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Bill· SS. 1391 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1999
Filipino Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1999 - Authorizes payment of compensation for the service-connected disability of members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army who served with U.S. armed forces during World War II in the amount of one dollar for each dollar authorized, as long as each such individual resides in the United States and is a U.S. citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital and nursing home care and medical services to such veterans and new Philippine Scouts in the same manner as furnished to U.S. veterans. Directs the Secretary to furnish care and services to veterans, Commonwealth Army veterans, and new Philippine Scouts for the treatment of service-connected disabilities and non-service-connected disabilities of such veterans and scouts residing in the Republic of the Philippines on an outpatient basis at the Manila VA Outpatient Clinic. Limits to $500,000 the amount to be expended during a fiscal year for such services.
Bill· HRH.R. 2548 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1999
Department of Defense Anthrax Vaccination Moratorium Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) a single protection measure such as the mandatory anthrax vaccine immunization program should not be implemented by the Department of Defense (DOD) without regard to its effect on morale, retention, recruiting, and budget; and (2) an insufficiently proven vaccine should not be advocated as a substitute for research, development, and production of truly effective vaccines and antibiotics, adequate protective equipment, and nonproliferation measures. Directs the Secretary of Defense to suspend implementation of the DOD anthrax vaccination program. Requires: (1) an independent study of the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine used; and (2) a report from the Director of the National Institutes of Health to specified congressional committees on study results. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study and comment to Congress on the vaccine program and the effect of the use of contractor-operated facilities for such program. Requires expedited consideration by the respective Boards for Correction of Military Records for current or former military personnel for remedies for adverse personnel actions that were the result of the vaccine program. States that if the Director determines that the vaccine used in the DOD program meets specified criteria, the Secretary may resume such program. Provides that if such program is resumed, the Secretary may use only newly produced vaccine for vaccinations after such resumption.
Bill· HRH.R. 2543 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1999
American Military Health Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to make the anthrax vaccination immunization program voluntary for all members of the armed forces until the Food and Drug Administration has approved a new anthrax vaccine for humans or a new, reduced course of shots for such vaccine.
Bill· HRH.R. 2545 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1999
Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 1999 - Requires the U.S. Government to: (1) disable and dismantle all its nuclear weapons and refrain from replacing them at any time with weapons of mass destruction; (2) undertake vigorous good faith efforts to eliminate war, armed conflict, and all military operations; (3) actively promote policies to induce all other countries to join in these commitments for world peace and security; and (4) redirect resources that are currently being used for nuclear weapons programs to constructive, ecologically beneficial peacetime activities and to address human and infrastructure needs such as housing, health care, education, agriculture, and environmental protection. Makes this Act effective when the President certifies to Congress that all foreign countries possessing nuclear weapons have established legal requirements comparable to those set forth in this Act.
Bill· SS. 1373 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1999
Defense Offsets Disclosure Act of 1999 - Declares that U.S. policy is to develop a workable system to monitor the use of offsets in the defense industry (the entire range of industrial and commercial benefits provided to foreign governments as an inducement or condition to purchase military goods or services), to promote fairness in international trade, and to ensure an appropriate level of foreign participation in production of U.S. weapons systems. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the executive branch should pursue efforts to address trade fairness by establishing transparent standards for the use of offsets in international business transactions among U.S. trading partners and competitors; (2) the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative should raise the need for transparency and other standards bilaterally with other industrialized nations at every venue; and (3) the U.S. Government should enter into discussions for the establishment of multilateral standards for the control of the use of offsets in international defense trade through the appropriate multilateral fora, including the Transatlantic Economic Partnership, the Wassenaar Arrangement, the G-8, and the World Trade Organization. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to require certain numbered certifications to Congress with respect to any letter of offer to sell (Government-to-Government sale), or license for export (commercial sale), major defense equipment in the amount of $14 million or more, or defense articles or services in the amount of $50 million or more. Requires each numbered certification to include a description of any offset agreement, including its dollar amount. Requires such agreements, to the extent possible, to be made available to the public. Directs the President to report to Congress on all measures taken to fulfill offset obligations under such agreements. Extends to exports of defense articles or services the current prohibition against incentive payments by U.S. suppliers to satisfy any offset agreement with a foreign country to which such articles or services are sold. Directs the President to initiate a feasibility review, then report to the appropriate congressional committees on a strategy for U.S. negotiations of multilateral agreements with designated foreign countries that provide standards for the use of offsets with respect to the sale or licensing of defense articles or services, including a timetable for entering into such multilateral agreements, and any progress toward reaching an agreement. Establishes a National Commission on the Use of Offsets in Defense Trade to address all aspects of the use of offsets in international defense trade. Requires the Commission to report to the appropriate congressional committees with respect to such offset agreements.
Bill· HRH.R. 2531 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1999
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 - Title I: Authorization - Authorizes appropriations from the Nuclear Waste Fund for FY 2000 for: (1) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); and (2) the NRC Office of Inspector General. (Sec. 102) Allocates such appropriations among: (1) Nuclear Reactor Safety; (2) Nuclear Materials Safety; (3) Nuclear Waste Safety; (4) the International Nuclear Safety Support Program; and (5) Management and Support. Prohibits the NRC from using more than one percent of such allocations to make grants and enter into cooperative agreements with organizations such as universities, State and local governments, and not-for-profit institutions. Mandates NRC notification to the Congress as a prerequisite to specified reallocations. Restricts the use of Nuclear Waste Fund appropriations solely to NRC high-level nuclear waste activities. (Sec. 104) Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to extend through FY 2004 NRC authority to assess and collect user fees and annual charges. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the NRC, beginning in FY 2001, to assess and collect fees for full cost recovery from other Federal agencies in return for services rendered by the NRC (rather than recover these costs through the annual fees assessed to all NRC licensees). Title II: Other Provisions - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to prescribe guidelines for the carrying of firearms and the authority to make arrests by employees or contractors of NRC licensees or certificate holders for the protection of property of significance to the common defense and security located at facilities owned or operated by an NRC licensee or certificate holder or being transported to or from such facilities. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the NRC to issue trespass regulations relating to the introduction of dangerous weapons, explosives, or other dangerous instruments or materials likely to produce substantial personal injury or damage to property subject to its licensing or certification authority. (Sec. 203) Revises the crime of sabotage of Federal nuclear facilities to cover any production, utilization, waste storage, treatment, disposal, uranium enrichment, or nuclear fuel fabrication facility subject to licensing or certification under this Act during its construction where the destruction or damage caused or attempted could affect public health and safety during facility operation. (Sec. 204) Provides that the initial duration of a combined construction and operating license for a production or utilization facility may not exceed 40 years from the date on which the NRC finds, prior to facility operation, that specified statutory acceptance criteria have been met. (Sec. 205) Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to: (1) to limit to production facilities the proscription against issuance of a license to an alien or entity whom the NRC believes to be owned, controlled or dominated by a foreign entity or government (thus allowing licensure of foreign-owned utilization facilities); and (2) declare certain antitrust review procedures inapplicable to pending or future license applications to construct or operate utilization facilities for either commercial or medical therapy and research and development purposes. (Sec. 207) Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to: (1) redefine "federally permitted release" as any release of source, byproduct, and special nuclear material in accordance with NRC regulations following termination of an NRC or State-issued license; and (2) limit commencement of administrative or judicial actions to those requested by either a State Governor or the NRC with respect to such material that is subject to either NRC or State decontamination regulations for license termination. (Sec. 209) Amends the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to prescribe guidelines for temporary continuation of service by an NRC commissioner whose term has expired. (Sec. 210) Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to authorize the NRC to accept, hold, utilize, sell, and administer gifts, bequests, or donations of real and personal property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating its work. Establishes in the Treasury a fund for deposit of any gift of money accepted pursuant to such authority, to be held in trust by the Secretary of the Treasury and appropriated, without fiscal year limitation, to the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission without further appropriations action. (Sec. 211) Repeals the requirement that the NRC maintain an office for the service of process and papers within the District of Columbia.
Bill· HRH.R. 2540 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1999
1999 Omnibus Adoption Act - Title I: Expansion of Adoption Tax Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the dollar amount of qualified expenses for the adoption tax credit; (2) double the limit on the amount of a taxpayer's adjusted gross income that is used in computing the income limitation applicable to adoption tax credits; (3) make permanent the adoption tax credit for adoptions of children without special needs; and (4) provide for adjustment of such dollar and income limitations for inflation. Title II: Leave Equity for Adoptive Families - Establishes leave requirements for an employee needing leave because of the placement of a son or daughter with the employee for adoption or foster care, and provides for civil actions against an employer to enforce such requirements, subject to specified limitations. Title III: Adoption Counseling - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a national adoption counseling program for pregnant women and infertile married couples. Allows for the participation of religious organizations. Directs the Secretary to require that each program providing voluntary family planing services with a grant from the Secretary provide nondirective counseling and referrals regarding prenatal care and delivery, infant and foster care, and adoption. Title IV: Adoption Information for Members of the Armed Forces - Requires the Secretary of each military department and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when outside naval jurisdiction to ensure that members of the armed forces under their jurisdiction have information concerning adoption readily available to them. Title V: Federal Prisons - Amends the Federal criminal code to direct the Attorney General to take appropriate action to assure that information regarding the option of planning adoption for the child is made available to each female prisoner who is or may be pregnant. Title VI: Accreditation of Adoption Service Providers - Amends SSA title IV part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) to: (1) require State plans to provide for State laws to prohibit adoption services by unaccredited persons, and require State accreditation of adoption service providers; and (2) require the State to establish standards for such accreditation. Title VII: Adoption and Foster Care Data Collection - Amends SSA title IV part E to provide for State adoption and foster care data collection and reporting systems for HHS. Title VIII: Refundable Credit for Medical Expenses of Pregnancies with Children Placed for Adoption - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 per child for medical expenses of pregnancies with children placed for adoption. Title IX: Maternal Health Certificates Program - Directs the Secretary to establish a maternal health certificates program to cover maternity and housing services facility expenses incurred by eligible pregnant women. Authorizes appropriations. Title X: Rehabilitation Grants for Maternity Housing and Services Facilities - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to implement a grant program to assist eligible nonprofit entities to rehabilitate buildings for use as housing and services facilities for eligible pregnant women. Allows for the participation of religious organizations. Authorizes appropriations. Title XI: Repeal of National Clearinghouse on Adoption Information - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 to repeal the National Clearinghouse on Adoption Information. Title XII: National Commission on Adoption - Establishes the National Commission on Adoption to review all adoption programs and related activities. Authorizes appropriations.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 251 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1999
Expresses support for the May 5, 1999, agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Portuguese Republic on the question of the independence of East Timor. Expresses concern about the escalating violence in East Timor. Urges the Indonesian Government to guarantee the protection of United Nations (UN) staff members assisting in the preparation of the referendum and demands that the Indonesian Government ensure that the vote is carried out in a secure atmosphere by: (1) ceasing Indonesian military and police support for paramilitary forces; (2) disarming paramilitary units in fulfillment of its responsibilities under the terms of the May 5 agreement; (3) opening access to East Timor to independent international monitors, observers, and relief workers; and (4) allowing the return of exiled East Timorese and securing their safety. Endorses the purpose of the UN Assistance Mission in East Timor to carry out a free and fair vote. Encourages the Administration to support UN action to secure UN personnel and to better supervise the vote.
Bill· SS. 1368 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1999
Act to Save America's Forests - Title I: Land Management - Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to revise eligibility criteria for members of the land and resource management scientific committee. Revises the committee termination date to ten years after enactment of this Act. Applies conservation of native diversity and logging restriction provisions of such Act to: (1) National Forest System land; (2) Federal land ; (3) national Wildlife Refuge System land; (4) Indian land; and (5) military land. Title II: Protection for Ancient Forests, Roadless Areas, Watershed Protection Areas, Special Areas, and Federal Boundary Areas - Describes Special Areas as Federal forest land parcels possessing outstanding biological, scenic, recreational, or cultural values, exemplary on a regional or national level, which may not meet the definitions of ancient forests, roadless areas, watershed protection areas, or Federal boundary areas. Designates specified Special Areas which shall be subject to restrictions on road construction and logging in the following States: (1) Alabama; (2) Alaska; (3) Arizona; (4) Arkansas; (5) California; (6) Colorado; (7) Georgia; (8) Idaho; (9) Illinois; (10) Michigan; (11) Minnesota; (12) Missouri; (13) Montana; (14) New Mexico; (15) North Carolina; (16) Ohio; (17) Oklahoma; (18) Oregon; (19) South Carolina; (20) South Dakota; (21) Tennessee; (22) Texas; (23) Vermont; (24) Virginia; (25) Wisconsin; and (26) Wyoming. Provides for the appointment of a committee of scientists to recommend additional Special Areas. Restricts road construction and logging in ancient forests, roadless areas, watershed protection areas, Special Areas, and Federal boundary areas. Title III: Effective Date - States that this Act and its amendments shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act and shall not apply to any timber sale contract entered into on or before such date.
Bill· HRH.R. 2512 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1999
Act to Save America's Forests - Title I: Amendments to Existing Land Management Laws - Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (National Forest System), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (public lands), the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (National Wildlife Refuge System), and Federal law relating to forest management on military lands to: (1) provide for native biodiversity conservation; and (2) restrict and prohibit certain logging practices. Title II: Protection for Ancient Forests, Roadless Areas, Watershed Protection Areas, and Special Areas - Describes special areas as Federal forest land parcels possessing outstanding biological, scenic, recreational, or cultural values, exemplary on a regional or national level, which may not meet the definitions of Ancient Forests, Roadless Areas, or Watershed Protection Areas. Designates specified Special Areas which shall be subject to restrictions on road construction and logging in the following States: (1) Alabama; (2) Alaska; (3) Arizona; (4) Arkansas; (5) California; (6) Colorado; (7) Georgia; (8) Idaho; (9) Illinois; (10) Michigan; (11) Minnesota; (12) Missouri; (13) Montana; (14) New Mexico; (15) North Carolina; (16) Ohio; (17) Oklahoma; (18) Oregon; (19) South Carolina; (20) South Dakota; (21) Tennessee; (22) Texas; (23) Vermont; (24) Virginia; (25) West Virginia; (26) Wisconsin; and (27) Wyoming. Provides for the appointment of a committee of scientists to recommend additional Special Areas. Restricts road construction and logging in Ancient Forests, Special Areas, Roadless Areas on Federal lands, and Watershed Protection Areas.
Bill· SS. 1352 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1999
North Korea Threat Reduction Act of 1999 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 for the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), and North Korea for purposes related to the Agreed Framework Between the United States of America and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, provided the President determines and reports to specified congressional committees that: (1) the parties to the Agreed Framework have taken steps to implement the Joint Declaration on Denuclearization in which the Government of North Korea has committed not to test, manufacture, receive, store, deploy, or use nuclear weapons, including not to possess nuclear reprocessing or uranium enrichment facilities; (2) North Korea is complying with all the provisions of the Agreed Framework; (3) North Korea has not diverted U.S. assistance for purposes for which it was not intended; (4) the United States has reached agreement with North Korea satisfying U.S. concerns regarding suspect underground construction; (5) North Korea is not seeking to develop or acquire the capacity to enrich uranium, or any additional capability to reprocess spent nuclear fuel; and (6) the United States has made progress in eliminating the North Korean ballistic missile threat, including its ballistic missile exports. (Sec. 3) Bars the use of funds to assist the construction of nuclear reactors in North Korea. Withholds the availability to KEDO of amounts appropriated in excess of $35 million until the President determines and reports to specified congressional committees that: (1) the United States has asked all potential donor governments, including Taiwan, to contribute to KEDO; (2) no contributions offered unconditionally by such governments to KEDO have been declined; and (3) even after such contributions are received, KEDO will have financial requirements in FY 2000 that can only be met by the provision of more than $35 million in U.S. assistance. (Sec. 4) Prohibits the use of funds for food assistance to North Korea until the President determines and reports to specified congressional committees that: (1) the Government of the Republic of Korea concurs in the delivery of U.S. food assistance to North Korea; (2) previous U.S. food assistance to it has not been significantly diverted to military use; (3) North Korean military stocks have been expended to respond to unmet food aid needs there; (4) the United Nations World Food Program or other specified private voluntary organizations have been permitted to take and have taken reasonable steps to ensure that food deliveries will not be diverted from intended recipients; and (5) the U.S. Government has directly encouraged North Korea to initiate fundamental structural reforms of its agricultural sector. (Sec. 5) Prohibits any agreement for cooperation between the United States and North Korea, or issuance of a license for the export, or approval for the transfer or retransfer, to North Korea of any nuclear material, facilities, goods, services, or technology that would be subject to such agreement, until: (1) the President determines and reports to specified congressional committees that North Korea has come into full compliance with the Agreed Framework and other specified nuclear nonproliferation agreements, has permitted the International Atomic Energy Agency full access to certain nuclear sites and material, does not have the capacity to enrich uranium, and has terminated its nuclear weapons program; and (2) there is a joint resolution enacted by Congress that concurs with such report. (Sec. 6) Continues certain restrictions imposed under the Trading with the Enemy Act on transactions and activities with North Korea until the President determines and reports to specified congressional committees that North Korea: (1) has agreed to institute a total ban on exports of missiles and missile technology; (2) has terminated its long-range missile and nuclear weapons programs, including efforts to acquire, develop, test, produce, or deploy such missiles and weapons; (3) does not have, and is not seeking to acquire or develop, the capability to enrich uranium; and (4) is in full compliance with the Agreed Framework and the Joint Declaration on Denuclearization. (Sec. 7) Declares it shall be U.S. policy to work with friendly Asian-Pacific region governments to develop and deploy ballistic missile defenses capable of countering ballistic missile threats in the region. Earmarks certain funds to support the establishment of a joint early warning system in the Asia-Pacific region. (Sec. 8) Declares it shall be U.S. policy to oppose the involuntary return of North Korean refugees to North Korea, to support the provision of international assistance to such refugees in the People's Republic of China and other countries of asylum, and to facilitate their resettlement in South Korea and other neighboring countries. Earmarks migration and refugee funds for North Korean refugees in China and other countries of asylum, and to support their resettlement in South Korea and other neighboring countries. (Sec. 9) Directs the President to report to specified congressional committees with respect to North Korea's obligations under the Agreed Framework.
Bill· HRH.R. 2488 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1999
Financial Freedom Act of 1999 - Title I: Broad-Based Tax Relief - Subtitle A: 10-Percent Reduction in Individual Income Tax Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide for the phase-in of a ten percent individual income tax rate. Subtitle B: Marriage Penalty Tax Relief - Phases-in a standard deduction on a joint (married) return equal to twice the deduction of a single (not married) return. (Sec. 112) Makes the modified adjusted gross income limitation applicable in determining the deduction for interest on educational loans on a joint return double the limit of a single return. (Sec. 113) Raises from $100,000 (currently applicable to any filing status) to $160,000 (in the case of a joint return) the adjusted gross income limit applicable to rollovers from regular IRAs to Roth IRAs. Subtitle C: Repeal of Alternative Minimum Tax on Individuals - Phases-in a repeal of the alternative minimum tax for individuals. Title II: Relief from Taxation on Savings and Investments - Excludes from gross income a limited amount of dividends and interest otherwise includible in gross income. (Sec. 202) Reduces the individual capital gains tax rate. (Sec. 203) Applies the capital gains tax rates to capital gains of designated settlement funds. (Sec. 204) Provides, with respect to exclusion of gain from the sale of a principal residence, for the suspension of the five-year ownership and use requirement during the time that a member (or spouse) of the uniformed services or Foreign Service is on qualified official extended duty (as defined by this Act). (Sec. 205) Treats certain dealer derivative financial instruments, hedging transactions, and supplies as ordinary assets. (Sec. 206) Revises provisions concerning the worthless securities of financial institutions. Title III: Incentives for Business Investment and Job Creation - Phases-in a corporate capital gains tax rate reduction. (Sec. 302) Phases- in a repeal of the alternative minimum tax on corporations. Repeals the 90 percent limitation on the utilization of the foreign tax credit. Title IV: Education Savings Incentives - Renames education individual retirement accounts education savings accounts. Increases to $2,000 the maximum annual contribution allowed to such accounts. Permits tax-free expenditures from such accounts for elementary and secondary education expenses required for attendance at a public, private, or religious school, or for homeschooling that meets State requirements. Waives certain age limitations in cases of children with special needs. Permits corporations to contribute to such accounts. (Sec. 402) Permits private educational institutions to maintain qualified tuition programs which are comparable to qualified State tuition programs. Excludes qualified distributions from such accounts from gross income. (Sec. 403) Excludes from gross income certain amounts received under the National Health Corps Scholarship Program, the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program, the National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program, or any similar State program. (Sec. 404) Increases the amount by which certain governmental bonds used to finance public school capital expenditures may be exempted from specified arbitrage bond provisions. (Sec. 405) Modifies arbitrage rebate rules applicable to public school construction bonds. (Sec. 406) Repeals the 60-month limitation period on the allowance of the interest deduction on loans for higher education expenses. Title V: Health Care Provisions - Phases-in a 100 percent deduction (for both itemizers and nonitemizers) for the health and long- term care insurance costs of individuals not participating in employer-subsidized health plans. (Sec. 502) Permits offering long-term care insurance under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements. (Sec. 503) Revises medical savings accounts provisions to: (1) repeal the limitation on the number of accounts; (2) make all employers (currently limited to small employers) eligible to offer accounts; (3) increase contribution deduction amounts; (4) permit employer and employee contributions; (5) reduce high deductible health plan deductibles; and (6) permit accounts to be offered under cafeteria plans. (Sec. 504) Permits a taxpayer an additional exemption for certain elderly family members who need long-term care and who reside with the taxpayer. (Sec. 505) Expands the time frame for human clinical trials qualifying for the orphan drug credit. (Sec. 506) Adds to the list of taxable vaccines any conjugate vaccine of streptococcus pneumoniae. Title VI: Estate Tax Relief - Subtitle A: Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Taxes; Repeal of Step Up in Basis At Death - Repeals the estate tax, gift tax, and the tax on generation-skipping transfers, effective January 1, 2009. (Sec. 602) Terminates, effective January 1, 2009, the current provisions providing for determining the basis of property the acquired from a decedent and sets forth new provisions for determining the basis of certain property acquired from a decedent dying after December 31, 2008. Subtitle B: Reductions of Estate and Gift Tax Rates Prior to Repeal - Sets forth additional estate and gift tax reductions applicable to the period prior to repeal. Subtitle C: Unified Credit Replaced Unified Exemption Amount - Replaces the unified credit with a unified exemption amount. Subtitle D: Modifications of Generation-Skipping Tax - Amends provisions concerning the special rules for allocation of the generation-skipping tax (GST) exemption to provide, as a general rule, that: (1) if any individual makes an indirect skip during such individual's lifetime, any unused portion of such individual's GST exemption shall be allocated to the property transferred to the extent necessary to make the inclusion ratio for such property zero; and (2) if the amount of the indirect skip exceeds such unused portion, the entire unused portion shall be allocated to the property transferred. Title VII: Tax Relief for Distressed Communities and Industries - Subtitle A: American Community Renewal Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to designate (upon local or State nomination) up to 20 renewal communities, of which at least four shall be in rural areas. Requires for nomination purposes that: (1) the area be experiencing high rates of poverty and unemployment and general distress; and (2) State and local governments enter into written contracts with community organizations to promote specified economic growth and employment activities. Excludes from gross income capital gains on the sale or exchange of a qualified community asset (stock, business property, or partnership interest) held for more than five years. Allows a specified deduction for amounts paid into a family development account on behalf of a renewal community resident. Excludes from gross income account distributions used for qualified family development expenses (postsecondary education, first-home purchase, business capitalization, medical, and rollovers). Provides a penalty (with exceptions) in addition to inclusion as gross income for nonqualifying distributions. Provides for designation of up to five qualifying renewal communities as matching demonstration areas eligible to receive family development account matching contributions. Authorizes: (1) designation of earned income tax credit payments for family development account deposit; (2) a commercial building revitalization tax deduction; (3) increased first year expensing for renewal community businesses; (4) extension of environmental remediation cost expensing and the work opportunity credit for renewal communities; and (5) similar tax treatment of renewal communities and enterprise zones for specified youth residence requirements. Permits a deduction for contributions to a family development account whether or not a taxpayer itemizes. (Sec. 705) Makes conforming amendments to provisions respecting: (1) tax on excess contributions and prohibited transactions; (2) trust and annuity information; (3) tax exemption applications; and (4) the commercial revitalization credit. (Sec. 706) Sets forth reporting requirements. Subtitle B: Farming Incentive - Disregards any option to accelerate the receipt of any payment under a production flexibility contract which is payable under the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, in determining the taxable year for which such payment is properly includible in gross income for purposes of the IRC. Subtitle C: Oil and Gas Incentive - Permits a five-year net operating loss carryback for losses attributable to operating mineral interests of independent oil and gas producers. Subtitle D: Timber Incentive - Increases the maximum permitted amortization of reforestation expenditures. Subtitle E: Steel Industry Incentive - Increases, for steel companies, the credit allowed against the regular tax for prior year minimum tax liability. Title VIII: Relief for Small Businesses - Provides for the deduction of 100 Percent of the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals. (Sec. 802) Increases to $30,000 the amount which may be expensed as section 179 property. (Sec. 803) Makes the 6.2 percent Federal Unemployment Tax Act rate effective through calendar year 2004 (currently, 2007) and the 6.0 percent rate effective through calendar year 2005 (currently, 2008). (Sec. 804) Phases-in an 80 percent meal expenses deduction. Title IX: International Tax Relief - Permits, for interest allocation rule purposes, treating each electing worldwide affiliated group an affiliated group. (Sec. 902) Revises provisions concerning the of application of look-thru rules to dividends from noncontrolled section 902 corporations to provide, in general, that any dividend from a noncontrolled section 902 corporation with respect to the taxpayer shall be treated as income in a separate category in proportion to the ratio of: (1) the portion of earnings and profits attributable to income in such category; to (2) the total amount of earnings and profits. (Sec. 903) Excludes from the definition of "foreign base company oil related income" the pipeline transportation of oil or gas within such foreign country. (Sec. 904) Excludes from the definition of "foreign base company services income" income derived in connection with the performance of services which are related to the transmission of high voltage electricity. (Sec. 905) Defines overall domestic loss and sets forth provisions for determining taxable income for any taxpayer sustaining such a loss. (Sec. 906) Repeals the special rule for military property with respect to exempt foreign trade income. (Sec. 907) Exempts from taxation certain regulated investment company dividends received by nonresident aliens. Treats certain regulated investment company stock owned by nonresident noncitizens as non-U.S. property for estate tax purposes. (Sec. 908) Repeals section 907 (Special Rules In Case of Foreign Oil and Gas Income) of the IRC. (Sec. 909) Requires a study and a report on the feasibility of treating all countries in the European Union as one country under subpart F (Controlled Foreign Corporations) of part III (Income From Sources Without the United States) of subchapter N (Tax Based on Income From Sources Within or Without the United States) of chapter 1 (Normal Taxes and Surtaxes) of the IRC. (Sec. 910) Permits the President to determine that the continued denial of the foreign tax credit with respect to a foreign country is no longer in the national interests of the United States. (Sec. 911) Treats advance pricing agreements as confidential taxpayer information. (Sec. 912) Phases in an increase in the dollar limitation on the section 911 (Citizens or Residents of the United States Living Abroad) exclusion. Title X: Provisions Relating to Tax-Exempt Organizations - Exempts an organization from income tax if it is created by a State to provide property and casualty insurance coverage for property for which such coverage is otherwise unavailable. (Sec. 1002) Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1984 to revise the special arbitrage rule. (Sec. 1003) Amends the IRC to disallow a deduction for the transfer of a charitable contribution to or for the use of a State or charitable tax-exempt organization or trust if in connection with such transfer: (1) the organization directly or indirectly pays, or has previously paid, any premium on any personal benefit contract (life insurance, annuity, or endowment contract, also known as charitable split-dollar life insurance) with respect to the transferor; or (2) there is an understanding (side agreement) that any person will directly or indirectly pay any premium on such contract with respect to such transferor. Imposes on such organization an excise tax equal to the premiums paid by it on the personal benefit contract. Provides that certain persons shall not be treated as indirect beneficiaries: (1) in certain cases in which a charitable organization purchases an annuity contract to fund an obligation to pay a charitable gift annuity; or (2) solely by reason of being a noncharitable recipient of an annuity or unitrust amount paid by a charitable remainder trust that holds a life insurance, annuity or endowment contract. (Sec. 1004) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a procedure for exemption from the self- dealing tax. (Sec. 1005) Revises provisions concerning: (1) declaratory judgments relating to tax-exempt organizations; and (2) the special rules for certain amounts of unrelated business taxable income received from controlled entities. Title XI: Real Estate Provisions - Subtitle A: Provisions Relating to Real Estate Investment Trusts - Part I: Treatment of Income and Services Provided by Taxable REIT Subsidiaries - Excludes taxable REIT subsidiaries (TRSs) from the five and ten percent asset tests. (Sec. 1102) Allows TRSs to provide non-customary tenant services. (Sec. 1103) Allows a REIT to establish a TRS (as defined). (Sec. 1104) Includes in the definition of "disqualified interest" (Sec. 163 of the IRC) any interest paid or accrued by a TRS to the REIT. (Sec. 1105) Imposes a 100 percent tax on any interest payments by a TRS to the REIT in excess of the commercially reasonable interest rate. Part II: Health Care REITs - Includes within the definition of the term "foreclosure property" any qualified health care property acquired by a REIT as the result of the termination of a lease of such property. Part III: Conformity With Regulated Investment Company Rules - Changes the distribution requirement from 95 percent to 90 percent. Part IV: Clarification of Exception From Impermissible Tenant Service Income - Provides, with respect to the definition of an independent contractor, that in the event that any class of stock of is regularly traded on an established securities market, only owners who own, directly or indirectly, more than five percent of such class of stock shall be taken into account as owning any of the stock of such class for purposes of applying the 35 percent limitation. Part V: Modification of Earnings and Profits Rules - Provides rules for determining whether a Regulated Investment Company (RIC) has earnings and profits form a non-RIC year. Part VI: Study Relating to Taxable REIT Subsidiaries - Directs the: (1) Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall conduct a study to determine how many taxable REIT subsidiaries are in existence and the aggregate amount of taxes paid by such subsidiaries; and (2) the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a report to Congress describing the results of such study. Subtitle B: Modification of At-Risk Rules for Publicly Traded Securities - Revises, with respect to real property, provisions concerning the treatment under the at-risk rules of publicly traded nonrecourse debt. Subtitle C: Treatment of Construction Allowances and Certain Contributions To Capital of Retailers - Amends provisions which exclude from the gross income of a lessee any amount received in cash by a lessee from a lessor under a short-term lease of retail space used for the purpose of such lessee's constructing or improving long-term real property for use in the lessee's business to makes such exclusion inapplicable under a short-term lease if the lessee is a qualified retail business. (Sec. 1172) Defines the term "contribution to the capital of the taxpayer" to include any amount of money or other property received by the taxpayer if: (1) the taxpayer has entered into an agreement to operate a qualified retail business at a particular location for at least 15 years; (2) immediately after the receipt of such money or other property, the taxpayer owns the land and the structure to be used by the taxpayer in carrying on a qualified retail business at such location, or the taxpayer uses such amount to acquire ownership of at least such land and structure; (3) such amount meets the requirements of the expenditure rule; and (4) the contributor of such amount does not hold a beneficial interest in any property located on the premises of such qualified retail business other than de minimis amounts of property associated with the operation of property adjacent to such premises. Defines the terms "expenditure rule" and "qualified retail business." Title XII: Provisions Relating to Pensions - Subtitle A: Expanding Coverage - Increases the $90,000 limit on defined benefit plans to $160,000. Changes the age from which such limit will be reduced from the social security retirement age to 62 and the age from which the limit will be increased from the social security retirement age to 65. Increases the $30,000 limit for defined benefit contribution plans to $40,000. Increases the $150,000 compensation limit to $200,000. Increases the elective deferral limit to $15,000. (Sec. 1202) Eliminates certain current rules concerning plan loans made to an owner-employee. (Sec. 1203) Revises the definition of a top-heavy plan and a key employee for purposes of the special rules for top-heavy plans. Takes into account: (1) matching contributions for minimum contribution requirements; and (2) distributions during the last year before the determination date. (Sec. 1204) Provides that elective deferral contributions are not subject to deduction limits. (Sec. 1205) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide that, during the first five years of a new single-employer plan of a small employer (100 or fewer employees), the flat rate Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PGBC) premium will be five dollars per plan participant. Provides for a reduced additional PGBC variable premium for new and small employers. (Sec. 1207) Repeals specified coordination requirements under the Code for deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations. (Sec. 1208) Eliminates user fee requirements for requests to the IRS concerning the status of pension plans. (Sec. 1209) Revises the definition of compensation, for purposes of the deduction rules, to include salary reduction amounts treated as a participant's compensation. (Sec. 1210) Provides for optional treatment of elective deferrals as plus contributions. Defines such contributions. (Sec. 1211) Phases-in an increase in the minimum annual benefit permitted under a defined benefit contribution plan. Subtitle B: Enhancing Fairness for Women - Allows additional salary reduction catch-up contributions for those approaching retirement under IRC requirements relating to: (1) elective deferrals; (2) simple retirement accounts; and (3) deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations. (Sec. 1222) Sets forth requirements relating to equitable treatment for contributions of employees to defined contribution plans. Requires that certain contributions by church plans are not to be treated as exceeding a specified limit. (Sec. 1223) Provides for faster vesting of certain employer matching contributions. (Sec. 1224) Revises minimum distribution rules under the IRC. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) simplify and finalize the regulations relating to minimum distribution requirements; and (2) modify such regulations to reflect increases in life expectancy, and revise required distribution methods so that, under reasonable assumptions, the amount of the required minimum distribution does not decrease over a participant's life expectancy. Provides that, during the first year that such revised regulations are in effect, required distributions for future years may be redetermined, with the opportunity to choose a new designated beneficiary and to elect a new method of calculating life expectancy. (Sec. 1225) Revises requirements relating to tax treatment of division of section 457 plan benefits upon divorce. Subtitle C: Increasing Portability for Participants - Permits rollovers from and to various types of plans under the IRC. (Sec. 1232) Permits individual retirement plan (IRA) rollovers only if certain conditions are met. (Sec. 1233) Permits rollover of after-tax contributions in an exempt trust under specified conditions. (Sec. 1234) Sets forth a hardship exception to the 60-day rule. (Sec. 1235) Sets forth requirements for treatment of forms of distribution available under transferor and transferee plans, under the IRC. (Sec. 1236) Revises restrictions on distributions, including the same desk exception. (Sec. 1237) Authorizes trustee-to-trustee transfers to purchase permissive service credit with respect to governmental defined benefit plans. (Sec. 1238) Allows employers to disregard rollovers for purposes of cash-out amounts, under retirement plan provisions of the Code and ERISA. (Sec. 1239) Revises minimum distribution and inclusion requirements for section 457 plans. Subtitle D: Strengthening Pension Security and Enforcement - Amends the IRC to revise the percentage of current liability funding limit. (Sec. 1242) Revises maximum contribution deduction rules and applies them to all defined benefit plans under the IRC. (Sec. 1243) Amends ERISA to revise requirements relating to missing participants. Directs the PBGC to prescribe rules relating to missing participants for multiemployer plans covered by the PBGC that terminate. Allows the administrator of a plan not otherwise subject to such PBGC regulation to elect to transfer a missing participant's benefits to the PBGC upon termination of the plan, under specified conditions. (Sec. 1244) Amends the IRC to allow an employer, in determining the amount of nondeductible contributions for any taxable year, to elect not to take into account any contributions to a defined benefit plan except to the extent that they exceed the full-funding limitation. (Sec. 1245) Imposes an excise tax on a plan failing to provide required notice of a significant reduction in the rate of future benefit accrual. Subtitle E: Reducing Regulatory Burdens -Repeals a multiple use test. Directs the Secretary prescribe regulations permitting appropriate aggregation of plans and contributions. (Sec. 1252) Amends the Code and ERISA to revise requirements relating to timing of plan valuations. (Sec. 1253) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to modify regulations in order to expand the ability of a pension plan to demonstrate compliance with the nondiscrimination and line of business requirements. (Sec. 1254) Amends ERISA rules for substantial owners relating to plan terminations to revise: (1) the phase-in of the guarantee; and (2) the allocation of assets. (Sec. 1255) Amends IRC requirements for applicable dividends to allow dividends of employee stock ownership plans to be reinvested without loss of dividend deduction. (Sec. 1256) Revises the notice and consent period regarding distributions. Directs the Secretary to modify certain regulations to provide that the description of a participant's right, if any, to defer receipt of a distribution shall also describe the consequences of failing to defer such receipt. (Sec. 1257) Repeals a transition rule relating to certain highly compensated employees under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. (Sec. 1258) Directs the Secretary to modify certain regulations with respect to certain plan participation by employees of tax-exempt entities under the IRC. (Sec. 1259) Excludes qualified retirement planning services from gross income (as a fringe benefit). (Sec. 1260) Prescribes requirements for plan amendments or annuity contract amendments under the IRC. (Sec. 1261) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue model defined contribution and benefit plans that fit the needs of small businesses. (Sec. 1262) Directs the Secretary to provide for the filing of a simplified annual return in the case of a retirement plan covering less than 25 employees. (Sec. 1263) Directs the Secretary to continue to update and improve the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System. Title XIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Provisions Primarily Affecting Individuals - Provides that the exclusion of State or local government foster care payments from the gross income of foster care providers shall also apply to payments by qualifying placement agencies. (Sec. 1302) Excludes from an individual's gross income amounts received as reimbursement regarding the use of a passenger automobile for the benefit of a charitable organization. Relieves the organization of certain reporting requirements regarding the reimbursements. (Sec. 1303) Requires a W-2 to include employer Social Security taxes paid. Subtitle B: Provisions Primarily Affecting Businesses - Includes income from publicly traded partnerships as qualifying income of regulated investment companies. Excludes distributions from the source-based inclusion limitation applicable to other partnerships. (Sec. 1312) Applies specified passive activity provisions for publicly traded partnerships to regulated investment companies. (Sec. 1313) Makes certain large electric trucks, vans and buses eligible for the $50,000 deduction clean-fuel property deduction, but not the $4,000 electric vehicle credit. (Sec. 1314) Modifies the special rules concerning nuclear decommissioning costs. (Sec. 1315) Repeals certain provisions concerning the filing of consolidated returns by insurance companies. Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Excise Taxes - Combines the Hazardous Substance Superfund and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund (LUST) into the Environmental Remediation Trust Fund (established by this Act). (Sec. 1322) Repeals the: (1) LUST taxes on fuel used in trains; and (2) 4.3-cents- per-gallon General Fund excise tax on diesel fuel used by railroads and on fuels used by barges operating on designated inland waterways. (Sec. 1323) Repeals the excise tax on fishing tackle boxes. Subtitle D: Other Provisions - Amends IRC provisions concerning State private activity bond volume limits to repeal the adjustment for years after 1987. (Sec. 1332) Permits, in general, an electing Alaska Native Settlement Trust to exclude contributions, during the year of contribution, from the gross income of a beneficiary. Subtitle E: Tax Court Provisions - Authorizes the Tax Court to charge a filing fee of up to $60 in all cases commenced by petition. (Sec. 1342) Authorizes the Tax Court to make the $30 practice fee available to pro se taxpayers. (Sec. 1343) Permits the Tax Court to apply the doctrine of equitable recoupment to the same extent that it is available in civil tax cases. Title XIV: Extensions of Expiring Provisions - Extends, for five years, the: (1) research credit; (2) subpart F (Controlled Foreign Corporations) exemption for active income financing; (3) taxable income limit on percentage depletion for marginal oil and gas wells; and (4) work opportunity credit and the welfare-to-work credit. Title XV: Revenue Offsets - Amends provisions involving returns relating to the cancellation of indebtedness by certain entities to include within the definition of "applicable financial entity" any organization a significant trade or business of which is the lending of money. (Sec. 1502) Directs the Secretary to establish a program requiring the payment of user fees for requests to the IRS for ruling letters, opinion letters, determination letters, and other similar requests. Terminates fees October 1, 2007. (Sec. 1503) Modifies rules relating to the exemption of certain ten or more employer plans from welfare benefit fund provisions. (Sec. 1504) Increases the withholding rate for nonperiodic distributions from 10 to 15 percent. (Sec. 1505) Makes a controlled entity ineligible to be a REIT. Defines "controlled entity." (Sec. 1506) Treats a gain as an ordinary gain to the extent such gain exceeds the net underlying long-term capital gain where the taxpayer has gain from a constructive ownership transaction with respect to any financial position and such gain otherwise would be treated as a long-term capital gain. Provides that, to the extent such gain is treated as a long-term capital gain after the application of the previous sentence, the determination of the applicable capital gain rate (or rates) shall be determined on the basis of the respective rate (or rates) that would have been applicable to the net underlying long-term capital gain. Sets forth definitions and exceptions. (Sec. 1507) Prohibits transfers of excess pension assets to retiree health account made after September 30, 2009 (currently, after December 31, 2000), from being treated as qualified transfers. (Sec. 1508) Prohibits, in general, the use of the installment method of accounting for accrual method dispositions. Title XVI: Technical Corrections - Sets forth amendments concerning, among other things: (1) the Tax and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998; (2) the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998; (3) the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997; (4) the treatment of worthless securities of affiliated corporations; (5) the IRA contribution amount of the lesser earning spouse; (6) modified endowment contracts; (7) lump-sum distributions; and (8) tentative carryback adjustments of losses from section 1256 contracts.
Law· HRH.R. 2490 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of the Treasury Title II: Postal Service Title III: Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President Title IV: Independent Agencies Title V: General Provisions Title VI: General Provisions Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 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, 2000 - 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) the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; (7) violent crime reduction programs; (8) the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, including amounts for maintenance and facility improvements; (9) interagency crime and drug enforcement; (10) the Financial Management Service; (11) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; (12) the U.S. Customs Service, including an amount for operations and maintenance of marine vessels and aircraft; (13) the Bureau of the Public Debt; (14) 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. 116) Authorizes the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, from October 1, 1999, through January 1, 2003, to offer voluntary separation incentives to specified employees to carry out the plan to reorganize the Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. (Sec. 119) Permits the Commissioner of the Financial Management Service, from October 1, 1999, through January 31, 2000, to offer such incentives to specified employees to carry out the closure of the Chicago Financial Center in a manner deemed efficient, equitable to employees, and cost-effective. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, prior to obligating resources for voluntary separation incentive payments, to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a strategic plan outlining the intended use of such payments and a proposed organizational chart for the agency once such payments have been completed. Provides for approval of such plan by the OMB Director. Permits such payments only in accordance with the strategic plan. Reduces the total number of funded employee positions in the agency by one position for each vacancy created by the separation of any employee who has received such a payment unless OMB believes that the agency plan demonstrates that the positions would better be used to reallocate occupations or reshape the workforce and produce a more cost-effective result. Title II: Postal Service - Postal Service Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for payments 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, 2000 - Makes appropriations for: (1) compensation of thePresident 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) specialassistance to the President and the official residence of the Vice President; (5) the Council ofEconomic Advisers; (6) the Office of Policy Development; (7) the National Security Council; (8) the Office of Administration; (9) OMB; (10) the Office of National Drug Control Policy;(11) Federal drug control programs, including amounts for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and for a national anti-drug campaign for youth; and (12) unanticipated needs in furtherance of the national interest, security, or defense. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title IV: Independent Agencies - Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for the: (1) Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled; (2) Federal Election Commission; (3) Federal Labor Relations Authority; and (4) 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. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. 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, 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; (10) the Office of Special Counsel; and (11) the U.S. Tax Court. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Rescinds a specified amount of funds made available for the National Historical Publications And Records Commission grants program. Establishes a revolving fund in the Treasury to be available for expenses and equipment necessary to provide for storage and related services for all temporary and pre-archival Federal records to be stored or stored at Federal National and Regional Records Centers by Federal agencies. Appropriates funds for the fund's initial capitalization. Credits the fund with user charges received from other Federal Government accounts as payment for providing personnel, storage, materials, supplies, equipment, and services. Requires the National Archives and Records Administration to provide quarterly reports on the fund to specified congressional committees. 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 to pay 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. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated for Federal departments, agencies, and corporations. (Sec. 621) 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. 628) 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. 634) Prohibits the use of funds made available in any Act for the implementation of Federal criminal code provisions regarding a national instant criminal background check system unless the system allows, in connection with the delivery of a firearm to a Federal firearms licensee as collateral for a loan, the check to be performed at the time the collateral is offered and provided that: (1) the licensee notifies local law enforcement within 48 hours of receiving a denial on the person offering collateral; and (2) such criminal code provisions apply at the time of the firearm's redemption. (Sec. 635) 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. 638)Establishes a Chief Financial Officer within the Executive Office of the President, to be appointed by the President. (Sec. 639) Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to direct the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to promulgate a regulation requiring the electronic filing (accessible by computers) of any required designation, statement, or report, if the person required to file the designation, statement, or report has, or has reason to expect to have, aggregate contributions or expenditures in excess of an FEC-determined threshold amount. Requires the regulation to allow an electronic or alternative filing by any person not required to make such filing. Requires the FEC to make any filing accessible to the public on the Internet within 24 hours after receipt. (Sec. 640) Authorizes the FEC, in the case of a violation of any requirement for the reporting of receipts or disbursements: (1) to find (after written notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the record) that a person committed such a violation on the basis of information obtained pursuant to specified current procedures; and (2) based on such finding, to require the person to pay a civil money penalty in an amount determined under a schedule of penalties the FEC establishes and publishes, which takes into account the amount of the violation involved, the existence of previous violations by the person, and such other factors as the FEC considers appropriate. Provides for judicial review of any adverse determination in the appropriate U.S. district court. (Sec. 641) Requires election cycle reporting in the case of an authorized committee of a candidate for Federal office. (Sec. 643) Authorizes the use of appropriated funds by executive agencies to provide child care services for Federal civilian employees. (Sec. 644) Increases the President's annual compensation. (Sec. 646) Transfers all personnel of the General Accounting Office employed to carry out the functions of the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program to GSA. (Sec. 648) Expresses the sense of the Congress that there should continue to be parity between the adjustments in compensation of members of the uniformed services and U.S. civilian employees.
Bill· HRH.R. 2470 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1999
Medical Information Protection and Research Enhancement Act of 1999 - Title I: Individual's Rights - Subtitle A: Review of Protected Health Information by Subjects of the Information - Requires specified health entities in possession of protected health information to arrange (except in certain circumstances) for its inspection or copying upon the request of the individual subject of such information (subject individual). Prescribes procedures for: (1) notification upon request denial, including the reasons for such denial, and the concomitant review procedures; (2) requests by such individual to amend such information; and (3) conspicuous disclosure of such entities' confidentiality practices. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to develop model notices of confidentiality. Subtitle B: Establishment of Safeguards - Mandates: (1) administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for protected health information; (2) a record of any protected health information disclosures; and (3) identification of disclosed information as protected health information. Title II: Restrictions on Use and Disclosure - Prescribes guidelines for disclosure of protected health information with respect to: (1) authorizations for treatment, payment, and health care operations; (3) the individual's next of kin and directory information; (4) emergency circumstances; (5) certain oversight agencies; (6) public health authorities; (7) health researchers; (8) civil, judicial, and administrative procedures; (9) certain law enforcement procedures; (10) payment for health care through card or electronic means; (11) certain duly authorized representatives acting on behalf of a subject individual (including a deceased subject individual and a minor); and (12) certain business sales, transfers, or mergers. (Sec. 213) Precludes permissible disclosures from liability. Title III: Sanctions - Subtitle A: Criminal Provisions - Amends the Federal criminal code to impose criminal penalties for knowingly and intentionally obtaining or disclosing protected health information in violation of title II of this Act. Subtitle B: Civil Sanctions - Establishes civil monetary penalties for substantial and material failure to comply with this Act. (Sec. 312) Prescribes a procedure for imposition and judicial review of such penalties. (Sec. 313) Grants exclusive enforcement authority to the insurance commissioner of the life insurer's domicile State. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Preempts, subject to exceptions, any State law relating to matters covered by this Act. (Sec. 401) Authorizes the Secretaries of Defense and of Transportation to establish exceptions to the disclosure requirements of this Act with respect to Department of Defense and Coast Guard personnel, respectively, pursuant to the Secretaries' determination that exceptions are necessary for national defense purposes. (Sec. 403) Directs the National Research Council, in conjunction with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, to study and report to Congress on research issues relating to protected health information.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 242 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1999
Sets forth the rule (open) for the consideration of H.R. 2465 (Department of Defense appropriations).
Law· HRH.R. 2465 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1999
Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2000 - Appropriates funds for FY 2000 for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure functions administered by the Department of Defense (DOD), namely: (1) military construction for the Army, Navy, and Air Force; (2) military construction, DOD (including a transfer of funds); (3) military construction for the Army and Air National Guards; (4) military construction for the Army, Navy, and Air Force Reserves; (5) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program; (6) family housing for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force; (7) family housing, DOD; (8) the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund; and (9) the Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part IV. (Sec. 101) Specifies restrictions and authorizations regarding the use of funds appropriated in this Act and in other military construction appropriations Acts. (Sec. 113) Directs the Secretary of Defense to notify the appropriate congressional committees 30 days in advance of the plans and scope of any military exercise involving U.S. personnel if construction costs are anticipated to exceed $100,000. (Sec. 118) Provides for the transfer of lapsed unobligated military construction and family housing funds into the Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Defense account. (Sec. 119) Directs the Secretary to report to the congressional appropriations committees on actions proposed by DOD to encourage other member nations of NATO, Japan, Korea, and U.S. allies in the Arabian Gulf to assume a greater share of the common defense burden of such nations and the United States. (Sec. 121) Prohibits an entity from expending funds appropriated by this Act unless such entity agrees to comply with the Buy American Act. (Sec. 122) Expresses the sense of Congress that entities receiving assistance under this Act should expend such assistance only on American-made equipment and products. (Sec. 125) Authorizes the transfer of DOD funds for expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program under the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966. (Sec. 127) Earmarks funds provided in the 1999 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program. (Sec. 128) Reduces by specified amounts various military construction accounts. (Sec. 129) Directs the four service branches to submit to the appropriate congressional committees by June 1, 2000, a Family Housing Master Plan to address year 2010 housing goals with traditional construction, operation and maintenance support, and privatization initiative proposals.
Law· SS. 1324 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Amends Federal law which revised the boundary of Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania to include within such Park the Gettysburg property known as the Wills House.
Bill· SS. 1327 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Foster Care independence Act of 1999 - Title I: Improved Independent Living Program - Subtitle A: Improved Independent Living Program - Amends title IV (Grants for Dependent Children) Part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prescribe State plan contents pursuant to which a State may apply for funds from its allotment to establish an independent living program providing education, training, employment services and financial support for young adults leaving foster care. (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop performance measures and a data collection system. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Related Foster Care Provision - Increases the amount of assets allowable for children in foster care. Subtitle C: Medicaid Amendments - Grants States the option of providing Medicaid coverage for adolescents leaving foster care (independent foster care adolescents). Subtitle D: Welfare-To-Work Amendments - Makes children aging out of foster care eligible for welfare-to-work programs. Title II: SSI Fraud Prevention - Subtitle A: Fraud Prevention and Related Provisions - Amends SSA title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to subject representative payees to liability for overpayments made after a recipient's demise. Instructs the Commissioner of Social Security (the Commissioner) to establish an overpayment control record under the representative payee's Social Security account number. (Sec. 202) Provides for recovery of overpayments of SSI benefits from lump sum SSI benefit payments. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Commissioner to employ certain statutory debt collection practices to collect delinquent accounts. (Sec. 205) Sets forth additional rules relating to collection of overpayments from individuals convicted of crimes, including: (1) a ten-year period of ineligibility for persons failing to notify the Commissioner of overpayments in months in which the beneficiary is a prisoner or a fugitive, or fails to comply with a repayment schedule for such overpayments; and (2) continued collection efforts against prisoners. (Sec. 206) Sets forth a statutory mechanism for the treatment of assets held in trust in order to determine the resources of an individual in connection with SSI eligibility. Deems the corpus of a revocable trust established by an individual as a resource available to such individual. (Sec. 207) Revises guidelines governing criteria to deny SSI eligibility in connection with disposal of resources for less than fair market value. (Sec. 208) Prescribes administrative procedures for: (1) imposing penalties for false or misleading statements; and (2) excluding representatives and health care providers convicted of violations from participation in Social Security programs. (Sec. 211) Directs the Commissioner to: (1) study and report to certain congressional committees on possible measures to improve fraud prevention and administrative processing; (2) include in the annual budget an itemization of the amount of funds required to support efforts to combat fraud committed by applicants and beneficiaries; and (3) conduct periodic computer matches with Medicare and Medicaid institutionalization data. (Sec. 214) Authorizes the Commissioner to require applicants or beneficiaries to authorize access to information held by their financial institutions in order to ascertain benefits eligibility. Subtitle B: Benefits for Certain Veterans of World War II - Adds a new SSA title VIII (Special Benefits for Certain World War II Veterans) to provide monthly benefits for each month to certain qualified World War II veterans who reside outside the United States, including veterans of the organized military and guerrilla forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Makes appropriations for such benefits. Title III: Child Support - Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to repeal: (1) authority for the 90 percent Federal matching grant to the States for laboratory costs for paternity establishment; and (2) the hold harmless provision for State share of distribution of collected child support. Title IV: Technical Corrections - Sets for technical corrections relating to amendments to the Social Security Act made by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
Bill· SS. 1335 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Amends the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Defense (administering Secretaries) to expand and extend the Medicare subvention demonstration project for military retirees (a project providing reimbursement to the Secretary of Defense for Medicare health care services furnished to Medicare-eligible military retirees through the Department of Defense) if the administering Secretaries determine that: (1) such expansion and extension would be beneficial to such retirees and their dependents; and (2) project requirements are being met and will continue to be met if the project is expanded and extended. Requires the determination of such expansion and extension to be made between July 1, 1999, and January 1, 2000. Provides expansion rules and allows the administering Secretaries to extend the project by one or two years. Requires: (1) revision of the original operating agreement to reflect such expansion and extension, including an increase in the maximum reimbursement amount under the project; and (2) continued project evaluations and reports by the Comptroller General. Directs the administering Secretaries to provide retirees and dependents participating in the project with information regarding the applicable statutory protections for individuals who no longer participate in the project. Extends until January 1, 2001, the required date for the submission of a report from the administering Secretaries to Congress regarding the extension and expansion of the project.
Bill· SS. 1338 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Naval Air Station Fallon Ranges, Nevada Title II: Nellis Air Force Range, Nevada Title III: Barry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona Title IV: Military Use of Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge Title V: Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright Training Ranges, Alaska Title VI: McGregor Range, Fort Bliss, New Mexico Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 - Terminates, upon the enactment of this Act, all withdrawals made under the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1986. Title I: Naval Air Station Fallon Ranges, Nevada - Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws specified lands and land interests within the Naval Air Station Fallon Ranges, Nevada. Transfers such lands and interests to the Secretary of the Navy for specified military uses. (Sec. 102) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish and file a map and legal description of the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to close areas of such lands as necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Directs the Secretaries of the Navy and the Interior to jointly prepare an integrated natural resources management plan for the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into memoranda of understanding or cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, Indian tribes, or other public or private organizations or institutions as necessary to implement such plan. Provides for the management and use of mineral resources on the withdrawn lands. Requires joint reports from such Secretaries concurrent with each plan review describing changes in the condition of the withdrawn lands. Directs such Secretaries to establish an intergovernmental executive committee for exchanging views, information, and advice relating to the management of the natural and cultural resources on the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the transfer back to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibility over such withdrawn lands if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such lands are not being used for military purposes and that such failure is resulting in significant degradation of the natural and cultural resources of such lands; (2) the Secretary of the Navy is notified of, and given a reasonable period of time to correct, such deficiencies; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such deficiencies have not been corrected within such period. (Sec. 105) Makes the Secretary of the Navy responsible for all applicable environmental requirements on such lands during the withdrawal period, including any required environmental remediation. (Sec. 106) Terminates such withdrawal and reservation 25 years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary of the Navy, at least three years prior to such withdrawal termination, to notify Congress and the Secretary of the Interior whether the Navy will have a continuing military need, beyond the termination date, for any part of the withdrawn lands and, if so, to file an application for an extension of the withdrawal period. (Sec. 108) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to notify the Secretary of the Interior of the intention to relinquish any or all of such withdrawn lands during the withdrawal period due to the lack of continuing military need for such lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept jurisdiction over such lands, under certain conditions. (Sec. 109) Authorizes the delegation of the authority of the Secretaries of the Navy and the Interior for actions taken under this title. (Sec. 110) Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Nellis Air Force Range, Nevada - Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws specified lands and land interests within the Nellis Air Force Range, Nevada. Transfers such lands and interests to the Secretary of the Air Force for specified military uses. Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws all lands of the Pahute Mesa within the Nevada Test and Training Range, to be reserved for use by the Secretary of Energy. (Sec. 202) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish and file a map and legal description of the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to close areas of lands withdrawn for such Secretary as necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Directs the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Interior to jointly prepare an integrated natural resources management plan for the lands withdrawn for the Secretary of the Air Force. Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into memoranda of understanding or cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, Indian tribes, or other public or private organizations or institutions as necessary to implement such plan. Provides for the management and use of mineral resources on the withdrawn lands. Requires joint reports from such Secretaries, concurrent with each plan review, describing changes in the condition of such withdrawn lands. Directs such Secretaries to establish an intergovernmental executive committee for exchanging views, information, and advice relating to the management of the natural and cultural resources on the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the transfer back to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibility over such withdrawn lands if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such lands are not being used for military purposes and that such failure is resulting in significant degradation of the natural and cultural resources of such lands; (2) the Secretary of the Air Force is notified of, and given a reasonable period of time to correct, such deficiencies; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such deficiencies have not been corrected within such period. (Sec. 204) Provides for management by the Secretary of the Interior of that portion of the Desert National Wildlife Range withdrawn under this title. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Air Force for replacement of Refuge System lands in Nevada transferred to such Secretary under this title. (Sec. 205) Makes the Secretary of the Air Force responsible for all applicable environmental requirements on such lands during the withdrawal period, including any required environmental remediation. (Sec. 206) Terminates such withdrawal and reservation 25 years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 207) Directs the Secretary of the Air Force, at least three years prior to such withdrawal termination, to notify Congress and the Secretary of the Interior whether the Air Force will have a continuing military need, beyond the termination date, of any part of the withdrawn lands and, if so, to file an application for an extension of the withdrawal period. (Sec. 208) Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to notify the Secretary of the Interior of the intention to relinquish any or all of such withdrawn lands during the withdrawal period due to the lack of continuing military need for such lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept jurisdiction over such lands, under certain conditions. (Sec. 209) Authorizes the delegation of the authority of the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Interior for actions taken under this title. (Sec. 210) Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Barry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona - Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws all lands and land interests within the Barry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona. Transfers such lands and interests to the Secretaries of the Navy (East Range) and Air Force (West Range) for specified military uses. (Sec. 302) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish and file a map and legal description of the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the Secretaries of the Navy or Air Force to close areas of lands withdrawn for their respective use as necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Directs the Secretaries of the Navy, Air Force, and the Interior to jointly prepare an integrated natural resources management plan for the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy and Air Force to enter into memoranda of understanding or cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, Indian tribes, or other public or private organizations or institutions as necessary to implement such plan. Provides for the management and use of mineral resources on the withdrawn lands. Requires joint reports from such Secretaries concurrent with each plan review describing changes in the condition of such withdrawn lands. Directs such Secretaries to establish an intergovernmental executive committee for exchanging views, information, and advice relating to the management of natural and cultural resources on the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the transfer back to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibility over such withdrawn lands if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such lands are not being used for military purposes and that such failure is resulting in significant degradation of the natural and cultural resources on such lands; (2) the Secretary of the Navy or Air Force is notified of, and given a reasonable period of time to correct, such deficiencies; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such deficiencies have not been corrected within such period. (Sec. 304) Makes the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force responsible for all applicable environmental requirements on such lands during the withdrawal period, including any required environmental remediation. (Sec. 305) Terminates such withdrawal and reservation 25 years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 306) Directs the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force, at least three years prior to such withdrawal termination, to notify Congress and the Secretary of the Interior whether the Navy or Air Force will have a continuing need, beyond the termination date, of any part of the withdrawn lands and, if so, to file an application for an extension of the withdrawal period. (Sec. 307) Directs the Secretary of the Navy or Air Force to notify the Secretary of the Interior of the intention to relinquish any or all of such withdrawn lands during the withdrawal period due to the lack of continuing military need for such lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept jurisdiction over such lands, under certain conditions. (Sec. 308) Authorizes the delegation of the authority of the Secretaries of the Navy, Air Force, and Interior for actions taken under this title. (Sec. 309) Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Military Use of Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to manage Cabeza Prieta for the purposes for which such refuge and wilderness were established, and to support current and future military aviation training needs consistent with a 1994 Memorandum of Understanding between the Departments of the Interior and the Air Force. Directs the Secretaries of the Interior, Navy, and Air Force to extend such Memorandum for a period that coincides with the duration of the withdrawal and reservation of the Barry M. Goldwater Range under title III of this Act. Requires such Memorandum to be amended to meet future military aviation training needs of the Navy and Air Force. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force, during the duration of the Goldwater Range withdrawal, to maintain a program of decontamination of the portions of Cabeza Prieta used for military training purposes at least at the level of cleanup currently achieved on such lands. (Sec. 403) Provides for the closure to the public of any portion of Cabeza Prieta that the Secretary of the Navy or Air Force determines to be necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Title V: Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright Training Ranges, Alaska - Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws specified lands within the Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright Training Ranges in Alaska. Transfers such withdrawn lands to the Secretary of the Army for specified military purposes. (Sec. 502) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish and file a map and legal description of the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 503) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to close areas of such withdrawn lands as necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Interior to jointly prepare an integrated natural resources management plan for the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into memoranda of understanding or cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, Indian tribes, or other public or private organizations or institutions as necessary to implement such plan. Provides for the management and use of mineral resources on the withdrawn lands. Requires joint reports from such Secretaries concurrent with each plan review describing changes in the condition of such withdrawn lands. Directs such Secretaries to establish an intergovernmental executive committee for exchanging views, information, and advice relating to the management of natural and cultural resources on the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the transfer back to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibility over such withdrawn lands if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such lands are not being used for military purposes and that such failure is resulting in significant degradation of the natural and cultural resources on such lands; (2) the Secretary of the Army is notified of, and given a reasonable period of time to correct, such deficiencies; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such deficiencies have not been corrected within such period. (Sec. 504) Makes the Secretary of the Army responsible for all applicable environmental requirements on such lands, including any required environmental remediation. (Sec. 505) Terminates such withdrawal and reservation 25 years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 506) Directs the Secretary of the Army, at least three years prior to such withdrawal termination, to notify Congress and the Secretary of the Interior whether the Army will have a continuing need, beyond the termination date, of any part of the withdrawn lands and, if so, to file an application for an extension of the withdrawal period. (Sec. 507) Directs the Secretary of the Army to notify the Secretary of the Interior of the intention to relinquish any or all of such withdrawn lands during the withdrawal period due to the lack of continuing military need for such lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept jurisdiction over such lands, under certain conditions. (Sec. 508) Authorizes the delegation of the authority of the Secretaries of the Army and the Interior for actions taken under this title. (Sec. 509) Authorizes appropriations. Title VI: McGregor Range, Fort Bliss, New Mexico - Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws specified lands in Otero County, New Mexico, and located within the McGregor Range. (Sec. 602) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to file a map and legal description of the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 603) Directs the Secretary of the Army to manage the withdrawn lands and to use them for military training and testing. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to close areas as necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Interior to jointly prepare an integrated natural resources management plan for the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into memoranda of understanding or cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, Indian tribes, or other public or private organizations or institutions as necessary to implement such plan. Provides for the management and use of mineral resources on the withdrawn lands. Requires joint reports from such Secretaries concurrent with each plan review describing changes in the condition of such withdrawn lands. Directs such Secretaries to establish an intergovernmental executive committee for exchanging views, information, and advice relating to the management of natural and cultural resources on the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the transfer back to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibility over such withdrawn lands if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such lands are not being used for military purposes and that such failure is resulting in significant degradation of the natural and cultural resources on such lands; (2) the Secretary of the Army is notified of, and given a reasonable period of time to correct, such deficiencies; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such deficiencies have not been corrected within such period. (Sec. 604) Makes the Secretary of the Army responsible for all applicable environmental requirements on such lands during the withdrawal period, including any required environmental remediation. (Sec. 605) Terminates such withdrawal and reservation 25 years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 606) Directs the Secretary of the Army, at least three years prior to such withdrawal termination, to notify Congress and the Secretary of the Interior whether the Army will have a continuing need, beyond the termination date, of any part of the withdrawn lands and, if so, to file an application for an extension of the withdrawal period. (Sec. 607) Directs the Secretary of the Army to notify the Secretary of the Interior of the intention to relinquish any or all of such withdrawn lands during the withdrawal period due to the lack of continuing military need for such lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept jurisdiction over such lands, under certain conditions. (Sec. 608) Authorizes the delegation of the authority of the Secretaries of the Army and the Interior for actions taken under this title. (Sec. 609) Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2459 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal to General Wesley Clark in recognition of his exemplary performance as a military leader in coordinating the planning, strategy, and execution of the United States and NATO combat action and his invaluable contributions to the United States and to the successful return to peace in the Balkans as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and Commander-in-Chief, United States European Command. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2415 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorizations of Appropriations Title II: Department of State Authorities and Activities Title III: Organization of the Department of State; Personnel of the Department of State; Foreign Service Title IV: United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs Title V: International Broadcasting Title VI: International Organizations and Commissions Title VII: General Provisions American Embassy Security Act of 1999 - Title I: Authorizations of Appropriations - Chapter 1: Department of State - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of State for FY 2000 for: (1) the administration of foreign affairs; (2) contributions to international organizations and international peacekeeping activities; (3) international commissions; (4) migration and refugee assistance (including for the Kosovar refugees along the Albania and Macedonia border under the Front Line States Initiative); (5) public diplomacy programs; (6) certain voluntary contributions to international organizations; and (7) the Asia Foundation. Withholds a certain amount of funds from the United Nations Development Program that will be spent in Burma during each fiscal year unless the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the Program's activities in Burma: (1) are focused on eliminating human suffering and addressing the needs of the poor; (2) are undertaken only through international or private voluntary organizations that are independent of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) (formerly known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)); (3) provide no financial, political, or military benefit to the SPDC; and (4) are carried out only after consultation with the leadership of the National League for Democracy and the national Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. Limits the U.S. voluntary contributions to international organizations for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Makes such funds available only if: (1) UNFPA maintains funds available to it in a separate account; (2) it does not commingle such funds; and (3) it does not fund abortions. Prohibits the use of funds for UNFPA for a country program in China. Withholds the funds from UNFPA that would be spent on a country program in China during each fiscal year unless the Secretary of State (Secretary) certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the UNFPA country program in China: (1) focuses on improving the delivery of voluntary family planning information and services; (2) is designed in conformity with the human rights principles affirmed at the International Conference on Population and Development; (3) is implemented only in Chinese counties where all quotas and targets for recruitment of program participants have been abolished and the use of coercive measures has been eliminated; (4) is subject to regular independent monitoring to ensure compliance with the principles of informed consent and voluntary participation; and (5) suspends operations in project counties found to be in violation of program guidelines. Chapter 2: Broadcasting Board of Governors - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 for the Broadcasting Board of Governors to carry out certain international broadcasting activities. Title II: Department of State Authorities and Activities - Chapter 1: Authorities and Activities - Authorizes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, subject to the availability of appropriations, to lease commercial aircraft to transport equipment and personnel in the event of a terrorist attack abroad, provided there have been reasonable efforts to obtain appropriate Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft and such aircraft are unavailable. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the extent of international drug trafficking from, through, or over Cuba. (Sec. 203) Amends the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 to extend through FY 2000 the requirement that the Secretary report to the appropriate congressional committees on the compliance by the parties with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Requires the report to include: (1) a list of countries in which there are unresolved applications for the return of children of U.S. citizens who are being wrongfully retained in violation of U.S. court orders, or which have failed to comply with their obligations under the Convention with respect to applications for the return of such children, access to them, or both; and (2) a list of countries party to the Convention in which, due to the absence of a effective method for enforcement of civil court orders, the absence of comity, or other factors, there is a substantial possibility that an order of return or access under a Hague Convention proceeding, or a U.S. custody, access, or visitation order, will not be promptly enforced. (Sec. 204) Amends specified Federal laws to repeal requirements for certain reports. (Sec. 205) Amends the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (as enacted by division G of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999) to make permanent certain reporting requirements, including reports on: (1) claims by U.S. firms against the Government of Saudi Arabia; (2) certain determinations under title IV of the Libertad Act; and (3) relations with Vietnam. Extends through January 1, 2002, the requirement that the President report to specified congressional committees on cooperative projects with Russia in the area of ballistic missile defense, including in the area of early warning. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary to attempt, through negotiations with all Wassenaar Arrangement countries, to achieve the foreign policy goal of an international arms sales code of conduct that restricts or prohibits arms transfers to countries that: (1) do not respect democratic processes and the rule of law; (2) do not adhere to internationally recognized norms on human rights; (3) are engaged in acts of armed aggression; or (4) do not participate in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. Directs the Secretary to report on the progress of such negotiations, and the extent to which each country meets the requirements of this section, to the appropriate congressional committees. (Sec. 207) Establishes within the Department of State the Human Rights and Democracy Fellowship Program. Provides for the employment of between six and 12 fellows in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor who have expertise in human rights policy, human rights law, or related subjects and who are not permanent employees of the U.S. Government. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 208) Authorizes interest accrued on certain joint funds under agreements for cooperation in environmental, scientific, cultural and related areas to be used by the Department of State without return to the Treasury and without further appropriation by Congress. (Sec. 209) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on international extradition. (Sec. 210) Directs the Secretary to establish a regulatory regime of expedited approval for the licensing for export of satellites, satellite technologies, components, and systems to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, major non-NATO allies, and other friendly countries. Earmarks specified funds for the Office of Defense Trade Controls. Chapter 2: Consular and Related Activities - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to revise provisions concerning the State Department and the death of U.S. citizens abroad. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) notification of next of kin by consular officers; (2) the appointment of such officers as administrators of the estate; and (3) losses in connection with the conservation of the estate. (Sec. 253) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 with respect to fees charged for processing machine readable nonimmigrant visas and machine readable combined border crossing identification cards and nonimmigrant visas. Makes any fee collections that exceed certain amounts for FY 2000 through 2002 available to any State Department appropriation to recover the costs of providing consular services only if Congress is notified in accordance with specified reprogramming notification procedures. Repeals: (1) provisions making inapplicable certain requirements concerning accounting for consular fees to fees collected under this section; and (2) the prohibition against the charging of fees to citizens of countries signatory to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). (Sec. 254) Declares it should be State Department policy to process immigrant visa applications of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant k-1 visa applications of fiances of U.S. citizens within 30 days (60 days for other than immediate relative) of the receipt of all necessary documents from the applicant and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Directs the Secretary to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on the extent to which the State Department is meeting such policy standards. Directs the Secretary to establish a joint task force with the goal of reducing the overall processing time for visa applications. (Sec. 255) Repeals a provision concerning the return of passport fees upon refusal to vise'. (Sec. 256) Authorizes the Secretary to charge a fee for services provided by the State Department to an individual for assistance in the preparation and filing of an affidavit of support to ensure that it is properly completed before a consular officer considers it and an immigrant visa application. Chapter 3: Refugees - Bars the use of funds (including migration and refugee assistance) for the involuntary return of a person to a country in which the person has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. (Sec. 272) Requires a certain human rights report in connection with the provision of security assistance to a foreign country to include the extent to which such country has extended protection to refugees (including the provision of first asylum and resettlement). (Sec. 273) Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to include State Department employees together with Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel within guidelines that address potential biases by such personnel who are hired abroad and involved with duties which could constitute a barrier to a refugee claim if they carry a bias against the claimant on the grounds of religion, race, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Directs the Secretary to issue guidelines to ensure that persons with potential biases against a refugee applicant (including persons employed by, or otherwise subject to influence by, governments known to be involved in such persecution) shall not be used in processing determinations of refugee status, including interpretation of conversations or examination of documents presented by such applicants. (Sec. 274) Bars the use of funds to support a larger number of personnel assigned to U.S. diplomatic or consular posts in Vietnam than the number assigned to such posts on March 22, 1999, unless the Secretary certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that certain conditions with respect to Vietnamese refugees have been met. Title III: Organization of the Department of State; Personnel of the Department of State; Foreign Service - Chapter 1: Organization of the Department of State - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish within the Department of State the Bureau for International Information Programs and the Bureau for Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs. (Sec. 302) Amends specified Federal laws to remove the Inspector General of the Foreign Service from their provisions. Chapter 2: Personnel of the Department of State - Provides for the award of the Foreign Service Star to an individual whose death occurs while overseas while a member of the Foreign Service or a civilian employee of the U.S. Government. (Sec. 322) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to eliminate provisions allowing leaves of absence with pay in accordance with prevailing law and employment practices in the locality of employment for non-family members of foreign national employees of the Foreign Service and U.S. citizens hired abroad for employment in positions customarily filled by Foreign Service employees. (Sec. 323) Requires a Foreign Service employee who regularly commutes from his or her place of residence in the United States to an official duty station in Canada or Mexico to receive a border equalization adjustment (locality pay adjustment). (Sec. 324) Declares that nothing shall prevent a Foreign Service grievant from placing a rebuttal to accompany a record of disciplinary action in such grievant's personnel records nor prevent the Department of State from including a response to such rebuttal, including documenting those cases in which the Foreign Service Labor Relations Board has reviewed and upheld the discipline. (Sec. 325) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees concerning the extent to which administrative and technical personnel posted to U.S. missions abroad who do not have diplomatic status suffer financial disadvantages from their lack of such status, including proposals to alleviate such disadvantages. (Sec. 326) Authorizes the Secretary to extend hiring authority to the heads of Federal agencies or other Government entities to appoint individuals abroad (including family members of the Foreign Service or of other Government employees) to positions to which career Foreign Service employees are not customarily assigned. (Sec. 327) Amends Federal law to authorize up to three months advance pay to: (1) an employee (other than an employee appointed by the Secretary and employed as a family member of a Government employee) who is a U.S. citizen, stationed outside the United States, and requires (or has a family member who requires) medical treatment outside the United States; and (2) a foreign national employee or nonfamily member U.S. citizen who is located, and must undergo medical treatment, outside of the country of employment. (Sec. 328) Authorizes the spouse and dependents of Foreign Service employees who have died at post in a foreign country to receive a transfer allowance (extraordinary, necessary, and reasonable subsistence and other relocation expenses) for their return to the United States. (Sec. 329) Amends Federal law to provide for an education allowance to an employee at a post in a foreign area not to exceed the cost of obtaining kindergarten, elementary and secondary educational services, plus room and board, where adequate schools are not available at the post of the employee, and periodic transportation between that post and the school chosen by the employee, not to exceed the total cost to the Government of the dependent attending an adequate school in the nearest locality where an adequate school is available. (Currently, an employee can receive an allowance only for a school at the nearest locality). (Sec. 330) Changes from annual to quadrennial the Secretary's report to the Speaker of the House and to a specified congressional committee on, among other things, a Foreign Service workforce plan for the subsequent five years, including projected personnel needs, by grade and by skill. (Sec. 331) Directs the Secretary to examine the current benefit structure for survivors of Government employees who are killed while serving at U.S. diplomatic facilities abroad as a result of terrorism. Title IV: United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs - Amends the Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996 to designate educational and cultural exchange programs between the United States and Tibet as the Ngawang Choephel Exchange Programs. (Sec. 401) Extends through FY 2000 scholarships for Tibetan and Burmese students and professionals who live outside Tibet and Burma, respectively. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary (currently, the Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA)), in carry out programs of educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy (including but not limited to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet, and Burma), to: (1) include, as a substantial proportion of the participants in such programs, nationals of such countries who have demonstrated a commitment to freedom and democracy; (2) consult with human rights and democracy advocates from such countries on the selection of participants and grantees for such programs; and (3) select grantees for such programs only after a competitive process and specified other conditions are met. (Sec. 403) Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to prohibit the Secretary (currently, the United States Information Agency (USIA)) from awarding any grant with respect to educational and cultural exchange programs until 45 days (currently, 15 days) after notice is provided to specified congressional committees of the intent to award such grant. (Sec. 404) Directs the Secretary, in coordination with other appropriate executive branch officials, to take all appropriate steps to prevent foreign espionage agents from participating in educational and cultural exchange programs under such Act. Directs the Secretary to take all appropriate steps to ensure that no individual, who is employed by an office or department involved with the research, development, or production of missiles or weapons of mass destruction, from a country identified as a country involved in the proliferation of missiles or weapons of mass destruction, is a participant in any such programs. (Sec. 405) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to: (1) rename the North-South Center Act of 1991 as the Dante B. Fascell North-South Center Act of 1991; and (2) redesignate the North-South Center as the Dante B. Fascell North-South Center. (Sec. 406) Repeals a specified section of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 calling for the abolition of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (effectively continuing the Commission). (Sec. 407) Prohibits the State Department (currently, the USIA) from expending any funds for a U.S. Government funded pavilion or other major exhibit at any international exposition or world's fair registered by the Bureau of International Expositions in excess of amounts expressly authorized and appropriated, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 408) Directs the Secretary to take all appropriate steps to ensure that members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) are not participants in any educational or cultural exchange program or training through the National Academy program at Quantico, Virginia, under the auspices of the State Department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, unless the President certifies: (1) that complete and independent investigations of the murders of defense attorneys Rosemary Nelson and Patrick Finucane have been initiated by the Government of the United Kingdom; and (2) that such government has taken appropriate steps to protect defense attorneys against RUC harassment in Northern Ireland. Title V: International Broadcasting - Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to make permanent the authorization of funding for Radio Free Asia. Repeals Radio Free Asia funding limits. (Sec. 502) Repeals policy statements urging the privatization of Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, Incorporated (RFE-RL). Raises the limit on grant amounts to RFE-RL, Incorporated. (Sec. 503) Grants immunity from civil liability to members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors when acting in their capacities as members of the board of directors of RFE-RL, Incorporated and Radio Free Asia. Title VI: International Organizations and Commissions - Provides for the appointment of members as part of the American delegation to a conference or assembly of the Bureau of the Interparliamentary Union, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), the Mexico-United States Interparliamentary Group, the North Atlantic Assembly, or any similar interparliamentary group whenever either house of Congress does not appoint its allotment of members to the American delegation. Renames the United States-European Community Interparliamentary Group as the Transatlantic Legislative Dialogue. (Sec. 602) Authorizes the Commissioner of the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission to provide technical tests, evaluations, information, surveys, or other similar services to State or local governments upon request on a reimbursable basis. (Sec. 603) Amends the American-Mexican Chamizal Convention Act of 1964 to authorize the Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission to receive payments of money from public or private sources in the United States or Mexico for the purpose of sharing in the cost of operations and maintenance of the Bridge of the Americas which crosses the Rio Grande between El Paso, Texas, and Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua. (Sec. 604) Declares that Congress: (1) commends the State Department for the vote of the United States against United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10-6 affirming that the text of such resolution politicizes the Fourth Geneva Convention which was primarily humanitarian in nature; and (2) urges the State Department to continue its efforts against convening the conference. Title VII: General Provisions - Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States: (1) should increase its support to democracy and human rights activists in Cuba; and (2) should substantially increase funding for programs and activities designed to support such activists and others in Cuba who are committed to peaceful and democratic change there. (Sec. 702) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) in light of the extraordinary actions taken by the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the importance of a Cyprus settlement to American security interests, the United States should do all that is possible to bring about commensurate actions by Turkey; (2) the time has come for the United States to expect from Turkey actions on the Cyprus issue in the interest of peace, including steps in conformity with U.S. proposals concerning Cyprus and in compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1217 and 1218; and (3) such an effort would also be in the best interest of the Turkey people, as well as all others involved.
Bill· HRH.R. 2435 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Amends Federal law which revised the boundary of Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania to include within such Park the Gettysburg property known as the Wills House.
Bill· HRH.R. 2436 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 1999 - Provides that: (1) whoever engages in conduct that violates specified provisions of the Federal criminal code, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or specified articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (conduct constituting certain Federal violent crimes), and thereby causes the death of, or bodily injury to, a child who is in utero, shall be guilty of a separate offense; and (2) the punishment for that separate offense shall be the same as that provided under Federal law for that conduct had that injury or death occurred to the unborn child's mother, except that the death penalty shall not be imposed. Bars prosecution under this Act for conduct relating to an abortion: (1) for which the consent of the pregnant woman has been obtained or for which such consent is implied by law in a medical emergency; (2) for conduct relating to any medical treatment of the pregnant woman or her unborn child; or (3) of any woman with respect to her unborn child.
Bill· HRH.R. 2452 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Abolishment of Department of Commerce Title II: Disposition of Programs, Functions, and Agencies of Department of Commerce Title III: Establishment of United States Trade Administration Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: United States Trade Administration Title IV: Statistical Consolidation Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Establishment of the Federal Statistical Service Subtitle C: Transfers of Functions and Offices Subtitle D: Administrative Provisions Subtitle E: Miscellaneous Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions Department of Commerce Elimination Act - Title I: Abolishment of Department of Commerce - Abolishes the Department of Commerce (Department). Transfers all Department functions to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before the applicable date of abolishment, which is the earlier of: (1) the last day of the six-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act; or (2) September 30, 1999. (Sec. 103) Sets forth requirements for the resolution of all Department functions. Terminates all functions that are transferred to the Director that are not otherwise continued by this Act on the last day of the three-year period beginning on the date of enactment. (Sec. 104) Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) the OMB Director's responsibilities during the resolution and termination of functions; and (2) transfer of Department personnel. (Sec. 106) Provides for the submission of specified reports. (Sec. 107) Requires General Accounting Office (GAO) audits of: (1) persons performing functions or activities pursuant to this Act; and (2) persons providing certain goods or services to, or receiving financial assistance from, persons performing functions or activities pursuant to this Act. (Sec. 109) Sets forth provisions for privatizing transferred functions designated for privatization under Title II of this Act. (Sec. 110) Amends Federal law concerning Government organization and employees to require affected agencies to establish agencywide priority placement programs for Federal employees affected by a reduction in force attributable to this Act. (Sec. 111) Limits the total amount authorized to be appropriated as funding related to the performance of functions transferred to the Director or to OMB from the Department to not exceed: (1) for the first fiscal year that begins after the abolishment date, 75 percent of the total amount of funding appropriated to the Department for FY 1999; and (2) for the second fiscal year that begins after the abolishment date and for each fiscal year thereafter, 65 percent of the total amount appropriated to the Department for FY 1999. Title II: Disposition of Programs, Functions, and Agencies of Department of Commerce - Repeals the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 and transfers all financial obligations owned by the Department under such Act to the Department of the Treasury. Requires an audit by the Comptroller General of all Department grants made under such Act in FY 1999. (Sec. 202) Terminates the Technology Administration and the Office of Technology Policy. Redesignates the National Institute of Standards and Technology as the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). Transfers: (1) the NBS to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reestablished under this Act; (2) all functions relating to the Bureau that were functions of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) or the Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology to the NBS Director; and (3) all functions of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) to the OMB Director for privatization. Provides for the reestablishment of NTIS as a wholly owned Government corporation if an arrangement for privatization of the functions of the NTIS has not been made. (Sec. 203) Transfers all functions of the Secretary relating to the Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis to the Federal Statistical Service established under this Act. (Sec. 204) Terminates assistance to: (1) public telecommunications; (2) educational television programs; and (3) telecommunications demonstrations. Repeals establishment of the National Endowment for Children's Educational Television (thus abolishing it). Transfers: (1) National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) laboratories to the OMB Director for privatization; (2) NTIA functions concerning the research and analysis of the electromagnetic spectrum to the NBS Director; and (3) functions of the NTIA, and of the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Communications and Information with respect to NTIA to the Federal Communications Commission. Provides for the transfer of NTIA laboratories to the reestablished NOAA if an arrangement for privatization of the laboratories has not been made. Abolishes the NTIA. (Sec. 205) Terminates specified miscellaneous NOAA research programs. Transfers from the NOAA: (1) aeronautical mapping and charting functions to the Transportation Administrative Services Center at the Department of Transportation; (2) functions relating to mapping, charting, and geodesy authorized under a certain Act to the Army Corps of Engineers; (3) all functions and assets performed by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information System to the reestablished NOAA; (4) all functions and assets (including global programs) performed by the NOAA that were authorized to be performed by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to the reestablished NOAA; and (5) all functions and assets of the NOAA that are authorized to be performed by the National Weather Service to the reestablished NOAA. Prohibits: (1) funding for the NOAA Corps of commissioned officers after FY 1997; and (2) allowing individuals to serve as such commissioned officers after FY 1997. Provides for the establishment of a priority placement program by NOAA to assist commissioned officers who are separated from the active list because of the termination. Abolishes on September 30, 2002: (1) the Office of the NOAA Administration Corps of Operations or its successor; and (2) the Commissioned Personnel Center. Sets forth service contract provisions with respect to the NOAA Administration Fleet. Directs the Administrator of Oceans and Atmosphere to: (1) use excess capacity of University National Oceanographic Laboratory System vessels; and (2) enter into memoranda of agreement with the operators of such vessels. Transfers certain excess vessels to the National Defense Reserve Fleet. Transfers to the: (1) NOAA all functions authorized to be performed by the National Marine Fisheries Service; (2) reestablished NOAA all functions performed by the National Ocean Service, including the Coastal Ocean Program; and (3) Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency coastal nonpoint pollution functions that are vested in the Secretary under the Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. (Sec. 206) Reestablishes as an independent agency in the executive branch the NOAA. Provides for administration of NOAA, and all functions and offices transferred to the new NOAA, under the supervision and direction of an Administrator of Oceans and Atmosphere. Transfers to the new NOAA: (1) the functions and offices of NOAA; (2) the NBS along with its functions and offices; and (3) the Office of Space Commerce, along with its functions and offices. Terminates NOAA and certain other agency offices affected by the transfer. (Sec. 207) Terminates: (1) the Minority Business Development Administration; (2) NTIA programs and activities mentioned in section 204 of this Act; (2) the Advanced Technology Program; (3) the Manufacturing Extension Programs; (4) the NIST METRIC Program; and (5) the Economics and Statistics Administration. Title III: Establishment of United States Trade Administration - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Sets forth definitions. Subtitle B: United States Trade Administration - Chapter 1: Establishment - Reestablishes the Trade Administration in the executive branch as an independent establishment to be headed by the Trade Representative who shall retain ambassador rank and represent the United States in all trade negotiations conducted by the Trade Administration. Directs the Trade Representative to serve as the principal adviser to the President on international trade policy, along with certain additional trade related functions, including those under Chapter 3. Chapter 2: Officers - Sets forth provisions related to Trade Administration management positions and related functions, among other things establishing three Deputy U.S. Trade Representatives: (1) the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Negotiations (with ambassador rank); (2) the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative to the World Trade Organization (with ambassador rank); and (3) the U.S. Trade Representative for Administration (acts for and exercises the functions of the Trade Representative during the absence, disability, or vacancy of the Trade Representative and exercises all transferred or established Trade Administration functions, except those functions exercised by certain Trade Administration officials). (Sec. 322) Establishes four Assistant Administrators to exercise certain transferred Department functions under the direction of the Deputy Trade Representative for Administration: (1) the Assistant Administrator for Export Administration; (2) the Assistant Administrator for Import Administration; (3) the Assistant Administrator for Trade and Policy Analysis; and (4) the Assistant Administrator for Export Promotion (with ambassador rank). Creates the position of chief financial officer to perform all functions prescribed by the Deputy Trade Representative for Administration under the direction of such Deputy. Chapter 3: Transfers to the Trade Administration - Abolishes the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Transfers to the Trade Administration Federal trade functions, including those of the Department, the Trade and Development Agency, the Export-Import Bank, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Amends the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to reestablish the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service within the Trade Administration (currently, such Service is in the International Trade Administration of the Department) and to revise certain functions of the Trade and Development Program with respect to the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. (Sec. 336) Directs the President to: (1) transmit to the Congress a comprehensive plan to consolidate Federal nonagricultural export promotion and financing activities; and (2) transfer those functions to the Trade Administration. (Sec. 337) Transfers: (1) functions of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) to the Trade Administration; and (2) other functions of CITA related to the assessment of the impact of textile imports on domestic industry to the International Trade Commission. Abolishes CITA. Chapter 4: Administrative Provisions - Sets out Trade Representative related administrative provisions pertaining to personnel and other miscellaneous administrative matters, including those relating to a working capital fund for administrative expenses. Chapter 5: Related Agencies - Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the National Security Act of 1947, and the Bretton Woods Agreement Act to make miscellaneous and conforming changes to complete the consolidation and streamlining process described above. Chapter 6: Conforming Amendments - Makes miscellaneous technical and conforming amendments to various specified provisions of Federal law, including those relating to executive schedule positions. Chapter 7: Miscellaneous - Limits the total amount appropriated in the performance of all functions vested in the Trade Representative and the Trade Administration to not exceed: (1) for the first fiscal year that begins after the effective date, 75 percent of the total amount appropriated in FY 1999; and (2) for the second fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, 65 percent of the total amount appropriated in FY 1999. Title IV: Statistical Consolidation - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to: (1) a more centralized statistical system and the role of the Chief Statistician of OMB; (2) confidentiality; and (3) decennial censuses of population. Subtitle B: Establishment of the Federal Statistical Service - Establishes the Federal Statistical Service as an independent establishment in the executive branch. Sets forth provisions for principal officers, including: (1) an Administrator; (2) a Deputy Administrator; (3) a Director of the Census; (4) a Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis; and (5) a Director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Sec. 413) Establishes a Federal Council on Statistical Policy to advise the Service, nominate the Administrator, serve as an advisory body to the Chief Statistician on certain confidentiality issues, and establish a unified statistical policy for the Federal Government. Mandates studies by the Council on: (1) whether the functions of the Bureau of the Census relating to decennial censuses of population could be delineated from the other functions of the Bureau; and (2) making the Bureau's field offices part of the field offices of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Subtitle C: Transfers of Functions and Offices - Transfers to the Service the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor, along with all of its functions and offices. Subtitle D: Administrative Provisions - Sets forth provisions related to the administrative functions of the Administrator. Subtitle E: Miscellaneous - Sets forth miscellaneous provisions with respect to functions or offices of the Service and makes conforming amendments relating to certain officials of the Service. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth provisions pertaining to officers and employees to whom a function is transferred by this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 2447 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for the inclusion of the costs of Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense military facility services furnished to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries in the calculation of Medicare+Choice payment rates.
Bill· HRH.R. 2438 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Gettysburg Preservation Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from authorizing the construction of any visitor's center or museum on or near Gettysburg National Military Park unless Congress has specifically authorized such construction.
Bill· HRH.R. 2421 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Law Enforcement Official Protection and Officer John C. Knight Memorial Act of 1999 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act) to include within the definition of "armor piercing ammunition" a projectile which the Secretary of the Treasury: (1) has determined is substantially similar in design and manufacture to any ammunition designated for use as armor piercing, armor piercing incendiary, or armor piercing tracing by any military or law enforcement authority of the United States; or (2) finds is capable of penetrating the Executive Protection Exemplar (defined as the minimum level of protective material that the Secretary determines is essential to the effective protection of law enforcement personnel and their public safety mission). Directs the Secretary to promulgate standards for the uniform testing of projectiles against the Executive Protection Exemplar which shall take into account the effective range of firearms from which the projectile may be fired and the nature of the propellants available for use. (Sec. 4) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to define "firearm," for purposes of provisions regarding excise taxes, to include: (1) any laser sight suitable for use as a sight for any firearm; and (2) any firearm on which a laser sight is permanently mounted. (Sec. 5) Amends the Brady Act to include within the definition of "armor piercing ammunition" a projectile that may be used in a handgun that the Secretary determines to be capable of penetrating body armor. Directs the Secretary to promulgate standards for the uniform testing of projectiles against the Body Armor Exemplar (defined as body armor that the Secretary determines meets minimum standards for protection of law enforcement officers), based on standards developed in cooperation with the Attorney General, taking into account variations in performance that are related to the length of the barrel of the handgun from which the projectile is fired and the amount and kind of powder used to propel the projectile.
Bill· HRH.R. 2440 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Commemoration of the Victory of Freedom in the Cold War Act - Requires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to: (1) design a decoration to be known as the Reagan-Truman Victory in the Cold War Medal; and (2) award such medal to each person who served honorably in the armed forces during the Cold War in order to recognize the contributions of those persons to U.S. victory. Makes certain Army appropriations available to cover the costs of the armed forces in participating in a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the end of the Cold War to be held in Washington, D.C., on December 26, 2001. Establishes the Commission on Victory in the Cold War to: (1) review the expenditure of funds by the armed forces before its participation in the celebration; and (2) design and award medals and decorations to current and former public officials and other individuals whose efforts were vital to U.S. victory.
Bill· HRH.R. 2411 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1999
Department of Energy Elimination and National Security Protection Act of 1999 - Title I: Abolishment of Department of Energy - Redesignates the Department of Energy (DOE) as the Energy Programs Resolution Agency (the Agency), headed by an Administrator to perform the previous functions of the Department of Energy. Provides for the continuation of service of the Secretary of Energy as the interim Administrator. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the Administrator to establish, consolidate, alter, or discontinue in the Energy Programs Resolution Agency any organizational entities that were entities of DOE. Sunsets the Agency three years after enactment of this Act. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the most efficient way to accomplish the complete abolishment of DOE and the transfer or termination of its functions. Title II: Energy Laboratory Facilities - Establishes an independent Energy Laboratory Facilities Commission to reduce energy laboratories and programs through reconfiguration, privatization, and closure. Prescribes procedural guidelines. (Sec. 205) Establishes the Energy Laboratory Facility Closure Account to fund implementation of such guidelines. Title III: Privatization of Federal Power Marketing Administrations - Federal Power Asset Privatization Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to sell, at the highest possible price, all Federal electric power generation and transmission facilities supervised by, or coordinated with, the Federal Power Marketing Administrations (except the Bonneville Power Administration). Restricts such sales to domestic entities or U.S. citizens. Requires the Secretary to terminate Federal Power Marketing Administration operations upon completion of the sales. Directs the Secretary to retain a private sector firm through a competitive bidding process to serve as financial advisor with respect to such sales. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the purchaser of any such facilities should offer to employ former Federal Power Marketing Administration personnel. Mandates that sale proceeds be deposited into the Treasury. Sets forth a sales completion deadline for each Power Marketing Administration concerned. (Sec. 305) Mandates that the pertinent sales agreements require each purchaser providing electric power to customers within any region to insure that the price of electric power does not increase above the baseline price at a rate greater than ten percent annually. (Sec. 306) Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue to the purchaser of a hydroelectric generation facility a ten-year original license under the Federal Power Act to insure that the project will continue operations under the same conditions as were applicable prior to the sale. Grants FERC Federal Power Act jurisdiction over any such facility sold. (Sec. 307) Amends the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1993 to repeal the prohibition against the use of appropriated funds for studies regarding a changeover from an "at cost" to a "market rate" or other noncost-based methodology for pricing hydroelectric power. Title IV: Transfer and Disposal of Reserves - Transfers to the Secretary of the Interior all former DOE functions affecting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Instructs the Secretary to appoint an advisory board to monitor the sale of such reserves. (Sec. 402) Transfers to the Administrator of the Energy Programs Resolution Agency all functions performed with respect to the naval petroleum reserves, except Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 (Elk Hills). Instructs the Administrator to: (1) obtain the highest possible price for the naval petroleum reserves; and (2) develop a joint plan with the Secretary of the Interior for disposal of the naval petroleum reserves within a specified timeframe. Title V: National Security and Environmental Management Programs - Subtitle A: Defense Nuclear Programs Agency - Establishes the Defense Nuclear Programs Administration (the Administration) in the Department of Defense (DOD), headed by the Under Secretary for Defense Nuclear Programs, who shall be responsible for the exercise of all Administration powers and duties. (Sec. 503) Transfers to the Under Secretary all: (1) DOD national security functions; (2) supervisory functions previously performed by DOE over Sandia, Los Alamos, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories; (3) functions of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency of DOD relating to nuclear weapons systems; and (4) functions of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to transfer other nuclear weapons-related functions to the Under Secretary. (Sec. 504) Restricts the transfer of funds by the Administration. Subtitle B: Environmental Restoration Activities at Defense Nuclear Facilities - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to require the Under Secretary to review ongoing and planned remediation activities consistent with this Act. (Sec. 521) Sets forth guidelines for site-specific risk assessment, including a cost-benefit analysis of risk reduction, before the selection of a remedial action at a defense nuclear facility. (Sec. 522) Instructs the Under Secretary to renegotiate the terms of any compliance agreement entered into with the Secretary of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the relevant State in order to have it reflect this Act. Title VI: Disposition of Miscellaneous Particular Programs, Functions, and Agencies of Department - Directs the Energy Laboratory Facilities Commission to identify for the Congress all DOE research and development activities carried out at energy laboratories or institutions of higher education that perform a critical research function important to the long-term economic well-being of the United States. (Sec. 601) Directs the Secretary of Energy to terminate the following DOE research and development activities: (1) clean coal technology; (2) fossil energy; (3) energy conservation; and (4) energy supply research and development (including basic energy sciences, magnetic fusion energy, solar and renewable energy, nuclear fission, and biological and environmental sciences). Transfers from DOE to DOD specified weapons and defense activities. (Sec. 602) Transfers to the Department of the Treasury all functions performed by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Authorizes appropriations for the EIA. (Sec. 603) Transfers to the Attorney General all functions performed by the Energy Regulatory Administration. Title VII: Civilian Radioactive Waste Management - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to terminate the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management and to transfer its authority and assets regarding a repository for radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel to the Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps). Requires: (1) the Corps to assume all obligations of the Office affecting the Yucca Mountain site; and (2) reissuance of Nevada State permits for the Corps. Prescribes procedural guidelines for Corps preparation and implementation of a Yucca Mountain site characterization plan. (Sec. 702) Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to reaffirm that the obligation of the Secretary of Energy to accept high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel beginning by January 31, 1998, is absolute and is not dependent on commencement of operation of a repository or a monitored retrievable storage facility. States that such obligation shall be neither voided nor delayed for any reason. Repeals: (1) the site selection limitation placed upon the siting of a monitored retrievable storage facility; and (2) the licensing conditions placed upon such facility. (Sec. 703) Prescribes procedural guidelines for the licensing and expansion of an initial uranium storage facility. Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Office of Management and Budget to make any determination regarding functions transferred under this Act and incidental transfers.
Bill· HRH.R. 2394 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1999
Requires the wage schedules and rates applicable to prevailing rate employees of the Department of Defense in the Macon, Georgia, wage area to be the same as the schedules and rates applicable to such employees in the Atlanta, Georgia, wage area.
Bill· HRH.R. 2388 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1999
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay specified sums to a named individual for services (while in a retired military status) performed in Brussels, Belgium, during a specified period and for moving and interest expenses incurred in conjunction with holding such position. Extinguishes any liability of the individual to the United States for his children's school tuition during his performance of such service.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 232 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1999
Sets forth the rule (open) for the consideration of H.R. 791 (Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail).
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 228 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1999
Commends: (1) the Colombian people for their continued demonstration of support for the democratic process as well as for an end to internal conflict; (2) President Andres Pastrana for his commitment to seek an end to the guerilla insurgency and paramilitary violence in Colombia and for his efforts to begin a peace process; and (3) the Colombian Government and military leadership for their initial steps toward removing from the armed forces officers found to be linked to illegal and unacceptable activities of paramilitaries. Condemns the violations of human rights, including murder and kidnappings, that continue in Colombia, particularly the murder by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas of three U.S. citizens, the disappearance of three U.S. missionaries of the New Tribes Mission in territory controlled by FARC, and the recent mass kidnappings and hijackings by the National Liberation Army (ELN) which resulted in two U.S. citizens being taken hostage. Urges: (1) the leaders of FARC and ELN, and the leaders of the paramilitary groups, to end the violence, agree to suspend all kidnappings, release all hostages, renounce their relationships with the narcotics trade, and negotiate a meaningful peace accord with the Government of Colombia; and (2) the Colombian Government to rapidly implement a program to help protect threatened human rights workers. Encourages FARC and the Government of Colombia to agree to the establishment of an international observer group that would monitor the "despeje" zone and report on illegal narcotics activities and human rights abuses in that zone. Urges FARC to demonstrate its renunciation of the narcotics trade by eradicating coca cultivation in 10,000 hectares of that zone and by cooperating with the Government of Colombia in converting those hectares to the cultivation of legal crops. Welcomes the agreement between FARC and the Government of Colombia to create a commission to investigate and provide a final report on the fate of the three U.S. missionaries. Calls upon the international community to play a more active role in helping to resolve the internal conflict in Colombia by encouraging all sides to participate in the peace process. Declares that the House of Representatives reaffirms U.S. support for the peace process, commits the United States to assist the Government of Colombia in finding a peaceful resolution to the internal conflict, continues to support U.S. assistance to help strengthen political stability and economic growth, and continues to cooperate with all segments of Colombian society who demonstrate a clear and unequivocal commitment to combating the drug trade within Colombia.
Bill· SS. 1276 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1999 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities. Declares that a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares that this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's domestic partner. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from: (1) collecting statistics on sexual orientation from covered entities; and (2) compelling covered entities to collect such statistics. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) an order or consent decree for a violation of this Act that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except regarding employment in a position the duties of which pertain solely to activities of the organization that generate unrelated business income subject to taxation under specified Internal Revenue Code provisions); (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Prohibits the imposition of affirmative action for a violation of this Act. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for all remedies (except punitive damages, with compensatory damages available to the extent specified in certain existing provisions of law) to the same extent as under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Requires posting notices for employees, applicants, and members.
Resolution· SCONRESS.Con.Res. 42 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be issued by the Postal Service to honor the members of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart; and (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued in 1999, the year marking the 200th anniversary of the death of George Washington.
Bill· HRH.R. 2355 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1999 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities. Declares that a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares that this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's domestic partner. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from: (1) collecting statistics on sexual orientation from covered entities; and (2) compelling covered entities to collect such statistics. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) an order or consent decree for a violation of this Act that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except regarding employment in a position the duties of which pertain solely to activities of the organization that generate unrelated business income subject to taxation under specified Internal Revenue Code provisions); (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Prohibits the imposition of affirmative action for a violation of this Act. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for all remedies (except punitive damages, with compensatory damages available to the extent specified in certain existing provisions of law) to the same extent as under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Requires posting notices for employees, applicants, and members.
Bill· HRH.R. 2344 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Transition to Teaching Act - Establishes a Transition- to-Teaching program, and continues the Troops-to-Teachers program, to address the need of high-poverty school districts for highly qualified teachers in subject areas such as mathematics, science, foreign languages, bilingual education, and special education needed by those school districts. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to use funds under this Act to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to institutions of higher education (IHEs) and public and private nonprofit entities to carry out Transition-to-Teaching programs. Requires the Secretary, before making such awards, to: (1) consult with the Secretaries of Defense and of Transportation with respect to the appropriate amount of funding necessary to continue and enhance the Troops-to-Teachers program; and (2) transfer such amount to the Department of Defense to carry out such program. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a written agreement with the Departments of Defense and of Transportation, or take other appropriate steps to ensure effective continuation of such program. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth requirements for applications for Transition-to-Teaching program assistance. Authorizes use of such funds for: (1) recruitment of program participants; (2) training stipends and other financial incentives for program participants; (3) assistance to IHEs or other teacher training providers to meet particular needs of professionals changing their careers to teaching; (4) placement activities, including identifying high-poverty local educational agencies (LEAs) with needs for particular skills and characteristics of the newly trained program participants and assisting those participants to obtain employment in those LEAs; and (5) post-placement induction or support activities for program participants. Requires program participants who complete training to teach in a high-poverty LEA for at least three years, or else repay all or a portion of their training stipend or other incentive.
Bill· HRH.R. 2334 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1999
Access to Contract Equity Act - States that, with respect to a contract goal by the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the award of five percent of their procurement contracts to small disadvantaged businesses and certain minority institutions, no suspension of price modifications (allowing an item's contract price to exceed fair market value) shall be issued in an industry category if the President determines that contracts for a price exceeding fair market value are necessary to remedy demonstrated discrimination in such category. Requires such determination to be published in the Federal Register, and allows any person affected by the application of such determination to seek appropriate judicial review. Amends provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 relating to the Mentor-Protege Pilot Program to: (1) make the program term three years, or five years in unusual circumstances as determined by the Secretary of Defense; (2) authorize (currently, requires) the Secretary to reimburse a mentor firm for the full cost of certain payments and assistance made under the program; (3) allow the Secretary to provide such reimbursement using a separate contract; (4) make determinations made in the annual performance reviews of a mentor firm's agreement a major factor in determining reimbursement amounts; and (5) limit to $1 million per fiscal year the total amount reimbursed for assistance to a protege firm, except when the Secretary determines that unusual circumstances justify reimbursement of a higher amount.
Bill· HRH.R. 2291 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
Fairness in Government Procurement Act of 1999 - Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from obligating or expending any funds appropriated to the Department of Defense to purchase from (or to participate in an intergovernmental transfer with) Federal Prison Industries (FPI) until FPI has: (1) implemented a cap on the sale or transfer of its furniture, metal products, electronic sub-components, textiles, textile products, clothing, and footware; and (2) submitted to Congress a legislative proposal to terminate (in phases during a seven-year period) its status as a mandatory supplier to executive agencies and a certification that the proposal is supported by FPI and was developed with input from stake holder groups. Bars the Secretary from entering into any contract for the purchase or transfer of FPI goods or services for under $100,000.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 140 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
Acknowledges that the Government of Haiti has made progress toward democratization. Urges such Government to engage in dialog with all elements of Haitian society to further a self-sustainable democracy. Encourages the Government and all political parties in Haiti to proceed toward conducting free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections as scheduled, in the presence of domestic and international observers, without pressure or interference. Urges the Clinton Administration and the international community to continue to play a positive role in Haiti's economic and political development. Commends: (1) the United Nations and other countries and international organizations for their support of health, education, nutrition, and environmental programs in Haiti; and (2) the U.S. military's efforts on the ground in Haiti for providing civil support and medical assistance. Encourages: (1) the Clinton Administration and the international community to provide substantial assistance for the coming elections; and (2) the Government of Haiti to adopt adequate security measures in preparation for such elections. Urges: (1) all elements of Haitian civil society to promote a climate of security; and (2) the United States and other members of the international community to continue support towards a lasting and committed transition to democracy in Haiti.
Bill· SS. 1251 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1999
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Miami, Florida, metropolitan area to serve the needs of veterans and their families. Requires a report to Congress on the schedule for establishment and a cost estimate.
Bill· SS. 1250 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1999
Veterans' Long-Term Care Enhancement Act of 1999 - Includes noninstitutional extended care services within the definition of medical services authorized to be provided to eligible veterans. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assisted living services to a veteran who is eligible to receive hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care, and to the spouse of such veteran. Requires such veteran and spouse to agree to reimburse the United States for the cost of such care. Repeals provisions authorizing respite care for such veterans. Directs the Secretary to carry out three pilot programs to determine the feasibility and practicability of various methods of meeting the long-term care needs of eligible veterans. Requires each program to be carried out at two Veterans Integrated Service Networks. Requires services provided to include a comprehensive array of health care services and other services that meet such needs, including case management services. Directs the Secretary to emphasize the provision of preventive care services, including screening and education. Requires one pilot program to be carried out: (1) directly through facilities and personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs; (2) through a combination of Department facilities and personnel and services provided under cooperative arrangements with public and private nongovernmental entities; and (3) through cooperative arrangements with non-Department entities. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) payment for services under the pilot programs; (2) required data collection; and (3) annual reports from the Secretary to Congress for the duration of the programs. Terminates such programs three years after their commencement.
Law· HRH.R. 2280 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Compensation Title II: Memorial Affairs Subtitle A: American Battle Monuments Commission Subtitle B: National Cemeteries Title III: Housing Title IV: Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Title V: Other Matters Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 1999 - Title I: Compensation - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 1999, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children. Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. (Sec. 102) Includes bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma within the list of diseases presumed to be service-connected, in the case of exposure to ionizing radiation, and therefore compensable for purposes of veterans' disability compensation and medical care. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the payment of DIC to the surviving spouse of a veteran who died while totally disabled from a service-connected disability, who was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999, and who had been diagnosed as having one of the diseases specified as being service-connected and therefore compensable. (Sec. 104) States that the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a veteran shall not bar the furnishing of the following benefits to such person if the remarriage has been terminated by death or divorce unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that the divorce was secured through fraud or collusion: (1) DIC; (2) medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans; (3) educational assistance; and (4) housing loans. Title II: Memorial Affairs - Subtitle A: American Battle Monuments Commission - Directs the American Battle Monuments Commission to solicit and accept contributions for establishing the World War II memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs (authorized under prior law). Establishes in the Treasury a fund to hold and expend such contributions. Authorizes the Commission to: (1) borrow up to $65 million from the Treasury to ensure that memorial groundbreaking, construction, and dedication are completed on a timely basis; and (2) accept voluntary services in furtherance of fund-raising activities (authorizing reimbursement of volunteer incidental expenses). Extends until December 31, 2005 (currently May 25, 2000) the authority to construct the memorial. (Sec. 202) Revises current Commission authority to receive State, local, and private amounts for establishing the memorial to: (1) authorize the Commission to solicit ( currently, receive) such contributions; and (2) require the deposit of such amounts in the fund created under this title. Requires the Commission to establish written guidelines for the acceptance of funds and in-kind contributions. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Commission to adopt, obtain, use, register, and license trademarks, copyrights, and patents in connection with intellectual property and related items. Subtitle B: National Cemeteries - Directs the Secretary to establish a national cemetery in each of four areas of the United States determined to be in most need of such a cemetery to serve the needs of veterans and their families. Obligates FY 2000 funds for such projects. Requires an initial and annual reports to Congress. (Sec. 212) Directs the Secretary to contract with one or more qualified organizations to conduct an independent study of national cemeteries, including repairs needed, additional cemeteries required, and improvement of burial benefits. Requires reports from the organization to the Secretary, and from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees. Title III: Housing - Extends permanently (currently ends on September 30, 2003) the eligibility of certain former members of the Selected Reserve for veterans' housing loans. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary to conduct, directly or by grant or contract, programs to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. Authorizes the Secretary to monitor the expenditure of funds under such programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004. Title IV: Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims - Authorizes the Court of Veterans Appeals (Court) to prescribe rules and regulations. (Sec. 402) Authorizes a retired judge of the Court to be recalled for further service if such judge, at the time of retirement, had provided written notice of such judge's availability for further service. Allows the Court chief judge to recall such a judge if substantial service is expected to be performed for the recall period. Prohibits a recalled judge from serving for more than 90 days in a calendar year without the judge's consent or for more than 180 days during a calendar year in any event. Requires a chief judge to remove from the recall-eligible list a judge who: (1) is recalled but declines; or (2) becomes permanently disabled and unable to perform judicial services. (Sec. 403) Requires 183 days or more served as a Court judge to be credited toward years of service and less than such period to be disregarded. (Sec. 404) Provides retired pay computation for judges who were recall-eligible but lost such status and for judges who chose not to provide a notice of availability for recall. Allows for a cost-of-living adjustment to the retired pay of a Court judge only up to an amount that would make the retired pay equal to the pay received by a current Court judge. Prohibits the payment of military retired pay for periods served as a Court judge. (Sec. 405) Makes a surviving spouse of a Court judge eligible for a survivor annuity after being married for at least one year (currently, two years) before such judge's death. Allows a Court judge to elect to participate in a survivor annuity within six months after marriage if such judge has retired. Reduces the percentage of pay reduction required of active judges as contributions toward retirement annuities. Prohibits interest payments on retirement pay reductions in the case of Court judges for any period during which such judges: (1) were separated from judicial service or service as a Member of Congress or congressional employee; and (2) were not receiving retired pay or annuities based on such service. Allows a surviving annuity to be paid to the survivors of a judge who dies after having rendered at least 18 months (currently, five years) of creditable civilian service. Allows a survivor annuity without a creditable service requirement in the case of a judge who is assassinated. Repeals a current requirement that a surviving spouse be at least 50 years of age before receiving such annuity. (Sec. 406) States that a recall-eligible retired Court judge who represents a client in a claim for veterans' benefits shall be considered to have declined recall service and be removed from recall-eligible status. (Sec. 407) Allows only one eligible associate judge of the Court to retire under early retirement authority in each of calendar years 1999 through 2003. Provides early retirement requirements. Requires the judge to: (1) notify the President and the Court's chief judge of the intent to retire; and (2) retire during the fiscal year in which notification is provided but not earlier than 90 days following such notification. Makes recall-eligible retired judges and judges who were removed from such eligibility due to disability eligible for annual adjustments in judges' retired pay as provided by law. Title V: Other Matters - Extends permanently: (1) the authority of the Secretary to issue and guarantee principal and interest on certificates or other securities evidencing an interest in a pool of mortgage loans made by the Secretary; (2) procedures applicable to liquidation sales on homes whose loans were defaulted by veterans; and (3) the authority of the Secretary to utilize information from the Secretaries of Health and Human Services or the Treasury for veterans' income verification purposes. (Sec. 502) Directs the Secretary to carry out a quality assurance program in the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, either through a single division or separate quality assurance entities. Requires: (1) the Under Secretary for Benefits to perform and oversee quality reviews of such division or entities; (2) an adequate number of quality assurance personnel within the Administration; and (3) an annual report from the Secretary to Congress on quality assurance activities. (Sec. 503) Extends through December 31, 2004, the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. (Sec. 504) Congratulates and commends the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States on their 100th anniversary. (Sec. 505) Outlines authorized purposes for funds appropriated to the Department for the following accounts: (1) Compensation and Pension; (2) Medical Care; (3) Medical Administration and Miscellaneous Operating Expenses; (4) General Operating Expenses;(5) Construction, Major Projects; and (6) Construction, Minor Projects. Requires that, for the purpose of any law appropriating funds to the Department for the cost of direct or guaranteed loans, the cost of any such loan shall be as defined under title V of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Bill· HRH.R. 2287 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
Fairness to Immigrant Veterans Act of 1999 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (transitional rules) to make certain aliens who are on active armed forces duty or honorably discharged veterans eligible for: (1) release from (criminal alien) detention; (2) cancellation of removal; and (3) judicial review of certain orders of removal.
Bill· HRH.R. 2283 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
Authorizes duty performed by a member of the reserves on an honor guard detail for the funeral of a veteran, and training for such duty, to be considered a period of drill or training in addition to training otherwise required. Provides one day credit for each day of such duty for purposes of eligibility for military retirement. States that a reserve member who is on active duty under a call or order for more than 180 days and who is retained on active duty solely to participate in such honor guard detail shall not be counted toward the active-duty end strength limitations for such military department for that fiscal year. Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to accept voluntary services to participate in such details. Includes within the authorized uses of funds appropriated for State National Guard activities the support of State law requirements relating to National Guard participation in funerals of veterans.
Bill· SS. 1232 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act - Applies this Act to retirement coverage errors that occur before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act. Makes this Act inapplicable to erroneous retirement coverage determinations that were in effect for less than three years of service after December 31, 1986. Title I: Description of Retirement Coverage Errors to Which This Act Applies and Measures for Their Rectification - Subtitle A: Employees and Annuitants Who Should Have Been FERS Covered, but Who Were Erroneously CSRS Covered or CSRS-Offset Covered Instead, and Survivors of Such Employees and Annuitants - Permits any Federal employee or former employee, who should be (or should have been) Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) covered, but who is erroneously CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System) covered or CSRS-Offset covered instead, to elect to: (1) be FERS covered instead; or (2) remain or instead become CSRS-Offset covered. Permits an employee affected by such an error that has been corrected to elect to be CSRS-Offset covered instead. Authorizes, if an individual elects to be CSRS-Offset covered, all employee contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund (TSF) made during the period of FERS coverage, and any earnings, to remain in the TSF. Makes ineligible for elections under this paragraph individuals who: (1) received a payment ordered by a court or provided as a settlement of claim for losses resulting from a retirement coverage error unless such payment is waived or repaid; or (2) received a refund of retirement deductions or distribution under specified Federal civil service provisions. (Sec. 102) Permits annuitants (and survivors of employees) who should have been FERS covered but were erroneously CSRS covered or CSRS-Offset covered to elect CSRS-Offset or FERS coverage. Provides for a reduced annuity for annuitants or survivors who elect CSRS-Offset coverage. Sets forth requirements parallel to those for employees with respect to previously-received settlement payments. Provides for CSRS-Offset coverage for annuitants or survivors who do not make elections and for whom corrective action was not taken before any time limitation prescribed by this Act. Subtitle B: Employee Who Should Have Been FERS Covered, CSRS-Offset Covered, or CSRS Covered, but Who Was Erroneously Social Security-Only Covered Instead - Requires employees who should be (or should have been) FERS, CSRS-Offset, or CSRS covered but are (or were) erroneously Social Security-Only covered to be covered under the correct retirement coverage effective as of the date of the coverage error. Provides that if the error has been corrected, the previous corrective action shall remain in effect. Subtitle C: Employee Who Should or Could Have Been Social Security-Only Covered but Who Was Erroneously CSRS-Offset Covered or CSRS Covered Instead - Requires employees who should have been Social Security-Only covered but were erroneously CSRS covered to be CSRS-Offset covered, subject to a right of election. Permits such individuals to elect CSRS-Offset or Social-Security-Only coverage. Requires individuals who do not make an election to remain CSRS-Offset covered. Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to promulgate regulations authorizing individuals to elect CSRS-Offset or Social Security-Only coverage if an error was previously corrected. Subtitle D: Employee Who Was Erroneously FERS Covered - Authorizes FERS-ineligible employees who should have been Social Security-Only, CSRS, or CSRS-Offset covered and were erroneously FERS covered to elect to remain FERS covered or be covered under the coverage that would have applied in the absence of the error. Requires individuals who do not make an election to remain FERS covered. Permits contributions to the TSF made during the period of erroneous FERS coverage and all earnings to remain in the TSF in the case of employees who elect coverage other than FERS. Requires OPM to promulgate regulations authorizing individuals covered by this subtitle to make elections if an error was previously corrected. (Sec. 132) Sets forth provisions regarding individuals who were prevented from electing FERS coverage as a result of being erroneously FERS covered. (Sec. 133) Makes this subtitle effective as of January 1, 1987. Subtitle E: Employee Who Should Have Been CSRS-Offset Covered, but Who Was Erroneously CSRS Covered Instead - Requires employees who should be (or should have been) CSRS-Offset covered but are (or were) erroneously CSRS covered to be covered under the correct coverage effective as of the date of the error. Subtitle F: Employee Who Should Have Been CSRS Covered, but Who Was Erroneously CSRS-Offset Covered Instead - Requires employees who should be (or should have been) CSRS covered but are (or were) erroneously CSRS-Offset covered to be covered under the correct coverage effective as of the date of the error. Title II: General Provisions - Directs Government agencies to take appropriate measures to promptly identify and notify individuals affected by a retirement coverage error of their rights under this Act. (Sec. 203) Sets forth requirements with respect to service credit deposits in cases where: (1) a FERS covered employee was erroneously CSRS or CSRS-Offset covered and made a service credit deposit under CSRS and there was a subsequent retroactive change to FERS coverage; or (2) an employee owed a service credit deposit, there is a subsequent retroactive change to CSRS or CSRS-Offset coverage, or the service becomes creditable. (Sec. 205) Sets forth provisions regarding TSF treatment for individuals described by Subtitles A and B of title I of this Act. (Sec. 207) Bars an agency from placing an individual under CSRS coverage unless: (1) the individual has been employed with such coverage within the preceding 365 days; or (2) OPM has agreed that the agency's coverage determination is correct. (Sec. 208) Authorizes the OPM Director to: (1) extend deadlines for making elections under certain circumstances; (2) reimburse expenses incurred by an individual with respect to settlement of a claim for losses resulting from a coverage error; (3) compensate an individual for monetary losses that are a direct and proximate result of such an error, excluding claimed losses relating to foregone contributions and earnings under the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and other investment opportunities; and (4) waive payments otherwise required by this Act. Title III: General Provisions - Provides for conformity with this Act of the Foreign Service and Central Intelligence Agency retirement systems. Title IV: Tax Provisions - Provides that no Federal retirement plan shall fail to be treated as a qualified plan under the Internal Revenue Code by reason of any action taken under this Act. Excludes from individual gross income any amount attributable to a direct transfer under this Act between funds or any Government contribution to any fund or account. Title V: Miscellaneous Retirement Provisions - Includes as creditable service of a Federal employee or Member of Congress for purposes of FERS provisions a period of service (other than any service already creditable under FERS, any military service, and any service performed in the employ of a Federal Reserve Bank) that was creditable under the Bank Plan (the benefit structure in which employees of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System appointed on or after January 1, 1984, participate), if the employee waives credit for such service under the Bank Plan and makes a payment to the TSF equal to the amount that would have been deducted from pay had the employee been subject to FERS during such period of service (together with interest on such amount computed). Excludes from participation in FERS any employee or Member who has separated from civilian service after having been subject to the benefit structure for employees of the Board appointed before January 1, 1984, and having at least five years of civilian service (other than any service performed in the employ of a Federal Reserve Bank) creditable under such benefit structure, except for such persons who subsequently enter a position subject to FERS provisions. Makes provisions regarding creditability and certain former Board employees applicable only to individuals who separate from service subject to FERS on or after the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 502) Treats as a separation from Government employment, for purposes of the TSP, any transfer from a position that is subject to FERS, CSRS, or any other retirement system under which individuals may contribute to the TSF through withholdings from pay, to a position that is not subject to any of them. Applies the amendments made by this section to transfers occurring before, on, or after this Act's enactment date. Considers, for transfers occurring before this Act's enactment, the date of transfer to be this Act's enactment date.
Bill· SS. 1234 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2000 - Title I: Export and Investment Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for: (1) direct loans, loan guarantees, tied-aid grants, insurance, and administrative expenses under Export-Import Bank programs; (2) Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) direct and guaranteed loans and credit and insurance programs, including administrative expenses; and (3) the Trade and Development Agency. Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for: (1) expenses of the President in carrying out certain programs under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (2) the Agency for International Development (AID) for specified development assistance (allowing availability of amounts for the Inter-American Foundation (pending the outcome of certain civil and criminal investigations) and of limited amounts for the African Development Foundation); (3) specified projects aimed at reunification of Cyprus; (4) democracy and humanitarian activities in Burma; (5) specified assistance for Indonesia; (6) specified assistance for the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Charles Darwin Foundation to support research, conservation, training and other activities to protect the Province of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador; (7) specified assistance for conflict resolution programs involving teenagers of different ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds from the Middle East and other regions of conflict; (8) international disaster assistance; (9) micro and small enterprise development programs; (10) guaranteed loans for the urban and environmental credit program; (11) private and voluntary organizations; (12) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (13) operating expenses of AID and the AID Office of Inspector General; (14) Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance (earmarking amounts for Israel, Egypt, and Jordan, and to support victims of and programs related to the Holocaust); (15) assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States (earmarking amounts for Kosova, Albania, Romania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, subject to specified conditions); (16) assistance for the new independent states of the former Soviet Union (subject to specified conditions, and earmarking amounts for Mongolia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia); (17) the Peace Corps (but with a prohibition on the use of such funds for abortions); (18) international narcotics control and law enforcement; (19) migration and refugee assistance; (20) the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund; (21) nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining, and related programs and activities (specifying conditions on funds for the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO); (22) the Department of the Treasury technical assistance program; and (23) debt restructuring of concessional loans, guarantees, and credits made to eligible Latin American, Caribbean, and sub-Saharan African countries. Bars the use of development assistance funds for: (1) coercive abortions or involuntary sterilizations; and (2) U.S. private and voluntary organizations which obtain less than 20 percent of annual funding from sources other than the U.S. Government. Prohibits funds to: (1) Russia unless the President certifies to the Committees on Appropriations that it has terminated arrangements to provide Iran with technology to develop a nuclear program; (2) Russia unless the Secretary of State certifies to such committees that Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in Kosova have not established a separate zone of operational control and are fully integrated under North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) unified command;(3) Cambodia until the Secretary of State reports to such Committees that specified democratic conditions have been met; and (4) the Government of Azerbaijan until the President reports to Congress that it has ceased all blockades against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Bars ESF assistance to the KEDO.. Title III: Military Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for: (1) expanded international military education and training (IMET) to Guatemala; (2) foreign military financing grants and direct loans (earmarking amounts for Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia (including drawdowns of defense articles and services); and (3) international peacekeeping operations (subject to certain conditions). Prohibits foreign military financing for Sudan, Liberia, and Guatemala. Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for the U.S. contribution to: (1) the International Development Association; (2) the Global Environment Facility of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank); (3) the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency; (4) the Inter-American Development Bank; (5) the Asian Development Bank; (6) the Asian Development Fund; (7) the African Development Bank; and (8) the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for international programs and organizations. Sets certain restrictions on international organization funding, including prohibiting the use of funds made available to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for activities in China. Prohibits the use of funds for the KEDO or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth limits on the use of appropriations, including that no more than 15 percent of such appropriations shall be obligated during the last month of availability. (Sec. 502) Prohibits the use of funds for bilateral funding of international financial institutions. (Sec. 503) Sets forth limits on the use of appropriations, including no more than specified maximums for official residence expenses, entertainment expenses, and representation allowances for AID, and for entertainment and representation allowances for the Inter-American Foundation and the Trade and Development Agency. Limits the use of funds for entertainment expenses of the Peace Corps, and of entertainment and representation allowances under the Foreign Military Financing Program. (Sec. 506) Prohibits the use of funds for: (1) the export of nuclear equipment, fuel, or technology (except for nuclear safety purposes); (2) direct assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, or Syria; (3) assistance to any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree; (4) certain transfers between appropriations accounts without prior presidential consultation with Congress; (5) assistance to any country in default in excess of a year on payments on a U.S. loan (except for any narcotics-related assistance for Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru); and (6) assistance (except in certain circumstances) for production of any commodity for export by a foreign country, if the commodity is likely to be in surplus on world markets when the resulting productive capacity is expected to become operative, and if the assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar commodity. (Sec. 514) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified international financial institutions to oppose any assistance for the production or extraction of any commodity or mineral for export if it is in surplus on world markets and such assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar commodity. (Sec. 516) Declares that funds appropriated for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs, that are returned or not made available for international organizations and programs, shall remain available for obligation until FY 2001. (Sec. 517) Prohibits U.S. sale of Stinger missiles in the Persian Gulf region, with certain exceptions. (Sec. 518) Prohibits the use of development assistance funds for abortions or involuntary sterilizations as methods of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions, or provide any financial incentive to undergo sterilization. (Sec. 519) Declares that nongovernmental and multilateral organizations shall not be subjected to requirements more restrictive than requirements applicable to foreign governments in determining eligibility for population planning assistance. (Sec. 520) Directs the Attorney General to report to the Committees on Appropriations on the circumstances under which individuals involved in the December 2, 1980, murders or cover-up of the murders of four American churchwomen in El Salvador obtained residence in the United States. (Sec. 521) Prohibits the use of funds for Colombia, India, Haiti, Liberia, Pakistan, Serbia, Sudan, or the Democratic Republic of Congo, except through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 523) Makes funds available to AID for family planning, health, child survival, environment, and basic education and AIDS research and control in developing countries. (Sec. 524) Bars funding for indirect assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, Iran, Syria, North Korea, or China unless the President certifies that the withholding of such funds is contrary to the U.S. national security interest. (Sec. 525) Designates the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) (defined as Serbia, but not Montenegro or Kosova) as a terrorist state. Requires all provisions of law that impose sanctions against a country whose government is engaged in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights to be fully enforced against the FRY. Urges the President to seek multilateral cooperation to: (1) deny dangerous technologies to the FRY; (2) induce the Government of the FRY to respect internationally recognized human rights; and (3) induce such government to allow appropriate international humanitarian and human rights organizations to have access to the FRY. (Sec. 526) Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to notify the Committees on Appropriations before providing excess DOD articles to certain NATO and major non-NATO countries. (Sec. 528) Prohibits bilateral assistance funds to any country which the President determines grants sanctuary from prosecution to any individual or group which has committed an act of international terrorism or otherwise supports such activities. Authorizes a waiver of this prohibition by the President for national security and humanitarian reasons, requiring notification to the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 529) Authorizes the commercial leasing of defense articles (instead of government-to-government sale) to Israel, Egypt, NATO, and major non-NATO allies if the President determines that there are compelling foreign policy or national security reasons. (Sec. 530) Requires all AID contracts and subcontracts to include a clause requiring that U.S. insurance companies have a fair opportunity to bid for insurance when insurance is necessary or appropriate. (Sec. 531) Authorizes the payment of a $10,000 cash award (distinguished development service award) to a career or non-career AID employee who through extraordinary efforts makes a significant contribution to assisting developing countries to meet the basic needs of their people. (Sec. 532) Authorizes nongovernmental organizations which are AID grantees or contractors to place funds made available to them under this Act in interest bearing accounts in order to enhance their participation in economic activities under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, including endowments and debt-for-development and debt-for-nature exchanges. (Sec. 533) Directs the Administrator of AID to require foreign countries that receive foreign assistance which results in the generation of local currencies to deposit such currencies in a separate account to be used to finance foreign assistance activities. (Sec. 534) Prohibits payments to any international financial institution while the U.S. Executive Director to the institution is compensated at a rate in excess of that for a specified position under the Executive Schedule. (Sec. 535) Bars assistance to any country that is not in compliance with the United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iraq unless the President certifies to the Congress that such assistance: (1) is in the U.S. national interest; (2) will directly benefit the needy people in that country; or (3) will be humanitarian assistance for foreign nationals who have fled Iraq and Kuwait. (Sec. 537) Declares that provisions under this or any other Act authorizing appropriations for foreign operations or export financing shall not be construed to prohibit activities authorized by the Peace Corps Act, the Inter-American Foundation Act, or the African Development Foundation Act. Requires an agency to report to the Committees on Appropriations whenever it is conducting or proposing activities in a country for which such assistance is prohibited. Declares that limits on the availability of funds for international organizations and programs shall not be construed as applying to the International Fund for Agricultural Development. (Sec. 538) Prohibits the use of funds to provide: (1) any financial incentive to a business for purposes of inducing it to relocate outside the United States if it will reduce the number of employees in the United States; (2) assistance for establishing or developing in a foreign country an export processing zone or other designated area in which a country's tax, tariff, labor, environment, and safety laws do not apply to activities in the area, unless the President certifies that such assistance is not likely to cause a loss of U.S. jobs; or (3) assistance for any project that contributes to the violation of internationally recognized workers rights in the recipient country. (Sec. 539) Directs OPIC to establish a $200 million Maritime Fund to support international maritime projects. (Sec. 540) Declares that funds appropriated under this Act for Afghanistan, Lebanon, and for victims of war, displaced children, displaced Burmese, humanitarian assistance for Romania, and humanitarian assistance for the peoples of Kosova may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law. Authorizes the use of foreign assistance funds to support tropical forestry and biodiversity conservation programs, and (subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations) energy programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Authorizes AID to employ personal services contractors to administer programs for the West Bank and Gaza. (Sec. 541) Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to: (1) immediate public renunciation by Arab League countries of the boycott of Israel (reinstated in 1997) and of American firms having commercial ties with Israel; and (2) steps the President should take to encourage such renunciation. (Sec. 542) Authorizes the use of ESF funds to strengthen the administration of justice in countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and in other regions. (Sec. 543) Declares that restrictions on assistance to foreign countries contained in this Act or any other Act (except those relating to international terrorism or human rights violations) shall not be construed to restrict assistance: (1) in support of certain programs of nongovernmental organizations; or (2) under specified provisions of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. (Sec. 544) Authorizes the reprogramming of earmarked appropriations for other programs within the same account, provided certain requirements are met. (Sec. 546) Prohibits the use of funds for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States that were not authorized before the enactment of this Act. Makes specified funds available to private and voluntary organizations to deal with world hunger problems abroad. (Sec. 547) Declares that assistance under this Act should make full use of American resources, including commodities, products, and services, to the maximum extent possible. Declares the sense of Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all agricultural commodities, equipment, and products purchased with funds made available in this Act should be American-made. Requires Federal agency heads, in providing financial assistance to or entering into any contract with any entity using funds made available in this Act, to notify such entity of this intention. (Sec. 548) Prohibits the use of funds to pay any assessments, arrearages, or dues of any U.N. member. (Sec. 550) Prohibits the provision of funds to a private voluntary organization that fails to provide any document, file, or record necessary to the auditing requirements of AID. (Sec. 551) Prohibits the provision of funds to any foreign government that provides lethal military equipment to a country that the Secretary of State has determined has a terrorist government, unless the President determines that the furnishing of such assistance is in the U.S. national interest. (Sec. 552) Withholds assistance to a foreign country in an amount equal to 110 percent of the total unpaid parking fines and penalties owed by the country to the District of Columbia. (Sec. 553) Prohibits the obligation of any appropriations for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the West Bank and Gaza unless the President has exercised certain authorities to suspend prohibitions on assistance to the PLO. (Sec. 554) Permits the President to provide up to a specified amount of commodities and services to the UN War Crimes Tribunal if doing so will contribute to a just resolution of charges regarding genocide or other violations of international law in the former Yugoslavia. (Sec. 555) Authorizes disposal on a grant basis in foreign countries of demining equipment used in support of the clearance of land mines and unexploded ordnance for humanitarian purposes. (Sec. 556) Prohibits the obligation of appropriations to create in Jerusalem a new U.S. agency office for the purpose of conducting U.S. business with the Palestinian Authority over Gaza and Jericho (or any successor Palestinian governing entity) provided for in the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles. (Sec. 557) Prohibits the obligation of certain funds appropriated for Informational Program activities to pay for: (1) alcoholic beverages; (2) food (other than food provided at a military installation) not provided in conjunction with Informational Program trips where students do not stay at a military installation; or (3) entertainment expenses for recreational activities. (Sec. 558) Authorizes the President to reduce amounts owed to the United States by eligible countries as a result of: (1) housing guarantees made pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (2) credits extended or guarantees issued under the Arms Export Control Act; or (3) any obligation for a Latin American country to pay for purchases of U.S. agricultural commodities guaranteed by the Commodity Credit Corporation. Permits exercise of such authority only: (1) to implement multilateral official debt relief and referendum agreements known as the Paris Club Agreed Minutes; and (2) with respect to countries with heavy debt burdens that are eligible to borrow from the International Development Association (but not from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) (IDA-only countries). Prescribes additional conditions for the exercise of such authority. (Sec. 559) Authorizes the President to engage in certain debt buybacks or sales. Authorizes sale, reduction, or cancellation of certain loans to foreign governments, upon receipt of payment from an eligible purchaser that plans to use such loans only for the purposes of engaging in debt-for-equity swaps, debt-for-development swaps, or debt-for-nature swaps. Limits such authority to funds appropriated by this Act under the heading of debt restructuring. (Sec. 560) Makes funds available for assistance to the central Government of Haiti only if the President reports to specified congressional committees that such Government: (1) has completed privatization of three major public utilities; (2) has signed or is implementing the bilateral Repatriation Agreement with the United States and is cooperating with the United States in halting illegal emigration from Haiti; (3) is conducting thorough investigations of extrajudicial and political killings and has made substantial progress in bringing to justice the persons responsible for such killings in Haiti; (4) has taken action to remove from the Haitian National Police, national palace and residential guard, ministerial guard, and any other public security entity individuals who have committed human rights violations; and (5) has ratified or is implementing the maritime counter-narcotics agreements signed in October 1997. Makes such prohibition inapplicable to funds made available to support elections in Haiti and the Ministry of Justice for the training of judges, prosecutors, judicial mentoring, legal assistance, and case management if the President reports to Congress that specified conditions have been met. Sets forth additional specified exceptions to such prohibitions. (Sec. 561) Requires a specified annual report of the Secretary of State containing the voting record of each foreign member country of the UN to include a side-by-side comparison of each country's overall support for the United States at the UN and the amount of U.S. assistance provided to it in FY 1998. (Sec. 562) Makes the Government of Haiti eligible to purchase U.S. defense articles and services for the civilian-led Haitian National Police and Coast Guard. (Sec. 563) Prohibits the use of funds for the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State believes they have committed gross violations of human rights, unless the Secretary reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such country is taking steps to bring the responsible persons to justice. (Sec. 564) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of international financial institutions to oppose loans to the Government of Cambodia (except to support basic human needs) unless it has: (1) held free and fair elections in which all political candidates were permitted freedom of speech, assembly and equal access to the media, and the central Election Commission was composed of representatives from all parties; and (2) established a panel and begun prosecution of Khmer Rouge leaders including Ta Mok, Khieu Sampan, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Ke Pauk, and Duch (Kang Khev Leu). (Sec. 565) Requires that any agreement between the United States and the Government of Indonesia for the sale of lethal weapons shall state that such items will not be used in East Timor. (Sec. 566) Prohibits the United States from paying any voluntary contribution to the UN, including the UN Development Program, unless the President certifies to Congress 15 days in advance of such payment that the UN is not engaged in any effort to implement or impose any taxation on U.S. persons in order to raise revenue for itself or any of its specialized agencies. (Sec. 567) Provides for bilateral and multilateral assistance sanctions (with humanitarian, democratization, and certain infrastructure project exceptions) against countries harboring war criminals indicted with respect to the former Yugoslavia. Prohibits the provision of bilateral assistance for programs, projects, or activities: (1) in which publicly indicted war criminals are known to have any financial interest; or (2) in communities that are not in compliance with specified sections of the Dayton Agreement relating to war crimes and the Tribunal. (Sec. 568) Authorizes for FY 1999 and 2000 the use of DOD funds for crating, packing, handling, and transportation of excess defense articles to countries that are eligible to participate in the Partnership for Peace and that are eligible for assistance under the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989. (Sec. 569) Makes funds available for FY 2000 for defense article stockpiles in foreign countries, including the Republic of Korea and Thailand. (Sec. 570) Prohibits the use of funds for the Government of the Russian Federation unless the President certifies to specified congressional committees that the Federation has not enacted laws or promulgated executive orders that discriminate against religious minorities in violation of international agreements on human rights and religious freedoms to which it is a party. (Sec. 571) Subjects the availability of funds in this Act to support programs or activities promoting country participation in the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 572) Prohibits funds appropriated under this Act from being provided to the Central Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Sec. 574) Bars funds for a Government of the new Independent States of the former Soviet Union: (1) unless it is making progress in implementing economic reforms based on market principles, private ownership, respect for commercial contracts, and equitable treatment of foreign private investment; (2) if it transfers U.S. assistance to any entity for the purpose of expropriating or seizing ownership or control of assets, investments, or ventures; (3) if it directs any action in violation of the territorial integrity or national sovereignty of any other new independent state; or (4) to enhance its military capability. (Sec. 575) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to declare that the prohibition on the use of funds under such Act to provide law enforcement training to foreign governments within the United States or abroad shall not apply with respect to assistance provided to customs personnel for customs law enforcement. (Sec. 576) Authorizes voluntary separation incentive payments to AID employees to eliminate AID positions and functions contained in a mandatory strategic plan outlining such payments. (Sec. 577) Prohibits the obligation of funds appropriated under this Act for the Palestinian Authority. Provides a waiver for such prohibition if the President certifies to Congress that it is in the national interest. (Sec. 578) Imposes certain economic and political sanctions against Serbia unless the President makes a certain certification with respect to Serbia to specified congressional committees. Exempts the governments of Montenegro and Kosova from such sanctions. (Sec. 579) Urges the export of U.S. clean coal technology.
Bill· SS. 1237 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Military Retirement Equity Act of 1999 - Permits retired members of the armed forces to be paid retirement pay concurrently with compensation for any service-connected disability if the person's entitlement to retired pay is based solely on age, length of service (at least 20 years), or both. Reduces the retirement pay of individuals receiving both types of pay by a specified percentage of the disability compensation which decreases as the disability rating increases. Prohibits any reduction in the retirement pay of a disabled person when the disability rating is total.
Bill· SS. 1238 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Authorizes the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the surviving spouse of a veteran who died while totally disabled from a service-connected disability, who was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999, and who had been diagnosed as having one of the diseases specified as being service-connected (and therefore compensable) under veterans' disability compensation or benefits provisions.