitary nonluxury dwellings (Habitat for Humanity) in the affected Central American and Caribbean countries. (Sec. 203) Authorizes appropriations to the Department of the Interior to develop a river monitoring system in Honduras. Title III: Department of Defense - Authorizes the President to direct the drawdown of defense articles and services from the stocks of the Department of Defense (DOD) for the purpose of providing disaster relief and reconstruction to the affected areas of Central America and the Caribbean. (Sec. 302) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the New Horizons Program, earmarking amounts for use for Central America and the Dominican Republic (including the National Guard and Reserve); (2) Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid programs; and (3) the Commanders-in-Chief CINC Initiative Fund. Title IV: International Monetary Relief - Authorizes the President, subject to specific appropriations, to reschedule the repayment of interest on, and reduce the amount of, the indebtedness owed by Honduran and Nicaraguan governments to the United States in FY 1999 and 2000. (Sec. 402) Authorizes the U.S. Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) to contribute $25 million to the Central American Emergency Trust Fund. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: OPIC - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) should foster U.S. private investment and enhance the ability of private enterprise to make its full contribution in the hurricane-affected areas of Central America and the Caribbean. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 501) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make Central American and Caribbean countries affected by Hurricane Mitch and Hurricane Georges eligible for equity investment financing under the pilot equity finance program. Increases the amount of transfers that OPIC can make from its noncredit account revolving fund to its revolving fund for acquisition of equity. Title VI: Microcredit and Agricultural Assistance - Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) to use credit and microcredit assistance to provide disaster assistance to rehabilitate agriculture production in the hurricane-affected areas of Central America and the Caribbean. (Sec. 603) Authorizes the Administrator of AID to utilize relevant foreign assistance programs and initiatives for the Central America and Caribbean region to support private producer-owned cooperative marketing associations there, including rural business associations owned and controlled by farmer shareholders. (Sec. 604) Directs the Administrator of AID to develop a comprehensive plan to coordinate and build on the research and extension activities of U.S. land-grant universities, international agricultural research centers, and national agricultural research and extension centers in Central America and the Caribbean. (Sec. 605) Provides assistance through the nonemergency food assistance programs of the Agriculture Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to the hurricane- affected Central American and Caribbean areas.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1999
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to provide for the preference conveyance of acquired real property to: (1) beginning farmers or ranchers; or (2) schools or nonprofit organizations involved in teaching young people to be farmers.