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Subjects · United States

Defence

Records whose title is actually about this topic. Use a country filter if the list is still too broad.

651 records in US in 1999

Records

Bill· HRH.R. 474 (106th)open

To provide authorities to, and impose requirements on, the Secretary of Defense in order to facilitate State enforcement of State tax, employment, and licensing laws against Federal construction contractors.

United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1999

Amends Federal defense procurement law to require a bidder or offeror, to be considered a responsible bidder or offeror for the construction of a public building, facility, or work, to submit a tax clearance (a document stating that such entity is in compliance with all State tax laws) from the State in which the contract is to be performed. Requires the head of a Federal agency to withhold the final payment under such a contract until the contractor submits both a tax clearance and a certification of compliance with all State laws concerning payments to employees under such contract. Authorizes an agency head to: (1) withhold from any contractor payments amounts necessary to pay any State tax liability due under such contract; and (2) pay such amount directly to such State. Directs the Secretary of Defense to require a contractor to be licensed if the State in which a construction contract is to be performed requires such a license. Requires revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to explain the general excise tax law of Hawaii.

Bill· HRH.R. 430 (106th)referred

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend eligibility for hospital care and medical services under chapter 17 of that title to veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1999

Makes veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart eligible for veterans' hospital care and medical services. Provides such veterans with a priority in the veterans' system of annual patient enrollment.

Bill· HRH.R. 500 (106th)open

Military Pay and Retirement Reform Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1999

Military Pay and Retirement Reform Act of 1999 - Waives during FY 2000 any required adjustment in the rates of monthly military basic pay in conformance with the General Schedule of the Federal Government. Increases such pay by 4.4 percent, effective on January 1, 2000. Provides an increase in such pay as of July 1, 2000, for officers and enlisted personnel within specified pay grades. Repeals a Federal provision which provides a formula reduction in the retired pay of military personnel who first become members after July 31, 1986, and had creditable military service of less than 30 years. Directs the Secretary of Defense to increase the annual retired pay of such members under a revised formula which takes into account annual cost-of-living increases.

Bill· HRH.R. 476 (106th)open

To prescribe alternative payment mechanisms for the payment of annual enrollment fees for the TRICARE program of the military health care system.

United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1999

Directs the Secretary of Defense to permit persons who enroll in the TRICARE program (a managed health care program of the armed forces) to pay their annual enrollment fees on a monthly basis and to establish mechanisms to provide for payment of such fees through: (1) a deduction from military retired or retainer pay; (2) a deduction from monthly social security benefits; and (3) an electronic funds transfer from a checking or savings account. Requires the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct the Social Security deduction mechanism in the same manner as provided for the monthly deduction of Medicare premiums.

Bill· HRH.R. 496 (106th)referred

Endangered Species Criminal and Civil Penalties Liability Reform Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1999

Endangered Species Criminal and Civil Penalties Liability Reform Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to define "take" to mean to knowingly and intentionally perform any act with the knowledge that the act would constitute harassing, harming, pursuing, hunting, shooting, wounding, killing, trapping, capturing, or collecting an individual member of a species that was present at the time and location of the act, or to attempt to engage in such conduct. Prohibits a person from being liable for any criminal or civil penalty for a violation committed while conducting an otherwise lawful activity and not for the purpose of a prohibited taking, unless: (1) the Secretary of the Interior provides the person with notice of the violation; and (2) the person fails to terminate and correct the activity constituting the violation by not later than 30 days after the date of the notice. Requires each conservation plan developed to include provisions under which persons who have entered into, and are in compliance with, the conservation plan may not, without their consent, be required to undertake any additional mitigation measures for species covered by the plan if the measures would require payment or compliance with use, development, or management restrictions on any land, waters, or water related rights, in addition to payments or compliance, respectively, otherwise required under the terms of the plan. Requires such provisions, among other matters, to identify modifications to the plan or additional conservation measures, if any, that the Secretary may require under extraordinary circumstances. Makes it an affirmative defense, in any enforcement action or citizen suit in which it is alleged that a defendant acted or failed to act with respect to a member of an endangered or threatened species, that the defendant could not reasonably have known that the fish or wildlife or plant concerned is a member of an endangered or threatened species. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into "safe harbor" agreements with non-Federal persons to benefit the conservation of endangered or threatened species by creating, restoring, or improving habitat or by maintaining currently unoccupied habitat; and (2) provide a grant of up to $10,000 to any individual private landowner to assist the landowner in carrying out such an agreement.

Resolution· HRESH.Res. 32 (106th)passed

Expressing support for, and calling for actions in support of, free, fair, and transparent elections in Indonesia.

United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1999

Supports the aspirations of the Indonesian people for democratic elections. Urges the Government of Indonesia to: (1) take all steps to ensure that the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, 1999, are free, fair, and transparent, according to internationally recognized standards, and that an institutional capacity is put in place for free and fair elections in the future; and (2) enact election laws that ensure that the people's will is respected, both in such parliamentary elections and in the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly that will elect a new President and Vice President later in 1999. Appeals to all political leaders and responsible persons to strive to ensure that the campaign period remains peaceful. Calls upon all Indonesian political parties, the armed forces, and the public to respect the results of free and fair elections. Recognizes with approval the activities of domestic and international nongovernmental organizations in the areas of voter education, technical assistance, and election monitoring. Acknowledges the important financial support provided for the elections by the U. S. Agency for International Development. Calls upon: (1) other countries to provide financial support for the elections; and (2) the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives to designate congressional observers for the June 7, 1999, election.

Bill· SS. 329 (106th)referred

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend eligibility for hospital care and medical services under chapter 17 of that title to veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1999

Makes veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart eligible for veterans' hospital care and medical services. Provides such veterans with a priority in the veterans' system of annual patient enrollment.

Bill· SS. 311 (106th)open

A bill to authorize the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1999

Authorizes the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor disabled American veterans who have served in the U.S. armed forces. Prohibits Federal funds from being used to pay any expense of the establishment of the memorial.

Bill· SS. 312 (106th)referred

A bill to require certain entities that operate homeless shelters to identify and provide certain counseling to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1999

Requires each entity that receives a Federal grant to provide emergency shelter for homeless individuals to: (1) identify whether each individual seeking such shelter is a veteran; and (2) provide each individual who is a veteran such counseling related to available veterans' benefits as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate. Bars Federal funds to entities failing to comply.

Bill· SS. 297 (106th)referred

A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to authorize members of the uniformed services to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1999

Provides for participation of members of the uniformed services in the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal employees. Authorizes military personnel to contribute to the Thrift Savings Fund out of military basic pay in an amount of up to: (1) five percent of such pay, if the member has less than five years of retirement-creditable service; or (2) ten percent, if the member has at least five years of such service.

Bill· SS. 270 (106th)open

Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen's, and Marines' Bill of Rights Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Pay and Allowances Title II: Retirement Benefits Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen's, and Marines' Bill of Rights Act of 1999 - Title I: Pay and Allowances - Waives during FY 2000 any required adjustment in the rates of monthly military basic pay in conformance with the General Schedule of the Federal Government. Increases such pay by 4.8 percent, effective on January 1, 2000. Provides: (1) an increase in such pay as of July 1, 2000, for officer and enlisted personnel within specified pay grades; and (2) a pay increase for fiscal years after 2000 of one percent over the percentage increase as calculated under the Employment Cost Index. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay a special subsistence allowance of $180 for each month in which a member is eligible to receive food stamp assistance. Terminates or reestablishes such entitlement under certain conditions. Title II: Retirement Benefits - Authorizes the payment of a lump-sum bonus of $30,000 to a member who: (1) first became a member on or after August 1, 1986; (2) has completed 15 years of active duty; and (3) executes a written agreement to remain on active duty until the completion of 20 years of such service. Requires notification of those eligible for such bonus. Requires a pro rata repayment of such bonus when the full additional period is not completed. Authorizes a waiver of the repayment requirement when against equity or good conscience or contrary to the best interests of the United States. (Sec. 202) Authorizes a member serving on active duty for more than 30 days to participate in the Federal Thrift Savings Plan, with a maximum annual contribution of five percent of basic pay and any special or incentive pay. Prohibits matching Federal agency contributions. Adds a representative of such members to the Employee Thrift Advisory Council. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to enter into an agreement to make contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund for the benefit of a member who: (1) is in a specialty designated as critical; and (2) agrees to continue to serve on active duty in such specialty for a period of six years.

Bill· SS. 269 (106th)open

National Missile Defense Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1999

National Missile Defense Act of 1999 - States as U.S. policy to deploy as soon as technologically possible a National Missile Defense system capable of defending U.S. territory against limited ballistic missile attack (whether accidental, unauthorized, or deliberate).

Bill· SS. 288 (106th)referred

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from income certain amounts received under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program.

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1999

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to qualify for the exclusion from gross income of certain scholarships any amounts received under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program or the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program.

Bill· SS. 257 (106th)open

National Missile Defense Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1999

National Missile Defense Act of 1999 - States as U.S. policy to deploy as soon as technologically possible a National Missile Defense system capable of defending U.S. territory against limited ballistic missile attack (whether accidental, unauthorized, or deliberate).

Bill· SS. 262 (106th)open

Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Miscellaneous Trade Corrections Title II: Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions; Other Trade Provisions Subtitle A: Temporary Duty suspensions and Reductions Subtitle B: Trade Provisions Title III: Miscellaneous Trade Corrections Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1999 - Title I: Miscellaneous Trade Corrections - Makes various specified miscellaneous technical corrections to the Trade Act of 1974 and other specified Federal law involving: (1) abolishment of the East-West Foreign Trade Board; (2) repeal of the requirement that certain small vessels departing from a foreign port, or which visited a hovering vessel, carry a certificate for the importation into the United States of alcoholic spirits; (3) repeal of the exemption of documented tugs with a Great Lakes endorsement from certain entry and clearance requirements; (4) change of general most-favored-nation (MFN) status to general or normal trade relations (NTR) status under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States; and (5) conforming amendments to obsolete references to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). (Sec. 1003) Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to allow certain entries of television receivers, monitors, and picture tubes, and combination TV-VCRs with a diagonal measurement of up to 34.29cm (currently, 33.02 cm), or 13.5 inches, to be classified as 13 inches for purposes of tariff treatment under the Schedule. Directs the Customs Service, upon proper request, to liquidate or reliquidate certain entries made on or after January 1, 1995, and before 15 days after enactment of this Act, as if such amendment applied to such entries. Title II: Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions; Other Trade Provisions - Subtitle A: Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for temporary duty suspensions for: (1) specified chemicals and dyes through December 31, 2001; (2) snowboard boots with uppers of textile materials through December 31, 2001; (3) ink-jet textile printing machinery through December 31, 2001; (4) textile printing machinery through December 31, 2001; (5) substrates of synthetic quartz or synthetic fused silica imported into the United States in bulk or in forms or packages for retail sale through December 31, 2001; (6) power weaving machines (looms), shuttle type, for weaving fabrics between 30 cm and 4.9m in width, if entered without off-loom or large loom take-ups, drop wires, heddles, reeds, harness frames or beams, through December 31, 2001; (7) skating boots for use in the manufacture of in-line roller skates through December 31, 2001; (8) dual thrust chamber rocket engines, each having a maximum static sea level thrust exceeding 3,550 kN and nozzle exit diameter exceeding 127cm, through December 31, 2001; (9) certain manufacturing equipment through December 31, 2001; (10) textured rolled glass sheets through December 31, 2001; (11) certain anti-HIV drug substances through June 30, 1999; (12) certain high-performance loudspeakers not mounted in their enclosures, through December 31, 2001; (13) parts for use in the manufacture of certain high-performance loudspeakers through December 31, 2001; and (14) certain polymers through December 31, 2001. (Sec. 2129) Reduces the duty on a certain dye and on certain chemicals variously through December 31, 1999, December 31, 2000, and December 31, 2001. (Sec. 2161) Reduces the duty, through December 31, 2001, on weaving machines (looms), shuttleless type, for weaving fabrics between 30cm and 4.9m in width, entered without off-loom or large loom takeups, drop wires, heddles, reeds, harness frames, or beams. Subtitle B: Other Trade Provisions - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend to certain fine jewelry certain trade benefits of insular possessions of the United States. (Sec. 2401) Mandates treatment as a product of the Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, during 1999 and 2000, of any article of jewelry assembled in such territory or possession. (Sec. 2402) Provides for the tariff treatment of certain components of scientific instruments and apparatus, as well as the application of the domestic equivalency test to such components. (Sec. 2403) Directs the U.S. Customs Service to liquidate or reliquidate (refund duty on) certain entries made at Los Angeles, California, and New Orleans, Louisiana, in accordance with the final decision of the International Trade Administration for shipments entered between October 1, 1984, and December 14, 1987 (case number A- 274-001). (Sec. 2404) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide that packaging material produced in the United States (currently, any packaging material), which is used by the manufacturer or any other person on or for articles which are exported or destroyed, shall also be eligible for a refund (drawback) of 99 percent of any duty, tax, or fee imposed on the importation of such material used to manufacture or produce the packaging material. (Sec. 2405) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, by January 1, 2000, to provide for the inclusion of commercial importation data from foreign-trade zones in the National Customs Automation Program (an automated and electronic system for processing commercial importations). (Sec. 2406) Permits the deferral (until sale) of duty payment on any large yacht (a vessel exceeding 79 feet in length and used primarily for recreation or pleasure) that is imported for sale at a boat show, if the importer of record: (1) certifies to the Customs Service that it is imported for sale at a boat show in the United States; and (2) posts a bond in an amount equal to twice the amount of the duty ordinarily owed on such yacht. (Sec. 2407) Directs the appropriate customs officer to allow or deny within 30 days after the filing date any application for further review with respect to a protest to a decision of the Customs Service. Requires that any allowed protest be forwarded to the customs officer who will conduct the further review. (Sec. 2408) Authorizes the Customs Service, notwithstanding the fact that a valid protest was not filed, to reliquidate an entry to refund merchandise processing fees paid on goods qualifying under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rules of origin for which no claim for preferential tariff treatment was made at the time of importation, provided that the importer meets certain conditions. (Sec. 2409) Authorizes the entry or withdrawal from a warehouse of international travel merchandise subject to a duty. (Sec. 2410) Revises requirements with respect to the five-year review by the administering authority and the International Trade Commission of countervailing duty or antidumping duty orders, notices of injury determination, or determinations to continue an order or suspension agreement. Excludes from the computation of the five-year period preceding such a review any period during which the importation of the subject merchandise is prohibited on account of U.S. imposition of certain sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act or other Federal law against the country in which such merchandise originates, if that country is not a member of the World Trade Organization. (Sec. 2411) Applies the rates of duty effective after December 31, 1994, under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, if lower, to certain water resistant wool trousers that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, after December 31, 1988, and before January 1, 1995. (Sec. 2412) Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide duty-free treatment of previously imported goods for which a duty was paid if they are: (1) exported within three years after the date of such previous importation; (2) sold for exportation and exported to individuals for personal use; (3) reimported without having been advanced in value or improved in condition by any process of manufacture or other means while abroad; (4) reimported as personal returns from those individuals, whether or not consolidated with other personal returns prior to reimportation; and (5) reimported by or for the account of the person who exported them from the United States within one year of such exportation. (Sec. 2413) Grants duty-free treatment, through December 31, 2002, to the personal effects of, and other equipment imported and used by, participants, their families and associated members, and officials involved in the 1999 International Special Olympics, the 1999 Women's World Cup Soccer, the 2001 International Special Olympics, the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games. Declares that such articles shall be: (1) free of applicable taxes and fees; but (2) not exempt from routine customs inspections. (Sec. 2414) Directs the U.S. Customs Service, upon request, to liquidate or reliquidate (refund duty on) certain entries (filed at the port of Los Angeles) of indirect electrostatic copiers at the rate of duty that would have been applicable to such merchandise if they had been liquidated or reliquidated at a duty rate applicable to other automated data processing (ADP) thermal transfer printer units on the date of entry. (Sec. 2415) Directs the U.S. Customs Service to provide for the liquidation or reliquidation (refund) of certain entries in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Decision 86-126(M) and Customs Ruling No. 224697, dated November 17, 1994. (Sec. 2417) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize duty-free sales enterprises to be located, among other places, within a port of entry, or within 25 statute miles of a staffed port of entry, if reasonable assurance can be provided that the duty-free merchandise sold by the enterprise will be exported by individuals departing from the customs territory through an international airport located within the territory. (Sec. 2418) Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to continue, indefinitely, the use of customs user fees (to the extent funds remain available after making certain reimbursements) for salaries for up to 50 full-time equivalent inspectional positions to provide preclearance customs services. Decreases from $6.50 to $5 the customs user fee charged to each passenger that arrives aboard a commercial vessel or commercial aircraft from a place outside the U.S. customs (except $1.75 shall be charged to each passenger aboard a commercial vessel that arrives from Canada, Mexico, a U.S. territory or possession, or an adjacent island). Earmarks a specified amount of certain customs user fees to the Customs Service for automated commercial systems. Directs the Commissioner of Customs to establish an advisory committee, consisting of representatives from the airline, cruise ship, and other transportation industries, to advise the Commissioner on issues related to the performance of the inspectional services of the Customs Service. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize the Secretary, for a specified period, to prescribe an alternative mid-point interest accounting methodology, which may be employed by the importer, based upon aggregate data in lieu of accounting for such interest from each deposit data provided. (Sec. 2419) Allows a duty drawback (refund of duty) for methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), a finished petroleum derivative, provided certain requirements are met. (Sec. 2420) Revises the methodology used to calculate the drawback (refund of duties) on the export of finished petroleum derivatives that have been manufactured with (substituted for) a qualified article which is of the same kind and quality (whether imported duty-paid or domestic). Redefines the term "qualified article" to include certain manufactured articles (primary forms), including articles of the same kind and quality, or any combination thereof, that are transferred as certified in a certificate of delivery or certificate of manufacture and delivery to an exporter in a quantity not greater than the quantity of articles purchased or exchanged for use in the manufactured article. (Sec. 2421) Directs the U.S. Customs Service, upon proper request, to: (1) liquidate or reliquidate as if the special column one duty rate applicable for Canada applied to certain entries of mueslix cereal; and (2) refund to the importer any excess duties paid with respect to such entries. (Sec. 2422) Directs the Foreign Trade Zones Board to expand Foreign Trade Zone No. 143 to include areas in the vicinity of the Chico Municipal Airport in accordance with the application submitted to the Board by the Sacramento-Yolo Port District of Sacramento, California, on March 11, 1997. (Sec. 2423) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to exempt certain woven fabrics containing silk or silk waste from the country of origin marking requirements. (Sec. 2424) Authorizes the President to: (1) determine that title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (denying nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of certain countries) should no longer apply to Mongolia; and (2) based upon such determination, extend nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to Mongolian products. (Sec. 2425) Authorizes the Commissioner of the Customs Service to establish a pilot program for FY 1999 to provide 24-hour cargo inspection service on a fee-for-service basis at a certain international airport. (Sec. 2426) Directs the Department of Defense to permit the dependent children of deceased U.S. Customs Aviation Group Supervisor Pedro J. Rodriquez attending the Antilles Consolidated School System at Ford Buchanan, Puerto Rico, to complete their primary and secondary education without cost to them or any parent or relative. Title III: Amendments to Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise provisions concerning a corporation, its shareholders, and the transferring of certain assets and liabilities.

Bill· SS. 258 (106th)referred

A bill to authorize additional rounds of base closures and realignments under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 in 2001 and 2003, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1999

Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to: (1) provide for continued appointments to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, authorize the Secretary of Defense to transfer funds for future Commission expenses, and extend Commission authority through December 31, 2003; (2) require the Secretary to include within budget justification documents a force structure plan for the armed forces through FY 2004 (currently, FY 1996); and (3) extend similarly the dates for submission of final selection criteria used for the closure or realignment of military installations, Department of Defense recommendations for such closures or realignments, Commission review and recommendations, presidential review, and final base closures and realignments. Terminates on December 31, 2003 (currently, 1995), the authority to close or realign such installations.

Bill· SS. 246 (106th)open

Private Property Rights Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Private Property Rights Act of 1999 - States that the policy of the Federal Government is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public in a manner that, to the extent practicable, avoids takings of private property. (Sec. 5) Directs each Federal agency to complete a private property taking impact analysis before taking any agency action (including the promulgation of a regulation) which is likely to result in a taking of private property. Exempts from such requirement certain: (1) actions in which the power of eminent domain is formally exercised; (2) any action taken with respect to property held in trust by the United States or in connection with treaty negotiations; (3) law enforcement actions; (4) communications between a Federal agency and a State or local land-use planning agency about a proposed State or local activity regulating private property; (5) military activities or military or foreign affairs functions; and (6) emergencies involving immediate threats to health or safety. Requires that the policies, regulations, and public laws of the United States be interpreted and administered in accordance with the policies under this Act. Specifies the content of such an analysis and requires a copy to be transmitted to the owner of the affected property, as well as made available to the public. Requires each agency to provide the analysis required under this Act as part of any submission otherwise required to be made to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) relating to an agency action. (Sec. 6) Requires the agency, before taking any final agency action, to fully consider alternatives described in this Act, and to the maximum extent practicable, alter the action to avoid or minimize the taking of private property. (Sec. 7) Allows the owner of private property, if an agency action results in the taking of such property, to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action against the agency that has caused the taking to occur. Provides for a civil action against the agency to be brought: (1) in either the U.S. District Court in which the property at issue is located or in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (currently), regardless of the amount in controversy; and (2) if the property is located in more than one judicial district, in any district in which any part of the property is located. (Sec. 8) Directs the Attorney General to provide legal guidance in a timely manner, in response to a request by an agency, to assist it in complying with this Act. Requires annual reports by each agency to the OMB Director and Attorney General identifying each agency action that has resulted in the preparation of a taking impact analysis, the filing of a taking claim, and any award of compensation pursuant to the Just Compensation Clause of the fifth amendment to the Constitution. (Sec. 9) Creates a rebuttable presumption that unmodified analyses five years or older are outdated for purposes of any agency action or administrative or judicial proceeding.

Bill· SS. 239 (106th)referred

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise certain provisions relating to the appointment of professional psychologists in the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Removes the requirement that psychologists appointed to the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs hold degrees in psychology from an approved accrediting authority. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to employ such psychologists on a temporary, full, or part-time basis, or on a fee basis. Requires the Secretary to begin making such appointments within one year after enactment of this Act.

Bill· SS. 245 (106th)referred

Violence Against Women Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Strengthening Law Enforcement to Reduce Violence Against Women Title II: Strengthening Services to Victims of Violence Title III: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children Title IV: Strengthening Education and Training to Combat Violence Against Women Violence Against Women Act of 1999 - Title I: Strengthening Law Enforcement to Reduce Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States, Indian tribal governments, or local governmental units to provide technical assistance and computer and other equipment to police departments, prosecutors, and courts to facilitate the widespread, including interstate, enforcement of protection orders. Instructs the Attorney General to give priority to grant applicants that: (1) have established cooperative agreements with neighboring jurisdictions to facilitate the enforcement of protection orders from other jurisdictions; and (2) will use the grant to develop and install data collection and communication systems linking police, prosecutors, and courts in order to identify and track protection orders and violations of such orders. Directs the Attorney General to compile and disseminate information about successful data collection and communication systems. (Sec. 102) Reauthorizes appropriations through FY 2002 for grants to: (1) combat violent crimes against women; and (2) encourage arrest policies. (Sec. 104) Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to institutions of higher education for use by campus personnel and nonprofit victim services programs to assist campus administrators and campus security personnel to develop and strengthen: (1) effective security and investigation strategies to combat violent crimes against women on campuses, particularly sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence; and (2) victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women on campuses, which may include partnerships with local criminal justice authorities and community-based victims services agencies. Sets forth provisions regarding application and certification requirements, disbursement of funds, and the Federal share. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2002. (Sec. 105) Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to reauthorize through FY 2002: (1) rural domestic violence and child abuse enforcement grants (and allots not less than five percent of the total made available for each fiscal year for grants to Indian tribal governments); and (2) national stalker and domestic violence reduction grants. (Sec. 107) Modifies Federal criminal code provisions regarding interstate domestic violence, interstate stalking, and interstate violation of a protective order to cover situations where persons travel in interstate or foreign commerce or to or from Indian country. (Sec. 108) Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) conduct a review of the occurrence of domestic violence by members of the Armed Forces at military installations inside and outside the United States and the actions taken within the Department of Defense to prevent, control, and otherwise respond to such violence; and (2) report to Congress. Title II: Strengthening Services to Victims of Violence - Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to reauthorize appropriations through FY 2002. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to conduct a nationwide needs assessment relating to family violence prevention and services programs. Requires that, in awarding grants, the application indicate the number of persons served and develop a plan for evaluating need and utility of services. (Sec. 202) Extends through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations for the national domestic violence hotline. (Sec. 208) Makes changes to the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, aimed at removing barriers to adjustment of status for victims of domestic violence, removing barriers to cancellation of removal and suspension of deportation for such victims, and eliminating time limitations on motions to reopen removal and deportation proceedings for such victims. Title III: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children - Reauthorizes appropriations through FY 2002 under: (1) the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act; and (2) the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 for the court-appointed special advocate program and for child abuse training programs for judicial personnel and practitioners. Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General, respectively, to compile annually and disseminate, especially to community-based programs (including domestic violence and sexual assault programs), specified information about the use of amounts expended and the projects funded under such Acts. Title IV: Strengthening Education and Training to Combat Violence Against Women - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to States and nongovernmental private entities to provide education and technical assistance for the purpose of providing training, consultation, and information on violence, abuse, and sexual assault against women who are individuals with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2002. (Sec. 402) Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to make grants to groups that provide services to or advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities eligible for demonstration grants for community initiatives. Authorizes appropriations for such grants through FY 2002.

Bill· SS. 191 (106th)referred

A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on behalf of the United States during World War II.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Directs the Secretary of the Army to issue a certificate of service to Filipino nationals who the Secretary determines have performed any military service in the Philippine Islands during World War II which qualifies such a person or a survivor to receive any military, veterans', or other benefits under U.S. laws.

Bill· SS. 250 (106th)referred

Federal Prosecutor Ethics Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Federal Prosecutor Ethics Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to replace provisions regarding ethical standards for attorneys for the Government with ethical standards for Federal prosecutors. Subjects a Federal prosecutor (defined as an attorney employed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) who is directly engaged in the prosecution of violations of Federal civil or criminal law) to all laws and rules governing ethical conduct of attorneys of the State in which such prosecutor is licensed as an attorney, except to the extent such law or rule is inconsistent with Federal law or interferes with the effectuation of Federal law or policy, including the investigation of violations of Federal law. Directs the Attorney General to establish by rule that it shall be punishable conduct for any DOJ officer or employee, in the discharge of his or her official duties, to intentionally: (1) seek the indictment of any person in the absence of a reasonable belief of probable cause; (2) fail to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense; (3) mislead a court as to the guilt of any person by knowingly making a false statement of material fact or law; (4) offer evidence known to be false; (5) alter evidence; (6) attempt to corruptly influence or color a witness's testimony with intent to encourage untruthful testimony; (7) violate a criminal defendant's right to discovery; (8) offer or provide sexual activities to any Government witness or potential witness in exchange for his or her testimony; or (9) improperly disseminate confidential, non-public information to any person during an investigation or trial. Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish a range of penalties for engaging in such prohibited conduct, including reprimand, demotion, dismissal, suspension from employment, referral of ethical charges to the bar, and referral of evidence related to the conduct to a grand jury; and (2) report annually to specified congressional committees on the activities and operations of DOJ's Office of Professional Responsibility. Establishes a Commission on Federal Prosecutorial Conduct. Sets forth reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations.

Bill· SS. 226 (106th)referred

Nigerian Democracy and Civil Society Empowerment Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Nigerian Democracy and Civil Society Empowerment Act of 1999 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should actively seek to coordinate with other countries to further the U.S. policy of promoting the rule of law and respect for human rights, and the transition to democratic civilian government; and (2) in light of the importance of Nigeria to the region and the severity of successive military regimes, the President should instruct the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) to use the U.S. vote at the UNCHR annual meeting to condemn human rights abuses in Nigeria, as appropriate, while recognizing the progress that has been made, and to press for the continued renewal of the mandate of, and continued access to Nigeria for, the special rapporteur on Nigeria. (Sec. 4) Earmarks specified development assistance funds for FY 2000 through 2002 to: (1) nongovernmental organizations to promote democracy, good governance, and the rule of law in Nigeria; (2) the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) to provide grants to support individuals or nongovernmental organizations that seek to promote, directly or indirectly, the advancement of human rights there; and (3) the U.S. Information Agency, to support its activities in Nigeria, including the promotion of greater awareness among Nigerians of constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Administrator of AID should: (1) increase the number of U.S. personnel at its office in Lagos, Nigeria, from within its current, overall staff resources; and (2) consider placement of personnel elsewhere in Nigeria. (Sec. 5) Prohibits economic and military assistance or arms transfers to the Government of Nigeria. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive directors of specified international financial institutions to use the U.S. vote to oppose any multilateral assistance to the Government of Nigeria. (Sec. 6) Expresses the sense of the Congress that unless the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees by July 1, 1999, that a democratic transition to civilian rule has taken place in Nigeria, the Secretary of State should deny a visa to any alien who is a senior member of the Nigerian government or a military officer currently in the Nigerian armed forces. (Sec. 7) Authorizes the President to waive any prohibition contained in this Act, provided the President makes a certain determination, and notifies the Congress, regarding Nigeria's human rights record and progress toward democracy. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on governmental corruption in Nigeria. (Sec. 10) Sunsets the provisions of this Act on September 30, 2004.

Bill· SJRESS.J.Res. 3 (106th)open

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to protect the rights of crime victims.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Constitutional Amendment - Grants victims of crimes of violence the following rights: (1) to reasonable notice of, and to not be excluded from, any public proceedings relating to the crime; (2) to be heard, if present, and to submit a statement at all public proceedings to determine a conditional release from custody, an acceptance of a negotiated plea, or a sentence and at a non-public parole proceeding to the extent such rights are afforded to the convicted offender; (3) to reasonable notice of a release or escape from custody relating to the crime; (4) to consideration of the interest of the victim that any trial be free from unreasonable delay; (5) to an order of restitution from the convicted offender; (6) to consideration for the safety of the victim in determining any conditional release from custody relating to the crime; and (7) to reasonable notice of the rights established by this amendment. (Sec. 2) Grants the victim or the victim's lawful representative standing to assert such rights. Provides that nothing in this amendment shall: (1) provide grounds to stay or continue any trial, reopen any proceeding, or invalidate any ruling, except with respect to conditional release or restitution or to provide rights guaranteed by this amendment in future proceedings, without staying or continuing a trial; and (2) give rise to or authorize the creation of a claim for damages against the United States, a State, a political subdivision, or a public officer or employee. (Sec. 3) Empowers the Congress to enforce this amendment by appropriate legislation. Allows exceptions to the rights established by this amendment only when necessary to achieve a compelling interest. (Sec. 4) Makes: (1) the right to a restitution order established by this amendment inapplicable to crimes committed before its effective date; and (2) the rights and immunities established by this amendment applicable in Federal and State proceedings, including military proceedings to the extent that the Congress may provide by law, juvenile justice proceedings, and proceedings in the District of Columbia and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

Bill· SS. 4 (106th)open

Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen's, and Marines' Bill of Rights Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Pay and Allowances Title II: Retirement Benefits Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen's, and Marines' Bill of Rights Act of 1999 - Title I: Pay and Allowances - Waives during FY 2000 any required adjustment in the rates of monthly military basic pay in conformance with the General Schedule of the Federal Government. Increases such pay by 4.8 percent, effective on January 1, 2000. Provides: (1) an increase in such pay as of July 1, 2000, for officer and enlisted personnel within specified pay grades; and (2) a pay increase for fiscal years after 2000 of one percent over the percentage increase as calculated under the Employment Cost Index. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay a special subsistence allowance of $180 for each month in which a member is eligible to receive food stamp assistance. Terminates or reestablishes such entitlement under certain conditions. Title II: Retirement Benefits - Authorizes the payment of a lump-sum bonus of $30,000 to a member who: (1) first became a member on or after August 1, 1986; (2) has completed 15 years of active duty; and (3) executes a written agreement to remain on active duty until the completion of 20 years of such service. Requires notification of those eligible for such bonus. Requires a pro rata repayment of such bonus when the full additional period is not completed. Authorizes a waiver of the repayment requirement when against equity or good conscience or contrary to the best interests of the United States. (Sec. 202) Authorizes a member serving on active duty for more than 30 days to participate in the Federal Thrift Savings Plan, with a maximum annual contribution of five percent of basic pay and any special or incentive pay. Prohibits matching Federal agency contributions. Adds a representative of such members to the Employee Thrift Advisory Council. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to enter into an agreement to make contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund for the benefit of a member who: (1) is in a specialty designated as critical; and (2) agrees to continue to serve on active duty in such specialty for a period of six years.

Bill· SS. 39 (106th)open

Public Safety Medal of Valor Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Public Safety Medal of Valor Act- Authorizes the President to award, and present in the name of the Congress, a Medal of Valor to a public safety officer who is cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Medal of Valor Review Board, for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. States that the Public Safety Medal of Valor is the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer. Establishes a Medal of Valor Review Board to select candidates as recipients of the Medal from among applications received by the National Medal Office. Establishes within the Department of Justice a National Medal Office to support the Board and, with the Board's concurrence, to establish criteria and procedures for the submission of recommendations of nominees for the Medal. Authorizes appropriations. Repeals provisions of the Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 establishing the President's Award for Outstanding Public Safety Service and the Secretary of Commerce's Award for Distinguished Public Safety Service. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) consult with the Institute of Heraldry within the Department of Defense regarding the design and artistry of the Medal of Valor; and (2) consider suggestions received by the Department of Justice regarding the design of the medal, including those made by persons not employed by the Department.

Bill· SJRESS.J.Res. 7 (106th)referred

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced budget.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts (except those derived from borrowing) for that fiscal year unless the Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Requires the approval of a majority of each House by roll call vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Authorizes the Congress to waive these provisions when: (1) a declaration of war is in effect; or (2) the United States is engaged in a military conflict which poses a threat to national security as declared by a joint resolution adopted by a majority of each House. Makes this article effective beginning with FY 2002 or with the second fiscal year beginning after its ratification, whichever is later.

Bill· SJRESS.J.Res. 5 (106th)referred

A joint resolution to provide for a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment that prohibits the use of Social Security surpluses to achieve compliance.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts (except those derived from borrowing) for that fiscal year unless the Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Bars any surplus of receipts (including interest) over outlays of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds from being counted for purposes of this article. Requires any deficit of receipts (including interest) relative to outlays of such trust funds to be counted and to be completely offset by a surplus of all other receipts over all other outlays. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each House by a roll call vote. Authorizes the Congress to waive these provisions when: (1) a declaration of war is in effect; or (2) the United States is engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security as declared by a joint resolution which becomes law. Allows any enforcement or implementation legislation of the Congress to rely on estimates of outlays and receipts. Makes this article effective beginning with FY 2002 or with the second fiscal year beginning after its ratification, whichever is later.

Bill· SS. 5 (106th)open

Drug-Free Century Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: International Supply Reduction Subtitle A: International Crime Subtitle B: International Drug Control Subtitle C: Foreign Military Counter-Drug Support Subtitle D: Money Laundering Deterrence Subtitle E: Additional Funding For Source and Interdiction Zone Countries Title II: Domestic Law Enforcement Subtitle A: Criminal Offenders Subtitle B: Methamphetamine Laboratory Cleanup Subtitle C: Powder Cocaine Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Subtitle D: Drug-Free Borders Title III: Domestic Demand Reduction Subtitle A: Education, Prevention, and Treatment Subtitle B: Drug-Free Families Title IV: Funding For United States Counter-Drug Enforcement Agencies Subtitle B(sic): United States Coast Guard Subtitle C: Drug Enforcement Administration Subtitle D: Department of the Treasury Subtitle E: Department of Defense Drug-Free Century Act - Title I: International Supply Reduction - Subtitle A: International Crime - Chapter 1: International Crime Control - International Crime Control Act of 1999 - Prohibits, and sets felony penalties for, violence committed while eluding inspection or during violation of arrival, reporting, entry, or clearance requirements, including conspiracy and reckless endangerment. Chapter 2: Strengthening Maritime Law Enforcement Along United States Borders - Prohibits, and sets penalties for: (1) failing to obey an order to heave to (on being so ordered by an authorized Federal law enforcement officer); and (2) failing to comply with an order of such officer in connection with the boarding of the vessel, impeding or obstructing a boarding, arrest, or other law enforcement action authorized by Federal law, or providing false information to such an officer during a boarding regarding the destination, origin, ownership, registration, nationality, cargo, or crew of the vessel. Authorizes: (1) a foreign country to consent or waive objection to the enforcement of U.S. law by the United States under this subtitle by international agreement or, on a case-by-case basis, by radio, telephone, or similar oral or electronic means; (2) the Secretary of State or his or her designee to prove a consent or waiver by certification; and (3) the seizure and forfeiture of a vessel used in violation of this chapter. (Sec. 1004) Sets a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for failure to comply with a lawful boarding, obstruction of boarding, or provision of false information. Provides for in rem liability. (Sec. 1005) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to define an "authorized place" to board vessels to include a location in a foreign country at which U.S. customs officers are permitted to conduct inspections, examinations, or searches. Chapter 3: Smuggling of Contraband and Other Illegal Products - Prohibits, and sets penalties for, smuggling contraband and other goods from the United States and for facilitating the transportation of such goods prior to exportation. Makes such smuggling, and smuggling goods into foreign countries, a predicate offense under the money laundering statute. Amends the Tariff Act to provide for the forfeiture of merchandise illegally exported or attempted to be exported from the United States. (Sec. 1007) Increases the penalty for entry of goods by means of false statements. Prohibits, and applies such penalty to, embezzling, stealing, or wrongfully converting to personal use funds, assets, securities, or other property entrusted to a person's care or to the care of another for the purpose of paying any lawful customs duties. (Sec. 1008) Prohibits, and sets penalties for, false certifications relating to exports. Chapter 4: Denying Safe Havens to International Criminals - Authorizes the Attorney General, if a foreign government makes a request for the extradition of a person who is charged with or has been convicted of an offense within that government's jurisdiction, and if an extradition treaty between that government and the United States is in force but does not provide for extradition for the offense for which the person has been charged or convicted, or if no treaty is in force, to authorize the filing of a complaint for extradition, subject to specified conditions. (Sec. 1012) Grants the Attorney General the authority, if a person is being held in pretrial detention or is otherwise in custody in a foreign county based upon a violation of the law in that country and the person is found extraditable to the United States by the competent authorities of that country while still in pretrial detention or custody, to: (1) request the temporary transfer of that person to the United States to face prosecution in a Federal or State criminal proceeding; (2) maintain the custody of that person while he or she is in the United States; and (3) return that person to the foreign country at the conclusion of the criminal prosecution, including any imposition of sentence. Sets forth similar provisions regarding the Attorney General's authority with respect to the temporary transfer of persons in pretrial detention or custody in the United States to foreign governments seeking their extradition. (Sec. 1013) Amends the Federal judicial code to prohibit a person from using the resources of the U.S. courts in furtherance of a claim in any related civil forfeiture action, or a claim in third party proceedings in any related criminal forfeiture action, if that person: (1) purposely leaves U.S. jurisdiction; (2) declines to enter or reenter the United States to submit to its jurisdiction; or (3) otherwise evades the jurisdiction of the court in which a criminal case against that person is pending. (Sec. 1014) Removes restrictions on the transfer of foreign prisoners to serve sentences in their country of origin where provided by treaty. (Sec. 1015) Authorizes the Attorney General to permit the temporary transit through the United States of a person wanted for prosecution or imposition of sentence in a foreign country. Chapter 5: Seizing and Forfeiting Assets of International Criminals - Prohibits, and sets penalties for, violations of anti-money laundering orders. (Sec. 1017) Provides that, for purposes of proving a violation of the prohibition against owning or operating an illegal money transmitting business, it shall be sufficient for the Government to prove that the defendant knew that the business lacked a license required by State law, and it shall not be necessary to show that the defendant knew that operation of the business without the required license was an offense punishable as a felony or misdemeanor under State law. (Sec. 1018) Grants the district courts jurisdiction over any foreign person, including any financial institution registered in a foreign country, that commits a money laundering offense involving a financial transaction that occurs in whole or in part in the United States, if service of process is made as specified. Authorizes the court to take action necessary to ensure that any bank account or other property held by the defendant in the United States is available to satisfy a judgement under this section. (Sec.1019) Amends the money laundering statute to include foreign banks within the definition of "financial institution." (Sec. 1021) Amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to authorize the court: (1) in the case of property that has been placed beyond the court's jurisdiction, to order the defendant to return the property to the court's jurisdiction so it may be seized and forfeited; and (2) to order the defendant to repatriate any property subject to forfeiture pending trial and to deposit that property in the registry of the court, or with the United States Marshals Service or the Secretary, in an interest-bearing account (and sets penalties for failure to comply). (Sec. 1022) Expands the Secretary's administrative summons authority under the Bank Secrecy Act. (Sec. 1023) Amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Trading With the Enemy Act of 1917 (TWEA) to provide that information obtained under such Acts may be withheld only to the extent permitted by statute, except that information submitted, obtained, or considered in connection with any transaction prohibited under such Acts, including license applications, licenses or other authorizations, information or evidence obtained in the course of any investigation, and information obtained or furnished in connection with international agreements, treaties, or obligations shall be withheld from public disclosure, unless the release of the information is determined by the President to be in the national interest. (Sec. 1024) Increases the civil penalty and the criminal fine for violations of IEEPA. (Sec. 1025) Amends TWEA to cover attempted violations of the Act. (Sec. 1026) Specifies circumstances under which a person who commits an offense outside the United States that would constitute fraud or another prohibited related activity in connection with an access device shall be subject to the penalties for such offense as if it were committed in the United States. Chapter 6: Promoting Global Cooperation in the Fight Against International Crime - Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize the Attorney General to present a request made by a foreign government for assistance with respect to a foreign investigation, prosecution, or proceeding regarding a criminal matter the execution of which requires the use of compulsory measures in more than one judicial district, to a judge or judge magistrate of any one of such districts or of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Grants such judge or magistrate the authority to issue orders to execute the request. (Sec. 1028) Grants the Attorney General authority to temporarily transfer a person who is serving a sentence, is in pretrial detention, or is otherwise being held in U.S. custody, whose testimony is needed in a foreign criminal proceeding, subject to specified requirements, if such transfer is consistent with the international obligations of the United States. (Sec. 1029) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make an exception to the prohibition against training of foreign law enforcement agencies with respect to assistance and training provided for antiterrorism purposes. (Sec. 1030) Authorizes the Attorney General to make payments from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to return forfeited property repatriated to the United States by a foreign government or others acting at the direction of a foreign government, and interest earned on the property under specified conditions. Subtitle B: International Drug Control - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, by November 1 of each year, to submit to the Congress a separate plan for the activities to be undertaken by the United States in order to address drug-trafficking and other drug-related matters in each country that is determined by the President to be a major drug-transit country or a major illicit drug producing country, with which the United States is maintaining diplomatic relations. (Sec. 1202) Prohibits any funds appropriated for any fiscal year after FY 1999 for U.S. counter-drug or counter-narcotics activities from being obligated or expended for such activities between November 1 of such fiscal year and the later of the notification date required in such fiscal year under provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 regarding authority to transfer excess defense articles or the date of the submittal of the plans required by this subtitle. (Sec. 1203) Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding Colombia (regarding counter-narcotics assistance and human rights), Mexico (regarding a maritime agreement to improve cooperation in interdicting seaborne drug smuggling), and Iran and Syria (regarding narcotics). (Sec. 1207) Authorizes the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to purchase a King Air aircraft for DEA activities, and station the aircraft, in Brazil. Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding narcotics trafficking in Brazil, Jamaica, and North Korea. Subtitle C: Foreign Military Counter-Drug Support - Directs: (1) the Departments of State and Defense to report monthly to specified congressional committees on the current status of any formal letter of request for foreign military sales of counter-narcotics-related assistance from the head of any police, military, or other appropriate security agency official in an Andean country; and (2) the Department of State to review and forward to the Congress an analysis of the current foreign military sales program within 180 days of this Act's enactment. Subtitle D: Money Laundering Deterrence - Money Laundering Deterrence Act of 1999 - Revises Federal law to expand the scope of immunity from civil liability for disclosures of suspicious monetary transactions made by: (1) a financial institution and any of its directors, officers, employees, or agents to an appropriate governmental agency; or (2) an independent accountant who audits a financial institution. Extends such immunity to any failure to notify either the subject of such disclosure, or any other person identified in it. Prohibits notification of such disclosures or their contents: (1) to any person involved in the suspect transaction; or (2) by any government staff to other government agencies. Exempts from such prohibition any use of related information by government officers in the conduct of either official duties or law enforcement, regulatory, or investigative proceedings. States that written employment references submitted by a financial institution to another upon request may disclose information concerning possible involvement in suspicious transactions relevant to possible illegalities. Shields from civil liability any financial institution and its directors, officers, employees, and agents for any such disclosures. Authorizes the Secretary to disseminate information contained in such reports to certain self-regulatory organizations subject to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if the Securities and Exchange Commission determines it is necessary or appropriate for such organizations' statutory functions. (Sec. 1404) Authorizes the Secretary to summon financial institution records in connection with examinations to determine compliance with designated statutory requirements. (Sec. 1405) Provides for civil and criminal penalties for violations of orders the Secretary of the Treasury may issue to a financial institution or group of financial institutions in a geographic area (geographic targeting orders). Increases civil and criminal penalties for violations of specified record keeping requirements. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and specified monetary law to increase civil and criminal penalties for violation of record keeping requirements. (Sec.1406) Amends the Money Laundering Suppression Act of 1994 to repeal the requirement for a periodic status report by the Secretary to the Congress on progress by the States in enacting a model statute to implement uniform State licensing and regulation of check cashing, currency exchange, and money transmitting businesses. (Sec.1408) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary, in conjunction with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, should expedite promulgation of "know your customer" regulations for financial institutions. Subtitle E: Additional Funding For Source and Interdiction Zone Countries - Authorizes appropriations, beyond sums appropriated for Colombia and Peru for counter-narcotics operations for a fiscal year, for: (1) Peru and Colombia to support additional surveillance, pursuit of drug aircraft, and general support for counter-narcotics operations; and (2) Bolivian counter-narcotics programs for FY 2000. (Sec. 1502) Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 2000 for enhanced efforts in counter-narcotics matters by the United States Coast Guard, Customs Service, and other law enforcement agencies. Title II: Domestic Law Enforcement - Subtitle A: Criminal Offenders - Directs the Attorney General to require the United States Attorney to: (1) establish an armed violent criminal apprehension task force; and (2) report to the Attorney General, at least monthly, on the number of defendants charged with, or convicted of, violating specified provisions of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. Sets forth reporting requirements. Amends: (1) the Federal criminal code (the code) to revise the definition of "crime of violence" to include an offense that is a violation of provisions relating to possession of explosives or firearms by convicted felons; and (2) the Brady Act to set penalties for transferring a firearm, having reasonable cause to believe (currently, knowing) that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime, and to prohibit the court from granting a probationary sentence to a person who has more than one previous conviction for a violent felony or a serious drug offense, committed under different circumstances. (Sec. 2002) Amends the code to provide that whoever, acting with the state of mind otherwise required for the commission of a Federal criminal offense, intentionally engages in conduct that constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of the offense, is guilty of an attempt and is subject to the same penalties (except the death penalty) as those prescribed for the offense the commission of which was the object of the attempt. Specifies that inability to commit or to complete the offense shall not be a defense to such a prosecution, with exceptions. Makes it an affirmative defense that the defendant prevented the commission of the offense under circumstances manifesting a voluntary and complete renunciation of criminal intent. Repeals a limitation on punishment for conspiracy where an offense, the commission of which is the object of the conspiracy, is a misdemeanor. Provides that if two or more persons conspire to commit any offense against the United States, and one or more of them do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be subject to the same penalties (except the death penalty) as those prescribed for the most serious offense the commission of which was the object of the conspiracy. (Sec. 2003) Specifies that, for purposes of this Act, an offense is committed in the presence of a child if: (1) it takes place in the line of sight of an individual who has not attained age 18; or (2) an individual who has not attained age 18 habitually resides in the place where the violation occurs. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide for specified sentencing enhancements with respect to a CSA offense that is committed in the presence of a child. (Sec. 2004) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should take immediate and effective action at and near the U.S.-Mexican border to control violence and other illegal acts; and (2) the Attorney General should report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on what steps are being taken to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens at and near the border, and to prevent the illegal acquisition of sites and facilities in such areas by drug traffickers, and what steps need to be taken to ensure the safety and well being of the people of the United States along that border. (Sec. 2005) Amends the code to authorize the use of a clone pager (defined as a numeric display device that receives communications intended for another numeric display paging device). Prohibits the installation or use of a pen register, trap and trace device, or clone pager without first obtaining a court order under the code or under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, except as provided in this section. Amends provisions regarding the use of pen registers and trap and trace devices to cover the use of clone pagers. Authorizes a provider of electronic communication service, upon the request of an attorney for the Government or an officer of a law enforcement agency authorized touse a clone pager, to furnish to such investigative or law enforcement officer all information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the programming and use of such pager unobtrusively and with a minimum of interference with the paging services provided. Sets forth provisions regarding application for an order for use of a clone pager and issuance of such an order. Subtitle B: Methamphetamine Laboratory Cleanup - Requires the Sentencing Commission to promulgate, or amend existing, Federal sentencing guidelines for any offense relating to the manufacture, attempt to manufacture, or conspiracy to manufacture amphetamine or methamphetamine in violation of the CSA, the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act, or the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. Directs the Commission, with respect to each such offense, to increase the base level for the offense as specified, with an even greater increase if the offense created a substantial risk of danger to the health and safety of another person. Grants the Commission certain emergency authority to promulgate guidelines or amendments. (Sec. 2102) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration should develop a comprehensive plan for addressing the need for the speedy and safe clean up of methamphetamine laboratory sites; and (2) the Federal Government should allocate sufficient funding to pay for a comprehensive effort to clean up such sites. Subtitle C: Powder Cocaine Mandatory Minimum Sentencing - Amends CSA and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to decrease (from five kilograms to 500 grams, and from 500 to 50 grams) the amounts of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of coca leaves, cocaine, ecgonine, or compounds thereof (cocaine powder) the manufacture, distribution, or possession of which is punishable by specified penalties under such Acts. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate or amend guidelines to reflect the amendment made by this subtitle. Subtitle D: Drug-Free Borders - Increases from two to five years the penalty for entry of goods by means of false statements. (Sec. 2302) Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Attorney General, in each of FY 2000 through 2004, to increase by not less than 1,500 the number of positions for full-time, active-duty border patrol agents within the Immigration and Naturalization Service above the number of such positions for which funds were allotted for the preceding fiscal year, to achieve a level of 15,000 positions by FY 2004. (Sec. 2303) Prohibits a border patrol agent from ceasing pursuit of an alien suspected of unlawfully entering, or of an individual unlawfully importing a narcotic into, the United States, until State or local law enforcement authorities are in pursuit and have the alien or individual in their visual range. Title III: Demand Reduction - Subtitle A: Education, Prevention, and Treatment - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Congress and the President should: (1) make the reauthorization of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994 a high priority for the 106th Congress, and that such reauthorization should maintain substance abuse prevention as a major focus; and (2) make the reauthorization of Federal substance abuse prevention and treatment programs a high priority for the 106th Congress, and provide more flexibility to States in the use of Federal funds for provision of drug abuse prevention and treatment services while holding States accountable for their performance. (Sec. 3003) Directs the National Institute on Standards and Technology to: (1) conduct a study of drug-testing technologies in order to identify and assess the efficacy, accuracy, and usefulness for purposes of the national effort to detect the use of illicit drugs of any drug-testing technologies that may be used as alternatives or complements to urinalysis as a means of detecting the use of such drugs; and (2) report on the results to the Congress. (Sec. 3004) Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to require: (1) the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to ensure that the results of all current alcohol research that is set aside for services is widely disseminated to treatment practitioners in an easily understandable format, and in a manner that provides easily understandable steps for the implementation of best practices based on the research, and make technical assistance available to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to assist alcohol and drug treatment practitioners to make permanent changes in treatment activities through the use of successful treatment models; and (2) the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse to take analogous steps with respect to drug abuse research and treatment. (Sec. 3005) Amends PHSA to prohibit the expenditure of Federal funds made available to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes to individuals for the injection of any illegal drug. (Sec. 3006) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish an incentive grant program to assist the States in improving their laws relating to controlled substances and driving. Sets forth grant requirements, including regarding the use of grant funds. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004. (Sec. 3008) Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize an eligible crime victim compensation program to expend appropriated funds to offer compensation to elementary and secondary school students or teachers who are victims of school violence. Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make a grant for a demonstration project or for training and technical assistance services to a program that: (1) assists State and local educational agencies in developing, establishing, and operating programs to protect victims of and witnesses to incidents of elementary and secondary school violence; or (2) supports a student safety toll-free hotline that provides students and teachers in such schools with confidential assistance relating to the issues of school crime, violence, drug dealing, and threats to personal safety. (Sec. 3009) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to States, and State and local educational agencies, to develop, establish, or conduct innovative programs to improve unsafe elementary or secondary schools. Provides priorities for programs that: (1) provide prompt parent and teacher notification of certain school incidents; (2) provide annual reports to parents and teachers regarding such incidents; and (3) enhance school security measures. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994 to authorize innovative voluntary random drug testing programs. Subtitle B: Drug-Free Families - Drug-Free Families Act of 1999 - Directs the DEA Administrator to make a grant to the Parent Collaboration, a legal entity established by specified organizations, to conduct a national campaign to build a new parent and family movement to help parents and families prevent drug abuse among their children. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Funding for United States Counter-Drug Enforcement Agencies - Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for drug enforcement and other noncommercial operations, commercial operations, and air and marine interdiction for FY 2000 through 2001. Directs the Commissioner of Customs to submit to specified congressional committees the projected amount of funds for the succeeding fiscal year that will be necessary for Customs Service operations. (Sec. 4002) Makes specified FY 2000 funds available until expended for acquisition and other expenses associated with implementation and deployment of specified narcotics detection equipment along the United States-Mexico border, the United States-Canada border, and Florida and the Gulf Coast seaports. Earmarks specified FY 2001 funds for the maintenance and support of, and training of personnel to maintain and support, such equipment. (Sec. 4003) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) peak hours and investigative resource enhancement; (2) air and marine operation and maintenance funding; (3) compliance with performance plan requirements; (4) a change of salary for the Commissioner of Customs from level III to level IV of the executive pay schedule; and (5) passenger preclearance services. Subtitle B(sic): United States Coast Guard - Authorizes additional funding for the United States Coast Guard for FY 2000 and 2001 for operation and maintenance. Subtitle C: Drug Enforcement Administration - Authorizes additional funding for the DEA for FY 2000 for counter-narcotics and information support operations. Subtitle D: Department of the Treasury - Authorizes additional funding for the Department of the Treasury for FY 2000 and 2001 for counter-narcotics, information support, and money laundering efforts. Subtitle E: Department of Defense - Authorizes additional funding for the Department of Defense for FY 2000 and 2001 to expand activities to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. (Sec. 4402) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects to establish an air base or bases for use in support of counter-narcotics operations in the southern Caribbean Sea, northern South America, and eastern Pacific Ocean, located in Latin America or the Caribbean Sea, or both. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4403) Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense for FY 2000 for the procurement of a Relocatable Over the Horizon Radar, located in South America. (Sec. 4404) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should allocate funds appropriated for FY 1999 pursuant to the authorizations of appropriations for that fiscal year in the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act to fully carry out the purposes of that Act during that fiscal year, and should include with the budgets for FY 2000 and 2001 that are submitted to the Congress a request for funds for such fiscal years in accordance with the authorizations of appropriations for such fiscal years in that Act; and (2) the Secretary of Defense should revise the Global Military Force Policy of the Department of Defense to treat the international drug interdiction and counter-drug activities of the Department as a military operation other than war (thereby elevating the priority given such activities to that given to peacekeeping operations), and allocate Department assets to such activities in accordance with the priority given such activities under the revised Policy.

Bill· SS. 93 (106th)open

Budget Enforcement Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Title II: Emergency Spending Reforms Title III: Clarifying Changes to Pay-As-You-Go Title IV: Reform of the Senate's Consideration of Appropriations Bills, Budget Resolutions, and Reconciliation Bills Title V: Budget Act Amendments Regarding the Senate's Consideration of Budget Resolution and Reconciliation Bills Budget Enforcement Act of 1999 - Title I: Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations - Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to revise the Federal and congressional budget processes by establishing a two-year budgeting and appropriations cycle and timetable. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Sets forth a special timetable for any first session that begins in any year immediately following a leap year and during which the term of a President begins (except one who starts a second successive term). Devotes the first session of any Congress to the budget resolution and to appropriations decisions, retaining current deadlines in most cases. Changes certain deadlines to conform to the biennial scheme. Devotes each second session to authorization activity, subject to specified deadlines. (Sec. 104) Sets forth revised pay-as-you-go provisions for the Senate to conform with the biennial framework. (Sec. 105) Conforms provisions governing the President's budget to the biennial framework. (Sec. 106) Requires all Acts making regular appropriations for the support of the Government to be enacted for a biennium and to specify the amount of appropriations provided for each fiscal year in that period. (Sec. 107) Amends the CBA to provide that it shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider: (1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that authorizes appropriations for a period of less than two fiscal years, unless the program, project, or activity for which the appropriations are authorized will require no further appropriations and will be completed or terminated after the appropriations have been expended; and (2) in any odd-numbered year, any authorization or revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress completes action on the biennial budget resolution, all regular biennial appropriations bills, and all reconciliation bills. Provides that, in the Senate, such point of order shall not apply to: (1) any measure that is privileged for consideration pursuant to a rule or statute; (2) any matter considered in Executive Session; or (3) an appropriations measure or reconciliation bill. (Sec. 108) Changes to a biennial basis specified requirements for certain Government strategic and performance plans, performance reports in budget submissions, and program performance reports. Requires congressional committee reviews of such plans and reports. (Sec. 109) Provides that it shall not be in order in the House or the Senate in any odd-numbered year to consider any regular bill providing new budget authority or a limitation on obligations under the jurisdiction of any Appropriations subcommittee for only the first fiscal year of a biennium unless the program, project, or activity for which such authority or limitation is provided will require no additional authority beyond one year and will be completed or terminated after the amount provided has been expended. (Sec. 110) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to report to the Budget Committees on the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a two-year fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on the two-year period. Title II: Emergency Spending Reforms - Amends the CBA to require the President, in designating a provision of legislation as an emergency requirement under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), to submit to the Congress an analysis of whether a proposed emergency requirement meets criteria specified under this title. Requires the committee report accompanying such legislation to make such analysis as well. Provides that a proposed expenditure or tax change is an emergency requirement if it is: (1) necessary, essential, or vital; (2) sudden, quickly coming into being, and not building up over time; (3) an urgent, pressing, and compelling need requiring immediate action; (4) unforeseen, unpredictable, and unanticipated; and (5) not permanent, temporary in nature. Requires the President or the committee report to justify why a proposed requirement is an emergency if it fails to meet such criteria. Strikes: (1) emergency requirements in legislation under consideration in the Senate when a point of order is sustained against such requirements; and (2) non-emergency provisions in emergency supplemental appropriations legislation when a point of order is so sustained. Title III: Clarifying Changes to Pay-As-You-Go - Amends H. Con. Res. 67 (104th Congress) to apply a point of order in the Senate against consideration of direct spending or revenue legislation that would increase or cause an on-budget deficit (currently, that would increase the deficit) for specified time periods. (Sec. 302) Amends the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act to make conforming amendments to pay-as-you-go provisions to assure that legislation increasing, or causing, an on-budget deficit will trigger sequestration. Adds the estimate of the on-budget surplus for the budget year in the calculation of the deficit increase or decrease. (Sec. 303) Amends the CBA to consider to be extraneous matter in a reconciliation measure provisions that would increase net outlays or decrease revenues and cause an on-budget deficit in a fiscal year after the years covered by such measure, when taken with other provisions in the bill. Title IV: Reform of the Senate's Consideration of Appropriations Bills, Budget Resolutions, and Reconciliation Bills - Government Shutdown Prevention Act - Amends Federal law relating to appropriations to provide for continuing appropriations in the absence of regular appropriations. Sunsets this title after FY 2001. Title V: Budget Act Amendments Regarding the Senate's Consideration of Budget Resolution and Reconciliation Bills - Amends the CBA to prohibit the budget resolution from including precatory language. Revises provisions regarding Senate procedure for consideration of the budget resolution. Provides that it shall not be in order in the Senate to proceed to consideration of the budget resolution unless the resolution's text has been available to Members for at least one calendar day prior to consideration. Decreases the time for debate in the Senate on the resolution and amendments. Sets forth new provisions regarding the disposition and filing of amendments and other matters after a period of debate, limits on second-degree amendments, debate on motions to recommit, and disposition of conference reports. (Sec. 502) Defines "major functional category" as the allocation of budget authority and outlays separated into the following subtotals: (1) defense discretionary; (2) nondefense discretionary; (3) direct spending; and (4) other subsets of discretionary and direct spending, as necessary. (Sec. 503) Changes the pay rates for the Director and Deputy Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

Bill· SS. 9 (106th)open

Safe Schools, Safe Streets, and Secure Borders Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Safe Schools, Safe Streets, and Secure Borders Act of 1999 - Title I: Combating Violence in Schools and Punishing Juvenile Crime - Subtitle A: Assistance to Schools - Directs the Attorney General, the Secretary of Education (Secretary), and the Secretary of Energy to enter into an agreement for the establishment at the Sandia National Laboratories in partnership with the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center--Southeast of a School Security Technology Center. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 1002) Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary to award grants on a competitive basis to local educational agencies to enable such agencies to acquire security technology, or carry out activities related to improving security at the middle and high schools served by the agencies, including obtaining school security assessments, and technical assistance for the development of a comprehensive school security plan from the School Security Technology Center. Directs the Secretary to give priority to agencies showing the highest security needs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 1003) Directs the Attorney General to develop and submit to the Congress a proposal to further improve school security. Subtitle B: Federal Prosecution of Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders - Part 1: Reform of Federal Juvenile System - Revises Federal criminal code (code) provisions regarding delinquency proceedings and criminal prosecutions in district courts to authorize a juvenile alleged to have committed an act on or after the day the juvenile attains age 16 to be prosecuted as an adult if specified conditions are met, such as if: (1) the juvenile has requested in writing upon advice of counsel to be prosecuted as an adult; and (2) the act, if committed by an adult, would be a felony crime of violence or a specified serious drug or other offense. Requires the approval of the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee to prosecute a juvenile between the ages of 13 and 16. (Under current law, the decision to charge a juvenile as an adult for specified crimes is a result of a motion by the United States to transfer the juvenile for criminal prosecution, and the offenses subject to this transfer authority are limited.) Makes a determination regarding approval or institution of prosecution under this title non-reviewable in court, with exceptions. Allows a juvenile to be prosecuted and convicted as an adult for any other offense which is properly joined under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and convicted of a lesser included offense. (Sec.1212) Limits the applicability of statutory minimum sentences in certain prosecutions of persons under age 16. (Sec. 1214) Requires: (1) an arresting officer to promptly take reasonable steps to notify the parents, guardian, or custodian of a juvenile taken into custody (current law requires immediate notification of such parties and the Attorney General); and (2) the juvenile to be taken before a judicial officer without unreasonable delay (current law prohibits a juvenile from being detained for longer than a reasonable period before being brought before a magistrate). (Sec. 1216) Requires juvenile delinquency proceedings for a juvenile in detention to begin within 45 (currently, 30) days after the beginning of such detention. Directs the court, in determining whether an information should be dismissed with or without prejudice, to consider the seriousness of the offense, the facts and circumstances of the case that led to the dismissal, and the impact of a re-prosecution on the administration of justice. (Sec. 1217) Modifies sentencing options under the code to make available increased detention, fines, and supervised release for adjudicated delinquents. Makes mandatory restitution applicable to adjudicated delinquents. Increases, for an adjudicated delinquent, the maximum period of: (1) probation to the same period applicable to an adult; and (2) official detention to the lesser of the maximum term of imprisonment authorized if the juvenile had been tried and convicted as an adult, ten years, or the date on which the juvenile attains age 26. Authorizes the court, pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the United States Sentencing Commission, to treat the conviction as adult of juveniles aged 13, 14, and 15 as an adjudication of delinquency. Directs the Commission to promulgate such guidelines within one year of this Act's enactment. (Sec. 1218) Modifies code provisions regarding the use of juvenile records to direct that the court records of the original proceeding be safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure. Allows release of such records as necessary to meet inquiries from the official representative of the victim of such juvenile delinquency in appropriate cases, and in other specified circumstances, to: (1) apprise such victim or representative of the status or disposition of the proceeding; (2) effectuate any other legal provision; or (3) assist in a victim's, or the victim's official representative's, allocution at disposition. Directs that, if a juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for an act that, if committed by an adult, would be a felony or for a violation of the prohibition under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act against selling, delivering, or otherwise transferring a handgun or ammunition suitable for use only in a handgun to a person known or reasonably believed to be a juvenile: (1) the juvenile shall be fingerprinted and photographed, and the fingerprints and photograph sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); (2) the court shall transmit to the FBI the information concerning the adjudication; and (3) access to the fingerprints, photograph, and other records and information relating to the juvenile shall be restricted. Part 2: Incarceration of Juveniles in the Federal System - Amends code provisions regarding juvenile detention to require that juveniles being prosecuted as adults be detained prior to sentencing: (1) in such suitable place as the Attorney General may designate, with preference given to a place located within, or a reasonable distance of, the district in which the juvenile is being prosecuted, if the juvenile is 16 years of age or older; and (2) in such an available, suitable juvenile facility, in any other such facility, or if no such facility is available, in any other suitable place as the Attorney General may designate if the juvenile is under age 16. Directs that, to the extent practicable, violent juveniles be kept separate from nonviolent juveniles. Expands current protections for juveniles detained prior to disposition to cover detention prior to disposition or sentencing, and to provide for reasonable safety and security. (Sec. 1222) Amends code provisions regarding commitment to: (1) prohibit the Attorney General from causing any person under age 18 adjudicated delinquent, or under age 16 convicted of an offense, to be placed or retained in an adult jail or correctional facility in which the person has prohibited physical contact or sustained oral communication with adults incarcerated because they have been convicted of a crime or are awaiting trial on criminal charges; and (2) provide for reasonable safety and security for every juvenile adjudicated delinquent. Subtitle C: Assistance to States for Prosecuting and Punishing Juvenile Offenders, and Reducing Juvenile Crime - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, local governments, or any combination thereof, to assist them in planning, establishing, and operating secure facilities, staff-secure facilities, detention centers, and other correctional programs for violent juvenile offenders, to be used: (1) for collocated facilities for adult prisoners and violent juvenile offenders; and (2) only for the construction or operation of facilities in which violent juvenile offenders are substantially segregated from nonviolent juvenile offenders. Sets forth provisions regarding application requirements, minimum allocations, performance evaluation, technical assistance, juvenile facilities on tribal lands, and a report on the possible use of performance-based criteria in evaluating and improving the effectiveness of juvenile corrections facilities and programs. (Sec. 1302) Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, State and local courts, local governments, and Indian tribes, for the purposes of: (1) providing juvenile courts with a range of sentencing options such that first time juvenile offenders face at least some level of punishment as a result of their initial contact with the juvenile justice system; and (2) increasing the sentencing options available to juvenile court judges so that juvenile offenders receive increasingly severe sanctions as the seriousness of their unlawful conduct increases and for each additional offense. Sets forth provisions regarding application requirements, considerations in awarding grants, allocation of grant funds, use of grant amounts, grant limitations, the Federal share, and reporting and evaluation requirements. Authorizes appropriations from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund (Fund). (Sec. 1303) Directs the Attorney General to establish a pilot program to encourage and support communities who adopt a comprehensive approach to suppressing and preventing violent juvenile crime patterned after successful State juvenile crime reduction strategies. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 1304) Amends: (1) the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 to provide for the reimbursement of States for the costs of incarcerating juvenile alien offenders; and (2) the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to require that the annual report on criminal aliens include details of the number of illegal juvenile aliens committed to State or local juvenile correctional facilities, including the type of offense committed by each juvenile. Subtitle D: Protecting Children From Violence - Part 1: Gun Offenses - Amends the Brady Act to: (1) define the term "act of juvenile delinquency" to mean an adjudication of delinquency based on a finding of the commission of an act by a person prior to his or her eighteenth birthday that, if committed by an adult, would be a serious drug offense or violent felony, on or after the date of this subtitle's enactment; and (2) cover adjudications of juvenile delinquency. (Sec. 1412) Requires an applicant for a license to deal in firearms to certify that secure gun storage or safety devices will be available at any place in which firearms are sold under the license to persons who are not licensees, with an exception. Provides for the revocation of a dealer's license for failure to have available secure gun storage or safety devices. (Sec. 1413) Enhances penalties for discharging or possessing a firearm during a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime, with exceptions. (Sec. 1414) Increases penalties for selling, delivering, or otherwise transferring a handgun or ammunition suitable for use only in a handgun to a person known or reasonably believed to be a juvenile. Subjects a person (currently, a person other than a juvenile) who knowingly violates such prohibition to such penalties. (Sec. 1415) Makes serious juvenile drug offenses predicates to violations of the Armed Career Criminal statute. (Sec. 1416) Increases penalties for: (1) transferring a firearm to a minor for use in a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime; and (2) firearms conspiracy. Part 2: Local Gun Violence Prevention Programs - Authorizes the Secretary or the State educational agency to award grants to eligible local educational agencies for the purposes of educating children about preventing gun violence. Sets forth provisions regarding State and local application requirements, including assurances that 90 percent of allotted funds be distributed to local educational agencies, priorities in grant awards, peer review of grant applications, eligible grant recipients, eligible grant recipients, reporting requirements, and authorized activities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 1422) Directs the Secretary to: (1) include on the Internet site of the Department of Education a description of programs that receive grants; and (2) publicize the competitive grant program through its Internet site, publications, and public service announcements. (Sec. 1423) Amends the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994 to include within a comprehensive drug and violence prevention program carried out by a local educational agency: (1) timely counseling; (2) evaluations of any student who possesses a weapon, or who threatens to bring or use a weapon, on school grounds; and (3) advice to public school students, staff, and administrators after an incident of violence on school grounds. (Sec. 1424) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) expand the number of cities and counties directly participating in the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative (YCGII) to 75 by October 1, 2000, 150 by October 1, 2002, and 250 by October 1, 2003; and (2) facilitate the identification and prosecution of individuals illegally trafficking firearms to prohibited individuals, utilizing information provided by YCGII, and award grants to States, cities, and counties to assist in the tracing of firearms and participation in YCGII. (Sec. 1425) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (Safe Streets Act) to require the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, in awarding discretionary grants to public agencies to undertake law enforcement gang-related initiatives, to give priority to a public agency that includes in its application a description of strategies or programs of that agency providing cooperation between Federal, State, and local law enforcement authorities, through the use of firearms and ballistics identification systems, to disrupt illegal sale or transfer of firearms to or between juveniles through tracing the sources of guns used in crime that were provided to juveniles. Part 3: Juvenile Gun Courts - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to States, State and local courts, local governments, and Indian tribes for court-based juvenile justice programs that target juvenile firearm offenders through the establishment of juvenile gun courts. Requires each applicant to submit a comprehensive implementation plan. Provides for grant award uses and limitations, with a Federal share limit of 90 percent of total program costs. Sets forth reporting and evaluation requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Part 4: Youth Violence Courts - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (VCCLEA) to authorize the Attorney General to award grants and enter into cooperative agreements with States, State, local, and tribal courts, local governments, and Indian tribes to plan, develop, implement, and administer programs to adjudicate and better manage juvenile and youthful violent offenders within State, tribal, and local court systems. Sets forth provisions regarding application requirements, the Federal share, geographic distribution, and training and technical assistance. Title II: Combating Gang Violence - Subtitle A: Enhanced Penalties for Gang-Related Activities - Amends the code to: (1) impose criminal penalties for travel in interstate or foreign commerce to recruit, solicit, induce, command, or cause to create, or attempt to create, a franchise of a criminal street gang; and (2) direct the Commission to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide an appropriate enhancement for the use of minors in a criminal street gang and the recruitment of minors in furtherance of the creation of a criminal street gang franchise. (Sec. 2103) Includes franchising a criminal street gang as a "racketeering activity" for purposes of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). (Sec. 2104) Directs the Commission to provide an appropriate enhancement with respect to any: (1) offense committed in connection with, or in furtherance of the activities of, a criminal street gang if the defendant is a member of the gang at the time of the offense; and (2) defendant who discharges a firearm during or in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime. (Sec. 2106) Sets penalties for arson or bombings at facilities of any institution or organization receiving Federal financial assistance. (Sec. 2107) Eliminates any statute of limitations with respect to any offense punishable by death or for a Class A felony involving murder. (Sec. 2108) Extends to ten years after the commission of the offense the statute of limitations with respect to a Class A felony that is a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime. (Sec.2109) Increases penalties under RICO for gang and violent crimes. Increases the penalty and broadens the scope of the statute against violent crimes in aid of racketeering. (Sec. 2111) Removes from the carjacking prohibition the requirement of intent to cause death or serious bodily harm. Amends RICO to provide that it is not necessary to establish that the defendant personally committed an act of racketeering activity to be guilty of conspiracy to violate the Act. (Sec. 2113) Provides for civil and criminal forfeiture for crimes of violence, racketeering, and obstruction of justice. (Sec. 2114) Expands the definition of "racketeering activity" under RICO to cover acts or threats occurring solely in Indian country. (Sec. 2115) Authorizes the Attorney General and the FBI to investigate serial killings in violation of the laws of a State or political subdivision, when requested by the head of a law enforcement agency with investigative or prosecutive jurisdiction over the offense. (Sec. 2116) Increases penalties for violence in the course of riot offenses. (Sec. 2117) Defines "prison" to include privately owned facilities housing Federal prisoners or prisoners who are serving a term of imprisonment under a commitment order from a State other than that in which the penal facility is located. Subtitle B: Targeting Gang-Related Gun Offenses - Amends the Brady Act to prohibit and set penalties for transferring a firearm having reasonable cause to believe that such firearm will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime. (Sec. 2202) Increases the penalty for knowingly receiving a firearm with an obliterated serial number. (Sec. 2203) Directs the Commission to amend the sentencing guidelines to increase the base offense level for certain offenses regarding transfers of firearms to prohibited persons. (Sec. 2204) Amends the code to provide for the forfeiture of firearms used to commit or facilitate the commission of any crime of violence or Federal felony. Sets forth provisions regarding disposal of forfeited property, the Secretary of the Treasury's authority to seize such property, and a 120-day rule for administrative forfeiture. Subtitle C: Using and Protecting Witnesses To Help Prosecute Gangs and Other Violent Criminals - Amends the code to prohibit, and set penalties for, traveling in interstate or foreign commerce with intent to engage in witness intimidation or obstruction of justice. (Sec. 2302) Includes within the definition of: (1) "convicted" a finding that a person has committed an act of juvenile delinquency; and (2) "crime of violence" offenses relating to the possession of explosives or firearms by convicted felons. Directs the judicial officer, in determining whether conditions of release will reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required and the safety of any other person and the community, to take into account available information including whether the person was a member of or participated in a criminal street gang or racketeering enterprise. (Sec. 2303) Subjects those who conspire to commit obstruction of justice offenses involving victims, witnesses, and informants to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense the commission of which was the object of the conspiracy. (Sec. 2304) Amends the code and Rule 35 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to allow a reduction of sentence for providing substantial assistance in the investigation of any offense. (Sec. 2305) Prohibits, and sets penalties for, using physical force or the threat of physical force, or attempts to do so, with intent to withhold testimony, evade legal process, or hinder the communication to a law enforcement officer or judge of information relating to the commission or possible commission of a Federal offense or of conditions of probation, parole, or release pending judicial proceedings. (Sec. 2306) Expands the Federal kidnaping offense to cover circumstances where the victim's death occurs before crossing a State line and where the mail or a facility in interstate or foreign commerce is used in furtherance of the offense. (Sec. 2307) Prohibits, and sets penalties for, travel in interstate or foreign commerce to commit any felony crime of violence. (Sec. 2308) Amends Federal law regarding certain interstate communications (regarding kidnaping and extortion), mailing threatening communications (from within and outside of the United States) to specify that such law covers threats to kill. (Sec. 2309) Amends a code provision regarding obstruction of criminal investigations to define the term "subpoena for records" to mean a Federal grand jury subpoena or a Department of Justice (DOJ) subpoena for customer records that have been served relating to a violation of, or a conspiracy to violate, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act, provisions of the Internal Revenue Code regarding returns relating to cash received in trade or business (including cash receipts of more than $10,000), and provisions relating to a Federal health care offense. (Sec. 2310) Eliminates the proof of value requirement for felony theft or conversion of grand jury material. Subtitle D: Gang Paraphernalia - Directs a provider of a paging or electronic communication service, upon the request of an attorney for the Government or an officer of a law enforcement agency authorized to use a clone pager, to furnish such investigative or law enforcement officer all information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the use of the pager unobtrusively and with a minimum of interference with the services that the person so ordered by the court provides to the subscriber, if such assistance is directed by a court order. Sets forth requirements regarding applications for orders for the use of a clone pager and issuance of such orders. (Sec. 2402) Directs the Commission to amend the sentencing guidelines to provide an appropriate sentencing enhancement for any: (1) offense in which the defendant used body armor; and (2) serious violent felony or serious drug offense in which the defendant possessed a firearm equipped with a laser-sighting device, or possessed a firearm and possessed such a device (capable of being readily attached to the firearm). (Sec. 2404) Amends the code to require a provider of mobile electronic communication service to provide to a governmental entity information generated by and disclosing, on a real time basis, the physical location of a subscriber's equipment only if such entity obtains a court order issued upon a finding that there is probable cause to believe that an individual using or possessing the subscriber equipment is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a felony. (Sec. 2405) Revises provisions regarding issuance of an order for a pen register or a trap and trace device to authorize the court, upon application for such order, to enter an ex parte order: (1) authorizing the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device within the jurisdiction of the court if the court finds, based on the certification by the attorney for the Government or the State law enforcement or investigative officer, that the information likely to be obtained by such installation and use is relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation; and (2) directing that the use of the pen register or trap and trace device be conducted in such a way as to minimize the recording or decoding of any electronic or other impulses that are not related to the dialing and signaling information utilized in call processing. Subtitle E: Grants to Target Gang Crime and Violent Juveniles - Part 1: Grants to Prosecutors' Offices - Amends the VCCLEA to direct the Attorney General to include among uses of community-based justice grants for prosecutors: (1) the hiring of additional prosecutors; (2) funding to enable prosecutors to address drug, gang, and youth violence problems more effectively; (3) funding to assist prosecutors with funding for technology, equipment, and training to assist them in reducing the incidence of and increase the successful identification and speed of prosecution of young violent offenders; and (4) funding to assist prosecutors in their efforts to engage in community prosecution, problem solving, and conflict resolution techniques through collaborative efforts with police, school officials, probation officers, social service agencies, and community organizations. (Sec. 2512) Authorizes such grants to be made to combinations of State, Indian, and local prosecutors. (Sec. 2513) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 2514) Earmarks appropriated funds for: (1) training and technical assistance (two percent); and (2) research, statistics, and evaluation (ten percent). Part 2: High Intensity Interstate Gang Activity Areas - Authorizes the Attorney General: (1) to designate as a high intensity interstate gang activity area a specified area that is located within a State or in more than one State; and (2) in order to provide Federal assistance to a high intensity interstate gang activity area, to facilitate the establishment of a regional task force and to direct the detailing from a Federal department or agency of personnel to such area. Sets forth criteria for area designation. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Combating Violence on the Streets - Subtitle A: More Police Officers on the Beat - Amends the Safe Streets Act to: (1) extend through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations for public safety and community policing grants; and (2) limit to 20 percent of grant funds available in any fiscal year the amount authorized for grants for equipment, technology, and support systems. (Sec. 3103) Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, local governmental units, Indian tribes, other public and private entities, and multijurisdictional or regional consortia to encourage the use of, and to implement, 311 nonemergency telecommunication systems for public safety. Authorizes appropriations from the Fund. Subtitle B: Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing Grants - Amends the VCCLEA to revise the formula allocation between States and U.S. territories and possessions for technical assistance and training to entities receiving grants under such grant program through FY 2002. Subtitle C: Domestic Violence - Extends through FY 2002: (1) grants to combat violent crimes against women; (2) education and prevention grants to reduce sexual assaults against women; (3) the grant for a national domestic violence hotline; (4) grants for battered women's shelters; and (5) programs for victims of child abuse. (Sec. 3302) Amends the Safe Streets Act to redefine "rural State" for purposes of rural domestic and child abuse enforcement assistance to include a State that has a population density of more than 60 persons per square mile. (Sec. 3303) Amends the interstate domestic violence statute to cover attempts to commit interstate domestic violence and intimidation. (Sec. 3305) Punishes interstate travel with intent to kill a spouse. Subtitle D: Assistance to Local Law Enforcement - Amends the Safe Streets Act and the VCCLEA to extend through FY 2002 the funding for: (1) law enforcement family support; (2) rural drug enforcement and training; (3) DNA identification grants; (4) Byrne grants (law enforcement training and education); (5) technical automation grants; and (6) grants for State court prosecutors. Requires no less than 20 percent of the funds made available during FY 2001 and 2002 for the latter grant program to be used to provide increased resources to State juvenile courts, including its prosecutors, public defenders, and other juvenile court system participants. Subtitle E: Protecting Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Officers and the Judiciary - Amends the code to expand coverage of a provision regarding the protection of U.S. officers and employees to cover killings or attempted killings of: (1) U.S. officers and employees because of the status of the victim as such an officer or employee; and (2) persons assisting who are officers or employees of a State or local government, because of the status of the victim as such an officer or employee. (Sec. 3502) Increases terms of imprisonment for: (1) assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees; and (2) influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a Federal official by threatening a family member. (Sec. 3504) Sets penalties for mailing threatening communications to a U.S. judge, a Federal law enforcement officer, and specified officers and employees. (Sec. 3505) Directs the Commission to review and amend the Federal sentencing guidelines and the Commissions policy state, if appropriate, to provide an appropriate sentencing enhancement for offenses involving influencing, assaulting, resisting, impeding, retaliating against, or threatening a Federal judge, magistrate judge, or other specified officials. (Sec. 3506) Extends the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 through FY 2004. (Sec. 3507) Expands the scope of code provisions regarding the killing of persons aiding Federal investigations or State correctional officers to cover specified persons killed in furtherance of State and joint Federal-State criminal investigations. (Sec. 3508) Includes within such a provision for a mandatory minimum of 20 years imprisonment, life imprisonment, or death, a circumstance where the incarcerated person is incarcerated pending an initial appearance, arraignment, trial, or appeal for an offense against the United States. (Sec. 3509) Amends the code to provide that testimony by Secret Service or former Secret Service personnel regarding information affecting a protectee (defined to include the President, Vice President, President-elect, Vice President-elect, and certain visiting heads of foreign states) that was acquired during the performance of a protective function in physical proximity to the protectee shall not be disclosed in any proceeding, with exceptions. Subtitle F: Extension of Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund - Amends the VCCLEA to reauthorize appropriations through FY 2002 for the Fund and to provide for a reduction in discretionary spending limits for FY 2001-2002. Subtitle G: Punishing Hate Crimes and Protecting Civil Rights - Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999 - Amends the code to impose penalties upon persons who, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully cause bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, firearm, or explosive device, attempt to cause such injury, because of the actual or perceived: (1) race, color, religion, or national origin of any person; and (2) religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person, where in connection with the offense, the defendant or the victim travels in interstate or foreign commerce, uses a facility or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce, or engages in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or where the offense is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce. Directs the Commission to study the issue of adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes and, if appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for adult defendants who recruit juveniles to assist in the commission of hate crimes. Requires the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of DOJ to make grants to State and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of the Treasury and to DOJ to increase the number of personnel to prevent and respond to alleged violations of provisions regarding interference with specified federally protected activities, such as voting. (Sec. 3702) Amends the code to punish attempted deprivations of civil rights under color of law. (Sec. 3703) Amends the Hate Crimes Statistics Act to direct the Attorney General, beginning for calendar year 1999, to include data regarding the age of offenders. (Sec. 3704) Amends the VCCLEA to direct the Commission to promulgate, or amend existing, guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements of not less than three offense levels for offenses that the court at sentencing (currently, the finder of fact at trial) determines beyond a reasonable doubt are hate crimes. (Sec. 3705) Privacy Protection Against Bounty Hunters Act of 1999 - Amends the code to prohibit a bail enforcement officer from entering or searching any private dwelling in pursuit of a fugitive without being accompanied by a law enforcement officer. (Sec. 3706) Bounty Hunter Accountability and Quality Assistance Act of 1999 - Directs the Attorney General to develop model guidelines for the State control and regulation of bounty hunters, including recommendations regarding whether: (1) a person seeking employment as a bounty hunter should be required to submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check or should not be allowed to obtain such employment if he or she has been convicted of a Federal or State felony; (2) bounty hunters and their employers should be required to obtain adequate liability insurance for actions taken in the course of performing such duties; and (3) State laws should provide for the official recognition of bounty hunters from other States and should prohibit bounty hunters from entering any private dwelling without first knocking on the front door and announcing their presence. Requires published guidelines to include an analysis of their estimated effect on: (1) the cost and availability of bail; and (2) the bail bond agent industry. Directs the Attorney to publish model guidelines in the Federal Register. Subtitle H: Deterring Cargo Theft - Amends the code regarding thefts pertaining to interstate or foreign shipments by carrier to include thefts of trailers and air cargo containers and thefts from freight consolidation facilities. Increases the maximum penalty from one year to three years imprisonment. Specifies that goods and chattel shall be construed to be moving as an interstate or foreign shipment at all points between the point of origin and the final destination. Makes it an affirmative defense that the defendant bought, received, or possessed the goods at issue with the sole intent to report the matter to an appropriate law enforcement officer or to the owner. Directs: (1) the Commission to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to promulgate amendments and to provide an appropriate enhancement; and (2) the Attorney General to annually submit to the Congress a report including an evaluation of law enforcement activities relating to the investigation and prosecution of such offenses. (Sec. 3803) Establishes the Advisory Committee on Cargo Theft to study, and develop recommendations regarding, the establishment of: (1) a national computer database for the collection and dissemination of information relating to violations of cargo theft provisions; and (2) an office within the Federal Government to promote, and to increase coordination between the Government and the private sector regarding, cargo security. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 3804) Amends the code to add attempts to various theft and embezzlement-related prohibitions. (Sec. 3806) Expands a provision regarding breaking into a post office (including attempts) to include breaking into any post office box or postal stamp vending machine. (Sec. 3807) Makes provisions regarding transportation, and sale or receipt, of stolen vehicles applicable to vessels. Subtitle I: Improvements to Federal Criminal Law - Part 1: Sentencing Improvements - Amends the Federal judicial code to direct the Commission to promulgate and distribute to the courts sentencing guidelines and policy statements that are consistent with all pertinent provisions of any Federal statute. (Sec. 3912) Doubles the maximum penalty for voluntary manslaughter. (Sec. 3913) Authorizes imposition of both a fine and imprisonment rather than only either penalty for contempt and for destruction of letter boxes or mail. (Sec. 3914) Adds a supervised release violation as a predicate for specified offenses. (Sec. 3915) Authorizes the court to impose a sentence of probation or supervised release when reducing a sentence of imprisonment in certain cases where it finds extraordinary and compelling reasons warrant a reduction or the defendant is at least age 70, has served at least 30 years imprisonment, and meets other specified criteria. (Sec. 3916) Doubles the penalty for attempting or conspiring to commit murder or kidnaping in aid of racketeering activity. Part 2: Additional Improvements to Federal Criminal Law - Includes among offenses committed within Indian country a felony involving willful and malicious destruction of, or attempts to destroy, buildings or property within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. (Sec. 3922) Revises the Amber Hagerman Child Protection Act of 1996 to prohibit and set penalties for (currently, crossing a State line with intent to engage in a sexual act with a person under age 12), in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States or in a Federal prison, knowingly engaging in a sexual act with another person who has attained age 12 but not age 16 and is at least four years younger than the person so engaging. (Sec. 3923) Eliminates the "with intent to do bodily harm" element in the assault with a dangerous weapon offense. (Sec. 3924) Provides that in a criminal case an appeal by the United States shall lie to a court of appeals from a decision, judgment, or order of a district court dismissing an indictment or information or granting a new trial after verdict or judgment as to any one or more counts (as under current law) or any part thereof, with a double jeopardy exception. (Sec. 3925) Authorizes injunctive relief against disposal of gains from violations of fraud statutes. (Sec. 3926) Expands the interstate travel fraud statute to cover interstate travel by the perpetrator. (Sec. 3928) Provides that if the value of property embezzled, stolen, or otherwise converted or misapplied in connection with a health care benefit program does not exceed $1,000 (currently, $100) the defendant shall be fined, imprisoned for up to one year, or both. (Sec. 3929) Expands jurisdiction over child buying and selling offenses. (Sec. 3930) Includes assault as a predicate offense under RICO. (Sec. 3931) Limits the application of wiretap order disclosure provisions to an aggrieved party. (Sec. 3932) Safe and Sober Streets Act of 1999 - Amends Federal transportation law to require the Secretary of Transportation to withhold five percent of the funds authorized for Federal aid highway programs for FY 2002, and ten percent of such amounts for subsequent fiscal years, from any State that has not enacted and is not enforcing a law providing that an individual who has an alcohol concentration level of 0.08 percent or greater while operating a motor vehicle in such State is guilty of driving while intoxicated or an equivalent offense that carries the greatest penalty under the law of the State for operating a motor vehicle after having consumed alcohol. Allows funds withheld from a State on or before September 30, 2004, to remain available for up to three fiscal years after such date (to allow a State to meet such requirement within such period), but allows no grace period with respect to funds withheld during the subsequent fiscal years. (Sec. 3933) Makes technical corrections to the code and the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. Changes fine amounts under various provisions of the code and CSA. Title IV: Preventing Juvenile Crime - Subtitle A: Grants to Youth Organizations - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, Indian tribes, and national or statewide nonprofit organizations in crime prone areas to: (1) provide constructive activities to youth during nonschool hours; (2) provide supervised activities in safe environments to youth in crime-prone areas; (3) provide antidrug education; (4) support police officer training, salaries, and educational materials to expand D.A.R.E. America's middle school campaign; or (5) provide constructive activities to youth in a safe environment through parks and other public recreation areas. (Sec. 4002) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) application requirements by national organizations and States; (2) allocations and grant limitations; and (3) report and evaluation. (Sec. 4006) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4007) Amends the JJDPA to direct the Administrator, subject to the availability of appropriations, to make grants to public and private agencies to fund effective after school juvenile crime prevention programs. Sets forth provisions regarding matching requirements and funding priorities. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: "Say No to Drugs" Community Centers - Say No to Drugs Community Centers Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to certain approved recipients to provide the following services to youth during after-school hours or summer vacations: (1) rigorous drug prevention education; (2) drug counseling and treatment; (3) academic tutoring and mentoring; (4) activities promoting interaction between youth and law enforcement officials; (5) vaccinations and other preventive health care; (5) sexual abstinence education; and (7) other activities and instruction to reduce youth violence and substance abuse. Specifies the Federal and non-Federal share of costs, as well as grant allocation and reallocation requirements. (Sec. 4203) Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Missing and Exploited Children - Amends the Missing Children's Assistance Act to direct that: (1) the national resource center and clearinghouse provide to foreign (currently, limited to State and local) governments information regarding programs and services to benefit or assist missing children and their families; and (2) the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention periodically conduct national incidence studies (as under current law) either by making grants to or entering into contracts with public or nonprofit private agencies. Subtitle D: Reauthorization of Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (JJDPA) to: (1) reauthorize appropriations through FY 2004 for incentive grants for local delinquency prevention programs; and (2) direct that, of amounts made available by appropriations for such programs, two percent be used for training and technical assistance, and ten percent for research, statistics, and evaluation. Subtitle E: Reauthorization of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act - Reauthorizes appropriations for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act through FY 2004. Subtitle F: Authorization of Anti-Drug Abuse Programs - Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to reauthorize appropriations through FY 2004 for drug education and prevention relating to youth gangs, and for runaway and homeless youth. Subtitle G: Jump Ahead - JUMP Ahead Act of 1999 - Amends the JJDPA with respect to juvenile mentoring grants. Specifies goals for the grant program and limits the amount and duration of grants. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4704) Authorizes the Administrator to make youth mentoring program implementation and evaluation grants to national organizations or agencies serving youth. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4705) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) contract with an evaluating organization for an ongoing evaluation of the programs and activities assisted under this Act or under JJDPA; (2) establish minimum criteria for evaluating such programs and activities; and (3) annually designate a program or activity assisted under this Act as the Juvenile Mentoring Program of the Year. Requires: (1) each grant recipient under this Act or under JJDPA to report annually to the evaluating organization on any program or activity so assisted; and (2) a report to the Congress evaluating such grants. Subtitle H: Truancy Prevention - Truancy Prevention and Juvenile Crime Reduction Act of 1999 - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to eligible partnerships of local governmental units and local educational agencies to reduce truancy and the incidence of daytime juvenile crime. Sets forth provisions regarding maximum grant awards, allocation of such awards, and grant renewal. Authorizes the use of grant amounts to comprehensively address truancy through: (1) parental involvement in prevention activities; (2) sanctions; (3) parental accountability; (4) in-school truancy prevention programs; (5) involvement of local law enforcement, social services, judicial, business, and religious communities, and nonprofit organizations; (6) technology; or (7) elimination of 40-day count and other unintended incentives to allow students to be truant after a certain time of school year. Authorizes the Attorney General to give priority to funding programs that attempt to replicate specified model programs. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle I: Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act - Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1999 - Amends the JJDPA to: (1) find that the juvenile crime problem should be addressed through a two-track approach by promoting quality prevention programs and programs that assist in holding juveniles accountable for their actions; (2) include as a purpose to support State and local programs that prevent juvenile involvement in delinquent behavior; and (3) define "violent crime" as murder or non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, or robbery, or aggravated assault committed with the use of a firearm. (Sec. 4905) Redesignates the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as the Office of Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention. (Sec. 4906) Modifies provisions of the Act regarding concentration of Federal effort to repeal the requirements that the Administrator of the Office develop for each fiscal year a comprehensive plan of activities and that each Federal agency administering a Federal juvenile delinquency program submit annually a juvenile delinquency development statement. (Sec. 4907) Eliminates certain allocations of funds to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. (Sec. 4908) Modifies Act requirements regarding State plans. Provides that the advisory group shall consist of the State attorney general or such other State official who has primary responsibility for overseeing the enforcement of State criminal laws. Requires State plans to: (1) contain plans for providing needed services for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency in rural areas, mental health services to juveniles in the juvenile justice system, and gender-specific services for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency; and (2) provide for the coordination and maximum utilization of existing juvenile delinquency programs, programs operated by private agencies, and other related programs in the State. Requires such plans to provide that not less than 75 percent of the funds available to the State be used for specified purposes, including: (1) programs that assist in holding juveniles accountable for their actions; (2) expanded use of probation officers; (3) boot camps for juvenile offenders; (4) other activities (such as court-appointed special advocates) that the State determines will hold juveniles accountable for their acts and decrease juvenile involvement in delinquent activities; (5) programs that utilize multidisciplinary interagency case management and information sharing that enable the juvenile justice and law enforcement agencies, schools, and social service agencies to make more informed decisions regarding early identification, control, supervision, and treatment of juveniles who repeatedly commit violent or serious delinquent acts; and (6) programs designed to prevent and reduce hate crimes committed by juveniles. Revises State plan requirements regarding limits on the placement of juveniles in secure detention or correctional facilities, juvenile contact with adults incarcerated or awaiting trial on criminal charges, and juvenile detention or confinement in adult jails and lockups. Modifies State plan requirements to allow juveniles to be housed in adult facilities for up to 48 (currently, 24) hours before their initial court appearance. (Sec. 4909) Revises the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Block Grant Program by: (1) repealing provisions governing grants for the National Institute for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, gang-free schools and communities, State challenge activities, treatment for juvenile offenders who are victims of child abuse or neglect, mentoring, boot camps, and the White House Conference on Juvenile Justice; and (2) authorizing the Administrator to make grants under the Juvenile Delinquency Block Grant Program to eligible States for the purpose of providing financial assistance to eligible entities to carry out projects designed to prevent juvenile delinquency. Includes among such projects: (1) projects that assist in holding juveniles accountable for their actions; (2) projects that provide treatment to juvenile offenders who are victims of child abuse or neglect; (3) education projects or supportive services for delinquent or other juveniles; (4) projects which expand the use of probation officers; (5) one-on-one mentoring projects; (6) community-based projects which work with juvenile offenders and their family members; (7) substance abuse programs; (8) postsecondary education and training projects; (9) projects designed to prevent or reduce gang participation; (10) employment and job training referral projects; (11) delinquency prevention activities; and (12) family strengthening activities. Directs that funding be allocated among eligible States so that .75 percent shall be allocated to each State, with the remainder allocated as follows: (1) 50 percent based on each State's relative population under 18 years of age; and (2) 50 percent based on each State's three year annual average number of arrests of juveniles for serious crimes. Prohibits the Administrator from approving a grant application for a fiscal year unless: (1) the State submitted a plan, which is approved by the Administrator, for such fiscal year; or (2) the Administrator waives this requirement to such State for such fiscal year after finding good cause. Includes among the eligible entities for which a State receiving a grant shall give special consideration for a local grant those entities that represent communities that have a comprehensive plan designed to identify at-risk juveniles and to prevent or reduce juvenile delinquency and that meet other specified requirements. (Sec. 4910) Authorizes the Administrator to undertake specified activities regarding research, evaluation, technical assistance, and training, including making agreements with: (1) the National Institute of Justice or another Federal agency to conduct research and evaluation relating to juvenile delinquency; and (2) the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) or another Federal agency to undertake statistical work in juvenile justice matters. Permits Federal agencies to carry out such agreements directly or by making grants to or contracts with public and private agencies, institutions, and organizations. (Sec. 4911) Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to and contracts with States, local governmental units, Indian tribal governments, public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals to carry out projects for the development, testing, and demonstration of promising initiatives and programs for the prevention, control, or reduction of juvenile delinquency. Authorizes technical assistance for such grants. Sets forth provisions regarding eligibility and reports. (Sec. 4912) Authorizes appropriations for specified programs under such Act through FY 2002. (Sec. 4914) Amends the Act to prohibit the use of funds for: (1) the cost of facility construction, except that up to 15 percent of funds from a State's allocation may be used for replacement or renovation of juvenile facilities; or (2) advocacy or support for the unsecured release of juveniles charged with violent crime. (Sec. 4917) Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) receive surplus Federal property and lease such property to States and units of local government for use in or as facilities for juveniles offenders, or for use in or as facilities for delinquency prevention and treatment activities; and (2) issue rules that establish procedures and methods for making grants and contracts, and distributing funds available, to carry out the Act. Title V: Drug Testing and Intervention - Subtitle A: Protecting Children From Dangerous Drugs - Part 1: Targeting Serious Drug Crimes - Amends the CSA to increase penalties for: (1) using minors to distribute drugs; (2) distributing drugs to minors; (3) drug trafficking in or near a school or other protected location; and (4) using Federal property to grow or manufacture controlled substances. (Sec. 5006) Amends the CSA to require a specified period of supervised release after a conviction for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. Part 2: Comprehensive Drug Education - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to extend through FY 2003 the authorization of appropriations from the Fund for the safe and drug-free schools and communities program. Part 3: Drug Treatment for Juveniles - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (Center) to award grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, public and nonprofit private entities to provide treatment to juveniles for substance abuse through programs in which the juveniles reside in facilities made available under the programs. Requires the inclusion by grant recipients of an individualized plan for the provision of services to the juvenile or young adult. Includes as eligible supplemental services under such programs hospital referrals, HIV and AIDS counseling, domestic violence and sexual abuse counseling, and preparation for reentry into society. Requires the appropriate State agency or Indian tribe to certify that the applicant has the capacity to carry out the program and meets certain other requirements. Outlines provisions with respect to: (1) applicants who are also Medicaid providers; (2) the provision of treatment for mental diseases; (3) matching fund requirements; (4) program outreach and accessibility; (5) continuing education for individuals providing such services; (6) the imposition of appropriate charges for such services; (7) applicant reports to the Center Director; and (8) required equitable geographic allocation of grant awards. Limits to five years the period during which payments may be made to any entity under a program. Requires annual Director approval of program payments. Requires the Director to conduct program evaluations and disseminate findings. Requires an initial and periodic reports from the Director to specified congressional committees describing the programs carried out under this Part. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2003. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to established projects for the outpatient treatment of substance abuse among juveniles. Requires entities receiving such grants to engage in activities to prevent such abuse. Requires such Secretary to evaluate the projects and disseminate evaluation results. Part 4: Rescheduling Dangerous Drugs - Directs the Attorney General to add ketamine hydrochloride to schedule III of the CSA. (Sec. 5132) Grants the Attorney General authority to temporarily reschedule a previously scheduled substance to avoid an imminent public safety hazard. Subtitle B: Drug Courts - Repeals provisions of the Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996, which repealed drug court provisions of the Safe Streets Act. Amends the Safe Streets Act, as amended by the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998, to extend through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations for the drug courts program (a program providing continuing judicial supervision over non-violent offenders with substance abuse problems). Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, State courts, local courts and governments, and Indian tribes to establish programs that: (1) involve continuous early judicial supervision over juvenile offenders, other than violent juvenile offenders, with substance abuse or related problems; and (2) integrate administration of other sanctions and services, including testing, treatment, and diversion, probation, or other forms of supervised release. Requires the Attorney General to issue regulations to ensure that such programs do not permit participation by violent offenders. Prohibits the Federal share of such programs from exceeding 75 percent of total program costs, with an authorized limit waiver by the Attorney General. Requires the Attorney General to ensure an equitable geographic distribution of grant awards, with a required specified allocation to Indian tribes. Requires annual reports to the Attorney General from grant recipients. Authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical assistance and training in furtherance of program goals and to carry out program evaluations. Provides for the reallocation of unawarded grant funds. Authorizes appropriations from the Fund through FY2003. Subtitle C: Development of Medicines for the Treatment of Drug Addiction - Part 1: Pharmacotherapy Research - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations from the Fund for FY 2001 and 2002 for the medication development program (a program providing research into medicines used to treat drug addiction). Part 2: Patent Protections for Pharmacotherapies - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to: (1) authorize the sponsor of a drug for the treatment of an addiction to illegal drugs to request the Secretary of Agriculture to make written recommendations for the investigation necessary for the approval or licensing of such drug; (2) authorize such a sponsor to request the Secretary to designate such drug as a drug for the treatment of addiction to illegal drugs; (3) provide exclusive approval or licensing of such drug as an unpatented drug for such purpose; and (4) provide open protocols for the clinical investigation of such drugs. Part 3: Encouraging Private Sector Development of Pharmacotherapies - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Secretary to establish criteria for an acceptable drug for the treatment of an addiction to heroin and one for the treatment of an addiction to cocaine. Requires such criteria to be reviewed by specified congressional committees and published in the Federal Register. Authorizes the patent owner of a drug used for either such treatment to submit to the Secretary an application: (1) to contract to sell to the Secretary such patent rights; or (2) to enter into an exclusive licensing agreement with the Secretary for the manufacture and distribution of such drug. Provides for purchase amount limitations and the transfer of rights from the patent owner to the Secretary. Requires the Secretary, within 90 days after purchasing patent rights or entering into such an agreement, to develop a plan for the manufacture and distribution of such drug. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2001. Subtitle E: National Drug Control Policy - Requires the Director of National Drug Control Policy to conduct a study on the effect of the 1996 voter referenda in California and Arizona concerning the medicinal use of marijuana and other controlled substances, and to report to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Improving Effectiveness of Youth Crime and Drug Prevention Efforts - Directs the Attorney General to enter into a contract with a public or nonprofit private entity to conduct a study or studies to: (1) evaluate the effectiveness of federally funded programs for preventing youth violence and substance abuse, and for preventing criminal victimization of juveniles; (2) identify specific Federal programs and programs that receive Federal funds that contribute to reductions in youth violence and substance abuse, and risk factors among youth that lead to such behavior and abuse, and specific programs that have not achieved their intended results; and (3) make recommendations. Directs the Attorney General to request the National Academy of Sciences to contract to conduct such study or studies. Sets forth reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 5502) Directs the Attorney General to provide for comprehensive and thorough evaluation of crime prevention programs. (Sec. 5503) Requires evaluations and research studies to be independent, and employ rigorous and scientifically recognized standards and methodologies. (Sec. 5504) Authorizes the Attorney General to require the recipients of Federal assistance to collect, maintain, and report information relevant to such evaluations, and to conduct and participate in specified evaluation and assessment activities. (Sec. 5505) Directs the Attorney General to reserve specified sums for evaluation and research. (Sec. 5506) Expresses the sense of the Senate that programs identified in the study as being ineffective should not receive Federal funding. Title VI: Enhancement of Rights and Protections for Victims of Crime - Subtitle A: Crime Victims Assistance - Part 1: Protection of Crime Victims' Rights - Subpart A: Amendments to Title 18, United States Code - Amends the code to require that, in any case involving a defendant who is arrested for an offense involving death or bodily injury to any person, a threat of death or bodily injury, or a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault (listed offenses) in which a detention hearing is scheduled: (1) the Government make a reasonable effort to notify the victim of the hearing and of the victim's right to be heard on the issue of detention; and (2) the court, at such hearing, inquire of the Government as to whether notification efforts were successful and whether the victim wishes to be heard and, if so, afford the victim such opportunity. (Sec. 6112) Includes among the factors which a judge shall consider in determining whether to grant a continuance the interests of the victim (or the family of a victim who is deceased or incapacitated) in the prompt and appropriate disposition of the case, free from unreasonable delay. (Sec. 6113) Requires the probation officer, prior to submitting the presentence report, to provide notice to all identified victims of their right to attend the sentencing hearing and to make a statement to the court at the sentencing hearing. (Sec. 6114) Amends the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 to require, after trial, a responsible official to provide a victim the earliest possible notice of the escape, work release, furlough, or any other form of release of an offender from a psychiatric institution or other facility that provides mental health services to offenders. Subpart B: Amendments to Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure - Amends rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (FRCrP) to require that, in any case involving a defendant who is charged with a listed offense: (1) the Government, prior to a hearing at which a plea of guilty or nolo contendere is entered, make a reasonable effort to notify the victim of the date and time of the hearing and of the victim's right to attend the hearing and to address the court; and (2) if the victim attends, the court, before accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, afford the victim an opportunity to be heard on the proposed plea agreement. Authorizes the court, in cases involving more than 15 victims and after consultation with the Government and the victims, to appoint a number of victims to serve as representatives of the victims' interests. (Sec. 6122) Amends FRCrP 32 and 32.1 to provide for enhanced rights of notification and allocution at sentencing and at a probation revocation hearing. Subpart C: Amendment to Federal Rules of Evidence - Amends rule 615 of the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) to provide that such rule does not authorize exclusion of a person who is a victim of a listed offense for which a defendant is being tried in a criminal trial unless the court concludes that: (1) the testimony of the person will be materially affected by hearing the testimony of other witnesses, and the material effect of hearing the testimony of other witnesses on the testimony of that person will result in unfair prejudice to any party; or (2) due to the large number of victims or family members of victims who may be called as witnesses, permitting attendance in the courtroom itself when testimony is being heard is not feasible. Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to submit to the Congress reports containing recommendations for amending: (1) the FRCrP to provide enhanced opportunities for victims of listed offenses to be heard on the issue of whether or not the court should accept a plea of guilty or nolo contendere and to participate during the presentencing phase of the criminal process, and to ensure that reasonable efforts are made to notify victims of such offenses of revocation hearings; and (2) the FRE to provide enhanced opportunities for victims of listed offenses to attend judicial proceedings, even if they may testify as a witness at the proceeding. Sets forth provisions regarding congressional action on such reports. Subpart D: Exceptions - Makes the rights promulgated by subparts A, B, and C inapplicable to any case in which the court reasonably believes that: (1) the defendant has cooperated with the Government in other proceedings against the victim or persons acting in concert with the victim; or (2) available evidence raises a significant expectation of physical violence or other retaliation by the victim against the defendant. Subpart E: Remedies for Noncompliance - Specifies that any failure to comply with any amendment made by this Act shall not give rise to a claim for damages, or any other action against the United States, any employee of the United States, any court official or officer of the court, or an entity contracting with the United States, or any action seeking a rehearing or other reconsideration of action taken in connection with a defendant. Directs the Attorney General and the Chairman of the United States Parole Commission to promulgate regulations to carry out this title. Subpart F: Victims of Fraud - Directs the Attorney General to promulgate regulations to implement and enforce this part and the amendments made by this part with respect to natural persons against whom a defendant has been charged with committing fraud. Part 2: Assistance to Victims of Federal, State, and Local Crime - Authorizes appropriations to enable the Attorney General to: (1) hire 50 full-time or full-time equivalent employees to serve as victim-witness advocates to provide assistance to victims of any criminal offense investigated by any department or agency of the Federal Government; and (2) provide grants through the Office of Victims of Crime (the Office) to qualified private entities to fund 50 victim-witness advocate positions within those organizations. (Sec. 6202) Authorizes the use of sums collected under the False Claims Act to be used by the Office to make grants to States, units of local government, and qualified private entities, to provide training and information to prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officers, probation officers, and other officers and employees of Federal and State courts to assist them in responding effectively to the needs of crime victims. (Sec. 6203) Amends VCCLEA to authorize to the Office such sums as necessary for grants to State and local prosecutors' offices, State courts, county jails, State correctional institutions, and qualified private entities, to develop and implement state-of-the-art systems for notifying victims of crime of important dates and developments relating to the criminal proceedings at issue. Allows sums collected under the False Claims Act to be used for such grants. Authorizes the use of sums from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund for such grants. (Sec. 6204) Directs the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office, to establish and carry out a program to provide for pilot programs to establish and operate Victim Ombudsman Information Centers in Massachusetts, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin. (Sec. 6205) Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to: (1) provide for the deposit into the Crime Victims Fund of any gifts, bequests, and donations from private entities or individuals; (2) direct that certain unobligated balances transferred to the judicial branch for administrative costs be returned to the Fund and be used by the Director of the Office to improve services for crime victims in the Federal criminal justice system; (3) require States that receive supplemental funding to respond to incidents of terrorism or mass violence to return to the Fund for deposit in the reserve fund, amounts subrogated to the State as a result of third-party payments to victims; (4) increase the percentage of amounts awarded by the Director to an eligible crime victim compensation program; (5) require the Director to make grants for training and technical assistance that address the significance of and effective delivery strategies for providing long-term psychological care; and (6) make funds available to the Director for fellowships and clinical internships, and to carry out programs of training and special workshops for the presentation and dissemination of information resulting from demonstrations, surveys, and special projects. (Sec. 6206) Directs that a specified statute not be construed to prohibit a recipient from using funds derived from a source other than the Legal Services Corporation to provide related legal assistance to any person with whom an alien has a relationship covered by the domestic violence laws of the State in which the alien resides or in which an incidence of violence occurred. (Sec. 6207) Authorizes the use of funds collected under the False Claims Act by the Office to make grants to States, units of local government, and qualified private entities for the establishment of pilot programs that implement balanced and restorative justice models. Subtitle B: Victims of Juvenile Crimes - Directs the Attorney General to establish guidelines for States' programs receiving grants for the establishment of juvenile gun courts to require, as appropriate under applicable State or local laws or rules, that: (1) prior to disposition of adjudicated juvenile delinquents, victims (or in appropriate cases, their official representatives) be provided the opportunity to make a statement to the court in person or to present any information in relation to the disposition; (2) victims of the juvenile adjudicated delinquent be given notice of the disposition; and (3) restitution to victims may be ordered as part of the disposition of adjudicated juvenile delinquents. Title VII: Combating Money Laundering - Money Laundering Enforcement Act of 1999 - Amends the code to provide for civil forfeiture for engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity and for conducting or certain other involvement in an illegal money transmitting business. Specifies that, regarding the prohibition of an illegal money transmitting business, it shall be sufficient for the Government to prove that the defendant knew that the business lacked a license required by State law, but it shall not be necessary to show that the defendant knew that the operation of such business without a license was an offense punishable as a felony or misdemeanor under State law. (Sec. 7003) Authorizes the Attorney General, if any person is arrested or charged in a foreign country in connection with an offense that would give rise to the forfeiture of property in the United States under the code or under the CSA, to apply to any Federal judge or magistrate judge in the district where the property is located for an ex parte order restraining the property subject to forfeiture for not more than 30 days, with extensions for good cause. (Sec. 7004) Directs that a claimant's refusal to provide financial records located in a foreign country in response to a discovery request or to take action necessary to make the records available in a civil forfeiture case, or in certain ancillary proceedings in a criminal forfeiture case under the CSA, shall result in the dismissal of the claim with prejudice if: (1) the financial records may be material to any claim or the ability of the Government to respond to such claim or, in a civil forfeiture case, to the Government's ability to establish the forfeitability of the property; and (2) it is within the claimant's capacity to waive his or her rights under such secrecy laws or to obtain the financial records himself or herself so that the records may be made available. (Sec. 7005) Grants the U.S. district courts jurisdiction over any foreign person, including any financial institution authorized under the laws of a foreign country, that commits an offense under civil money laundering provisions involving a financial transaction that occurs in the United States, subject to specified requirements. Authorizes the court to issue a pretrial restraining order or take any other action necessary to ensure that any bank account or other property held by the defendant in the United States is available to satisfy a judgment under such provisions. (Sec. 7006) Includes a foreign bank within the definition of "financial institution." (Sec. 7007) Expands the definition of "specified unlawful activity" to cover specified offenses, including, with respect to a financial transaction occurring in the United States, an offense against a foreign nation involving: (1) any act or acts constituting a crime of violence; (2) fraud committed against a foreign government; (3) bribery of a public official; (4) smuggling or export control violations involving munitions listed in the United States Munitions List or technologies with military applications; and (5) an offense under which the United States would be obligated by a multilateral treaty either to extradite the alleged offender or to submit the case for prosecution if the offender were found within U.S. territory. Includes within such activity an offense relating to goods falsely classified, unlawful importation of firearms, firearms trafficking, computer fraud and abuse, any felony violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, and Clean Air Act violations. (Sec. 7008) Amends the criminal code to: (1) provide for criminal forfeiture for money laundering conspiracies; and (2) authorize a party to request the Clerk of the Court in the district in which a proceeding for civil or criminal forfeiture is pending to issue a subpoena to a financial institution to produce documents. (Sec. 7011) Amends the Federal judicial code to: (1) prohibit any person who purposely evades the jurisdiction of a U.S. court in which a criminal case is pending against such person from using the resources of the U.S. courts to further a claim in any related civil forfeiture action or in any third-party proceeding in any related criminal forfeiture action; and (2) provide for the admissibility of foreign business records. (Sec. 7013) Amends the criminal code to permit: (1) a person who commits multiple violations of money laundering provisions that are part of the same scheme or continuing course of conduct to be charged in a single count; (2) a prosecution for a money laundering offense to be brought in any district in which the financial or monetary transaction is conducted, or in which a prosecution for the underlying specified unlawful activity could be brought, with an exception; and (3) the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications where there is a violation of provisions dealing with the reporting and illegal structuring of currency transactions. (Sec. 7016) Provides criminal penalties for violations of anti-money laundering orders. (Sec. 7017) Amends the code to authorize the disclosure of the contents of a communication by a person or entity providing electronic communication, or remote computing, service to the public, to a supervisory (currently limited to a law enforcement) agency, if such contents appear to pertain to the commission of the crime, or to reveal a suspicious transaction relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation. (Sec. 7018) Defines "State," as used in the International Banking Act of 1978, to include a U.S. commonwealth, territory, or possession. (Sec. 7020) Extends U.S. jurisdiction over certain financial crimes committed abroad. Title VIII: Combating International Crime - Subtitle A: Investigating and Punishing Violent Crimes Against United States Nationals Abroad - Amends the code to prohibit, and set penalties for: (1) extortion committed against U.S. nationals abroad in furtherance of organized crime; and (2) murder or serious assault of a State or local official abroad. Subtitle B: Denying Safe Havens to International Criminals - Establishes procedures for extradition for specified serious offenses not covered by treaty. (Sec. 8104) Grants the Attorney General authority, with respect to a person being held in custody in a foreign country based upon a violation of the law in that country, where the person is found extraditable to the United States by competent authorities of that country, to: (1) request the temporary transfer of that person to the United States to proceed with their prosecution in a Federal or State criminal proceeding; (2) maintain the custody of that person while in the United States; and (3) return that person to the foreign country at the conclusion of the criminal prosecution, including any imposition of sentence. (Sec. 8106) Authorizes the Attorney General to permit the temporary transit through the United States of a person wanted for prosecution or imposition of sentence in a foreign country. Subtitle C: Seizing and Forfeiting the Assets of International Criminals - Amends the code to provide for the forfeiture of: (1) proceeds of foreign crimes; (2) property used to commit drug crimes abroad; and (3) property used to violate Federal explosives laws. (Sec. 8202) Amends the CSA to grant the court authority to order convicted criminals to return property located abroad. (Sec. 8203) Amends the Federal judicial code to establish procedures for U.S. enforcement of foreign forfeiture judgments. (Sec. 8204) Increases civil and criminal penalties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. (Sec. 8205) Amends the Trading with the Enemy Act to cover attempted violations. Subtitle D: Responding to Emerging International Crime Threats - Part 1: Computer and High-Tech Crime - Amends the code to authorize the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications, when such interception may provide or has provided evidence of a felony violation of provisions relating to computer fraud and attacks on computer systems. (Sec. 8312) Allows a governmental entity to require the disclosure by a provider of a remote computing service of the contents of an electronic record in networked electronic storage if the person who created the record is accorded the same protections that would be available if the record had remained in that person's possession, subject to specified requirements. Part 2: Enhancing Antiterrorism Laws - Amends the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 to extend the effective date of provisions regarding compensation of victims of terrorism through October 1, 2000. (Sec. 8322) Amends the code to revise the definition of: (1) "biological agent" to mean any microorganism (including, but not limited to, bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae or protozoa), or infectious substance, or any naturally occurring, bioengineered or synthesized component of any such microorganism or infectious substance; (2) "toxin" to mean the toxic material or product of plants, animals, microorganisms, or infectious substances, or a recombinant or synthesized molecule, whatever their origin and method of production; and (3) "vector" to mean a living organism or molecule, including a recombinant or synthesized molecule capable of carrying a biological agent or toxin to a host. (Sec. 8323) Includes threats to use chemical weapons within the prohibition against the use of such weapons. Subtitle E: Promoting Global Cooperation in the Fight Against International Crime - Expands a code provision authorizing the sharing of proceeds of joint forfeiture operations with cooperating foreign agencies to cover situations where property is civilly or criminally forfeited under any provision of Federal law. (Sec. 8402) Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize the Attorney General to present a request made by a foreign government for assistance with respect to a foreign investigation, prosecution, or proceeding regarding a criminal matter pursuant to a treaty, convention, or executive agreement for mutual legal assistance between the United States and that government, the execution of which requires or appears to require the use of compulsory measures in more than one judicial district, to a judge or judge magistrate of: (1) any of the districts in which persons who may be required to appear to testify or produce evidence or information reside or are found, or in which evidence or information to be produced is located; or (2) the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Grants such judge or judge magistrate authority to issue those orders necessary to execute the request. (Sec. 8403) Modifies provisions regarding custody and return of foreign witnesses to grant the Attorney General authority, if the testimony of a person who is serving a sentence, in pretrial detention, or otherwise being held in custody in the United States, is needed in a foreign criminal proceeding, to: (1) temporarily transfer that person to the foreign country for the purpose of giving testimony; (2) transport that person from the United States in custody; (3) make appropriate arrangements for custody for that person while outside the United States; and (4) return that person in custody to the United States from the foreign country. Sets forth provisions regarding the return of persons transferred, the applicability of international agreements, and rights of persons transferred. (Sec. 8404) Amends the judicial code to grant the Attorney General discretionary authority to make payments from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to return forfeited property repatriated to the United States by a foreign government under specified circumstances. Subtitle F: Streamlining the Investigation and Prosecution of International Crimes in United States Courts - Authorizes the Attorney General to obligate, as necessary expenses, from any appropriate appropriation account available to DOJ in FY 2000 or any fiscal year thereafter, the cost of reimbursement to State or local law enforcement agencies for translation services and related expenses, including transportation expenses, in cases involving extradition or requests for mutual legal assistance from foreign governments. (Sec. 8502) Expands a code provision regarding war crimes to make such provision applicable if the perpetrator is found in the United States after the crime is committed, or the crime occurs within the United States. (Sec. 8503) Authorizes the Attorney General to determine that, if a person located outside the United States is requested by a magistrate judge or Federal law enforcement officer to appear and provide testimony or answer questions in the United States in connection with any Federal or State criminal matter, the person shall not be subject to service of process, or be detained or subjected to any restriction of personal liberty, by reason of any acts or convictions that preceded the departure of that person from the foreign jurisdiction. (Sec. 8504) Prohibits fugitives from benefitting from time served abroad. (Sec. 8505) Suspends the statute of limitations for the collection of evidence located abroad. (Sec. 8507) Provides that whoever, while serving with, employed by, or accompanying the armed forces outside the United States, engages in conduct which would constitute an offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year if engaged in within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, shall be guilty of a like offense and subject to a like punishment. Authorizes the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation to designate and authorize any person serving in a law enforcement position in the Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation when the Coast Guard is not operating as part of the Navy to arrest outside the United States any such person who there is probable cause to believe engaged in conduct which constitutes a criminal offense under this section. Provides for the delivery of such individual to the appropriate authorities of the foreign country. Title IX: Strengthening the Air, Land, and Sea Borders of the United States - Subtitle A: Violence Committed Along United States Borders - Amends the code to provide felony punishment for violence while eluding inspection or during violation of arrival, reporting, entry, or clearance requirements, including conspiracy and reckless endangerment. Subtitle B: Strengthening Maritime Law Enforcement Along United States Borders - Provides sanctions for failure to heave to, obstructing a lawful boarding, and providing false information to a Federal law enforcement officer during a boarding of a vessel. Authorizes the seizure and forfeiture of a vessel used in violation of this subtitle. (Sec. 9102) Sets a $25,000 civil penalty for failure to comply with a lawful boarding, obstruction of boarding, or providing false information. (Sec. 9103) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to include within the definition of "authorized place," with respect to a vessel or vehicle, a location in a foreign country at which U.S. customs officers are permitted to conduct inspections, examinations, or searches. Subtitle C: Smuggling of Contraband and Other Illegal Products - Amends the code to prohibit, and set penalties for: (1) fraudulently or knowingly exporting or sending from the United States (or attempting to do so) any merchandise, article, or object (merchandise) contrary to any U.S. law; and (2) receiving, concealing, buying, selling, or otherwise facilitating the transportation, concealment, or sale of that merchandise, prior to exportation, knowing that merchandise to be intended for exportation contrary to any U.S. law. Amends the money laundering statute to define "specified unlawful activity" to include an offense of smuggling goods from the United States. Amends the Tariff Act to provide for forfeiture to the United States of merchandise exported from the United States (or attempted to be exported), or the value thereof, and property used to facilitate the receipt, purchase, transportation, concealment, or sale of that merchandise prior to exportation. (Sec. 9202) Expands code provisions regarding smuggling goods into foreign countries to cover situations where such goods are smuggled (or attempted to be smuggled) by vehicle, aircraft, conveyance, or other mode of transportation. Prohibits, and sets penalties for, the transport (including attempts) of more than 360 liters of distilled spirits from one State into another State or foreign country, or the receipt or possession of more than 360 liters that have been transported in interstate or foreign commerce in violation of Federal or State law. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to seize and forfeit any conveyance, liquor, or monetary instrument involved in, or property that constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to, a violation of this section, with a limitation. (Sec. 9203) Expands the scope of the statute punishing entry of goods by means of false statements to cover theft, embezzlement, and misapplication of duties. Increases penalties for violations. (Sec. 9204) Prohibits, and sets penalties for, false certifications relating to exports. Subtitle D: Strengthening Immigration Laws to Exclude International Criminals From the United States - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to: (1) make inadmissible any alien coming to the United States to avoid lawful prosecution in a foreign country for a crime involving moral turpitude; and (2) direct the Attorney General to remove such alien to the country seeking prosecution unless, in the Attorney General's discretion, the removal is deemed to be impracticable, inadvisable, or impossible. (Sec. 9302) Amends the INA to provide for the inadmissibility of persons: (1) involved in racketeering and arms trafficking; (2) who have benefitted from illicit activities of drug traffickers; and (3) involved in international alien smuggling. Subtitle E: Alien Smuggling - Amends the INA to provide for the civil and criminal forfeiture of any conveyance used in the commission of an alien smuggling offense. Subtitle F: Trafficking in Chemicals Used to Produce Drugs - Amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to require a person who proposes to engage in a transaction involving the importation or exportation of a listed chemical that requires advance notification pursuant to the regulations of the Attorney General or the importation or exportation of a tableting or encapsulating machine to notify the Attorney General at least 15 days before the transaction is to take place. Authorizes the Attorney General to require that the 15-day notification requirement apply to all imports of a listed chemical upon finding that such notification is necessary to support effective chemical diversion control programs or is required by international agreement to which the United States is a party. Sets forth additional restrictions regarding the transshipment and in-transit shipment of controlled substances. Authorizes injunctions barring persons convicted of a felony violation relating to the receipt, distribution, manufacture, importation, or exportation of a listed chemical from engaging in any transaction involving a listed chemical for up to ten years. Subtitle G: Arms Trafficking - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to create an exemption from Act requirements transactions arising out of an investigation by a Federal law enforcement agency concerning possible criminal violations of U.S. law.

Bill· SS. 169 (106th)referred

Military Recruiting and Retention Improvement Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Pay and Allowances Title II: Retired Pay Title III: Thrift Savings Plan Title IV: Montgomery GI Bill Benefits Title V: Report Military Recruiting and Retention Improvement Act of 1999 - Title I: Pay and Allowances - Waives during FY 2000 any required adjustment in the rates of monthly military basic pay in conformance with the General Schedule of the Federal Government. Increases such pay by 4.8 percent, effective on January 1, 2000. Provides: (1) an increase in such pay as of July 1, 2000, for officers and enlisted personnel within specified pay grades; and (2) a pay increase for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2006 of one percent over the percentage increase as calculated under the Employment Cost Index. (Sec. 103) Extends through December 31, 2002, specified authorities currently scheduled to expire on December 31, 1999, with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve armed forces, as well as for military nurse officer candidates, registered nurses, and nurse anesthetists. Title II: Retired Pay - Repeals a Federal provision which provides a formula reduction in the retired pay of military personnel who first became members after July 31, 1986, and had creditable military service of less than 30 years. Directs the Secretary of Defense to increase the annual retired pay of such members under a revised formula which takes into account annual cost-of-living increases. Title III: Thrift Savings Plan - Authorizes a member serving on active duty to participate in the Federal Thrift Savings Plan, with a maximum annual contribution of five percent of basic pay and any enlistment or reenlistment bonus. Prohibits matching Federal agency contributions. Title IV: Montgomery GI Bill Benefits - Increases for FY 2000 the monthly rate of educational assistance paid to veterans pursuing a program of education on a full-time basis under the veterans' educational assistance program (VEAP). (Sec. 402) Terminates a one-year reduction in the basic pay of military personnel who choose not to participate in the VEAP. (Sec. 403) Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, when appropriate, to make accelerated payments under the VEAP pursuant to an individual's request. (Sec. 404) Authorizes such Secretary to permit individuals entitled to assistance under the VEAP to transfer such assistance to the individual's spouse, one or more children, or a combination thereof. Requires the individual to designate the transferees chosen, the percentage of assistance for each, and the period in which such transfer shall be effective. Requires any child receiving such assistance to complete his or her entitlement before attaining 26 years of age. Title V: Report - Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit annually to the Congress an assessment of the effects of this Act on military personnel recruitment and retention.

Bill· SS. 190 (106th)referred

A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Directs the Secretary of Defense to permit any former member of the armed forces who is entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability rated total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to travel on military aircraft to the same extent as retired members of the armed forces.

Bill· SS. 129 (106th)referred

A bill to terminate the F/A-18E/F aircraft program.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Directs the Secretary of Defense to terminate the F-A-18E-F aircraft program. Allows the use of current funding only for program termination costs.

Bill· SS. 71 (106th)referred

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service-connection for certain veterans with Hepatitis C, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Considers hepatitis C becoming manifest in a veteran to a degree of ten percent or more to be service-connected, and therefore compensable under veterans' disability provisions, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such illness during the period of such service, as long as it is shown that during such service the veteran experienced: (1) a blood transfusion before December 31, 1992; (2) blood exposure on or through skin or mucous membrane; (3) hemodialysis; (4) a tattoo, body piercing, or acupuncture; (5) unexplained liver disease; (6) an unexplained liver dysfunction value or test; or (7) working in a health-care position or specialty.

Bill· SS. 122 (106th)referred

Guard and Reserve Special Duty Assignment Pay Equity Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Guard and Reserve Special Duty Assignment Pay Equity Act of 1999 - Entitles reserve personnel not on active duty to special duty assignment pay under appropriate circumstances. Directs the Secretary of the Navy to terminate the Extremely Low Frequency Communication System while maintaining the infrastructure necessary for its resumption. Requires savings resulting from such termination, which are in excess of the increased cost of paying the special duty assignment pay provided for by this Act, to be used to offset the Federal deficit for that fiscal year.

Bill· SS. 89 (106th)referred

People's Republic of China Policy Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Travel and Activities of Certain Officials Title II: Forced Abortion Title III: Human Rights Title IV: Concessional Loans People's Republic of China Policy Act of 1999 - Title I: Travel and Activities of Certain Officials - Makes ineligible for a visa, and excludes from admission into the United States, any People's Republic of China (PRC) national (other than the head of state, the head of government, and cabinet level ministers) directly involved in repressive religious policies and practices. Title II: Forced Abortion - Forced Abortion Condemnation Act - Prohibits the Secretary of State from issuing any visa to, and the Attorney General from admitting to the United States, any Chinese national (including any Communist Party official or Chinese Government official) that has been found to have been involved in the enforcement of population control policies resulting in a woman being forced to undergo an abortion against her free choice, or resulting in a man or woman being forced to undergo sterilization against his or her free choice. Title III: Human Rights - Political Freedom in China Act of 1999 - Urges the Secretary, in all official meetings with the Government of the PRC, to: (1) request the immediate and unconditional release of Ngodrup Phuntsog and other prisoners of conscience in Tibet, as well as in the PRC; and (2) call on such government to begin serious discussions with the Dalai Lama, without preconditions, on the future of Tibet. (Sec. 304) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 and 2001 to support personnel in the U.S. Embassies in Beijing and Kathmandu, as well as the American consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Chengdu, and Hong Kong, in order to monitor political repression in the PRC. (Sec. 305) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 and 2001 for the National Endowment for Democracy to promote democracy, civil society, and the development of the rule of law in China. Directs the Secretary to use funds available in the East Asia- Pacific Regional Democracy Fund to provide grants to nongovernmental organizations to promote democracy, civil society, and the development of the rule of law in China. (Sec. 306) Directs the Secretary to annually report to specified congressional committees on human rights matters in China, including information on religious persecution, the development of democratic institutions, and the rule of law there. Directs the Secretary to establish the Prisoner Information Registry for China which shall provide information on all political prisoners, prisoners of conscience, and prisoners of faith there. (Sec. 307) Expresses the sense of the Congress that it, the President, and the Secretary should work with the governments of other countries to establish a Commission on Security and Cooperation in Asia which would be modeled after the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. (Sec. 308) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Hong Kong people should continue to have the right and ability to freely elect their legislative representatives. (Sec. 309) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Government of the People's Republic of China should stop the harvesting and transplanting of organs for profit from prisoners whom it executes and should be strongly condemned for such practice; (2) the President should bar from entry into the United States all officials of such Government known to be directly involved; (3) individuals determined to be participating in or otherwise facilitating the sale of such organs in the United States should be prosecuted; and (4) appropriate U.S. officials should interview individuals who may have knowledge of such practice. Title IV: Concessional Loans - Communist China Subsidy Reduction Act of 1999 - Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors at each international financial institution to vote to oppose the provision of concessional loans (with highly subsidized interest rates, grace periods for repayment of five years or more, and maturities of 20 years or more) to China, any Chinese citizen or national, or any Chinese entity. (Sec. 404) Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. nationals conducting industrial cooperation projects in China should adhere to certain principles, including: (1) suspending the use of any merchandise that they have reason to believe was produced by convict or forced labor, and refusing to use forced labor in their projects; (2) seeking to ensure that political or religious views, sex, ethnic or national background, or association with dissidents will not prohibit hiring, lead to harassment, demotion, or dismissal, or otherwise affect the employment status of an individual employed in the industrial cooperation project; (3) ensuring that methods of production used in the projects do not pose unnecessary danger to workers and the surrounding neighborhoods and environment; (4) striving to establish private business enterprises when involved in a project with the Government of China; (5) discouraging any military presence on the premises of the project; (6) promoting freedom of association and assembly among employees; (7) providing the Department of State with information relevant to its efforts to collect information on prisoners for purposes of the Prisoner Information Registry; (8) discouraging or preventing compulsory political indoctrination programs from taking place on project premises; (9) promoting freedom of expression of all kinds; and (10) preventing harassment of workers who decide freely the number and spacing of their children, and prohibiting compulsory population control activities on the premises of the project. Directs the Secretary of State to forward a copy of these principles to the member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and encourage them to promote similar principles. Directs each U.S. national conducting an industrial cooperation project in China to register with the Secretary and indicate whether they agree to implement such principles. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to give preference to U.S. nationals who have adopted such principles when selecting participants for trade missions to China. (Sec. 405) Directs U.S. agencies that engage in educational, cultural, scientific, agricultural, military, legal, political, and artistic exchanges to initiate and expand such exchange programs with regard to China. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a federally chartered not-for-profit organization should be established to fund exchanges between the United States and China through private donations. Title V: Radio Free Asia - Amends the United states International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to repeal grant amount and grant use limitations with respect to Radio Free Asia. Repeals sunset provisions with respect to the grant authority of Radio Free Asia. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 and 2001 for Radio Free Asia.

Bill· SS. 51 (106th)referred

Violence Against Women Act II

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Strengthening Law Enforcement to Reduce Violence Against Women Title II: Strengthening Services to Victims of Violence Title III: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children Title IV : Strengthening Education and Training to Combat Violence Against Women Title V: Extension of Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund Violence Against Women Act II - Title I: Strengthening Law Enforcement to Reduce Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States, Indian tribal governments, or local governmental units to provide technical assistance and computer and other equipment to police departments, prosecutors, courts, and tribal jurisdictions to facilitate the widespread, including interstate, enforcement of protection orders. Instructs the Attorney General to give priority to grant applicants that: (1) have established cooperative agreements with neighboring jurisdictions to facilitate the enforcement of protection orders from other jurisdictions; and (2) will give priority to using the grant to develop and install data collection and communication systems linking police, prosecutors, courts, and tribal jurisdictions in order to identify and track protection orders and violations of such orders. Directs the Attorney General to compile and disseminate information about successful data collection and communication systems. Amends Federal criminal code provisions governing full faith and credit given to protection orders to provide that: (1) a State or Indian tribe shall not notify the party against whom a protection order has been made that the protection order has been registered or filed in the State or tribal jurisdiction unless requested to do so by the party protected under that order; and (2) nothing in this title may be construed to require prior filing or registration of such orders in the enforcing State as a prerequisite to enforcement by such State. Directs that a protection order that is otherwise consistent with this title shall be accorded full faith and credit and enforced notwithstanding the failure to provide notice to the party against whom the order is made of its registration or filing in the enforcing State or Indian tribe. (Sec. 102) Amends such Act to designate State, local, and Indian tribal courts as eligible grantees in the program to combat violent crimes against women. Revises allocation percentages for police and prosecutors, victim services, and State and local courts (not less than 25 percent, 30 percent, and ten percent, respectively). Amends the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act to expand training that may be provided under domestic violence training grants to include training with respect to issues concerning individuals with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund through FY 2002. Includes State, local, and tribal courts among the grantees eligible for Federal grants to encourage arrest policies. Earmarks a minimum of five percent of the total amount available for grants each fiscal year for grants to Indian tribal governments. (Sec. 103) Reauthorizes appropriations through FY 2002 for grants to combat violent crimes against women. Directs the Attorney General to make grants to State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions for coordinating State victim services activities and for coordinating with Federal, State, and local entities engaged in violence against women activities. (Sec. 104) Instructs the Attorney General to transfer flunitrazepam (the "date-rape" drug) from schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act to schedule I (the strictest level of Federal drug penalty and control). (Sec. 105) Reauthorizes appropriations through FY 2002 for grants to encourage arrest policies. (Sec. 106) Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that any person who, while employed by or accompanying the armed forces outside of the United States, engages in conduct that would constitute a domestic violence or sexual assault offense if the conduct had been engaged in within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, shall be subject to prosecution in a U.S. district court. Sets forth provisions regarding concurrent jurisdiction and priority of exercise of jurisdiction. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to designate and authorize any individual serving in a law enforcement position in the Department of Defense to arrest such a person outside of the United States if there is probable cause to believe that such person committed such an offense. Provides for the release of such arrested persons to civilian law enforcement authorities in specified circumstances. Provides for delivery of such persons to the appropriate authorities of a foreign country if: (1) delivery is requested for trial for such conduct as an offense under the laws of that country; and (2) delivery is authorized by a treaty or other international agreement to which the United States is a party. Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned to transmit to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation a copy of records of any penal actions taken, including certain nonjudicial punishments imposed, against a member of the armed forces who is discharged, dismissed, or released from active duty. (Sec. 107) Prohibits and sets penalties for willfully causing bodily injury to any person or attempting, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive device, to cause bodily injury to any person, whether or not acting under color of law, because of: (1) the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person; or (2) the actual or perceived religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person if, in connection with the offense, the defendant or the victim travels in interstate or foreign commerce, uses a facility or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce, or engages in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or the offense is in or affects such commerce. Authorizes appropriations to the Departments of the Treasury and of Justice through FY 2002 to increase the number of personnel to prevent and respond to such alleged violations. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study and, if appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for adult defendants who recruit juveniles to assist in the commission of hate crimes. Directs the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice to make grants to State and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 108) Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to reauthorize through FY 2002: (1) rural domestic violence and child abuse enforcement grants (and allots not less than five percent of the total made available for each fiscal year for grants to Indian tribal governments); and (2) national stalker and domestic violence reduction grants. (Sec. 110) Modifies Federal criminal code provisions regarding interstate domestic violence, interstate stalking, and interstate violation of a protective order to cover situations where persons travel in interstate or foreign commerce or to or from Indian country. Deems a tribal court, for purposes of full faith and credit provisions, to have jurisdiction over any activity occurring in Indian country. Title II: Strengthening Services to Victims of Violence - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to private and nonprofit entities, publicly funded organizations not acting in a governmental capacity, and Indian tribal governments and affiliated organizations, to: (1) implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts and projects between domestic violence and sexual assault victim advocacy organizations and civil legal assistance providers to strengthen a broad range of civil legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault; (2) implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects to strengthen a broad range of civil legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault by organizations with a demonstrated history of providing direct legal or advocacy services on behalf of these victims; and (3) provide training, technical assistance, and data collection to improve the capacity of grantees and other entities to offer civil legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. Authorizes the Attorney General to: (1) make a grant to establish, operate, and maintain a national computer database of programs that provide civil legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault; and (2) evaluate the grants funded under this title through contracts or other arrangements with entities expert on domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault and on evaluation research. Authorizes appropriations from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund to carry out this title through FY 2002, with at least five percent of available amounts in each fiscal year used for grants for programs that assist victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault on lands within the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe. (Sec. 202) Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act with respect to State demonstration grants for programs and projects to prevent family violence and provide immediate shelter and related assistance to victims. Requires grant applicants to provide documentation, including memoranda of understanding, of the specific involvement of the State domestic violence coalition and other knowledgeable individuals and interested organizations, in the development of the application. Earmarks funds to provide emergency assistance directly to victims of family violence, or their dependents, who are in the process of fleeing an abusive situation. Changes from a formula amount to $500,000 the minimum allotment to each State for such grants. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to Indian tribes and organizations from any sums not distributed to them. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to private nonprofit organizations for information, training, and technical assistance initiatives in specified subject areas. Authorizes appropriations under such Act through FY 2002. Revises the formula for the allocation of appropriations for grants for State coalitions. Directs the Secretary to conduct a nationwide needs assessment relating to family violence prevention and services programs. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to up to ten State domestic violence coalitions, and up to ten local entities that carry out domestic violence programs providing shelter or related assistance, to develop and implement model community intervention strategies to address family violence in underserved populations. Prescribes formulae for the redistribution of funds available due to certain limitations. (Sec. 203) Prohibits any insurer from, directly or indirectly, taking any adverse action against: (1) an innocent insured; or (2) an applicant or insured on the basis that the applicant or insured, or any person employed by the applicant or insured or with whom the applicant or insured is known to have a relationship or association is, has been, or may be the subject of abuse. Defines an innocent insured as a subject of abuse insured under the same policy as the abuser, but who is not (in light of all the facts and circumstances) the cause of any claim incurred or that may incur. Requires any insurer taking an adverse action against a known subject of abuse to advise the applicant or insured in writing of the specific reasons for the action. Empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce such prohibitions and policy. Provides for a private action against an insurer by an applicant or insured affected by a violation of this Act. (Sec. 204) Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to extend through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations for the national domestic violence hotline. (Sec. 205) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to extend through FY 2002 and increase the authorization of appropriations for Federal victims' counselors. (Sec. 206) Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to entitle employees to leave to: (1) address domestic violence and its effects; or (2) care for a child or parent of the employee who is addressing domestic violence and its effects. Authorizes an employer to require an employee to provide documentation or other corroborating evidence. Amends Federal civil service law to entitle Federal employees to take such leave, subject to the same requirements. (Sec. 207) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize unemployment compensation where an individual is separated from employment due to circumstances directly resulting from the individual's experience of domestic violence. Amends the Social Security Act to require State laws to provide for methods of administration that will ensure that claims reviewers and hearing personnel are adequately trained in the nature and dynamics of claims for unemployment compensation based on domestic violence, including methods of ascertaining and keeping information confidential. (Sec. 208) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 with respect to aliens who have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty to provide for waiver of certain immigration requirements. (Sec. 209) Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to add a new Subtitle H (Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation, Including Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Against Older Individuals). Directs the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to law school clinical programs for the purposes of funding the inclusion of cases addressing issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault, against older individuals; and (2) develop curricula and offer, or provide for the offering of, training programs to assist law enforcement officers and prosecutors in recognizing, addressing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of such abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and the Older Americans Act of 1965 with respect to programs addressing such issues, including related training for health professionals. Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for programs and activities for the prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Requires the Secretary to make grants to: (1) support projects in local communities to coordinate activities concerning intervention in and prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault, against older individuals; and (2) develop and implement outreach programs directed toward assisting older individuals who are victims of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including those in senior housing complexes and senior centers. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Public Health Service Act (as amended by the Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998) to require the Secretary to give preference in the award of certain grants and contracts to any health professions educational entity that requires, as a condition of receiving a degree or certificate, that each student have had significant training in the identification and referral of victims of elder abuse and neglect. Title III: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States and Indian tribal governments to enable them to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements to assist public or private nonprofit entities in establishing and operating supervised visitation centers for purposes of facilitating supervised visitation and visitation exchange of children by and between parents. Requires that priority be given to States that consider domestic violence in making a custody decision and require findings on the record. (Sec. 302) Directs the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on Federal and State laws relating to child custody, including the Parental Kidnaping Prevention Act of 1980, and their effect on child custody cases in which domestic violence is a factor. Requires such study to examine the sufficiency of defenses to parental abduction charges available in cases involving domestic violence, and the burdens and risks encountered by victims of domestic violence arising from compliance with the full faith and credit (and judicial jurisdiction) requirements of that Act. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 303) Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations for grants through FY 2002. Directs the Secretary to compile annually and disseminate, especially to community-based programs (including domestic violence and sexual assault programs), specified information about the use of amounts expended and the projects funded under such Act. (Sec. 304) Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations through FY 2002 for: (1) the court-appointed special advocate program; (2) child abuse training programs for judicial personnel and practitioners; and (3) grants for televised testimony. Directs the Attorney General to compile annually and disseminate, especially to community-based programs (including domestic violence and sexual assault programs), specified information about the use of amounts expended and the projects funded under such Act. Title IV: Strengthening Education and Training to Combat Violence Against Women - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in awarding grants or contracts for health professions and nurse education, to give preference to a relevant health professions entity that requires, as a condition of receiving a degree or certificate, that a student has had significant training in the identification, examination, treatment, and referral of victims of domestic violence. (Sec. 401) Defines relevant health professions entity as a school of medicine, a school of osteopathic medicine, a graduate program in mental health practice, a school of nursing, a program for the training of physician assistants, or a program for the training of allied health professionals. (Sec. 402) Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants for the development and dissemination of model programs to provide education and training in appropriate and effective responses to victims of domestic violence and victims of sexual assault (including, as appropriate, the effects of domestic violence on children) to individuals (other than law enforcement officers and prosecutors) who are likely to come into contact with such victims during the course of their employment. Limits such grants to public and private nonprofit entities that have: (1) nationally recognized expertise in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assault; and (2) a record of commitment and quality responses to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 403) Requires States to use certain transferred funds for rape prevention and education programs conducted by rape crisis centers, State sexual assault coalitions, and other public and private nonprofit entities for: (1) educational seminars; (2) hotlines; (3) training programs for professionals; (4) the preparation of informational material; (5) education and training programs for students and campus personnel designed to reduce the incidence of sexual assault at colleges and universities; and (6) other efforts to increase awareness of, or to help prevent, sexual assault, including efforts to increase awareness in underserved communities and awareness among individuals with disabilities. Requires at least 25 percent of grant funds are used for educational programs targeted for middle school, junior high, and high school students. Directs the Secretary, through the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to establish a National Resource Center on Sexual Assault (with a central resource library) to provide resource information, policy, training, and technical assistance to Federal, State, and Indian tribal agencies, as well as to State sexual assault coalitions and local sexual assault programs and to other professionals and interested parties on issues relating to sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 404) Directs the Secretary to provide grants to individuals or organizations to carry out educational programs for elementary schools, middle schools, secondary schools, or institutions of higher education with respect to information regarding, and prevention of, domestic violence and violence among intimate partners. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 405) Directs the Attorney General to make grants to States and nongovernmental private entities to provide education and technical assistance for the purpose of providing training, consultation, and information on violence, abuse, and sexual assault against women who are individuals with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations for such grants through FY 2002. (Sec. 406) Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to make grants to groups that provide services to or advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities eligible for demonstration grants for community initiatives. Authorizes appropriations for such grants through FY 2002. (Sec. 407) Directs the Attorney General to establish a multidisciplinary, multiagency national commission to: (1) evaluate standards of training and practice for licensed health care professionals performing sexual assault forensic examinations, and develop a national recommended training standard; (2) recommend minimum sexual assault forensic examination training for all health care students; (3) review national, State, and local protocols on sexual assault for forensic examinations, and develop a recommended national protocol and a mechanism for nationwide dissemination; and (4) study and evaluate State procedures for payment of forensic examinations for victims of sexual assault, and establish a recommended Federal protocol for such payment. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 408) Authorizes the Attorney General to make a grant to a private, nonprofit entity meeting certain requirements to establish a national clearinghouse and resource center to provide information and assistance to employers and labor organizations on appropriate workplace responses to domestic violence and sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 409) Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to direct the Secretary to make grants to entities, including domestic violence and sexual assault organizations, research organizations, and academic institutions, to: (1) support specified research and evaluation of education, prevention, and intervention programs on violent behavior against women; and (2) address gaps in research and knowledge about violence against women, including violence against women in underserved communities. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to report to Congress on: (1) Federal and State sentences for homicides or assaults in which the victim was a spouse, former spouse, or intimate partner of the offender; (2) the effect of illicit drugs and alcohol on domestic violence and the sentences imposed for offenses involving them in which domestic violence occurred; (3) the extent to which acts of domestic violence committed against the offender, including coercion, may have contributed to the commission of an offense; (4) an analysis delineated by race, gender, type of offense, and any other categories that would be useful for understanding the problem of domestic violence; and (5) recommendations with respect to all such offenses, including any basis for a downward adjustment in any applicable Federal sentencing guidelines determination. Directs the Secretary to make grants to nonprofit entities, including sexual assault organizations, research organizations, and academic institutions, in order to gather qualitative and quantitative data on the experiences of minors and adults who become pregnant as a result of sexual assault within State health care, judicial, and social services systems. Requires the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on the status of the law with respect to rape and sexual assault offenses and the effectiveness of the implementation of laws in addressing such crimes and protecting their victims. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Extension of Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations to the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund through FY 2002. Reduces discretionary spending limits for FY 2001 and 2002 in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) by specified offsetting amounts.

Bill· SS. 72 (106th)referred

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to restore the eligibility of veterans for benefits resulting from injury or disease attributable to the use of tobacco products during a period of military service, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Repeals a Federal provision stating that a veteran's disability or death shall not be considered to be service-connected on the basis that it resulted from injury or disease attributable to the use of tobacco products during active military service. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reopen and review claims disallowed as a result of such provision.

Bill· SS. 29 (106th)referred

A bill to amend section 1086 of title 10, United States Code, to provide for payment under CHAMPUS of certain health care expenses incurred by certain members and former members of the uniformed services and their dependents to the extent that such expenses are not payments under medicare, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Authorizes payment through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) for items and services for which payment is also made through Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act), with a reduction for the amount already covered by Medicare. Continues CHAMPUS eligibility for veterans eligible for care or treatment for a service-connected disability in facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bill· SJRESS.J.Res. 2 (106th)referred

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require two-thirds majorities for increasing taxes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Constitutional Amendment - Requires a two-thirds vote of each House of the Congress in order to pass any bill levying a new tax or increasing the rate or base of any tax. Allows the Congress to waive that requirement during war or certain military conflict. Requires all votes under this Amendment to be by yeas and nays and the names of persons voting for and against to be entered in the Journal of each House.

Bill· HRH.R. 357 (106th)open

Violence Against Women Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Violence Against Women Act of 1999- Title I: Continuing the Commitment of the Violence Against Women Act - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to Combat Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (the Act) to authorize appropriations for grants to combat violent crimes against women. (Sec. 102) Revises grant allocation guidelines governing prosecution grants, victims' services and State court systems. Expands grant purposes to include training that addresses sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking for State, local, and tribal judicial personnel, as well as training of sexual assault forensic nurse examiners, and supporting the development of sexual assault response teams. Directs the Attorney General to deny State grant applications that fail to provide documentation of collaborative efforts with other agencies or organizations. Redefines "victims' services" to include advocacy and assistance for victims seeking legal, social, and health care services. Includes as a prerequisite for Federal reimbursement of forensic medical exams of victims of sexual assault that the participating governmental entity notify all victims that such reimbursement is neither contingent upon the victim's report to law enforcement officials nor upon the victim's cooperation in the prosecution of the assault. (Sec. 103) Directs the Attorney General to make grants to State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions for purposes of coordinating with: (1) victim services activities; and (2) Federal, State, and local entities engaged in violence-against-women activities. Subtitle B: National Domestic Violence Hotline - Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) to authorize increased appropriations for the national domestic violence hotline grant. Requires grantees to submit a grant evaluation report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the HHS Secretary) for publication and public comment as a prerequisite to a grant award or renewal. Subtitle C: Battered Women's Shelters and Services - Battered Women's Shelters and Services Act - Amends the FVPSA to authorize appropriations for State grants. Modifies guidelines governing: (1) allotment of appropriations; (2) grants for information and technical assistance centers; and (3) authorization of appropriations. (Sec. 123) Instructs the HHS Secretary to award grants for: (1) State domestic violence coalitions and local domestic violence programs providing shelter or related assistance, in order to develop model strategies to address domestic violence in underserved populations; (2) each State domestic violence coalition for an emergency assistance fund for domestic violence victims; (3) technical assistance and training for State and local domestic violence programs; and (4) private, nonprofit, tribal domestic violence coalitions with representatives from a majority of the programs for victims of domestic violence operating within Indian reservations, and programs whose primary focus is the populations of such Indian country. Subtitle D: Community Initiatives - Authorizes appropriations for demonstration grants for community initiatives. Subtitle E: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel - Amends the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act of 1994 to permit training grants for judges and court personnel to include: (1) child custody, visitation, and safety issues raised by domestic violence and child sexual assault; and (2) the extent to which addressing domestic violence and victim safety contributes to the efficient administration of justice. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies - Amends the Act to reauthorize appropriations to implement the functions of the Bureau of Justice Statistics. (Sec. 153) Mandates that at least five percent of appropriated funds be used for grants to Indian tribal governments to treat domestic violence as a serious violation of criminal law. Subtitle G: Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement - Amends the Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for rural domestic violence and child abuse enforcement. Mandates that five percent of such funds be used for grants to Indian tribal governments. Subtitle H: National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction - Amends the Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for grants to enter stalking and domestic violence data into crime information databases. Subtitle I: Federal Victims' Counselors - Amends the Safe Streets for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for the United States Attorneys to appoint Victim-Witness counselors for the prosecution of domestic violence and sexual assault crimes. Subtitle J: Education and Prevention Grants to Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, Homeless, and Street Youth - Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations for street-based outreach and education to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation. Subtitle K: Victims of Child Abuse Programs - Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for: (1) the court-appointed special advocate program; and (2) child abuse training programs for judicial personnel and practitioners. (Sec. 195) Amends the Act to authorize appropriations for grants for closed-circuit televising of testimony of child abuse victims. Title II: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children - Subtitle A: Safe Havens for Children - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to public or private nonprofit nongovernmental entities to establish and operate supervised visitation centers. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Violence Against Women Prevention in Schools - Authorizes appropriations for the Secretary of Education to provide grants to State, local, or tribal school systems to implement programs for elementary, middle, and secondary schools which address domestic violence, assault and stalking. Subtitle C: Family Safety - Family Safety Act - Amends the Parental Kidnaping Prevention Act of 1980 to include among its purposes: (1) the promotion of cooperation between State and tribal courts to protect parents and children from domestic violence or sexual assault; (2) the promotion of realistic and protective standards for interstate relocation when parents dispute custody; (3) the avoidance of jurisdictional conflicts between State courts in matters of child custody and visitation consistent with not endangering or inappropriately punishing parents who are victims of domestic violence, or children who are victims of sexual assault. (Sec. 233) Amends the Federal criminal code (the code) to provide as a defense to prosecution of either a criminal custodial interference or parental abduction charge, or criminal contempt of court relating to an underlying child custody or visitation determination, that the defendant was fleeing an incident or pattern of domestic violence or sexual assault of the child, or would otherwise have a defense under the Parental Kidnaping Prevention Act. Directs the Attorney General to issue guidelines to assist U.S. Attorneys and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine whether to initiate or terminate an action due to the potential availability of such defense. (Sec. 234) Amends the Federal judicial code to: (1) provide that no State shall be required to enforce any order obtained in a proceeding which would violate the constitution of the enforcing State if the proceeding were conducted in the enforcing State; and (2) declare that the intent of full faith and credit doctrine in child custody determinations is to preempt inconsistent State law. Declares that a protection order regarding custody and visitation of a minor child that is consistent with this Act shall be given full faith and credit by the courts of any State where the party who sought the order seeks enforcement. Modifies State court jurisdiction guidelines governing: (1) relocation of the child due to domestic violence or sexual assault; and (2) court authority to decline to exercise jurisdiction on behalf of parents engaged in specified conduct. Subtitle D: Domestic Violence and Children - Expresses the sense of the Congress that for purposes of determining child custody: (1) it is in the best interest of children to have a presumption that their main physical residence should be with their primary caretaker parent unless such parent is unfit; (2) child abuse and sexual abuse allegations shall be fully investigated regardless of when raised, or whether the child has withdrawn the allegation; (3) States shall not order specified measures if they may endanger either parent or child; and (4) States shall provide training to all relevant professionals on how domestic violence and sexual assault affects determinations of custody, child support, and visitation. Subtitle E: Child Welfare Worker Training on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault - Directs the Attorney General to make grants in consultation with the HHS Secretary to enable child welfare service agencies to train their staffs and modify their policies, procedures, programs, and practices in order to make them consistent with specified principles and goals. Sets forth grantee eligibility criteria. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Child Abuse Accountability - Child Abuse Accountability Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit the assignment or alienation of any pension benefit payable to a participant pursuant to a qualified child abuse order. Exempts qualified child abuse orders from preemption by ERISA. Title III: Sexual Assault Prevention - Subtitle A: Rape Prevention Education - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the use of certain State funds exclusively for rape prevention and education programs conducted by rape crisis centers and private nonprofit nongovernmental State and tribal sexual assault coalitions for specified programs. Instructs the HHS Secretary to establish a National Resource Center on Sexual Assault when appropriations reach a specified minimum level. Mandates that State grantors ensure that at least 25 percent of the funds are devoted to educational programs targeted for middle school, junior high, and high school aged students. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Standards, Practice, and Training for Sexual Assault Examinations - Standards, Practice, and Training for Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations Act - Directs the Attorney General, in conjunction with the HHS Secretary, to: (1) evaluate standards of training and practice for licensed health care professionals performing sexual assault forensic examinations, and develop a national recommended training standard; (2) recommend sexual assault examination training for health care students to improve recognition of injuries suggestive of rape and sexual assault; and (3) establish a mechanism for nationwide dissemination of a national protocol on sexual assault for forensic examinations. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Violence Against Women Training for Health Professions - Violence Against Women Training for Health Professions Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the HHS Secretary, when making health care grants for rural areas, to give preference to a health professions entity that requires, as a condition of receiving a degree or certificate, each student to have had significant training in identification, examination, treatment, and referral of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Subtitle: D: Prevention of Custodial Sexual Assault by Correctional Staff - Prevention of Custodial Sexual Assault by Correctional Staff Act - Directs the Attorney General to establish and disseminate to the States certain guidelines regarding the prevention of custodial sexual misconduct by correctional staff. Requires withholding of specified correctional facilities funds from any State that fails to implement: (1) such guidelines; or (2) criminal penalties explicitly prohibiting custodial sexual misconduct by correctional staff against prisoners. (Sec. 345) Directs the Attorney General to create a national, confidential, toll-free telephone hotline to collect data, and to provide information and assistance to prisoners who have experienced custodial sexual misconduct by corrections staff. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle E: Hate Crimes Prevention - Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999 - Amends the code to establish criminal penalties for willfully causing bodily injury because of a person's race, color, religion, or national origin. (Sec. 355) Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study the issue of adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes, and, where appropriate, to amend Federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for adult defendants who do such recruiting. (Sec. 356) Directs the Administrator of the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to make grants to State and local programs to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. (Sec. 357) Authorizes appropriations for the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Justice (including the Community Relations Service), to increase the number of personnel to prevent and respond to such hate crimes. Subtitle F: Rescheduling and Classification of Date-Rape Drugs - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) transfer flunitrazepam from schedule IV to schedule I; and (2) add ketamine hydrochloride to schedule III and, by order, add Gamma Hydroxy Butyric Acid to schedule I. Subtitle G: Access to Safety and Advocacy for Victims of Sexual Assault - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to designated grantees and services to improve legal assistance to victims of sexual violence through access to the justice system, legal advocacy, and representation. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Domestic Violence Prevention - Subtitle A: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims' Housing - Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims Housing Act - Authorizes increased appropriations under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act exclusively for qualified, nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations, and solely to provide supportive housing andtenant-based rental and financial assistance for persons leaving a residence due to victimization by domestic violence, stalking, or adult or child sexual assault. Subtitle B: Full Faith and Credit for Protection Orders - Amends the code to: (1) grant a tribal court civil and criminal jurisdiction over any person who violates a protection order within its jurisdiction, subject to Federal habeas corpus review, and after tribal court remedies are exhausted; and (2) require the Attorney General to reduce the amount of certain grants to any State that fails to comply with Federal full faith and credit requirements for protection orders. (Sec. 412) Authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to assist governmental entities to develop and strengthen law enforcement and recordkeeping strategies to enforce protective orders issued by other governmental entities. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection - Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits an insurer from denying or restricting insurance coverage on the basis that the applicant or insured (or any employee or associated person) is, has been, or may be the subject of abuse or has incurred or may incur abuse-related claims. Confers enforcement jurisdiction upon the Federal Trade Commission. Authorizes a private cause of action by an applicant or insured adversely affected by a violation of this Act. Subtitle D: National Summit on Sports and Violence - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) a national summit should be promptly convened to develop a multifaceted action plan to deter acts of violence, especially domestic violence and sexual assault; (2) the members of such summit should include sports, community, political, and media leaders, as well as Members of Congress and other governmental and community leaders with relevant expertise; and (3) summit members should assume leadership roles deterring acts of domestic violence and sexual assault. Subtitle E: Keeping Firearms from Intoxicated Persons - Amends the code to declare unlawful the transfer of a firearm or ammunition to any person reasonably believed to be intoxicated. Subtitle F: Access to Safety and Advocacy - Access to Safety and Advocacy Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to designated grantees and services to improve legal assistance to victims of domestic violence through access to the justice system, legal advocacy, and representation. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle G: Strengthening Enforcement to Reduce Violence Against Women - Amends the code to revise guidelines governing persons who travel in interstate and foreign commerce and engage in domestic violence and stalking, or who violate protection orders. Subtitle H: Disclosure Protections - Amends the Social Security Act , Title IV part D, to modify disclosure protections in connection with the Federal Parent Locator Service and State plan requirements for child and spousal support. Title V: Violence Against Women in the Military System - Subtitle A: Civilian Jurisdiction for Crimes of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence - Amends the code to declare that domestic violence and sexual assault offenses committed by persons formerly serving with, or presently employed by or accompanying the armed forces outside of the United States shall be subject to prosecution in the Federal District Court of the jurisdiction of origin of the person arrested. Provides for concurrent jurisdiction with other military tribunals and foreign governments. (Sec. 502) Amends Federal law governing separation from the armed forces to mandate that: (1) a copy of records of any penal action taken against the departing member of the armed forces be transmitted to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and (2) any member convicted by court-martial of an offense of a sexual nature provide whatever specimen is necessary to conduct DNA analysis for inclusion in the Combined DNA Identification System of the FBI. Subtitle B: Transitional Compensation for Abused Dependents of Members of the Armed Forces - Revises Federal guidelines governing transitional compensation for abused dependents of former members of the armed forces. Subtitle C: Confidentiality of Records - Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary of Defense is directed to: (1) study procedures of military departments for protecting the confidentiality of communications between military dependents involved in sexual or intrafamily abuse and the professionals from whom they seek services in connection with the effects of such abuse; and (2) issue regulations to provide the maximum protections for the confidentiality of such communications; and (3) report to the Congress on results of such study and implementation of the regulations. Title VI: Preventing Violence Against Women in Traditionally Underserved Communities - Subtitle A: Older Women's Protection From Violence - Older Women's Protection From Violence Act of 1999 - Chapter 1: Violence Against Women Act of 1994 - Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to direct the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to law school clinical programs to fund the inclusion of cases addressing issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault against older individuals; and (2) develop curricula and provide for training programs in those issues for law enforcement officers and prosecutors (including tribal authorities). Authorizes appropriations. Chapter 2: Family Violence Prevention and Services Act - Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to require federally-funded State domestic violence coalitions to include programs and providers of direct services targeted to older individuals. 606) Authorizes entities eligible for a community initiatives demonstration grant to include representatives of adult protective services entities. Chapter 3: Older Americans Act of 1965 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Aging to consider the importance of research about the sexual assault of older women when establishing research priorities for grants or contracts for research and demonstration projects on elder abuse. (Sec. 609) Authorizes appropriations without fiscal year limitation for grants to implement a State long-term care ombudsman program. (Sec. 610) Directs such Assistant Secretary to update and improve curricula and implement continuing education training programs to improve the ability of designated health care and social services providers to recognize and address instances of elder abuse, including domestic violence and sexual assault. (Sec.611) Directs the Assistant Secretary, when making grants and contracts, to give special consideration to projects designed to: (1) expand access to domestic violence shelters and programs for older individuals and encourage the use of certain facilities as emergency short-term shelters; and (2) promote research on legal, organizational, or training impediments to providing services to older individuals through shelters and programs. (Sec. 612) Authorizes appropriations for the ombudsman and the elder abuse prevention program. (Sec. 613) Directs the Assistant HHS Secretary to make grants to: (1) nonprofit private or tribal organizations to support projects in local communities to coordinate activities for intervention in and prevention of elder abuse, including domestic violence and sexual assault; and (2) develop outreach programs for assisting elder abuse victims, including some for assisting individuals in certain senior housing facilities. Authorizes appropriations. Chapter 4: Public Health Service Act - Elder Abuse Identification and Referral Act of 1999 - Amends the Health Service Act to instruct the HHS Secretary, when awarding grants or contracts, to give preferences to health professions schools or programs that condition the awarding of their degrees or certificates upon significant student training in specified areas of elder abuse identification and treatment. (Sec. 616) Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize: (1) area health education centers to include training in domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse screening and referral protocols; and (2) Federal grants to geriatric education centers for training and retraining of faculty to provide instruction regarding elder abuse situations. Subtitle B: Protections Against Violence and Abuse for Women with Disabilities - Protections Against Violence and Abuse for Women with Disabilities Act - Makes the protection of women with disabilities eligible for grants and research under the following Acts: (1) the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; (2) Family Violence Prevention and Services Act; (3) Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994; and (4) Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act of 1994. (Sec. 625) Authorizes the HHS Secretary to: (1) develop curricula and implement training programs to improve the ability of social service and health providers to recognize and address domestic violence directed against women with disabilities; and (2) make grants and enter into contracts for such training programs for health professionals. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 627) Directs the HHS Secretary to consider the importance of research about the sexual assault of, and violence against, women with disabilities in establishing certain research priorities. (Sec. 628 ) Directs the Attorney General to establish a grants program for States, nongovernmental private entities, and tribal organizations to provide education and technical assistance for information dissemination on abuse and violence against women with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Battered Immigrant Women -. VAWA Restoration Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify procedures and provide special rules for battered spouses and children with respect to: (1) adjustment of status; (2) removal and deportation; (3) implementation of immigration provisions in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); (4) waivers and exceptions to inadmissibility for otherwise qualified battered immigrants; (5) calculation of physical presence in VAWA cancellation of removal proceedings and suspension of deportation proceedings; (6) VAWA immigration protections; (7) VAWA cancellation of removal and adjustment of status for certain nonpermanent residents; and (8) good moral character determinations for self-petitioning immediate relatives. (Sec. 638) Prescribes guidelines for: (1) discretionary first time offender waivers for aliens making child support payments; (2) misrepresentation waivers for battered spouses of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents; (3) waiver of deportability; (4) inapplicability of public charge determinations for designated aliens; and (5) access to naturalization for divorced victims of abuse. Authorizes the Attorney General to grant certain battered applicants documentation signifying authorization of employment during the pendency of certain application procedures.. Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to redefine "qualified alien" to include certain battered aliens for purposes of welfare and public benefits eligibility. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 to declare restrictions on the use of assisted housing inapplicable to certain battered aliens. (Sec. 639) Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 to provide that requirements and restrictions placed upon Legal Services Corporation funding shall not be construed to prohibit a recipient from providing related legal assistance to certain aliens who have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty. (Sec. 640) Amends the Act to require each branch of the U.S. military to train its supervisory military officers in domestic violence dynamics in military families, and the protections available for battered immigrant women and children. Expands the purposes of training grants to combat violent crimes against women to include: (1) training immigration and asylum officers and judges; and (2) training justice system personnel on the judicial ramifications of the Violence Against Women Act, and the potential immigration consequences for perpetrators of domestic violence. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to express the intent of the Congress that statutory constraints upon the powers of immigration personnel not be construed as discouraging crime and domestic violence victims from reporting crimes to the police, from cooperating in criminal prosecutions, or from obtaining the legal relief needed for protection from ongoing violence. Subtitle D: Conforming Amendments to the Violence Against Women Act - Amends the Act to make technical and conforming amendments to law enforcement and prosecution grants. Title VII: Violence Against Women and the Workplace - Subtitle A: National Clearinghouse on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Workplace Grant - Authorizes the Attorney General to award a grant to a private non-profit entity, including a tribal organization, to provide for establishment of a national clearinghouse and resource center to disseminate information and assistance to employers and labor organizations responding to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Victims' Employment Rights - Victim s' Employment Rights Act - Prohibits an employer from taking any discriminatory employment action towards an individual for reasons pertaining to sexual or domestic violence, or stalking.. Prohibits any adverse job action for an employee's participation in related judicial proceedings requiring absence from work. Prescribes enforcement guidelines, including civil action by an affected employee for actual and treble punitive damages. (Sec. 726) Sets forth defenses to such an action, including extraordinary threats to workplace safety, and undue hardship. Subtitle C: Workplace Violence Against Women Prevention Tax Credit - Workplace Violence Against Women Prevention Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an employer a workplace safety program tax credit for 40 percent of the costs of implementing workplace safety and education programs to combat violence against women. Subtitle D: Battered Women's Employment Protection - Battered Women's Employment Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for unemployment compensation for separation from employment as a direct result of an employee's experience of domestic violence. (Sec. 743) Amends the Social Security Act to provide for the training of claims reviewers and hearing personnel in the nature and dynamics of domestic violence, and in methods of ascertaining and keeping confidential information about domestic violence experiences so that employment separations stemming from such violence are identified and adjudicated while full confidentiality is provided for the employee's claim and submitted evidence. (Sec. 744) Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to establish an entitlement for leave resulting from certain domestic violence situations for both Federal and non-Federal employees. Prescribes confidentiality guidelines for an employee's situation of domestic violence. Requires that employees, under State law, be permitted to use existing leave for domestic violence situations. Empowers the Secretary of Labor to enforce the entitlement for leave due to an employee's domestic violence situation. Subtitle E: Education and Training Grants to Promote Responses to Violence Against Women - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to public and private nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations for the education and training of individuals who, as a result of their employment responsibilities, are likely to come into contact with victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Workers' Compensation - Expresses the sense of the Congress that State workers' compensation laws should: (1) provide benefits to eligible female victims of workplace violence, including full compensation for physical and nonphysical injuries; and (2) permit the employee to pursue an action at law (other than statutory workers' compensation benefits) against an employer's role in the act of workplace violence. Title VIII : - Violence Against Women Intervention, Prevention, and Education Research - Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to direct the HHS Secretary and the Attorney General to establish a multi-agency task force coordinating research on violence against women. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 901) Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to entities to: (1) support research to further the understanding of the causes of violent behavior against women; and (2) evaluate education, prevention, and intervention programs. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Departments of Health and Human Services and of Justice to make grants to domestic violence and sexual assault organizations, research organizations and academic institutions to expand knowledge about violence against women, with a particular emphasis on exploring such issues as they affect underserved communities. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study and report to the Congress on specified aspects of domestic violence. Directs the Secretary to award grants to designated entities to gather data on the experiences of women and girls who become pregnant as a result of sexual assault within State and tribal health care, judicial, and social services systems. Authorizes appropriations. Instructs the Attorney General to conduct a national study and report to the Congress on the status, implementation and efficacy of Federal, State, and tribal laws regarding rape and sexual assault offenses and their effectiveness in addressing those crimes and protecting the victims. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General to establish three research centers to: (1) support the development of research and training programs that focus on violence against women; (2) provide collaboration mechanisms between researchers and practitioners; and (3) provide technical assistance for integrating research into the provision of services. Authorizes appropriations.

Law· HRH.R. 348 (106th)enacted

To authorize the construction of a monument to honor those who have served the Nation's civil defense and emergency management programs.

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Authorizes the United States National Civil Defense Monument Commission to construct a monument to honor those who have served the nation's civil defense and emergency management programs. Terminates such authority seven years after the enactment of this Act, with an exception. Authorizes the Commission, subject to the approval of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to select the monument site on FEMA lands in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and to develop the monument design. Requires monument costs to be paid from contributions to the Commission.

Bill· HRH.R. 326 (106th)open

Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Miscellaneous Trade Corrections Title II: Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions; Other Trade Provisions Subtitle A: Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions Subtitle B: Trade Provisions Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1999 - Title I: Miscellaneous Trade Corrections - Makes various specified miscellaneous technical corrections to the Trade Act of 1974 and other specified Federal law involving: (1) abolishment of the East-West Foreign Trade Board; (2) repeal of the requirement that certain small vessels departing from a foreign port, or which visited a hovering vessel, carry a certificate for the importation into the United States of alcoholic spirits; (3) repeal of the exemption of documented tugs with a Great Lakes endorsement from certain entry and clearance requirements; (4) change of general most-favored-nation (MFN) status to general or normal trade relations (NTR) status under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States; and (5) conforming amendments to obsolete references to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). (Sec. 1003) Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to allow certain entries of television receivers, monitors, and picture tubes, and combination TV-VCRs with a diagonal measurement of up to 34.29cm (currently, 33.02 cm), or 13.5 inches, to be classified as 13 inches for purposes of tariff treatment under the Schedule. Directs the Customs Service, upon proper request, to liquidate or reliquidate certain entries made on or after January 1, 1995, and before 15 days after enactment of this Act, as if such amendment applied to such entries. Title II: Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions; Other Trade Provisions - Subtitle A: Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for temporary duty suspensions for: (1) specified chemicals and dyes through December 31, 2001; (2) snowboard boots with uppers of textile materials through December 31, 2001; (3) ink-jet textile printing machinery through December 31, 2001; (4) textile printing machinery through December 31, 2001; (5) substrates of synthetic quartz or synthetic fused silica imported into the United States in bulk or in forms or packages for retail sale through December 31, 2001; (6) power weaving machines (looms), shuttle type, for weaving fabrics between 30 cm and 4.9m in width, if entered without off-loom or large loom take-ups, drop wires, heddles, reeds, harness frames or beams, through December 31, 2001; (7) skating boots for use in the manufacture of in-line roller skates through December 31, 2001; (8) dual thrust chamber rocket engines, each having a maximum static sea level thrust exceeding 3,550 kN and nozzle exit diameter exceeding 127cm, through December 31, 2001; (9) certain manufacturing equipment through December 31, 2001; (10) textured rolled glass sheets through December 31, 2001; (11) certain anti-HIV drug substances through June 30, 1999; (12) certain high-performance loudspeakers not mounted in their enclosures, through December 31, 2001; (13) parts for use in the manufacture of certain high-performance loudspeakers through December 31, 2001; and (14) certain polymers through December 31, 2001. (Sec. 2129) Reduces the duty on a certain dye and on certain chemicals variously through December 31, 1999, December 31, 2000, and December 31, 2001. (Sec. 2161) Reduces the duty, through December 31, 2001, on weaving machines (looms), shuttleless type, for weaving fabrics between 30cm and 4.9m in width, entered without off-loom or large loom takeups, drop wires, heddles, reeds, harness frames, or beams. Subtitle B: Other Trade Provisions - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend to certain fine jewelry certain trade benefits of insular possessions of the United States. (Sec. 2401) Mandates treatment as a product of the Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, during 1999 and 2000, of any article of jewelry assembled in such territory or possession. (Sec. 2402) Provides for the tariff treatment of certain components of scientific instruments and apparatus, as well as the application of the domestic equivalency test to such components. (Sec. 2403) Directs the U.S. Customs Service to liquidate or reliquidate (refund duty on) certain entries made at Los Angeles, California, and New Orleans, Louisiana, in accordance with the final decision of the International Trade Administration for shipments entered between October 1, 1984, and December 14, 1987 (case number A- 274-001). (Sec. 2404) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide that packaging material produced in the United States (currently, any packaging material), which is used by the manufacturer or any other person on or for articles which are exported or destroyed, shall also be eligible for a refund (drawback) of 99 percent of any duty, tax, or fee imposed on the importation of such material used to manufacture or produce the packaging material. (Sec. 2405) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, by January 1, 2000, to provide for the inclusion of commercial importation data from foreign-trade zones in the National Customs Automation Program (an automated and electronic system for processing commercial importations). (Sec. 2406) Permits the deferral (until sale) of duty payment on any large yacht (a vessel exceeding 79 feet in length and used primarily for recreation or pleasure) that is imported for sale at a boat show, if the importer of record: (1) certifies to the Customs Service that it is imported for sale at a boat show in the United States; and (2) posts a bond in an amount equal to twice the amount of the duty ordinarily owed on such yacht. (Sec. 2407) Directs the appropriate customs officer to allow or deny within 30 days after the filing date any application for further review with respect to a protest to a decision of the Customs Service. Requires that any allowed protest be forwarded to the customs officer who will conduct the further review. (Sec. 2408) Authorizes the Customs Service, notwithstanding the fact that a valid protest was not filed, to reliquidate an entry to refund merchandise processing fees paid on goods qualifying under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rules of origin for which no claim for preferential tariff treatment was made at the time of importation, provided that the importer meets certain conditions. (Sec. 2409) Authorizes the entry or withdrawal from a warehouse of international travel merchandise subject to a duty. (Sec. 2410) Revises requirements with respect to the five-year review by the administering authority and the International Trade Commission of countervailing duty or antidumping duty orders, notices of injury determination, or determinations to continue an order or suspension agreement. Excludes from the computation of the five-year period preceding such a review any period during which the importation of the subject merchandise is prohibited on account of U.S. imposition of certain sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act or other Federal law against the country in which such merchandise originates, if that country is not a member of the World Trade Organization. (Sec. 2411) Applies the rates of duty effective after December 31, 1994, under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, if lower, to certain water resistant wool trousers that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, after December 31, 1988, and before January 1, 1995. (Sec. 2412) Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide duty-free treatment of previously imported goods for which a duty was paid if they are: (1) exported within three years after the date of such previous importation; (2) sold for exportation and exported to individuals for personal use; (3) reimported without having been advanced in value or improved in condition by any process of manufacture or other means while abroad; (4) reimported as personal returns from those individuals, whether or not consolidated with other personal returns prior to reimportation; and (5) reimported by or for the account of the person who exported them from the United States within one year of such exportation. (Sec. 2413) Grants duty-free treatment, through December 31, 2002, to the personal effects of, and other equipment imported and used by, participants, their families and associated members, and officials involved in the 1999 International Special Olympics, the 1999 Women's World Cup Soccer, the 2001 International Special Olympics, the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games. Declares that such articles shall be: (1) free of applicable taxes and fees; but (2) not exempt from routine customs inspections. (Sec. 2414) Directs the U.S. Customs Service, upon request, to liquidate or reliquidate (refund duty on) certain entries (filed at the port of Los Angeles) of indirect electrostatic copiers at the rate of duty that would have been applicable to such merchandise if they had been liquidated or reliquidated at a duty rate applicable to other automated data processing (ADP) thermal transfer printer units on the date of entry. (Sec. 2415) Directs the U.S. Customs Service to provide for the liquidation or reliquidation (refund) of certain entries in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Decision 86-126(M) and Customs Ruling No. 224697, dated November 17, 1994. (Sec. 2417) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize duty-free sales enterprises to be located, among other places, within a port of entry, or within 25 statute miles of a staffed port of entry, if reasonable assurance can be provided that the duty-free merchandise sold by the enterprise will be exported by individuals departing from the customs territory through an international airport located within the territory. (Sec. 2418) Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to continue, indefinitely, the use of customs user fees (to the extent funds remain available after making certain reimbursements) for salaries for up to 50 full-time equivalent inspectional positions to provide preclearance customs services. Decreases from $6.50 to $5 the customs user fee charged to each passenger that arrives aboard a commercial vessel or commercial aircraft from a place outside the U.S. customs (except $1.75 shall be charged to each passenger aboard a commercial vessel that arrives from Canada, Mexico, a U.S. territory or possession, or an adjacent island). Earmarks a specified amount of certain customs user fees to the Customs Service for automated commercial systems. Directs the Commissioner of Customs to establish an advisory committee, consisting of representatives from the airline, cruise ship, and other transportation industries, to advise the Commissioner on issues related to the performance of the inspectional services of the Customs Service. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize the Secretary, for a specified period, to prescribe an alternative mid-point interest accounting methodology, which may be employed by the importer, based upon aggregate data in lieu of accounting for such interest from each deposit data provided. (Sec. 2419) Allows a duty drawback (refund of duty) for methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), a finished petroleum derivative, provided certain requirements are met. (Sec. 2420) Revises the methodology used to calculate the drawback (refund of duties) on the export of finished petroleum derivatives that have been manufactured with (substituted for) a qualified article which is of the same kind and quality (whether imported duty-paid or domestic). Redefines the term "qualified article" to include certain manufactured articles (primary forms), including articles of the same kind and quality, or any combination thereof, that are transferred as certified in a certificate of delivery or certificate of manufacture and delivery to an exporter in a quantity not greater than the quantity of articles purchased or exchanged for use in the manufactured article. (Sec. 2421) Directs the U.S. Customs Service, upon proper request, to: (1) liquidate or reliquidate as if the special column one duty rate applicable for Canada applied to certain entries of mueslix cereal; and (2) refund to the importer any excess duties paid with respect to such entries. (Sec. 2422) Directs the Foreign Trade Zones Board to expand Foreign Trade Zone No. 143 to include areas in the vicinity of the Chico Municipal Airport in accordance with the application submitted to the Board by the Sacramento-Yolo Port District of Sacramento, California, on March 11, 1997. (Sec. 2423) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to exempt certain woven fabrics containing silk or silk waste from the country of origin marking requirements. (Sec. 2424) Authorizes the President to: (1) determine that title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (denying nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of certain countries) should no longer apply to Mongolia; and (2) based upon such determination, extend nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to Mongolian products. (Sec. 2425) Authorizes the Commissioner of the Customs Service to establish a pilot program for FY 1999 to provide 24-hour cargo inspection service on a fee-for-service basis at a certain international airport. (Sec. 2426) Directs the Department of Defense to permit the dependent children of deceased U.S. Customs Aviation Group Supervisor Pedro J. Rodriquez attending the Antilles Consolidated School System at Ford Buchanan, Puerto Rico, to complete their primary and secondary education without cost to them or any parent or relative.

Bill· HRH.R. 417 (106th)referred

Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Reduction of Special Interest Influence Title II: Independent and Coordinated Expenditures Title III: Disclosure Title IV: Personal Wealth Option Title V: Miscellaneous Title VI: Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform Title VII: Prohibiting Use of White House Meals and Accommodations for Political Fundraising Title VIII: Sense of the Congress Regarding Fundraising on Federal Government Property Title IX: Prohibiting Solicitation to Obtain Access to Certain Federal Government Property Title X: Reimbursement for Use of Air Force One for Political Fundraising Title XI: Prohibiting Use of Walking Around Money Title XII: Enhancing Enforcement of Campaign Law Title XIII: Ban on Coordinated Soft Money Activities By Presidential Candidates Title XIV: Posting Names of Certain Air Force One Passengers on Internet Title XV: Expulsion Proceedings for House Members Receiving Foreign Contributions Title XVI: Severability; Constitutionality; Effective Date; Regulations Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1999 - Title I: Reduction of Special Interest Influence - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) with respect to soft money to prohibit a national committee of a political party (including a national congressional campaign committee of a political party, and any officers or agents of such party committees, and specified related entities) from soliciting, receiving, or directing to another person a contribution, donation, or transfer of funds, or from spending any funds not subject to the FECA limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements (FECA requirements). (Sec. 101) Requires State, district, or local committees of political parties (including specified related entities) to make expenditures and disbursements for Federal election activities (with exceptions) from funds subject to FECA requirements which are applied to any amounts spent for fund raising costs of such activities by national, State, district, or local committees and specified related entities. Prohibits national, State, district, or local committees (including national congressional campaign committees and specified related entities) from soliciting funds for, or making or directing donations to, tax-exempt organizations or organization applicants for tax-exemption status. Disallows candidates, incumbents, or their agents, or specified related entities, from soliciting, receiving, directing, transferring, or spending funds in connection with an election for Federal office as well as in connection with any election other than for Federal office or disbursing funds in connection with such an election for Federal election activities on their behalf (with exceptions), unless, in the case of an election for Federal office, the funds are subject to FECA requirements, or, unless with regard to any election other than for Federal office, the funds meet specified guidelines, including that they are not from prohibited sources. (Sec. 102) Prohibits any person from making contributions to a State committee in any year that exceed, in the aggregate, $10,000. Increases the aggregate individual contribution limit from $25,000 to $30,000. (Sec. 103) Requires the following: (1) national committees, national congressional campaign committees, and any subordinate committees, to report all receipts and disbursements during the reporting period; (2) State, district, and local committees to report all receipts and disbursements made for specified Federal election activities; and (3) political committees having receipts or disbursements from persons in excess of $200 for any year to separately itemize their reporting. Title II: Independent and Coordinated Expenditures - Amends FECA to redefine the term "independent expenditure" to mean an expenditure by a person for a communication that is express advocacy and is not coordinated activity or is not provided in coordination with a candidate or a candidate's agent, or a person who is coordinating with a candidate or a candidate's agent. Defines the term "express advocacy." (Sec. 201) Redefines the term "expenditure" to include a payment made by a political committee for a communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate and is for the purpose of influencing a Federal election (regardless of whether the communication is express advocacy). (Sec. 202) Provides that in determining whether any broadcast communication constitutes express advocacy for purposes of this Act, there shall not be taken into account any background music not including lyrics. (Sec. 203) Prohibits the Federal Election (Commission) from entering into a conciliation agreement if it determines that there is probable cause to believe that a person has made a knowing and willful violation involving the reporting of an independent expenditure. Permits the Commission, when it makes such a determination, to institute a civil action for relief. (Sec. 204) Sets forth reporting requirements for certain independent expenditures made by persons (including political committees) aggregating: (1) $1,000 or more after the 20th day before an election; and (2) $10,000 or more up to or on the 20th day before an election. Requires additional reports to be filed each time such independent expenditures are made. Requires such reports to: (1) be filed with the Commission; and (2) contain the information required for a person who receives any disbursement in excess of $200 in connection with an independent expenditure, including the name of each candidate to whom an expenditure is intended to support or oppose. (Sec. 205) Prohibits a committee of a political party, on or after the date on which the political party nominates a candidate, from making both coordinated and independent expenditures to the candidate during the election cycle. Requires a political party committee, before making a coordinated expenditure to a candidate, to certify to the Commission that it has not and shall not make any independent expenditure to the candidate during the same election cycle. Prohibits a political party committee that submits a certification with respect to a candidate from transferring any funds to, assigning authority to make coordinated expenditures to, or receiving a transfer of funds from, a political committee of the party that has made or intends, during the same election cycle, to make an independent expenditure to the candidate. (Sec. 206) Redefines the term "contribution" to include coordinated activity which is defined as anything of value provided by a person in coordination with a candidate or other specified parties, for the purpose of influencing a Federal election, regardless of whether the value being provided is a communication that is express advocacy, in which such candidate seeks nomination or election to Federal office. Considers a coordinated activity as a contribution to the candidate, and in the case of a limitation on expenditures, treats it as an expenditure by the candidate. Redefines the term "contribution or expenditure" with respect to contributions or expenditures by national banks, corporations, and labor organizations, to include a contribution or expenditure as defined under FECA. Title III: Disclosure - Amends FECA to replace provisions permitting the filing of reports electronically with provisions requiring the Commission to: (1) promulgate a regulation for the filing of reports using computers and faxes; (2) make electronically filed reports publicly accessible on the Internet within 24 hours after their receipt by it; and (3) provide methods (other than requiring a signature on the filing) for verifying covered reports. (Sec. 302) Prohibits the deposit (except in escrow accounts) or negotiation of contributions from a person making aggregate contributions in excess of $200 during a year by a candidate's authorized committee unless the required contributor information is complete. (Sec. 303) Permits the Commission to conduct random audits and investigations to ensure voluntary FECA compliance. Extends from six to 12 months the period during which campaign audits may be begun. (Sec. 304) Revises reporting requirements for identification of other than political committee contributors to: (1) lower the $200 threshold for the reporting of contributor identification to $50; and (2) require only the names and addresses of persons who make contributions of between $50 and $200 per year. (Sec. 305) Revises requirements for use of candidates' names. (Sec. 306) Prohibits a person from soliciting contributions by falsely representing himself or herself to be a candidate or a representative of a candidate, a political committee, or a political party. (Sec. 307) Requires filing of a certain statement with the Commission by persons, other than political committees of political parties and religious and apostolic organizations, that make aggregate disbursements in excess of $50,000 per year for specified Federal election activities: (1) on a monthly basis; or (2) within 24 hours, in the case of disbursements made within 20 days of an election. Exempts from such filing requirements: (1) a candidate or a candidate's authorized committees; and (2) independent expenditures. (Sec. 308) Revises requirements for publication and distribution of any print, broadcast, or general public political advertising. Title IV: Personal Wealth Option - Amends FECA to direct the Commission to issue a certification that a Senate or House of Representatives candidate is an eligible primary or general election congressional candidate if the candidate files with it a declaration that the candidate and the candidate's authorized committees (relevant parties) will not (in the case of a primary candidate) or did not (in the case of a general election candidate) exceed a personal funds expenditure limit of $50,000. Directs the Commission, if the limit is exceeded, to: (1) revoke the certification; and (2) require the relevant parties to pay a penalty to the Commission. Prohibits coordinated expenditures if a candidate is not an eligible congressional candidate. Title V: Miscellaneous - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to require any labor organization receiving payments from a employee pursuant to an agreement requiring non-member employees to make such payments in lieu of organization dues or fees to establish a specified objection procedure, or be liable for an unfair labor practice (thus codifying the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Communications Workers of America et al. v. Beck et al.). (Sec. 501) Requires a labor organization, with respect to a non-member employee who files an objection under such a procedure, to reduce the employee's payments in lieu of organization dues or fees by an amount which reasonably reflects the ratio that the organization's expenditures supporting political activities unrelated to collective bargaining bear to such organization's total expenditures. Requires a reasonable explanation to the employee of such ratio and reduction. (Sec. 502) Amends FECA to revise provisions on permitted and prohibited uses of contributed amounts by candidates and incumbents for certain purposes. Specifies prohibited kinds of conversion of such funds to personal use. (Sec. 503) Revises Federal postal law concerning permitted time frames for mailing franked mail to prohibit any mass mailing as franked mail during the 180-day period before a general election for the office held by the Member of Congress or during the 90-day period before any primary election for that office, unless the Member has made a public announcement that the Member will not be a candidate for reelection during that year or for election to any other Federal office. (Sec. 504) Amends the Federal criminal code to revise the prohibition against fund raising on Federal property. Prohibits an officer or employee of the Federal Government, including the President, Vice President, and Members of Congress, from soliciting a donation of money or other thing of value in connection with a Federal, State, or local election from any person while in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by a Federal officer or employee. Imposes on violators a monetary penalty, imprisonment, or both. Excepts from the prohibition contributions received by the staff of the Executive Office of the President. (Sec. 505) Amends FECA to double the penalties for knowing and willful violations of FECA, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act (PECFA), and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act (such Acts). Permits conciliation agreements to correct or prevent such violations to include equitable remedies or penalties, disgorgement of funds to the Treasury, or community service requirements (including requirements to participate in public education programs). Sets forth requirements for late filing of FECA reports, including requiring establishment of mandatory monetary penalties. (Sec. 506) Revises the ban on contributions by foreign nationals, prohibiting use of "willful blindness" as a defense against a charge of violating the foreign contributions ban under FECA, by prohibiting as a defense to a violation of such ban that the defendant did not know that the contribution originated from a foreign national if the defendant should have known that the contribution originated from a foreign national, except that the trier of fact may not find that the defendant should have known that the contribution originated from a foreign national solely because of the contributor's name. (Sec. 507) Prohibits minors (age 17 or younger) from making contributions to candidates or contributions or donations to committees of political parties. (Sec. 508) Permits the Commission to: (1) order expedited proceedings for certain complaints; and (2) refer, at any time, to the Attorney General a possible violation of such Acts. (Sec. 509) Revises the basis for mandatory Commission initiation of enforcement proceedings upon receipt of a complaint alleging a violation of such Acts. Replaces "has reason to believe" a violation has been or is about to be committed with "has reason to investigate whether" such a violation has been or is about to be committed. (Sec. 510) Sets forth disclaimers to affirm equal participation of eligible voters in campaigns and elections for Federal office. (Sec. 511) Establishes criminal penalties for violation of the prohibition against contributions by foreign nationals. (Sec. 512) Provides for expedited court review of certain alleged FECA violations. (Sec. 513) Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to prohibit and set penalties for conspiracy to violate presidential and vice presidential campaign spending limits under PECFA or FECA. (Sec. 514) Amends FECA to set forth guidelines for political committees to return certain illegal contributions and donations to their sources via the Commission which is required to establish a single interest-bearing escrow account for such purpose, with any contributions or donations deposited in such account allowed to cover any applicable fines or penalties imposed against the contributor or donor. (Sec. 515) Establishes within the Commission a clearinghouse of specified public information on political activities of foreign principals and their agents. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 516) Amends IRC to prohibit presidential and vice presidential candidates from receiving amounts from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (PECF) unless the candidate certifies that the candidate will not solicit any funds (soft money) for the purposes of influencing such election, including any funds used for an independent expenditure under FECA, unless the funds are subject to FECA requirements. Title VI: Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform - Establishes the Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform to study and report to the President, the Speaker of the House, and congressional leadership on the laws relating to the financing of political activity, and recommend any legislation to reform them. (Sec. 606) Provides for expedited congressional consideration of any legislation implementing a recommendation of the Independent Commission, including a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution. (Sec. 608) Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Prohibiting Use of White House Meals and Accommodations for Political Fundraising - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for the use of White House meals and accommodations for political fund raising. Title VIII: Sense of the Congress Regarding Fundraising on Federal Government Property - Expresses the sense of the Congress that Federal law clearly demonstrates that "controlling legal authority" under the Federal criminal code prohibits the use of Federal property to raise campaign funds. Title IX: Prohibiting Solicitation to Obtain Access to Certain Federal Government Property - Amends the Federal criminal code to impose criminal penalties upon anyone who solicits or receives anything of value in consideration of providing a person with access to Air Force One, Marine One, Air Force Two, Marine Two, the White House, or Vice President's residence. Title X: Reimbursement for Use of Air Force One For Political Fundraising - Amends FECA to require any political committee of a national political party for whom the President, Vice President, or any executive department head uses Air Force One for transportation for any travel which includes a fund raising event for committee benefit to reimburse the Federal Government for the fair market value of the transportation of the individual involved, based on the cost of an equivalent commercial chartered flight. Title XI: Prohibiting Use of Walking Around Money - Amends FECA to make it unlawful for any political committee to provide currency to any individual (directly or through an agent of the committee) for purposes of encouraging the individual to appear at the polling place for the election. Title XII: Enhancing Enforcement of Campaign Law - Amends FECA to: (1) mandate between one and ten years imprisonment for any person who knowingly and willfully violates any FECA provisions involving making, receiving, or reporting any contribution or expenditure aggregating $2,000 or more per calendar year; and (2) authorize the Attorney General to bring criminal actions for a FECA or PECFA violation. Title XIII: Ban on Coordinated Soft Money Activities By Presidential Candidates - Amends IRC to prohibit coordination of soft money for issue advocacy by presidential and vice presidential candidates receiving public financing from PECF, unless such funds are subject to FECA requirements. Title XIV: Posting Names of Certain Air Force One Passengers on Internet - Directs the President to make available through the Internet the names of non-governmental passengers on Air Force One and Two, with certain exceptions for national security reasons. Title XV: Expulsion Proceedings for House Members Receiving Foreign Contributions - Mandates that Members of the House of Representatives convicted of violating foreign national contribution prohibitions under FECA have such conduct reported to the House by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, along with any recommendation for expulsion. Title XVI: Severability; Constitutionality; Effective Date; Regulations - Sets forth provisions concerning severability, review of constitutional issues, effective date, and regulations.

Bill· HRH.R. 365 (106th)referred

Let Our Military Personnel Buy a Home Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1999

Let Our Military Personnel Buy a Home Act of 1999 - Extends through FY 1999 a pilot program under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may make payments on behalf of eligible veterans for buying down the interest rate on federally guaranteed veterans' loans for housing within housing shortage areas at military installations. Makes $25 million available from the Department of Defense during each of FY 2000 through 2002 for such purpose.

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