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101 records in US in 2000
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2000
Permits a veteran with a compensable service-connected disability and his or her dependents to use military morale, welfare, and recreational facilities on the same basis as members (and their dependents) entitled to retired pay.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2000
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into a multiyear contract with the Ford Motor Land Development Corporation to: (1) demolish the buildings and auxiliary structures comprising the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Allen Park, Michigan; and (2) remediate the site of all hazardous material and environmental contaminants. Limits the contract period to seven years, and prohibits the Secretary from expending more than $14 million under such contract (requiring the Corporation to bear all costs in excess of such amount). Provides annual payment requirements under the contract. Requires the Corporation to erect and maintain on such property a flagpole and suitable memorial identifying the property as the location of the former Medical Center.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2000
Criminal Justice Integrity and Law Enforcement Assistance Act - Title I: Post-Conviction DNA Testing in Federal Court - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize an individual imprisoned for conviction of a criminal offense to make a motion for the performance of forensic DNA testing on evidence that was: (1) secured in relation to the investigation or prosecution that resulted in such conviction; and (2) not subject to the DNA testing requested because the testing technology was not available at the time of trial. Provides an exception when there is no reasonable possibility that such testing will produce exculpatory evidence. Prohibits the destruction of biological material during the 30-month period authorized for such testing. Title II: Convicted Offender DNA Index System - Convicted Offender DNA Index System Support Act - Requires the: (1) Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to develop and implement a plan to assist eligible States in performing DNA analyses of samples collected from convicted offenders and to pay for such analyses, in order to eliminate the backlog of convicted offender DNA samples awaiting analysis in State or local forensic laboratory storage; and (2) Attorney General to develop and implement a plan to assist eligible States in performing DNA analyses of crime scene evidence in casework for which there are no suspects, in order to eliminate that backlog. Requires the FBI Director to develop and implement a plan to eliminate the backlog of crime scene evidence awaiting DNA analysis in FBI forensic laboratory storage. Authorizes the Director to expand the combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS) to include information on missing persons. Provides for the DNA identification of Federal, District of Columbia, and military felony offenders.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2000
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Corrective Amendments of 2000 - Amends the Public Health Service Act relating to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to: (1) designate the Program as a remedial program under which sovereign immunity does not apply; (2) change the burden of proof requirement for the award of compensation from a preponderance of the evidence to evidence sufficient to justify a belief that the petitioner's claims are well grounded (while giving the benefit of doubt to the petitioner); (3) require any defense raised that an illness, injury, or death was due to unrelated factors to be proved by clear and convincing evidence; (4) authorize as Program compensation expenses necessary for the establishment of a trust to receive Program funds, as well as expenses incurred for family counseling or training necessitated by the vaccine-related injury; (5) allow the petitioner to file applications for the award of petitioner's attorneys' fees; (6) increase to up to 72 months the statute of limitations under the Program; (7) allow such period to be extended for an additional 36 months after a petitioner first knew or should have known about his or her eligibility for compensation; (8) toll the statute of limitations until a petitioner reaches age 18 and, if a petitioner is incompetent, until 24 months after a guardian is appointed; and (9) authorize the refiling of a previously failed petition if the petitioner would have met the extended statute of limitations provided under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2000
Federal Employees' Overtime Pay Limitation Amendments Act of 2000 - Amends Federal Civil Service provisions regarding the computation of overtime pay to: (1) require that, for a Federal employee whose basic pay is at a rate which exceeds the minimum rate of basic pay for GS-10, the overtime hourly rate of pay is an amount equal to the greater of one and one-half times the minimum hourly rate of basic pay for such grade or the hourly rate of the employee's basic pay, and all that amount is premium pay; and (2) provide that, for any pay period during which an employee is engaged in work in an emergency (including a wildfire emergency) that involves a direct threat to life or property, including work performed in the aftermath of such an emergency, the overtime hourly rate of pay is an amount equal to one and one-half times the hourly rate of the employee's basic pay, except that such overtime hourly rate of pay may not exceed the greater of one and one-half times the minimum hourly rate of basic pay for GS-12 or the hourly rate of the employee's basic pay, and all that amount is premium pay. Revises provisions regarding limitations on premium pay to: (1) allow an employee to be paid premium pay under certain circumstances only to the extent that the payment does not cause the aggregate of basic pay and such premium pay to exceed the greater of the maximum rate of basic pay payable for GS-15 or the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule; (2) provide that such limitation shall not apply to an employee who is paid premium pay by reason of work in connection with an emergency; (3) prohibit such an employee from being paid such pay if, or to the extent that, the aggregate of the basic pay and premium pay would, in any calendar year, exceed the greater of the maximum rate of basic pay payable for GS-15 or the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule; (4) authorize the Office of Personnel Management to prescribe regulations governing the applicability of the two preceding amendments to employees who are in receipt of annual premium pay for standby duty or administratively uncontrollable overtime work or availability pay for criminal investigators; and (5) prohibit applying such provisions to certain employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2000
Fairness for National Guard Technicians Act - Requires National Guard military technicians (dual status) who are eligible, at the time dual status is lost, to an unreduced retirement annuity and are age 60 or older to be separated no later than 30 days after such status is lost. Requires such technicians who are not eligible to an unreduced annuity or who are not under age 60 at such time to be offered the opportunity to either reapply for a dual status position or apply for a civil service position that is not a technician position. States that a technician shall be considered to lose dual status upon: (1) being separated from the Selected Reserve; or (2) ceasing to hold the military grade specified for the technician position held.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2000
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs should increase, to the maximum extent consistent with their respective missions, their level of cooperation in the procurement and management of prescription drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2000
Heather French Homeless Veterans Assistance Act of 2000 - Declares as a national goal to end homelessness among veterans within a decade. Encourages all Federal, State, and local departments and agencies, quasi-governmental organizations, private and public sector entities, and individuals to work cooperatively toward such goal. (Sec. 4) Establishes within the Department of Veterans Affairs the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans to: (1) assemble and review information relating to homeless veterans; (2) provide an ongoing assessment of Department effectiveness in assisting such veterans; and (3) provide ongoing advice on the most appropriate means of providing such assistance. Requires the Committee to take into special account the needs of veterans who have served in a theater of combat operations. Requires annual reports from the Committee to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees, on Department programs and activities relating to homeless veterans. (Sec. 5) Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to require the Interagency Council on the Homeless to meet no less often than annually (currently, at the discretion of the Council Chairperson). (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to support the continuation within the Department of at least one center for evaluation to monitor the structure, process, and outcome of Department programs that address homeless veterans. Requires an annual report from the Secretary to Congress. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to designate specified care provided in, or sponsored or coordinated by, the Department as being within the "complex care" category within the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) system. Requires the Secretary to ensure that funds for any new program for homeless veterans carried out through a Department facility are designated, for the first three years of that program, as a special purpose program for which funds are not allocated through the VERA system. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of grants to Department health care facilities to encourage the development of programs targeted at meeting the special needs of homeless veterans (age, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, terminally or mentally ill, or women). Requires the Secretary to conduct a study of the effectiveness of the grant program in meeting such needs. Provides funding from annual appropriations for Department medical care. (Sec. 9) Requires the Secretary to have appropriate officials of the Mental Health Service and the Readjustment Counseling Service of the Veterans Health Administration initiate a coordinated strategy for joint outreach to veterans at risk of homelessness, particularly those being discharged from institutions. (Sec. 10) Requires the Secretary to establish three Centers of Excellence in Integrated Mental Health Services Delivery at appropriate Department medical centers. Directs the Secretary to: (1) compare treatment outcomes for chronically mentally ill veterans at such centers with treatment outcomes provided through traditional consultation; and (2) report comparison results to Congress. (Sec. 11) Prescribes conditions under which outpatient dental services and the treatment of a dental condition or disability of a veteran shall be considered medically necessary, and therefore required to be furnished through the Department. Makes eligible for such care veterans who are: (1) enrolled under the Department's patient enrollment system; and (2) receiving care under one of a number of various departmental settings (domiciliary care, therapeutic residential or community residential care). (Sec. 12) Directs the Secretary to carry out the transitional housing grant program under the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 so as to ensure that there is at least one active transitional housing program in each State. Requires the Secretary to establish centers for the provision of comprehensive services to homeless veterans in at least each of the 20 largest metropolitan areas. Repeals a provision limiting the number of such programs. Requires the Secretary to ensure that opioid substitution therapy is available at each Department medical center. Extends through December 31, 2006, the authority of the Secretary to provide certain treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans. (Sec. 13) Authorizes the Secretary to allow homeless veterans receiving care through vocational rehabilitation programs to participate in the compensated work therapy program, and to allow veterans in the latter program to be provided housing through the therapeutic residence program. Provides certain staffing requirements for homeless veterans programs within the Veterans Benefits Administration. (Sec. 14) Amends the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 to revise fire and safety standards required of facilities used for homeless veterans. (Sec. 15) Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of temporary assistance grants to homeless veterans. Makes eligible for such program veterans: (1) of a period of war or meeting certain minimum service requirements; (2) being or recently having been released from certain institutions, including a homeless shelter; (3) who are homeless immediately before the commencement of such assistance; and (4) who had less than marginal income (below poverty level) for the previous three months. Allows such assistance for no more than six months during any two-year period. Provides authorized grant amounts and requires assistance coordination with other Department benefits. (Sec. 16) Directs the Secretary to carry out a program to provide emergency housing grants to eligible veterans. Outlines eligibility requirements similar to the above program. Provides authorized grant amounts and allows a grant to an eligible veteran once during a 24-month period. (Sec. 17) Requires the Secretary to carry out a program to make technical assistance grants to nonprofit community-based groups for assistance in applying for grants to address problems of homeless veterans. Provides funding. (Sec. 18) Authorizes the Secretary to waive, with respect to homeless veterans, the requirement of the purchase of a lot under the Department's home loan program for manufactured housing. (Sec. 19) Extends through FY 2006 the authorization of appropriations for the homeless veterans reintegration program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2000
Requires the Secretary of Defense to revise Department of Defense policy regarding the euthanization of military working dogs to: (1) terminate the practice of euthanizing such dogs at the end of their useful life; and (2) limit such euthanization to when medically necessary or necessary for the public safety. Requires the Secretary to make such a dog available for adoption by law enforcement agencies, former handlers, and other persons capable of humanely caring for such dogs. Requires the commander of the last unit to which the dog is assigned to make the decision whether a particular dog is suitable or unsuitable for adoption. Directs the Secretary to require that any dog recipient hold harmless the United States from any damages or injury caused by a dog after such transfer. Requires an annual report from the Secretary to Congress concerning dogs adopted, waiting for adoption, or euthanized during the preceding year (with an explanation in the case of euthanization).
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2000
Energy Independence for America Act of 2000 - Title I: Energy Security Actions Required of the Secretary of Energy - Directs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to report annually to the President and Congress on the progress the United States has made toward obtaining the goal of not more than 50 percent dependence on foreign oil sources by 2010. (Sec. 102) Sets a deadline for the Secretary to submit to the President a certain report of the National Petroleum Council, together with recommendations for administrative or legislative actions. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to establish within the National Economic Council an Interagency Work Group on Natural Gas (the Group), whose function shall be to develop a strategy and comprehensive policy for the use of natural gas as an essential component of overall national objectives of energy security, economic growth, and environmental protection. Title II: Amendments to Energy Policy and Conservation Act and Actions Affecting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to authorize drawdown and distribution of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) if: (1) the President concurs in the determination of the Secretary of Defense that it will not impair national security; and (2) the Secretary of Energy finds that it will not have an adverse effect on the domestic petroleum industry. (Sec. 201) Extends through FY 2003 the availability of FY 2000 appropriations for SPR authorities. Extends the expiration date for authorities related to domestic supply availability from March 31, 2000, to December 31, 2003. (Sec. 202) Extends from FY 1997 through 2003 the authorization of appropriations for the interagency working group that coordinates Federal programs affecting exports of renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services. Extends the expiration date for standby energy authorities from March 31, 2000, to December 31, 2003. (Sec. 203) Instructs the President to establish immediately an Interagency Panel on the Strategic Petroleum Study to study and report to the President and Congress regarding oil markets and estimated future fluctuations in the price, supply, and demand for crude oil, and to determine appropriate SPR capacity and use. Title III: Provisions to Protect Consumers and Low Income Families and Encourage Energy Efficiencies - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to repeal: (1) the requirement that participating States share 25 percent of the cost of weatherization programs as a condition for receiving assistance grants; and (2) the mandate that forty percent of weatherization program funds be spent for weatherization program materials. Instructs the Secretary to establish energy audit procedures and techniques. Increases the financial assistance for labor and weatherization materials expenditures per dwelling unit. Includes among such weatherization materials heating and cooling modification costs, including replacement. (Sec. 301) Repeals the mandate for the Secretary to establish, pursuant to State application, a separate average per dwelling unit limitation. (Sec. 302) Amends the EPCA to direct the Secretary, upon State request, to provide information, technical assistance, and funding for specified actions (summer fill programs) to avoid severe seasonal price increases and supply shortages of kerosene, propane, and heating oil during summer months. (Sec. 303) Authorizes appropriations for an Energy Efficiency Science Initiative, managed by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, for grants for energy efficiency research. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the Secretary to establish, maintain, and operate a Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve (Reserve) (containing no more than two million barrels of petroleum distillate) in the Northeast. States that such Reserve shall not be considered to be an SPR component. Restricts release of Reserve petroleum distillate to: (1) a severe energy supply disruption; (2) a severe price increase; or (3) an emergency affecting the Northeast which the President determines to merit such release. Mandates establishment of the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve Account in the Treasury subsequent to the Secretary's decision to establish the Reserve. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Provisions to Enhance the Use of Domestic Energy Resources - Subtitle A: Hydroelectric Resources - Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and of the Army, respectively, to inventory all dams, impoundments, and other facilities under their jurisdiction and to report to Congress on the potential of such facilities to generate hydroelectric power and on actions planned to do so. (Sec. 402) Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to report to Congress on expedited hydroelectric licensing procedures. Subtitle B: Nuclear Resources - Directs the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to report to Congress on: (1) domestic nuclear power generation and production; and (2) the potential for increasing nuclear generating capacity and production as part of the domestic energy mix. Subtitle C: Development of a National Spent Nuclear Fuel Strategy - Establishes an Office of Spent Nuclear Fuel Research within the Office of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology of the Department of Energy, to implement an integrated research and development program on technologies for the treatment, recycling, and disposal of high-level nuclear radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, under the general supervision of the Secretary. Confers upon the Secretary grant and contract making authority. Subtitle D: Coal Resources - Directs the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress on the potential for increased generation from existing coal-fired power plants; and (2) provide grants for refinement and demonstration of new technologies for the conversion of coal to liquids. Title V: Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2000 - Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2000 - Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to establish and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program that will: (1) result in an environmentally sound program; (2) not result in significant adverse effects upon fish and wildlife; and (3) ensure the receipt of fair market value by the public for the mineral resources to be leased. (Sec. 503) Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 to repeal the prohibition against production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and any leasing or development leading to such production. States that Congress determines that the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program and activities authorized by this Act are compatible with the purposes for which the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was established, and that no further findings or decisions are required to implement this determination. States this Act is the sole authority for Coastal Plain leasing, and that such Plain is considered "Federal land" for purposes of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) designate up to a specified total of Coastal Plain acreage as "Special Areas" and close them to leasing if the Secretary determines that these Areas require special management and regulatory protection; and (2) permit leasing in those Special Areas by setting lease terms that limit or condition surface use and occupancy by lessees but permit the use of horizontal drilling technology from sites on leases located outside the designated Special Areas. Declares that this Act constitutes the Secretary's sole authority to close Coastal Plain lands to oil and gas leasing and to exploration, development, and production. Instructs the Secretary to convey the surface estate of specified lands to the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation and to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation in order to remove clouds on title and clarify land ownership patterns within the Coastal Plain. (Sec. 505) Declares that the Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement on the Coastal Plain of April 1997 is adequate to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. (Sec. 506) States that lands may be leased to any person qualified to obtain a lease for oil and gas deposits under the Mineral Leasing Act. Requires the Secretary to prescribe lease procedures. (Sec. 507) Authorizes the Secretary to grant to the highest responsible qualified bidder by sealed competitive cash bonus bid any Coastal Plain lands upon payment of such bonus and a royalty which shall not be less than a certain amount. Prescribes lease terms and conditions. Sets forth bonding requirements to ensure financial responsibility of lessee and avoid Federal liability. (Sec. 512) Directs the Secretary to grant rights-of-way and easements across the Coastal Plain for oil and gas transportation. (Sec. 513) Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations to provide for: (1) biannual scheduled onsite inspections for compliance of Coastal Plain facilities with environmental or safety regulations; and (2) annual nonscheduled onsite inspections of such facilities. Title VI: Improvements to Federal Oil and Gas Lease Management - Federal Oil and Gas Lease Management Improvement Act of 2000 - Emphasizes that this Act does not give a State a property right or interest in any Federal lease or land. Subtitle A: State Option to Regulate Oil and Gas Lease Operation on Federal Land - Permits a State to notify either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (depending upon the appropriate jurisdiction) of its intent to accept authority for regulation of certain oil and gas lease operations on Federal land within such State. Declares an automatic transfer of regulatory authority over designated operations from the appropriate Secretary to the State effective 180 days following receipt of such notification. Bars a Federal agency from exercising authority formerly held by such Secretary with respect to oil and gas lease operations on Federal land. Subtitle B: Use of Cost Savings from State Regulation - Prescribes guidelines to compensate a State for the costs of implementing such transferred authority. Subtitle C: Streamlining and Cost Reduction - Bars the appropriate Secretary from recovering costs for applications and other documents relating to oil and gas leases. (Sec. 632) Requires the Secretary to ensure: (1) timely issuance of Federal agency decisions respecting oil and gas leasing and operations on Federal land; and (2) that unwarranted denials and stays of lease issuance and unwarranted restrictions on lease operations are eliminated from the administration of oil and gas leasing on Federal land. (Sec. 635) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to publish a national inventory of oil and gas reserves and potential resources underlying Federal land and the Outer Continental Shelf. Subtitle D: Federal Royalty Certainty - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Mineral Leasing Act pertaining to oil and gas leases to reformulate the payment of their respective lease royalties. Exempts Indian lands from such reformulation. Subtitle E: Royalty Reinvestment in America - Directs the appropriate Secretary, whenever certain crude oil or natural gas prices dip below a specified level, to allow as a credit against the payment of Federal oil and gas production royalties, a specified percentage of expenditures made for capital exploration and development on Federal oil and gas leases. (Sec. 651) Prohibits capital expenditures made on Outer Continental Shelf leases from being credited against onshore Federal royalty obligations. (Sec. 652) Instructs the appropriate Secretary to reduce the royalty rate for marginal oil and gas production following prescribed guidelines whenever certain crude oil or natural gas prices dip below a specified level. (Sec. 653) Prescribes procedural guidelines under which any operator of an oil well leased under specified statutes may notify the Secretary of the Interior of suspension of operation and production at the well. Title VII: Frontier Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Incentives - Frontier Exploration and Development Incentives Act of 2000 - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act governing bidding procedures for oil and gas leases to set a certain net profit royalty share for oil and gas production in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas of Alaska. (Sec. 702) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to reduce any future royalty or rental obligation by a specified percentage after an oil and gas lease has been granted pursuant to the statutory bidding system. Title VIII: Tax Measures to Enhance Domestic Oil and Gas Production - Subtitle A: Marginal Well Preservation - Marginal Well Preservation Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to specify a tax credit for marginal domestic oil and natural gas well production. (Sec. 803) Authorizes taxpayer election to expense geological and geophysical expenditures and to delay rental payments for domestic oil and gas wells. Subtitle B: Independent Oil and Gas Producers - Amends the IRC to: (1) set forth a five-year net operating loss carryback for losses attributable to operating mineral interests of independent oil and gas producers; and (2) suspend through 2004 the limitation on the total amount of the depletion allowance to 65 percent of taxable income. Title IX: Tax Measures to Enhance the Use of Renewable Energy Sources, Improve Energy Efficiencies, Protect Consumers and Conversion to Clean Burning Fuels - Amends the IRC to: (1) set forth placed-in-service rules and special rules for biomass facilities; (2) deny renewable electricity production credit to electricity sold to utilities under certain contracts; (3) exclude from gross income as contributions to capital certain amounts received by electric energy, gas, or steam utilities; (4) extend the credit for electricity produced from steel cogeneration; (5) declare certain expense limitations on depreciable business assets inapplicable to a storage facility used in connection with home heating oil distribution; and (6) establish a tax credit for certain percentages of residential solar energy photovoltaic and solar water heating property expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2000
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Corrective Amendments of 2000 - Amends provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to: (1) designate the Program as a remedial program under which sovereign immunity does not apply; (2) change the burden of proof requirement for the award of compensation from a preponderance of the evidence to evidence sufficient to justify a belief that the petitioner's claims are well grounded (while giving the benefit of doubt to the petitioner); (3) require any defense raised that an illness, injury, or death was due to unrelated factors to be proved by clear and convincing evidence; (4) authorize as Program compensation expenses necessary for the establishment of a trust to receive Program funds, as well as expenses incurred for family counseling or training necessitated by the vaccine-related injury; (5) allow the award of petitioner's attorneys' fees; (6) increase to up to 72 months the statute of limitations under the Program; (7) allow such period to be extended for an additional 36 months after a petitioner first knew or should have known about his or her eligibility for compensation; (8) toll the statute of limitations until a petitioner reaches age 18 and, if a petitioner is incompetent, until 24 months after a guardian is appointed; and (9) authorize the refiling of a previously failed petition if the petitioner would have met the extended statute of limitations provided under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2000
Comprehensive Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability Act of 2000 - Title I: Increased Accountability and Reduction in Medicare Waste and Fraud - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for increased medical reviews and anti-fraud activities under the Medicare Integrity Program. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for the purpose of carrying out, and expanding nationwide, the Health Care Anti-Fraud, Waste and Abuse Community Volunteer Demonstration Projects (Medicare Senior Waste Patrol) conducted by the Administration on Aging pursuant to the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997. (Sec. 103) Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to repeal certain requirements for application of inherent reasonableness to all Medicare part B (Supplemental Medical Insurance) services other than physicians' services. Makes such repeal applicable as if such provisions had never been enacted. Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to the application of inherent reasonableness to all Medicare part B services other than physicians' services. Repeals the prohibition against the Secretary of Health and Human Services' applying factors that would increase or decrease the payment under part B during any year for any particular item or service by more than 15 percent from such payment during the preceding year. Makes such revision effective as of August 5, 1997. (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary to require Medicare carriers to use commercial claims auditing systems in the processing of claims under part B of the Medicare program for the purpose of identifying billing errors and abuses. Title II: Increased Accountability and Reduction of Wasteful Defense Spending - Requires cancellation by the appropriate military department of the F-22 aircraft program, the Comanche helicopter program, and the Crusader artillery program. (Sec. 204) Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy, through FY 2009, from contracting for the procurement of more than eight Virginia class submarines (including current contracts). (Sec. 205) Prohibits further obligation of funds for production of Trident D5 missiles. (Sec. 206) Directs the President to reduce U.S. nuclear delivery systems to within START II limits. (Sec. 207) Directs the Secretary of Defense to reach an agreement with other member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to establish a common NATO airlift capability of 20 C-17 aircraft, thereby eliminating the identical number currently required to be procured by the Air Force in fiscal years 2002 and 2003. (Sec. 208) Prohibits the Secretary of the Air Force from contracting for the procurement of additional C-130 aircraft for FY 2001 through 2005. (Sec. 209) Directs the Secretaries of the Air Force and Navy to reduce the requirements for pilots in nonflying positions. (Sec. 210) Requires the Secretary of Defense to implement a program to reduce the ratio of enlisted-to-officer personnel of each of the military departments to at least six to one by January 1, 2005. (Sec. 211) Amends the Military Selective Service Act to restrict current military registration requirements to periods during which a declaration of national emergency is declared, and authorizes the President to declare and terminate such a period. Requires the termination of such a declaration after a ten-day period of continuous congressional session unless Congress enacts a law ratifying the declaration. Provides that, except during such a national emergency: (1) the President may not appoint a person to serve on a civilian local board, appeal board, or similar agency of the Selective Service System (SSS); and (2) no such board may meet. Requires the SSS Director to report to Congress detailing a standby emergency manpower mobilization program to be used by the SSS during declared periods of national emergency. (Sec. 212) Makes unallowable as costs under a defense contract expenses incurred by a contractor related to a corporate merger, and prohibits Department of Defense funds from being used to pay such expenses. (Sec. 213) Prohibits any new assistance from being provided under the Foreign Military Financing Program account under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 214) Prohibits the amount appropriated for the National Missile Defense program for any fiscal year from exceeding that appropriated for FY 2000, adjusted for inflation. (Sec. 215) Prohibits the total amount obligated for programs and activities of the Central Intelligence Agency for FY 2001 from exceeding that obligated for FY 2000. Title III: Reduction and Reform of Antienvironmental Spending - Subtitle A: Program Terminations and Fees - Prohibits the Department of Energy from obligating further funding for: (1) the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative; (2) the National Ignition Facility; (3) Tokamak fusion reactors; and (4) research on diesel engines for cars and light trucks. (Sec. 305) Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to instruct the Secretary of Energy to adjust the Nuclear Waste Fund fee annually for inflation. Subtitle B: Mining Provisions - Sets forth a statutory scheme which mandates a royalty of eight percent of the net smelter return from the production of locatable minerals, including their concentrates or products, located or converted under the general mining laws. (Sec. 312) Exempts from such royalty requirement any minerals processed at a facility by the same entity which extracted them if an urban development action grant has been made regarding any portion of such facility pursuant to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. (Sec. 313) Prohibits the issuance of any Federal mining patent or mill site claim after September 27, 2000, unless before that date: (1) the patent application was filed; and (2) specified requirements for vein or lode claims and placer claims were fully complied with. (Sec. 314) Requires the holder of each mining claim: (1) converted under the general mining laws to pay the Secretary an annual claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim; and (2) located pursuant to such laws to pay an annual claim maintenance fee of $200 per claim. Requires the amount of such fees to be credited against the royalties for the respective claims. Title IV: Amendments of Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide for the termination, beginning January 1, 2001, of subpart C ( Taxation of Foreign Sales Corporations) of Part III (Income from Sources Without the United States) of Chapter N (Tax Based on Income From Income From Sources Within or Without the United States). (Sec. 402) Denies employers a deduction for payments of excessive compensation (more than 25 times the lowest compensation paid any other employee). (Sec. 403) Prohibits the deduction of tobacco advertising and promotional expenses. (Sec. 404) Amends IRC Subchapter N (Tax Based On Income From Sources Within Or Without the United States) provisions concerning the source rules for personal property sales to provide, as a general rule, for the exception of certain sales of inventory property from such provisions. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions to Reduce Wasteful and Inefficient Spending - Prohibits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from obligating any further funding for the International Space Station. (Sec. 502) Prohibits: (1) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation from issuing any contract of insurance or reinsurance, or any guaranty, or enter into any agreement to provide financing; and (2) the Export-Import Bank of the United States from providing any guarantee, insurance, or extension of credit, or participating in any extension of credit, except pursuant to a commitment made by it before enactment of this Act. (Sec. 504) Abolishes the Trade and Development Agency. (Sec. 505) Repeals the Television Broadcasting to Cuba and the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Acts. Authorizes appropriations for international broadcasting operations (including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America, and Radio Free Asia). Authorizes appropriations for Radio Free Asia. (Sec. 506) Directs the Secretaries of Defense and of Veterans Affairs to: (1) establish a joint office for the procurement of pharmaceuticals for the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (2) develop and implement jointly a common clinically-based formulary for their respective pharmaceutical programs.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2000
Reservists Tax Relief Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the deduction, as a trade or business expense, of certain expenses of members of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces incurred while away from home in connection with such service.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2000
Veterans' Family Farm Preservation Act - Excludes from the estate of a veteran and his or her spouse, for purposes of eligibility for pensions for veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from a non-service-connected disability, the value of any real property used for farming, ranching, or similar agricultural purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2000
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to Salah Idris of Saudi Arabia and to El Shifa Pharmaceuticals Industries Company a specified amount in full settlement of their claims arising from the bombing and destruction of the El Shifa Pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum, Sudan, by U.S. armed forces on August 20, 1998.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2000
Commends the Government of Japan for its choice of Okinawa as the site for hosting the leaders of the G-8 countries. Thanks the people of Okinawa for their role in ensuring the summit's success. Expresses the House of Representatives' deep appreciation to the people of Okinawa for hosting the U.S. military facilities in Okinawa. Urges the President to work with Japanese leaders to devise a joint U.S.-Japan education initiative that strengthens the human resource base in Okinawa, particularly with a view to meeting Okinawa's economic needs and Asia-Pacific aspirations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2000
Makes corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 4919 (improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act and the transfer of naval vessels to foreign countries).
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2000
Enhancement of Privacy and Public Safety in Cyberspace Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to mandate a fine, imprisonment of up to ten years, or both, if an offense or attempted offense in connection with computers would or could cause: (1) loss to one or more persons during any one year period of at least $5,000; (2) modification or impairment of medical examination, diagnosis, or care; (3) physical injury to any individual; (4) a threat to public health or safety; or (5) damage affecting a computer system used by or for a government entity in furtherance of the administration of justice, national defense, or national security. Includes as a conviction for another offense, with respect to the investigative authority of the U.S. Secret Service, conviction for a crime punishable for more than one year which involves unauthorized access to a computer. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make punishable under the Federal criminal code the intent to cause the unavailability of a communication device or interactive computer service, to cause damage to a protected computer, or to cause other persons to initiate such activities. Makes it unlawful to intercept or access a wire or electronic communication configured to be readily accessible to the general public. Prohibits using evidence of unauthorized intercepted communications. Provides: (1) increased protections from unlawful access to electronically stored communications; and (2) requirements for governmental access to such information. Revises generally the authority for installing and using pen registers and trap and trade devices.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2000
Waives points or order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 4919 (defense and security assistance).
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2000
Recognizes the service of Native American veterans to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2000
Human Rights Investment Act of 2000 - Earmarks for FY 2001 and each subsequent fiscal year a specified percentage of amounts made available to the Department of State for diplomatic and consular programs for salaries and expenses of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, including funding of positions at U.S. missions abroad that are primarily dedicated to following human rights developments in foreign countries. Establishes a Human Rights and Democracy Fund to be administered by the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Sets forth the purposes of the Fund, including to: (1) support defenders of human rights and assist the victims of human rights violations; and (2) promote and encourage the growth of democracy, including the support for nongovernmental organizations in other countries. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of State to establish and implement a program to monitor U.S. military assistance and arms transfers to ensure to maximum extent feasible that U.S. military assistance and weapons manufactured in or sold from the United States are not used: (1) to commit gross violations of human rights; or (2) to violate other U.S. laws applicable to U.S. military assistance and arms transfers that are also related to human rights and preventing human rights violations. Earmarks for each fiscal year after FY2000 a specified percentage of amounts appropriated for each fiscal year for U.S. military assistance to carry out such program. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the Secretary to report annually to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and a specified congressional committee about: (1) each country in which extrajudicial killings, torture, or other serious violations of human rights have occurred; and (2) the extent to which the United States has taken or will take action to encourage an end to such practices in the country. Authorizes appropriations for the Department of State to carry out the National Endowment for Democracy Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2000
Recognizes the service of Native American veterans to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income up to $1 million annually of any qualified net profits derived by a taxpayer engaged in a public-private partnership with a Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2000
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act of 2000 - Authorizes the Secretary to designate additional entities as beryllium vendors for purposes of coverage under this Act if such entities engage in activities relating to the production or processing of beryllium for sale to, or use by, DOE. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to specify the means of establishing the existence of a covered beryllium illness for purposes of this Act. Part A: Beryllium, Silicosis, and Radiation Compensation - Determines, in the absence of substantial evidence to the contrary, a covered beryllium employee to have been exposed to beryllium in the performance of duties for purposes of this Act if such employee was: (1) employed at a DOE facility; or (2) present at a DOE facility, or a facility owned and operated by a beryllium vendor, because of employment by the United States, a beryllium vendor, or a contractor or subcontractor of the Department of Defense, during a period when beryllium dust, particles, or vapor may have been present at such facility. (Sec. 6) Determines a covered employee with chronic silicosis to have been exposed to silica in the performance of duty if such employee was present during the mining of tunnels at a DOE facility for tests or experiments related to an atomic weapon. Determines a DOE employee, contractor employee, or atomic weapons employee to have sustained a cancer in the performance of duty if such employee: (1) contracted cancer after beginning such employment; and (2) falls within certain guidelines established by the HHS Secretary which are based on radiation dosage received during such duty. Directs the HHS Secretary to: (1) establish methods for determining radiation dosage received by such employees; (2) provide to such employees an estimate of the dosage received; and (3) establish an independent review process to assess such dosage determinations and estimates. (Sec. 7) Directs the HHS Secretary to establish an Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health to advise the Secretaries of HHS, Energy, and Labor on: (1) the development of guidelines to be used to determine exposures to covered hazards; (2) the scientific validity and quality of dosage estimates and reconstruction efforts being performed to implement employee compensation programs; and (3) other matters relating to radiation and worker health at DOE facilities. (Sec. 8) Requires the Advisory Board, upon request, to advise the HHS Secretary whether there is a class of DOE employees who likely were exposed to radiation at a facility but for whom it is not feasible to estimate the dosage received. Allows such class of employees to be considered members of the Special Exposure Cohort if there is a reasonable likelihood that the radiation dose received may have endangered the health of members of that class. (Sec. 9) Authorizes the Secretary to Labor to pay compensation, and furnish certain other employee services and benefits, for the disability or death of covered employees under this Act. Requires such Secretary to provide appropriate assistance for claimants, including assistance in securing medical testing and diagnostic services to establish the existence of a covered illness or cancer. Directs the Secretary of Energy to inform and assist covered employees who are potential claimants of the availability of compensation, services, and benefits under this Act. (Sec. 10) Allows a covered employee, or a survivor of a deceased covered employee, to elect to receive compensation of $200,000 in lieu of any other compensation under this Act. Provides a conditional time limit for such election. (Sec. 11) Outlines procedures for the submission, adjudication, and administration of claims for compensation by covered employees, with time limits. Directs the Secretary of Labor to make awards for or against such compensation. Allows for decision appeals through Energy Employees' Compensation Appeals Panels. Part B: Exposure to Other Toxic Substances - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy, through the Director of the Office of Workers' Compensation Advocacy, to enter into agreements with the Governor of a State to provide assistance to a DOE contractor employee filing a claim under the appropriate State workers' compensation system. Outlines procedures to be undertaken by such Director in assisting with such claims, including submitting claim applications to a physicians panel for determination whether or not the illness or death arose in the course of employment by DOE and exposure to a toxic substance at a DOE facility. Requires a report from the Comptroller General to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of this Part. Part C: General Provisions - Provides for the tax and insurance treatment of compensation or benefits paid or received under this Act. (Sec. 16) Requires forfeiture of benefits by individuals convicted of fraud in the application for or receipt of any benefit under this Title or any Federal or State workers' compensation law. (Sec. 17) Provides limitations on the right to receive benefits under this Act. (Sec. 18) Requires individuals eligible to receive compensation under both this and from a State workers' compensation system to elect which benefits to receive, unless: (1) at the time of the injury, workers' compensation coverage was secured by a policy or contract of insurance; and (2) the Secretary of Labor waives the election requirement. Requires the coordination of benefits under this Act with both Federal and State workers' compensation laws and requirements. (Sec. 21) Prohibits dual Federal compensation for employees covered by this Act, with exceptions. (Sec. 23) Provides for the exclusivity of remedies provided by this Act against the United States and its contractors and subcontractors, as well as against beryllium vendors and atomic weapons employers. (Sec. 25) Provides a Federal right of subrogation when a person or entity other than the United States is also responsible under a claim. (Sec. 26) Establishes in the Treasury the Energy Employees' Occupational Illness Compensation Fund for the payment of compensation claims under this Act. (Sec. 28) Establishes within DOE an Office of Workers' Compensation Advocate to provide information, research reports, and studies to support the implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2000
Authorizes the Secretary of a military department to make a building located on a military installation available for use as a polling place in any Federal, State, or local election for public office. Requires such building to continue to be made available for such use unless the Secretary provides advance notification to Congress of the reasons for discontinuing such availability. Authorizes a State to make a facility of the reserves available for such purpose, with the same continuation or notification requirement. Amends the Revised Statutes to authorize the use of military installations or reserve facilities for such purposes. Requires an installation or facility that was made available for a Federal election during 1998 to be made available for the general election for Federal office in November 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2000
Recognizes, on the 60th anniversary of the first U.S. peacetime military registration: (1) that the United States must continue to be prepared to defend its people and interests during conflict; and (2) the continued need for U.S. males of 18 years of age to register for possible military service as required by the Military Selective Service Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2000
Veterans Healthcare Fairness Act - Preserves veterans' disability compensation payments, as well as survivors' dependency and indemnity compensation, in the case of service-connected disabled Persian Gulf War veterans who voluntarily participate in a health study sponsored by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and who, as a result of such participation, are diagnosed as having a motor neuron disease for which a presumption of service-connection is no longer warranted. Requires the Secretary to restore benefits for any such veterans (or their survivors) whose benefits were terminated before the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2000
Declares that Congress expresses concern about the tendency of Central Asian leaders to seek to remain in power indefinitely and their willingness to manipulate constitutions, elections, and legislative and judicial systems to do so. Urges the President, the Secretaries of State and Defense, and other U.S. officials to raise with such leaders the concern about serious violations of human rights, including noncompliance with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) commitments on democracy and rule of law. Urges Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to come into compliance with OSCE commitments on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, specifically the holding of free and fair elections that do not exclude genuine challengers, to permit independent and opposition parties and candidates to participate on an equal basis with representation in election commissions at all levels, and to allow domestic non-governmental and political party observers, as well as international observers. Calls on Central Asian leaders to establish conditions for independent and opposition media to function without constraint, limitation, or fear of harassment, to repeal criminal laws which impose prison sentences for alleged defamation of the state or public officials, and to provide access to state media on an equal basis during election campaigns to independent and opposition parties and candidates. Calls on the leaders of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to condemn and take steps to cease the systematic use of torture and other inhuman treatment by authorities against political opponents and others, to permit the registration of independent and opposition parties and candidates, and to register independent human rights monitoring organizations. Urges the governments of Central Asia which are engaged in military campaigns against violent insurgents to observe international law regulating such actions, to keep civilians and other noncombatants from harm, and not to use such campaigns to justify further crackdowns on political opposition or violations of human rights commitments under the OSCE. Encourages the Administration to raise with the governments of other OSCE participating states the possible implications for OSCE participation of any participating state in the region that engages in clear, gross, and uncorrected violations of its OSCE commitments on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Urges the Voice of America and Radio Liberty to expand broadcasting to Central Asia, as needed, with a focus on assuring that the peoples of the region have access to unbiased news and programs that support respect for human rights and the establishment of democracy and the rule of law.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2000
Expresses condolences to the families and co-workers of Carlos Caceres of Puerto Rico, Samson Aregahegn of Ethiopia, and Pero Simundza of Croatia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) staff members killed in the militia attack on UNHCR offices in West Timor. Calls upon the U.S. Government and the Government of Indonesia to ensure thorough and transparent investigations of these murders and to bring the perpetrators to justice. Expresses the belief that the United States should suspend all military relations and cooperation with the armed forces of Indonesia, including a cutoff of all security assistance and joint training programs, until: (1) certain conditions in the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2000 are fulfilled; (2) the disarming and disbanding of all militias in East Timor and West Timor is accomplished; and (3) civilian rule and the rule of law have been established in Indonesia. Calls upon the U.S. Government to: (1) persist in urging the Indonesian Government to disarm and disband all militias in West Timor, arrest known militia leaders, and extradite to East Timor those who committed crimes in that country; and (2) continue economic and development assistance and other similar support for the people of East Timor and of Indonesia.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2000
See summary of: H.R. 5075
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2000
Veterans Comprehensive Hepatitis C Health Care Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, during the first year after the enactment of this Act, to provide a blood test for the Hepatitis C virus to: (1) each veteran who served on active military duty during the Vietnam era, is enrolled to receive veterans' medical care, and requests such care or is otherwise receiving a physical examination or any other care or treatment from the Secretary; and (2) any other veteran who so requests. Requires the Secretary, after such period, to provide such test to any veteran who presents one or more risk factors for such virus and who requests the test. Requires the Secretary to provide appropriate treatment protocol for any veteran who tests positive, without regard to whether the virus is determined to be service-connected and without regard to the veteran's priority group categorization. Prohibits a copayment from being charged for such treatment. Requires the Secretary to: (1) perform a liver biopsy test on a positive-testing veteran as a follow- up test; (2) upon request, provide a Hepatitis C genotype test before beginning virus treatment; (3) employ at each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center at least one full-time gastroenterologist or hepatologist to conduct such tests; and (4) ensure that each center has at least one staff member assigned to coordinate treatment options and provide information to positive-testing patients. Provides funding for Department Hepatitis C detection and treatment programs, beginning with FY 2001. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement a standardized Department policy with respect to such virus; and (2) annually take appropriate outreach actions to notify untested veterans. Directs the Secretary to establish at least one and no more than three Hepatitis C centers of excellence within the Department health care network. Provides centers' funding.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2000
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2000 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2000, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date, and to be published at the same time the latter increases are published.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2000
States that, for purposes of the determination of a veteran's inability to defray the expenses of necessary medical care, neither a veteran's attributable income nor the estate of a veteran's spouse shall include the value of any real property of the veteran, his or her spouse, or any dependent children. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use a prior year to determine attributable income when circumstances warrant. Authorizes the Secretary, in lieu of obtaining income information directly from the veteran, to utilize information obtained from the Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary of the Treasury in determining attributable income. Makes permanent (currently expires at the end of FY 2003) the authority of the Secretary to obtain such information.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2000
Authorizes and urges the President to make appropriate awards to recognize members of the United States Navy Armed Guard Special Force who served during World War I or II protecting American ships transporting equipment and supplies.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2000
Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Act of 2000 - Title I: Personnel Matters - Revises pay adjustment authority for nurses employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to require the director of such Department health-care facility to use third-party industry wage surveys in making such adjustments. Prohibits any adjustment from reducing the rate of basic pay applicable to any nurse grade. Prohibits a director, in determining whether to carry out an adjustment, from considering the absence of a current recruitment or retention problem for personnel in that position. Requires a director to make such determination based on whether there is a significant pay-related staffing problem for such position at that facility. Authorizes the Department's Under Secretary for Health to modify any adjustment determination made by a facility director. Requires each director to report annually to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on staffing for covered positions at that facility. Requires the Secretary to report annually on such staffing to the congressional veterans' committees. Makes annual (currently terminated in 1993) a reporting requirement from the Secretary to the veterans' committees regarding pay adjustments. Requires the Under Secretary to ensure that: (1) the director of a geographic service area, in formulating policy for the provision of patient care, consult regularly with a senior nurse executive(s); and (2) the director of a health-care facility include a registered nurse on any committee providing recommendations or decisions on medical center operations or policies affecting clinical services, clinical outcomes, budget, or resources. (Sec. 102) Increases the special pay for dentists for: (1) full-time status; (2) completing a post-graduate year of accredited hospital-based training; (3) length-of-service pay; (4) scarce specialty pay; (5) service in a geographic location in which there exists extraordinary difficulties in the recruitment and retention of qualified dentists; and (6) service in certain executive positions. Credits toward civil service retirement calculations 25 percent of the special pay for length-of-service pay for each two years that the dentist completes as a dentist in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). (Sec. 103) Exempts VHA pharmacists from a required ceiling on special salary rates for certain VHA health professionals. (Sec. 104) Requires a physician assistant with appropriate experience to advise the Under Secretary on all matters relating to the utilization and employment of VHA physician assistants. (Sec. 105) Revises generally provisions regarding the temporary appointment of graduates of physician assistant training programs. Provides a three-year term for temporary full-time appointments of certain medical support personnel (with authorized renewals for additional three-year periods). (Sec. 106) Requires VHA social workers to be licensed or certified to independently practice social work in a State (with an authorized waiver on an individual basis for a reasonable period). (Sec. 107) Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Reduction Assistance Act of 1999 to: (1) revise the number of authorized participants in a plan for voluntary separation incentive payments; (2) revise the percentage of required agency contributions to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund to cover such payments; and (3) extend payment authority through 2002. Title II: Construction Authorization - Authorizes the Secretary to carry out major medical facility projects at Department medical centers in Palo Alto, California, Miami, Florida, and Long Beach, California. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a renovation project at the Department medical center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Sec. 202) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 and 2002 for the Construction, Major Projects, account for such projects. Title III: Military Service Issues - Directs the Secretary to ensure that: (1) a protocol is used during at least one clinical evaluation of a patient to identify pertinent military experiences and exposures that may contribute to the health of the patient; and (2) such information is included in the patient's medical records. Requires a report from the Secretary to the veterans' committees on the feasibility and desirability of using a computer-based system in conducting such evaluations. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary to contract with an appropriate entity to conduct a follow-up study on post-traumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans. Requires a report to the veterans' committees. Title IV: Medical Administration - Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a pilot program in not more than four geographically dispersed areas to improve access to and coordination of inpatient care of eligible veterans. Terminates the pilot program on September 30, 2005. Authorizes the Secretary, under such program to pay the cost of hospital care and medical services furnished on an inpatient basis in a non-Department hospital to a veteran participant. Directs the Secretary to limit program care and services to general medical and surgical services, and to require that such services be provided only upon preauthorization by the Secretary. Makes eligible for the program a veteran who: (1) is enrolled to receive medical services from a nearby Department outpatient clinic; (2) has received care within 24 months preceding the veteran's application for program enrollment (3) requires such care and services for a non-service-connected condition and could not receive such care and services from a Department clinic; and (4) elects to receive such care and services under an entitled health plan. Directs the Secretary to ensure that at least 15 percent of program participants are veterans without a health care plan. Requires two reports from the Secretary to the veterans' committees on program implementation and operation. Limits to $50 million the total authorized program expenditure for any fiscal year. (Sec. 402) Authorizes the payment of veterans' disability compensation for veterans who are disabled during participation in a compensated work therapy program. (Sec. 403) Extends through December 31, 2005, the authority of the Secretary to establish nonprofit research and education corporations. (Sec. 404) Authorizes the Secretary to furnish temporary lodging in Fisher houses (guest houses) or other appropriate facilities, in connection with the examination, care, and treatment of a veteran, to: (1) a veteran who must travel a significant distance to receive such care and treatment; and (2) a family member and others who accompany such veteran and provide familial support. Authorizes the Secretary to establish charges for such lodging. (Sec. 405) Extends through 2004 an annual reporting requirement describing activities of the Committee on Care of Severely Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans. (Sec. 406) Excludes from the right of the Department to recover certain costs from a State for veterans' care facilities not so used for at least 20 years the establishment and operation of an outpatient clinic at such a facility. (Sec. 407) Prohibits the Secretary from entering into an enhanced-use lease of Department property until 90 days after notifying the veterans' committees of the intention to designate property for such use. (Sec. 409) Authorizes the Secretary to employ veterans claims examiners (also known as veterans service representatives) on a fee basis. Requires two reports on the implementation of such authority. (Sec. 410) Directs the Secretary to release a reversionary interest in certain real property in Johnson City, Tennessee, previously transferred to the State of Tennessee.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Guam Omnibus Opportunities Act - Guam Land Return Act - Directs the Administrator of General Services, with specified exceptions, to notify the Government of Guam of any excess U.S. real property (including property within the Guam National Wildlife Refuge) in Guam and to transfer such property to the Government of Guam, provided it notifies the Administrator of its intention to acquire it (thus granting the Government of Guam the right-of-first refusal to such property). Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to transfer to the Administrator any military property that is the subject of such a notice, provided there is an agreement on its future ownership and use, except when an Act of Congress otherwise specifically identifies the property. Guam Foreign Direct Investment Equity Act - Amends the Organic Act of Guam to declare that the Government of Guam's tax treatment of income made in Guam shall be at the same rate that would apply if Guam were a part of the United States for purposes of treaty obligations of the United States. Deems Guam within the U.S. customs territory in the case of importation from Guam into the United States of betel nuts (also known as "areca nuts") by an individual for his or her personal consumption. Amends the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 to revise certain reporting requirements with respect to the impact of the Compact on U.S. areas to authorize the Governor of any of the U.S. territories or commonwealths or the State of Hawaii to report annually to the Secretary of the Interior (currently, the President must report to Congress) with respect to the financial and social impacts of the compacts of free association on the Governor's respective jurisdiction. Establishes the Guam War Claims Review Commission to: (1) review the facts and circumstances surrounding the implementation, administration, and effectiveness of a specified Federal law in addressing the war claims of American nationals residing on Guam between December 8, 1941, and July 21, 1944; (2) review all relevant Federal and Guam territorial laws, records of oral testimony previously taken, and documents; (3) receive oral testimony of persons who personally experienced the taking and occupation of Guam by Japanese military forces; (4) determine whether there was parity of war claims paid to the residents of Guam with war claims paid to U.S. citizens or nationals who lived in or had holdings in foreign countries and other U.S. possessions occupied by the Japanese during World War II; (5) estimate the amount necessary to compensate the people of Guam for death, personal injury, forced labor, forced march, and internment; and (6) by a certain deadline report to the Secretary of the Interior and specified congressional committees any comments or recommendations for action. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Managed Care Integrity Act of 2000 - Requires health benefits plans offered by managed care entities to ensure that, with respect to a contract year, the actuarial value of the aggregate plan benefits is at least 85 percent of the aggregate amount of payments received from, or on behalf of, plan enrollees. Waives such requirement for a limited period if an entity's solvency is in jeopardy or compliance would cause the entity to fail to meet solvency requirements for licensure in a State. Excludes plan management and operation costs for purposes of determining actuarial value of aggregate benefits. Includes Medicaid managed care organizations and managed care entities providing health care coverage for Federal employees and members of the armed forces within the definition of "managed care entity." Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop formal investigation and compliance procedures with respect to complaints concerning failures of health benefits plans to comply with this Act. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to apply the requirements of the Managed Care Integrity Act of 2000 to Medicare+Choice organizations. Sets forth remedies with respect to failures to comply with this Act, including monetary penalties, and, with respect to Medicare+Choice organizations, suspension of enrollment of individuals or payments.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Medicare Equity and Access Act of 2000 - Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for: (1) elimination of reduction in Medicare+Choice payment rates by neutrality adjustments; (2) modification of the application of blended capitation rate area-specific and national percentages for years after 2000; (3) an increase in the baseline of the national per capita Medicare+Choice growth percentage for years after 2000; and (4) inclusion of costs of certain Department of Defense military treatment facility services to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries in the calculation of Medicare+Choice payment rates.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Veterans' Right to Know Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) provide information concerning eligibility for Department benefits and health care services and application requirements when a veteran or his or her dependent first applies for any such benefit; and (2) prepare an annual plan for the conduct of outreach activities to provide such veterans and dependents with such information.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to convey specified tracts of property at the Carl Vinson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dublin, Georgia, to: (1) the Board of Regents of the State of Georgia to be used solely for education purposes; and (2) the Community Service Board of Middle Georgia to be used solely for education and health care purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Parents' Empowerment Act - Authorizes a minor, through a person acting on the minor's behalf, to obtain relief in a civil action in U.S. district court against anyone who knowingly sells or distributes in interstate or foreign commerce an entertainment product containing material that is harmful to minors if: (1) a reasonable person would expect a substantial number of minors to be exposed to the material; and (2) the minor, as a result of exposure to that material, is likely to suffer personal or emotional injury or injury to mental or moral welfare. Declares it to be an affirmative defense to such action that an act of a parent or guardian who owned the entertainment product was the proximate cause of the minor's exposure to the harmful material.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Federal Information Policy Act of 2000 - Amends Federal law to revise provisions regarding Federal information policy. Removes a provision which excludes the General Accounting Office from the definition of "agency" for purposes of applying such policy. Establishes an Office of Information Policy in the Executive Office of the President to be headed by a Chief Information Officer (Officer) of the United States who shall be the principal adviser to the President on matters relating to the efficient and effective development, use, and management of information technology and resources by the Federal Government. Outlines the Officer's duties and grants the Officer certain authorities and duties currently given to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under existing law. Incorporates certain provisions of the Government Paperwork Elimination Act concerning the use and acceptance of electronic signatures by executive agencies. Grants the Officer duties under such provisions currently given to the Director. Requires the Officer to monitor the implementation of electronic signature requirements of this Act and related laws to ensure that the Federal Government: (1) maintains an efficient and effective information infrastructure for undertaking Government operations using electronic information processes; (2) provides efficient and effective means for the public to interact with the Government by means other than such processes; and (3) manages its increasing reliance on information technology in a manner consistent with this Act. Directs the Officer to review the Federal information systems standards setting process and report to the President on its efficiency and effectiveness and any recommendations for improvement. Requires the Officer to establish minimum evaluation criteria to be used for independent evaluations of: (1) agency implementation of information technology management processes and capabilities; (2) cost, schedule, risk, and return status of major information management and technology initiatives; and (3) results of major information technology investments and programs in achieving progress toward improvements in mission performance and programmatic outcomes. Requires annual submissions of agency evaluations to the Officer, Director, and Congress. Establishes a Chief Information Officers Council in the executive branch to assist and advise in, and carry out other related activities with respect to, Federal information resource management. Requires the Officer to report annually to Congress on: (1) efforts undertaken to improve the development, application, and management of information resources; and (2) results of major activities undertaken by the Council. Authorizes appropriations to carry out Federal information policy provisions for FY 2001 through 2005. (Sec. 4) Incorporates provisions similar to those under existing law with respect to paperwork reduction. Requires the Director to extend the annual Governmentwide goal for the reduction of information collection burdens by at least five percent through FY 2005. Requires the Director to encourage the use of the Government Information Locator Service to provide information regarding agency information collection activities and opportunities to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of agency collections of information and the reduction of paperwork burdens on the public. Authorizes appropriations to carry out paperwork reduction activities for FY 2001 through 2005. (Sec. 5) Establishes an Office of Information Security and Technical Protection in the Office of Information Policy (established by this Act). Requires the Officer to establish Government-wide policies for the management of programs that: (1) support the cost-effective security of Federal information systems by promoting security as an integral component of each agency's business operations; and (2) include information technology architectures(integrated frameworks for evolving or maintaining existing information technology and acquiring new technology to achieve strategic goals and information resources management goals). Requires such policies to: (1) be founded on a continuous risk management cycle; (2) implement controls that adequately address the risk; (3) promote continuing awareness of information security risks; (4) continually monitor and evaluate information security policy; and (5) control effectiveness of information security practices. Outlines information security responsibilities of each agency, including the development and implementation of an agency-wide security program for the operations and assets of such agency. Makes each program subject to Officer approval and annual review by agency program officials. Requires each agency to annually undergo an independent evaluation of its information security program and practices. Requires related reports. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2005 to carry out information security provisions. (Sec. 6) Requires the: (1) Secretary of Commerce to develop, issue, review, and update standards and guidance for the security of Federal information systems; (2) Secretary of Defense and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to develop and issue more stringent information security policies for mission critical systems of such entities and ensure the implementation of such policies; (3) Department of Justice to review and update guidance to agencies on legal remedies regarding security incidents and coordination with law enforcement agencies concerning such incidents; (4) General Services Administration to review and update guidance on addressing security considerations relating to the acquisition of information technology; and (5) Office of Personnel Management to review and update regulations concerning computer security training for Federal civilian employees. Allows mission critical information security policies developed by the Department of Defense, CIA, and other agencies to be adopted by the Officer and heads of other Federal agencies with respect to mission critical systems of such agencies. Allows agencies to develop and implement more stringent information security policies than those required under this Act. (Sec. 7) Incorporates provisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act with respect to management of information technology. Grants the Officer certain authorities currently granted to the Director. Makes certain information technology provisions inapplicable to national security systems. (Sec. 8) Makes conforming amendments to specified Acts.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Makes Federal tort claims coverage applicable to any claim resulting from: (1) an injury sustained by a member of the armed forces while on active duty arising or resulting from, or aggravated by, a negligent or wrongful act or omission of another member of the armed forces or the Federal Government; or (2) the death of a member resulting from such injury.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Nazi and Japanese World War II War Crimes Disclosure Act - Amends the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act to include specified activities of: (1) the Imperial Government of Japan; (2) any government in any area occupied by Japanese military forces; (3) any government established with the assistance or cooperation of the Imperial Government of Japan; or (4) any government which was an ally of the Imperial Government of Japan. Requires the Secretary of State to inform the Government of Japan that all Japanese war criminal records in the custody of the Government of Japan should be made fully and freely available to the U.S. Government, as requested, and to the public at large. Authorizes the Chair of the Nazi War Criminal Records Interagency Working Group (Interagency Group) to procure temporary and intermittent services of historical specialists to aid in identifying, describing, and assessing the historical significance of Nazi war criminal records and Japanese war criminal records. Extends the duration of the Interagency Group from three to five years.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Defense of Children Adoption Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to eligible States courts for aid in handling contested adoption cases, including to pay costs incurred to reduce pending adoption cases by providing child advocates to represent children.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
National Missile Defense Deployment Criteria Act of 2000 - Amends the National Missile Defense Act of 1999 to allow deployment of a national missile defense system (system) only if: (1) the system is technologically feasible; (2) system cost in relation to other Department of Defense (DOD) priorities will not lead to an overall reduction in national security by reducing resources available for other defense priorities; (3) the system will not diminish overall U.S. national security; (4) the system will not threaten to disrupt relations with U.S. nuclear allies, U.S. European allies, Russia, the People's Republic of China, and other nations; and (5) the threat of a long-range ballistic missile attack from a nation of concern is clearly demonstrated. Prohibits the President from directing DOD to deploy a system unless and until: (1) the President certifies to Congress that the above deployment conditions have been met; and (2) a joint resolution is enacted concurring in the President's certification. (Sec. 4) Prohibits DOD procurement funds from being obligated for a system unless: (1) the President certifies to Congress that adequate system tests have been undertaken to meet identified threats against countermeasures; and (2) a joint resolution is enacted concurring in the President's certification. Outlines procedures for the consideration of each joint resolution. (Sec. 5) Requires the Secretary of Defense to direct the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization to: (1) include specified system countermeasures in system ground and flight testing conducted before the system becomes operational; and (2) determine the extent to which the exoatmospheric kill vehicle and the system can reliably discriminate between warheads and such countermeasures. Directs the Secretary to determine the funding required for fiscal years after 2001 for such countermeasures testing, and to submit such determination to the congressional defense committees. Requires an annual report from the Secretary to Congress on DOD's efforts to establish a program for operationally realistic system testing against countermeasures. Terminate the report requirement when a system becomes operational. Directs the Secretary to have the National Academy of Science establish an independent review panel of scientific and technical experts to assess system countermeasures, the system's operational effectiveness against such countermeasures, and the adequacy of the system's flight testing program. Requires: (1) an evaluation of system testing following such assessment; and (2) an annual report from the panel to the Secretary and Congress on such assessment and evaluation.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Criminal Justice Integrity and Law Enforcement Assistance Act - Title I: Post-Conviction DNA Testing in Federal Court - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize an individual imprisoned for conviction of a criminal offense to make a motion for the performance of forensic DNA testing on evidence that was: (1) secured in relation to the investigation or prosecution that resulted in such conviction; and (2) not subject to the DNA testing requested. Provides an exception when there is no reasonable possibility that such testing will produce exculpatory evidence. Prohibits the destruction of biological material during the 30-month period authorized for such testing. Title II: Convicted Offender DNA Index System - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States to carry out, for inclusion in the Combined DNA System (CODIS) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), DNA analyses of samples from convicted individuals and from crime scenes, including samples that relate to crimes for which there are no suspects. Requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, or the appropriate probation officer, to collect DNA samples from individuals who are or have been convicted of murder, an offense relating to sexual abuse, kidnapping, burglary, or conspiracy to commit any of such crimes, and to furnish such samples to the FBI for analysis and inclusion within CODIS. Provides FBI collection procedures for individuals convicted of such crimes in the District of Columbia. Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned to collect such samples from individuals convicted of certain felony or sexual offenses while serving in the military, for analysis by the Secretary of Defense and inclusion within CODIS. Requires the expungement of records for individuals whose convictions are overturned as a result of such DNA analysis.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Expresses the sense of Congress that the House of Heroes project of Columbus, Georgia, should serve as a public service model for communities across the United States to provide needed assistance and support for veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2000
Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001 - Makes appropriations for FY 2001 for the Treasury Department, the U.S. Postal Service, the Executive Office of the President, and certain independent agencies. Title I: Department of the Treasury - Treasury Department Appropriations Act, 2001 - Makes appropriations for the Department of the Treasury for: (1) departmental offices; (2) department-wide systems and capital investments programs for development and acquisition of automatic data processing equipment, software, and services; (3) the Office of Inspector General; (4) the Inspector General for Tax Administration; (5) repair and restoration of the Treasury building and annex; (6) programs to expand access to financial services for low- and moderate-income individuals; (7) the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; (8) reimbursement of Treasury Department organizations for costs of providing support to counter, investigate, or prosecute terrorism; (9) the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, including an amount for maintenance and facility improvements; (10) interagency crime and drug enforcement; (11) the Financial Management Service; (12) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; (13) the U.S. Customs Service, including amounts for collection of the Harbor Maintenance Fee, operation and maintenance of marine vessels and aircraft, and automation modernization; (14) the Bureau of the Public Debt; (15) the Internal Revenue Service, including amounts for tax law enforcement, earned income tax credit compliance and error reduction initiatives, and information systems and telecommunications support; and (15) the Secret Service, including an amount for construction and improvement of facilities. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 120) Amends Federal law to extend the Treasury Franchise Fund until October 1, 2002. Title II: Postal Service - Postal Service Appropriations Act, 2001 - Makes appropriations for payment to the Postal Service Fund for revenue foregone on free and reduced rate mail. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title III: Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President - Executive Office Appropriations Act, 2001 - Makes appropriations for: (1) compensation of the President and the White House office; (2) operating, maintenance, and reimbursable expenses of the Executive Residence at the White House; (3) White House repair and restoration; (4) special assistance to the President and the official residence of the Vice President; (5) the Council of Economic Advisers; (6) the Office of Policy Development; (7) the National Security Council; (8) the Office of Administration; (9) the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); (10) the Office of National Drug Control Policy; (11) the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center; and (12) Federal drug control programs, including amounts for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and for a national anti-drug campaign for youth. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title IV: Independent Agencies - Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 - Makes appropriations for: (1) the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled; (2) the Federal Election Commission; (3) the Federal Labor Relations Authority; (4) the General Services Administration (GSA), including amounts for the Federal Buildings Fund, Government-wide policy and operations, Office of Inspector General, and allowances and office staff for former Presidents; and (5) carrying out the Presidential Transition Act of 1963. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 408) Amends the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2000 to extend to April 30, 2002, the date through which the GSA Administrator is authorized to offer voluntary separation incentives to specified employees to provide for the closing of the Federal Supply Service distribution centers, forward supply points, and associated programs. (Sec. 409) Designates the Federal building and courthouse located at 102 North 4th Street in Grand Forks, North Dakota, as the Ronald N. Davies Federal Building and United States Courthouse. (Sec. 411) Designates the U.S. bankruptcy courthouse at 1100 Laurel Street in Columbia, South Carolina, as the J. Bratton Davis United States Bankruptcy Courthouse. (Sec. 412) Designates the U.S. Courthouse Annex located at 901 19th Street in Denver, Colorado, as the Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse Annex. (Sec. 413) Designates the dormitory building currently being constructed on the Core Campus of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, as the Paul Coverdell Dormitory. Makes appropriations for: (1) the Merit Systems Protection Board; (2) the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation; (3) the Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund to carry out activities authorized in the Environmental Policy and Conflict Resolution Act of 1998; (4) the National Archives and Records Administration, including amounts for repairs and restoration of archives; (5) the National Historical Publications and Records Commission; (6) the Office of Government Ethics; (7) the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), including an amount for the Office of Inspector General; (8) Government contributions for health and life insurance benefits for annuitants; (9) the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (8) the Office of Special Counsel; and (9) the U.S. Tax Court. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds made available under this Act. (Sec. 506) Sets forth Buy American provisions. (Sec. 509) Prohibits funds appropriated by this Act from being available for an abortion or the administrative expenses of any Federal employee health plan which provides benefits for abortions. Makes such prohibition inapplicable if the mother's life would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or in cases of rape or incest. (Sec. 514) Directs the Archivist of the United States to transfer certain Federal land located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to the Gerald R. Ford Foundation in trust for the purpose of supporting the facilities and programs of the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids and the Gerald R. Ford Library in Ann Arbor. (Sec. 515) Requires the Director of OMB to issue guidelines under the Paperwork Reduction Act that provide policy and procedural guidance to Federal agencies for ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information disseminated by agencies in fulfillment of such Act. (Sec. 517) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated by this Act to propose or issue rules or orders for implementing the Kyoto Protocol. (Sec. 518) Requires the Director of OMB to submit a report to specified congressional committees that: (1) evaluates, for each agency, the extent to which Federal accounting and collection provisions, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, have reduced burdens imposed by rules issued by the agency; and (2) includes a determination of the need for additional procedures to ensure achievement of such provisions' purposes, evaluates the burden imposed by each major rule that imposes more than 10 million hours of burden, and identifies specific reductions expected to be achieved in FY 2001 and 2002 in the burden imposed by all rules issued by each agency that issued such a major rule. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated for Federal departments, agencies, and corporations. (Sec. 619) Bars the use of funds made available for the Customs Service in this Act to allow the importation of any good produced or manufactured by forced or indentured child labor. (Sec. 624) Requires the OMB Director to report to Congress: (1) estimates of annual costs and benefits of Federal rules and paperwork; (2) impacts of Federal regulation on State, local, and tribal government, small business, wages, and economic growth; and (3) recommendations for reform. Requires the Director to issue guidelines to agencies to standardize measures of costs and benefits and the format of accounting statements. (Sec. 630) Bars the use of funds appropriated by this Act to enter into or renew a contract which includes a provision providing prescription drug coverage, except where the contract also includes a provision for contraceptive coverage. Makes exceptions to such prohibition for religious health plans. (Sec. 633) Authorizes the use of appropriated funds by executive agencies to provide child care services for Federal civilian employees. (Sec. 634) Authorizes a woman to breastfeed her child on Federal property if the woman and child are otherwise authorized to be present at the location. (Sec. 636) Authorizes qualified Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) police officers, upon written election, to be treated as law enforcement officers for purposes of Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) provisions and to have prior service similarly treated. Defines a "qualified MWAA police officer" as any individual who is currently so employed and is subject to CSRS or FERS by virtue of Federal transportation provisions governing certain Federal employees who transferred to the MWAA. Describes prior service as service as an MWAA or Federal Aviation Administration police officer prior to the effective date of such election. (Sec. 637) Authorizes the President's pay agent, for purposes of determining appropriate pay localities and making comparability payment recommendations, to make comparisons of General Schedule (GS) and non-Federal pay within metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) within the continental United States that have a high level of nonfarm employment and at least 2,500 GS employees using data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) surveys and salary data sets from any entity that regularly compiles similar data for businesses in the private sector. Permits the pay agent to make further determinations or recommendations based on such comparisons for purposes of payments becoming payable between January 1, 2002, and 2007, respectively. Requires the pay agent, based on such comparisons, to determine whether any of the five MSAs with the highest levels of nonfarm employment that have not been previously surveyed by the BLS as discrete pay localities for purposes of provisions governing locality-based comparability payments for Federal employees warrants designation as a discrete pay locality and if so, make recommendations as to the level of payments appropriate during 2002. Requires any MSA that warrants such designation to be designated as a discrete pay locality in time for 2002 comparability payments. Directs the pay agent to report to specified congressional committees on the ongoing efforts of OPM, OMB, and the BLS to revise the methodology currently used by the BLS in performing surveys related to comparability payments. (Sec. 639) Amends Federal civil service provisions to require the removal from employment of Federal law enforcement officers convicted of felonies. (Sec. 640) Amends Federal retirement provisions to reduce to seven percent after December 31, 2000, the required retirement contribution by Federal employees participating under CSRS (such contribution currently is scheduled to be 7.5 percent for calendar years 2001 and 2002 and 7 percent after 2002). Reduces similarly the required percentage contribution under CSRS for Members of Congress and congressional employees, law enforcement and firefighting personnel, certain judges and magistrates, the Capitol police, and nuclear materials couriers. Makes similar reductions for participants in FERS. Makes conforming reductions with respect to military and volunteer service under FERS. Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act, and the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to make similar employee retirement contribution reductions under the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System, and the Foreign Service Pension System. Prescribes agency contributions for October 1 through December 31, 2002, in lieu of those required under current law, under CSRS, the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System. (Sec. 643) Amends the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Appropriations Act, 1988 to require all existing and newly hired workers in any child care center located in an executive facility to undergo a criminal history background check. Defines an "executive facility" as a facility owned or leased by an office or entity within the executive branch (including one owned or leased by the GSA on behalf of an office or entity within the judicial branch). (Sec. 644) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act by any Federal agency to: (1) collect, review, or create aggregate lists that include personally identifiable information about an individual's access to or use of any Internet site of the agency; or (2) enter into an agreement with a third party to collect, review, or obtain any such list that includes personally identifiable information relating to an individual's access to or use of any nongovernmental Internet site. (Sec. 645) Amends Federal civil service provisions to set forth provisions regarding pay for certain administrative appeals judges. (Sec. 646) Requires the Inspector General of each agency to report to Congress any agency activity related to: (1) the collection or review of singular data, or the creation of aggregate lists that include personally identifiable information about individuals who access any Internet site of the agency; and (2) entering into agreements with third parties to collect, review, or obtain such lists or data relating to any individual's access or viewing habits for governmental and nongovernmental Internet sites.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2000
Medicare Equity and Access Act of 2000 - Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for: (1) elimination of reduction in Medicare+Choice payment rates by neutrality adjustments; (2) modification of the application of blended capitation rate area-specific and national percentages for years after 2000; (3) an increase in the baseline of the national per capita Medicare+Choice growth percentage for years after 2000; and (4) inclusion of costs of certain Department of Defense military treatment facility services to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries in the calculation of Medicare+Choice payment rates.