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Bill· SS. 1631 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
Graduate Medical Education Fair Technical Amendment Act of 1999 - Increases each limitation regarding the number of residents or interns for which graduate medical education (GME) payments may be made under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act by the number of applicable residents who were GME participants at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility and subsequently transferred to a non-VA facility between January 1, 1997, and July 31, 1998, because the residents or interns medical residency program would lose its accreditation if such program continued to train residents at the VA facility.
Bill· SS. 1628 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
Medicare Physician Workforce Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the rules for determining the number of full-time equivalent residents in an approved medical residency training program for purposes of determining payments for direct graduate medical education (GME) costs to provide that a resident enrolled in a fellowship in geriatric medicine or geriatric psychiatry within an approved medical residency training program be counted twice for the period such resident is enrolled in such fellowship (thereby doubling GME payments made to teaching hospitals for geriatric fellows). Caps the double payment to be provided for an approved medical residency training program to a maximum of 400 fellows per year. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and conduct a limited number of demonstration projects to increase the number of certified geriatricians who are appropriately trained to provide items and services to beneficiaries under the Medicare program in a range of patient settings. Directs the Secretary to make annual reports to the Congress on such projects.
Bill· HRH.R. 2934 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
National Youth Technology Corps Act - Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to establish a National Youth Technology Corps (NYTC) as part of the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program, using VISTA volunteers who are highly proficient in computer technologies. Includes under NYTC functions: (1) recruiting and organizing youth to implement and maintain computer systems for public schools, community centers, public senior centers, and libraries, and to teach students, teachers, senior citizens, and others how to use computer and other information technologies and systems; (2) promoting such youth's involvement in community services involving the use of technology; (3) promoting entrepreneurship among, and employment opportunities for, such youth in technology-related fields; and (4) providing recognition to affiliated youth and organizations for outstanding efforts and achievements. Requires assignment of such volunteers to projects and programs that meet the antipoverty criteria and provide assistance to persons who are unserved or underserved by computer education programs, according to specified priorities. Allows such programs and projects to be administered by various specified types of entities. Requires equitable distribution of such volunteers. Requires NYTC to consist of all VISTA volunteers who are working on the described projects and programs. Provides for proportionate reduction of NYTC funds for any fiscal year for which VISTA funding is reduced.
Bill· HRH.R. 2933 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
Alliance for Technologically Trained Teachers Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include, among community service activities for which Federal work-study program funds may be used: (1) technology training; and (2) tutoring teachers in the uses of classroom technology. Requires institutions of higher education to use the following portions of their Federal work-study program grants as follows: (1) at least ten (currently seven) percent to compensate students employed in community service; and (2) at least three percent to compensate students employed in technology training or tutoring teachers in the uses of classroom technology (or both). Directs the Secretary of Education to: (1) study specified and other means of improving the efficiency of the technological training of teachers; and (2) report to Congress the results, including proposals for a comprehensive approach to providing technologically competent teachers to schools and a plan for accomplishing specified objectives determined to be feasible and effective.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 303 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1999
Urges the Department of Education, States, and local educational agencies to work together to ensure that at least 95 percent of all funds appropriated for elementary and secondary education programs administered by the Department of Education is spent to improve the academic achievement of children in classrooms.
Bill· SS. 1622 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1999
Delta Regional Authority Act of 1999 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish the Delta Regional Authority to: (1) develop comprehensive and coordinated plans and programs, establish priorities, and approve grants for the economic development of the Mississippi Delta region (parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee surrounding such Delta); (2) provide for research, demonstration, investigation, assessment and evaluation of such region's assets and needs; (3) encourage the formation and capacity of local development districts and private investment in industrial, commercial, and other economic development projects; and (4) provide a forum for the consideration of problems and possible solutions of the region. Provides conflict-of-interest requirements with respect to Authority members, alternates, officers, and employees. Authorizes the Authority to approve grants to States and public and private entities for projects to: (1) assist the region in obtaining necessary job training or employment-related education, leadership and civic development, and business development, especially entrepreneurship for such region; (2) provide special assistance to severely distressed and underdeveloped counties within such region; and (3) fund research, demonstration, evaluations, assessments, training programs, construction of necessary facilities, and the provision of technical assistance of and for the region. Provides the following priority for the use of grant funds: (1) basic infrastructure in distressed counties; (2) job-related infrastructure; (3) job training or employment-related education; (4) leadership and civic development; and (5) business development, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. Authorizes the Federal co- chairman of the Authority to use grant amounts as required Federal contributions to grant-in-aid programs for which the region is eligible but cannot supply the required matching share. Prohibits the Federal share of project costs for which assistance is provided under this title from exceeding 80 percent, and prohibits a grant period of more than three years. Defines a "local development district" as a certified entity having a charter or authority that includes the economic development of counties or other parts of the region. Outlines certification requirements. Authorizes the Authority to make grants to such districts for administrative expenses. Requires the Authority to: (1) annually designate distressed and economically strong counties, and isolated areas of distress, within the region; and (2) allocate at least 50 percent of the appropriations made available under this Act for programs and projects for the distressed counties. Prohibits (with an exception) such funds from being used within economically strong counties. Makes isolated areas of distress eligible for such assistance at the Authority's discretion. Requires each State member of the Authority to submit a development plan for the area of the region represented by the member. Outlines factors to be considered by the Authority in considering programs and projects for assistance under this Act and in establishing priorities among assistance requests. Requires the Authority to review for approval any State or regional development plan submitted. Outlines plan approval requirements. Directs the Authority to: (1) maintain appropriate records; and (2) annually prepare and submit to the President, for transmittal to Congress, a report on its activities. Authorizes appropriations to the Authority to carry out this Act.
Bill· SS. 1618 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1999
Medicare Wellness Act of 1999 - Title I: Healthy Seniors Promotion Program - Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a Healthy Seniors Working Group to establish policies and criteria for the HHS Secretary to make grants to approved applicants to study specified approaches to further health promotion and disease prevention among the elderly. (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 102) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) encourage inclusion of preventive health measures in all Medicare treatments; (2) HCFA expand the study of the most promising behavioral modification of risk factors associated with health promotion and disease prevention for all Medicare beneficiaries; and (3) the National Library of Medicine establish a Medicare health promotion and disease prevention intervention clearinghouse. Title II: Medicare Coverage of Preventive Services - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to outline Medicare coverage of various specified preventive services, including: (1) counseling for cessation of tobacco use; (2) screening for hypertension; (3) counseling for hormone replacement therapy; (4) screening for glaucoma and for diminished visual acuity; and (5) screening and counseling for osteoporosis. (Sec. 209) Waives coinsurance and deductibles for certain preventive services, such as: (1) diabetes outpatient self-management training services; (2) colorectal and prostate cancer screening tests; and (3) bone mass measurement. (Sec. 210) Directs the Secretary to conduct a national falls prevention and awareness campaign to reduce fall-related injuries among Medicare beneficiaries and to integrate specified preventive benefits added by this Act with existing program integrity measures. Title III: Medicare Health Education and Risk Appraisal Program - Amends SSA title XVIII to direct the HHS Secretary to: (1) establish a health education and risk appraisal program to inform certain target individuals, including Medicare beneficiaries, of described major behavioral risk factors through self-assessment; and (2) conduct periodic followups. Title IV: Disease Self-Management Demonstration Projects - Establishes in HHS a Disease Self-Management Working Group. Directs the HHS Secretary to conduct demonstration projects to promote disease self-management for conditions identified by the Group for described target individuals. Provides funding. Title V: Studies and Reports Advancing Original Research in the Field of Disease Prevention and the Elderly - Amends SSA title XVIII to revise reporting requirements for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. (Sec. 502) Directs the Director of the National Institutes on Aging to conduct one or more studies, for associated reports to the HHS Secretary and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, that focus on ways to: (1) improve quality of life for the elderly; (2) develop better ways to prevent or delay the onset of age-related functional decline and disease and disability among the elderly; and (3) develop means of assessing the long-term development of cost-effective benefits and cost-saving benefits for health promotion and disease prevention among the elderly. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 503) Directs the HHS Secretary to contract with the Institute to study and report to the President and Congress on health promotion and disease prevention among Medicare beneficiaries. (Sec. 504) Provides for fast-track consideration of prevention benefit legislation in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.
Bill· HRH.R. 2911 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1999
Delta Regional Authority Act of 1999 - Requires public investments made in the Mississippi River Delta region (region) (parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee surrounding such Delta) to be concentrated in areas of significant and concentrated economic distress and where the impact on the region's poorest communities will be the greatest. Title I: The Delta Regional Authority - Establishes the Delta Regional Authority to: (1) develop comprehensive and coordinated plans and programs, establish priorities, and approve grants for the economic development of the region; (2) provide for research, demonstration, investigation, assessment and evaluation of such region's assets and needs; (3) encourage the formation and capacity of local development districts and private investment in industrial, commercial, and other economic development projects; and (4) provide a forum for the consideration of problems and possible solutions of the region. Provides conflict-of-interest requirements with respect to Authority members, alternates, officers, and employees. Title II: Delta Programs - Part A: Programs - Authorizes the Authority to approve grants to States and public and private entities for projects to: (1) assist the region in obtaining necessary job training or employment-related education, leadership and civic development, and business development, especially entrepreneurship for such region; (2) provide special assistance to severely distressed and underdeveloped counties within such region; and (3) fund research, demonstration, evaluations, and assessments of the region. Authorizes the Federal co-chairman of the Authority to use grant amounts as required Federal contributions to grant-in-aid programs for which the region is eligible but cannot supply the required matching share. Prohibits the Federal share of project costs for which assistance is provided under this title from exceeding 80 percent. (Sec.203) Defines a "local development district" as a certified entity having a charter or authority that includes the economic development of counties or other parts of the region. Outlines certification requirements. Authorizes the Authority to make grants to such districts for administrative expenses. (Sec. 204) Requires the Authority to: (1) annually designate distressed and economically strong counties within the region; and (2) allocate at least 50 percent of the appropriations made available under this Act for programs and projects for the distressed counties. Prohibits (with an exception) such funds from being used within economically strong counties. Part B: General Provisions - Requires each State member of the Authority to submit a development plan for the area of that State within the region. (Sec. 222) Outlines factors to be considered by the Authority in considering programs and projects for assistance under this Act and in establishing priorities among assistance requests. (Sec. 223) Requires the Authority to review for approval any State or regional development plan submitted. Outlines plan approval requirements. Title III: Authorizations and Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes appropriations to the Authority to carry out this Act. (Sec. 303) Directs the Authority to: (1) maintain appropriate records; and (2) annually prepare and submit to the President, for transmittal to Congress, a report on its activities.
Bill· HRH.R. 2915 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1999
Student Privacy Protection Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to prohibit any funds authorized under ESEA from being used by an applicable program to allow a third party to monitor, receive, gather, or obtain information intended for commercial purposes from any student under age 18 without prior, written, informed consent of the student's parent. Requires a school, local educational agency, or State, before entering into a contract with a third party, to inquire as to: (1) whether the third party intends to gather, collect, or store information on students; (2) the nature of the information to be gathered; (3) how the information will be used; (4) whether the information will be sold, distributed, or transferred to other parties; and (5) the amount of class time that will be consumed by such activity. Requires the consent form to include the answers to such inquiries and to indicate the dollar amount and nature of the contract. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study, including specified documentation and considerations, regarding the prevalence and effect of commercialism in elementary and secondary education.
Bill· SS. 1608 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1999
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments (timber related funds plus other Treasury funds as necessary to meet specified payment levels) to: (1) States from Forest Service lands for affected counties to use for public education and transportation; and (2) counties from Bureau of Land Management lands for public safety, law enforcement, education, and other public purposes. Obligates funds from such payments for eligible States and counties for resource management and Federal land restoration. Sets forth eligibility provisions. Requires the establishment of an Investment Project Advisory Committee for each National Forest and Bureau of Land Management district managing Federal lands. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1603 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Parental Rights Title II: Teacher Quality Title III: Academic Achievement Awards Program Quality Teachers for All Act - Title I: Parental Rights - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require any public elementary or secondary school that receives funds under ESEA to provide to the parents of each student enrolled in the school information regarding: (1) the professional qualifications of each of the student's teachers, both generally and with respect to the subject area in which the teacher provides instruction; and (2) the minimum professional qualifications required by the State for teacher certification or licensure. Title II: Teacher Quality - Revises requirements for State plans under ESEA title I (Helping Disadvantaged Students Meet High Standards) part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by State and Local Educational Agencies) to add teacher quality requirements. (Sec. 201) Requires State plans to assure, with respect to schools served under part A, that: (1) no student will be taught for more than one year by an elementary school teacher, or for more than two consecutive years in the same subject by a secondary school teacher, who has not demonstrated the subject matter knowledge, teaching knowledge, and teaching skill necessary to teach effectively in the subject in which the teacher provides instruction; (2) the State provides incentives for teachers in those schools to pursue and achieve advanced teaching and subject area content standards; (3) the State has mechanisms to ensure that local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools served under part A can recruit fully qualified teachers, reward financially those teachers and principals whose students have made significant progress toward high academic performance (such as through performance-based compensation systems and access to ongoing professional development opportunities), and remove expeditiously incompetent or unqualified teachers; (4) the State aggressively helps those schools, particularly in high need areas, recruit and retain fully qualified teachers; (5) during the four years after enactment of this Act, elementary and secondary school teachers in those schools will be at least as well qualified, in terms of experience and credentials, as the instructional staff in schools served by the same local educational agency (LEA) that are not schools served under part A; and (6) any teacher who meets the standards set by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards will be considered fully qualified to teach in those schools in any school district or community in the State. Requires State plans to assure that, within four years after enactment of this Act: (1) all instructional staff who provide services to students, under part A schoolwide programs or targeted assistance schools programs, have demonstrated the subject matter knowledge, teaching knowledge, and teaching skill necessary to teach effectively in the content area or areas in which they provide instruction, according to specified criteria; and (2) part A funds will not be used to support instructional staff who provide such program services to students and for whom State qualification or licensing requirements have been waived or who are teaching under an emergency or other provisional credential. Requires each such member of the instructional staff who teaches elementary school students, at a minimum, to have: (1) State certification (which may be by alternative means) or a State license to teach; and (2) a bachelor's degree and demonstrated subject matter knowledge, teaching knowledge, and teaching skill required to teach effectively in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, science, and other elements of a liberal arts education. Requires each such member of the instructional staff who teaches in middle and secondary schools to have, at a minimum, such State certification or license, and a bachelor's or higher degree, and demonstrate a high level of competence in all subject areas in which the staff member teaches through: (1) achievement of a high level of performance on rigorous academic subject area tests; (2) completion of an academic major (or courses totaling an equivalent number of credit hours) in each of the subject areas in which the staff member provides instruction; or (3) achievement of a high level of performance in relevant subject areas through other professional employment experience. Prohibits use of part A funds to employ teacher aides or other paraprofessionals who do not meet such requirements in elementary or secondary schools, unless such staff: (1) provide instruction only when under the direct and immediate supervision, and in the immediate presence, of instructional staff who meet such requirements; and (2) possess particular skills necessary to assist instructional staff in providing services to students served under ESEA. Requires State plans to assure that no school served under part A will use funds received under ESEA to hire instructional staff who do not fully meet all such criteria for instructional staff. Defines instructional staff to include anyone with responsibility for providing any student or group of students with instruction in any of the core academic subject areas, including reading, writing, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Requires State plans to describe how State educational agencies (SEAs) will help LEAs and schools to develop the capacity to comply with teacher quality requirements. Requires SEAs to take specified corrective actions against LEAs that do not make sufficient effort to comply with such requirements. Directs the Secretary to withhold certain amounts from States that fail to take such corrective actions. Eliminates certain part A professional development requirements with respect to instructional aides. (Sec. 202) Establishes an ESEA title I part A program of grants to provide a Fully Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom. Authorizes the Secretary of Education, under such program, to make such competitive grants to States or LEAs to carry out specified activities to assist schools that receive part A assistance to meet the goal of ensuring that all their instructional staff have the necessary subject matter knowledge, teaching knowledge, and teaching skill. Allows States to use such funds for: (1) collaboration with programs that recruit, place, and train fully qualified teachers; (2) the necessary education and training, including establishing continuing education programs and paying college tuition and other student fees, to help teachers or other school personnel to meet necessary qualifications and licensing requirements; (3) alternative means of State certification of teachers for highly qualified individuals with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree; (4) projects to increase portability of teacher pensions or credited years of experience or to promote reciprocity of teacher certification or licensure between or among States; or (5) induction programs to support, and promote retention of, new teachers in schools served under part A. Allows LEAs to use such funds to recruit fully qualified teachers, including through the use of signing bonuses or other financial incentives, and also to: (1) collaborate with programs that recruit, place, and train qualified teachers; (3) provide the necessary education and training, including college tuition and student fees, to help current teachers or other school personnel meet qualifications and licensing requirements; and (4) carry on induction programs for support and retention of new teachers in part A schools. Requires an individual, in order to qualify for such for such State or LEA payments for college tuition, to: (1) be within two years of completing an undergraduate degree; and (2) agree to teach for at least two subsequent years after receiving such degree in a school where, in that academic year, more than one-half of the enrollment may be counted for purposes of concentration grants to LEAs, and its LEA is eligible for ESEA title I assistance. Authorizes appropriations for such grants program. Authorizes States and LEAs, in order to meet such ESEA title I part A goal of a qualified teacher in every classroom, to carry out such specified activities by also using funds received under: (1) ESEA title II (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program); (2) ESEA title VI (Innovative Education Program Strategies); (3) title II (Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants for States and Partnerships) of the Higher Education Act of 1965; or (5) the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. Establishes a certification grants program. Authorizes the Secretary to make such grants to SEAs, LEAs, or schools that receive part A assistance, to pay for one-half of the cost of providing financial assistance to teachers in such schools who obtain certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Authorizes appropriations for such certification grants. (Sec. 203) Prohibits the use of any ESEA funds for any professional development services for a teacher that are not directly related to the curriculum and content areas in which the teacher provides instruction. Title III: Academic Achievement Awards Program - Requires each State receiving an ESEA title I grant to establish an Academic Achievement Awards Program to recognize and reward: (1) LEAs and schools that operate schoolwide programs or targeted schools programs and demonstrate outstanding yearly progress for two or more consecutive years; and (2) teachers who provide instruction in such programs. Requires such States to reserve certain funds for such awards programs. Authorizes appropriations to supplement funds for such awards programs.
Bill· SS. 1604 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1999
Technology for Teaching Act - Title I: Structure - Amends title III (Technology for Education) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to repeal subpart 4 (Product Development) and other specified provisions. (Sec. 101) Renames part A as Federal Leadership and National Activities. Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a national evaluation of educational technology, including specified authorized activities. Authorizes appropriations for ESEA title III. Title II: Special Projects - Repeals part B (Star Schools Program) and part E (Elementary Mathematics and Science Equipment Program) of title III of ESEA. (Sec. 201) Redesignates part C (Ready-to-Learn Television) as subpart 2 and part D (Telecommunication Demonstration Project for Mathematics) as subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title III of ESEA. Establishes Special Projects as a new part B of title III of ESEA. Authorizes the Secretary of Education, through the Office of Educational Technology (OET), to make competitive awards of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to eligible applicants for authorized activities according to certain priorities under programs for: (1) Next-Generation Technology Innovation Awards (new subpart 1); and (2) Community Technology Centers (subpart 4). Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Technology Training for Teachers - Establishes a new part C, Technology Training for Teachers. (Sec. 301) Sets forth a subpart 1 Educational Technology Training for New Teachers program, and a subpart 2 Educational Technology Training for Inservice Teachers program. Includes, under both programs, provisions for: (1) technical assistance and evaluation; (2) State educational agency grants; (3) State use of funds; (4) State applications, and review criteria; (5) grants to schools of education; (6) local applications, and review criteria; (7) maintenance of effort, and supplementation; and (8) administration. Includes, under the subpart 2 program for Inservice Teachers, provisions for: (1) grants to local educational agencies (LEAs); (2) local applications, and review criteria; and (3) participation of private school teachers. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 302) Amends various provisions of ESEA title I (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards) and title II (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program) to add provisions relating to teacher technology training. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends ESEA title III to establish a part D Regional, State, and Local Educational Technology Resources, with a subpart 1 Technology Literacy Challenge Fund to help States and LEAs improve student achievement, particularly that of students in high-poverty, low-performing schools, through various efforts involving education technology and teacher technology training. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2888 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1999
Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 1999 - Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Education Assistance Act to revise and reauthorize title VII subtitle B, Education for Homeless Children and Youth. Prohibits States receiving such funds from segregating homeless children and youth solely on the basis of their homeless status (with an exception for separate schools for the homeless initiated before enactment of these amendments). Requires schools to enroll immediately any homeless child or youth seeking enrollment, even if the records (except immunization records) normally required for enrollment cannot be produced. Provides that the school of origin is the default interpretation of the best interest of the child regarding school placement, unless this is contrary to the wishes of parents or guardians. Requires LEAs that seek to receive such funds to conduct an assessment of the educational and related needs of homeless children and youth. Directs the Secretary of Education to disseminate nationwide a public notice of the educational rights of homeless children and youth. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1596 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1999
Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 - Title I: Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes FY 2000 appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs for: (1) veterans' compensation, pensions, and readjustment benefits; (2) veterans' insurance and indemnities; (3) veterans' housing, education, and vocational rehabilitation loan accounts; (4) veterans' medical care; (5) medical and prosthetic research; (6) medical administration; (7) the General post fund, national homes; (8) departmental administration; (9) the National Cemetery Administration; (10) the Office of Inspector General; (11) construction; (12) the parking revolving fund; and (13) grants to States for construction of extended care facilities and cemeteries. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, funds made available under this title. Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Makes FY 2000 appropriations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for: (1) public and Indian housing; (2) the Public Housing Capital and Operating Funds; (3) drug elimination grants for low-income housing; (4) revitalization of severely distressed public housing; (5) Native American housing block grants; (6) Indian housing loan guarantees; (7) establishment of an Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development in HUD; (8) housing opportunities for persons with AIDS; (9) community development block grants; (10) brownfields redevelopment; (11) the HOME investment partnerships program; (12) homeless assistance grants; (13) housing for special populations; (14) the Federal Housing Administration; (15) the Government National Mortgage Association; (16) housing policy development and research; (17) fair housing activities; (18) the Lead Hazard Reduction Program; (19) management and administration; (20) the Office of Inspector General; and (21) carrying out the Federal Housing Enterprise Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, funds made available under this title. (Sec. 204) Amends the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act to provide for allocation of resources for housing for persons with AIDS to States that received an allocation in a prior fiscal year for having more than 1,500 AIDS cases outside of a metropolitan statistical area with a population exceeding 500,000. Repeals a minimum grant requirement under such Act. (Sec. 205) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to extend the Secretary of HUD's authority to enter into certain risk-sharing agreements to determine Federal credit enhancements for loans for affordable multifamily housing. Extends to FY 2000 a provision that increases the number of units to which those agreements may apply in FY 1999. (Sec. 206) Authorizes eligible low-income housing project owners to: (1) prepay mortgages on such projects; and (2) request voluntary termination of a mortgage insurance contract with respect to such a project, notwithstanding certain requirements under the National Housing Act. Permits mortgage prepayment or contract termination only if: (1) such prepayment or termination is consistent with the terms of the mortgage on, or insurance contract for, the project; (2) the owner agrees not to increase rent charges for any project dwelling during the 60-day period beginning on the prepayment or termination; and (3) the owner provides notice of intent to prepay or terminate within a certain time period, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 209) Amends provisions of the National Housing Act regarding payments of claims on defaulted mortgages with respect to multifamily housing units and health facilities to allow full (in addition to partial) payment of claims under one or more mortgage insurance contracts in connection with certain mortgage restructurings. (Sec. 210) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to direct owners responsible for determining a participant's eligibility or level of benefits to require families receiving certain HUD family income matching information to disclose such information. Includes families who receive such information and dwell in units receiving certain project-based assistance within the list of families subject to the disclosure requirement. (Sec. 211) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to delete a provision regarding an emergency reserve and set-aside funds under the section regarding the Public Housing Capital and Operating Funds. (Sec. 214) Establishes compensation ceilings with respect to funds provided for the Public Housing Operating Fund and the Youthbuild program. (Sec. 216) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize the Secretary of HUD to establish income ceilings, with respect to eligibility for public housing or project-based Section 8 assistance, that are higher or lower than 30 percent of the area median income based on findings that such variations are necessary because of unusually high or low family incomes. (Sec. 217) Requires the Comptroller General to certify to Congress on a quarterly basis on the cost of time attributable to the failure of HUD to cooperate in any General Accounting Office (GAO) investigation with regard to HUD activities. Directs the Secretary of HUD to reimburse GAO for such costs from the salaries and expenses account. (Sec. 218) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to allow funds made available for home investment partnerships to be used to preserve housing assisted or previously assisted with Section 8 assistance. (Sec. 219) Exempts public housing agencies in Alaska and Mississippi from certain membership requirements for their boards of directors under the United States Housing Act of 1937. (Sec. 220) Requires the Secretary of HUD to transfer the administration of the Small Cities component of the Community Development Block Grants program to the State of New York, to be administered by the Governor. (Sec. 221) Authorizes the Secretary of HUD to renew project-based rental housing contracts under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 at up to market levels. Directs the Secretary to: (1) offer to renew expired section 8 contracts at up to market levels in low-vacancy areas or areas with concentrations of elderly or disabled families; and (2) establish certain market rents. Authorizes ten-year section 8 contract renewals. (Sec. 222) Amends Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for enhanced voucher assistance for certain families in projects where mortgages have been prepaid, mortgage insurance contracts have been terminated, or Section 8 rental assistance contracts have expired or been terminated. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 to provide for Section 8 enhanced voucher assistance for certain tenants in housing where Section 8 assistance is not renewed. Amends the Low-Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of 1990 to provide for Section 8 enhanced voucher assistance for certain tenants in housing where mortgages have been prepaid or insurance contracts have been terminated. Title III: Independent Agencies - Makes FY 2000 appropriations for: (1) the American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board; (3) the Department of the Treasury for community development financial institutions; (4) the Consumer Product Safety Commission; (5) the Corporation for National and Community Service; (6) the Office of Inspector General; (7) the Court of Veterans Appeals; and (8) the Department of Defense for Army cemeterial expenses. Appropriates funds for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for: (1) science and technology activities; (2) environmental programs and management; (3) the Office of Inspector General; (4) buildings and facilities; (5) Superfund; (6) the leaking underground storage tank program; (7) oil spill response programs; and (8) assistance to States and Indian tribes for environmental programs and infrastructure. Appropriates funds for: (1) the Executive Office of the President for the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Office of Environmental Quality; and (2) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General. Makes appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for: (1) disaster relief; (2) disaster assistance direct loans; (3) salaries and expenses; (4) the Office of Inspector General; (5) emergency management planning and assistance; (6) a specified emergency food and shelter program;(7) the National Flood Insurance Fund; and (8) the National Insurance Development Fund. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend through FY 2000: (1) a certain ceiling on obligations issued under the national flood insurance program; and (2) the authorization of appropriations for certain studies. Makes appropriations for: (1) the General Services Administration for the Consumer Information Center; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the International Space Station, launch vehicles and payload operations in support of the space shuttle program, science, aeronautics, and technology research and development, mission support, and the Office of Inspector General; (3) the National Credit Union Administration's Central Liquidity Facility; (4) the National Science Foundation for research, major construction projects, science and engineering education and human resources programs, salaries and expenses, and the Office of Inspector General; (5) the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; and (6) the Selective Service System. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, funds appropriated under this title. Title IV: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions regarding availability, and prohibitions on the use, of funds appropriated by this Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that equipment and products purchased with funds made available in this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 423) Bars the use of funds made available in this Act to carry out a specified executive order regarding federalism. (Sec. 426) Prohibits the obligation of funds provided in this Act after February 15, 2000, unless each agency that receives such funds provides justifications to the Appropriations Committees for all salary and expense activities for FY 2001 through 2005. (Sec. 427) Amends the Fair Housing Act to require prospective complainants, before filing a complaint involving a published notice, statement, or advertisement that indicates a preference or discrimination with respect to the sale or rental of housing, to serve a prospective respondent with notice of the alleged violation to allow remedial action by the respondent. Prohibits an administrative action from being brought by the prospective complainant if the respondent acts to cease publication of the alleged item in violation within 72 hours of receipt of notice or prior to the next publication, whichever is greater. Bars civil actions by aggrieved persons under the same circumstances.
Bill· SS. 1597 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1999
Enhanced Incentives for Charitable Giving Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit charitable contributions to be made to qualified low-income schools after the end of a tax year, if such contributions are made before the required filing time. Permits non-itemizers to deduct a portion of their charitable contributions. Increases the percentage limitations applicable to individual and corporate charitable contributions. Sets forth a limited exception to the excess business holdings rule.
Bill· HRH.R. 2872 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1999
Pell Grant Act Expansion Act of 1999 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to increase the maximum Pell Grant award for academic year 2003-2004 from $5,800 to $7,000. Makes available to the Secretary of Education specified increasing maximum amounts for FY 2001 through 2003 for the payment of Pell Grants. Authorizes the Secretary, if such amount made available in a fiscal year is not sufficient to pay all Pell Grants in the amounts determined, to make necessary reductions in awards by either a fixed or variable percentage reduction or by a fixed dollar reduction.
Bill· HRH.R. 2871 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1999
Youth Financial Education Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a new part L, Promoting Youth Financial Literacy, under title X (Programs of National Significance). Authorizes the Secretary of Education to provide grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) to develop and integrate youth financial education programs for students in elementary and secondary schools. Sets forth requirements for State plans and for allocation of grants to States. Requires States to use grants to: (1) provide funds to local educational agencies (LEAs) and public schools to carry out financial education programs for students in kindergarten through grade 12 based on the concept of achieving financial literacy through the teaching of personal financial management skills and the basic principles involved with earning, spending, saving, and investing; (2) carry out professional development programs to prepare teachers and administrators for financial education; and (3) monitor and evaluate programs. Directs the Secretary to make a grant to or contract with an entity with substantial financial education experience for a national clearinghouse for instructional materials and information on model financial education programs and best practices. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop performance measures for the part L programs of State grants and of the clearinghouse; and (2) report to the Congress annually on the implementation of part L programs. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2873 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1999
Education for Life Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand permitted withdrawals from education individual retirement accounts to include: (1) qualified elementary and secondary education expenses (including home schooling expenses); and (2) qualified job training expenses. Increases from: (1) $500 to $2,500 the maximum amount which may annually be contributed to such an account; and (2) 18 to 55 the age until which contributions may be made to a beneficiary's account. Permits a deduction (for both itemizers and nonitemizers) for such contributions.
Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 66 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that, to secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: (1) neither the United States nor any State shall establish any official religion; (2) the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed; and (3) neither the United States nor any State shall require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, prescribe school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion.
Bill· SS. 1582 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Health Care Preservation Act of 1999 - Title I: Teaching Hospitals - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the following: (1) termination of multiyear reduction of indirect graduate medical education payments; and (2) exclusion of nursing and allied health education costs in calculating payments to Medicare+Choice organizations under Medicare part C. Title II: Rural Hospitals - Amends SSA title XVIII to: (1) revise the criteria for designation as a critical access hospital under provisions for the Medicare rural hospital flexibility program; (2) provide authority under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) provisions for payment of benefits for the establishment of a prospective payment system (PPS) for rural health clinic services; (3) require consideration of rural issues in establishing the fee schedule for ambulance services under Medicare part B; and (4) set the applicable percentage at 100 percent with respect to covered outpatient department (OPD) services furnished during a transition year in a rural hospital pursuant to the provisions below in title IV of this Act that provide for a multiyear transition to the PPS for hospital OPD services under Medicare part B. Title III: Safety Net Providers - Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to establish a new PPS for federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics under Medicaid. (Sec. 302) Amends SSA title XVIII to: (1) provide for the removal of payments attributable to disproportionate share (DSH) payments from calculation of adjusted average per capita cost in determining payments to Medicare+Choice organizations; (2) provide additional payments for managed care enrollees under Medicare part D (Miscellaneous) provisions for payment to hospitals for inpatient hospital services; and (3) place a limitation on the reduction of payments to DSH hospitals. Title IV: Other Hospital Provisions - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) delay of the financial limitation on rehabilitation services under Medicare part B provisions for the payment of benefits; and (2) multiyear transition to the PPS for hospital OPD services under Medicare part B. Title V: Skilled Nursing Facilities - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), for purposes of applying the formula under the PPS for determining the amount of payment for the costs of covered skilled nursing facility (SNF) services provided on or after a certain time period, to increase the adjusted Federal per diem rate under such PPS for services provided to any individual in a RUG III category by the applicable payment add-on determined in accordance with an outlined table. (Sec. 502) Excludes ambulance services furnished to an individual in conjunction with a renal dialysis service, and prosthetic and orthotic devices from the PPS for SNFs. (Sec. 503) Directs the Secretary to: (1) cover under extended care services provisions of Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) individuals with a condition classifiable within a specified diagnosis-related group; (2) study and report to Congress on extended care services provided in SNFs for which coverage is provided under the Medicare select program; (3) establish certain extended care services demonstration programs; (4) require the application of any deductibles and coinsurance under Medicare part A upon waiver of the three day hospitalization stay requirement and beginning with the first day of extended care services in a SNF; (5) reduce the amount of any deductible or coinsurance applied based on certain criteria; and (6) reduce amounts otherwise payable under Medicare part A for post-hospital extended care services under specified conditions. Provides that in the case of an individual eligible for Medicaid nursing facility service assistance, Medicaid shall apply as if this title had not been enacted. (Sec. 504) Authorizes the extension of certain Medicare community nursing organization demonstration projects under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. Title VI: Cost-Efficient Home Health Providers - Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA '97), as amended by the Tax and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998, to delay for an additional year the contingency reduction scheduled under BBA '97 with regard to payment for home health services. (Sec. 602) Amends SSA title XVIII to eliminate the 15-minute reporting requirement under the PPS for home health services with regard to the length of time of the service visit. (Sec. 603) Outlines provisions for recoupment by the Secretary of overpayments to home health agencies for certain home health services. (Sec. 604) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for an increase in the per visit cost limit with respect to payment for services furnished by home health agencies. Title VII: Medicare+Choice and Medigap Protections for Seniors and the Disabled - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) a two year (currently, one year) period during which an individual may be enrolled in a Medicare+Choice plan under Medicare part C and then terminate such enrollment for enrollment in a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy; (2) modification of coverage enrollment periods for such plans and policies with regard to individual notification of plan or policy termination; (3) guaranteed issuance of certain Medigap policies in cases of a substantial change in benefits under a Medicare+Choice plan, of certain Medigap policies to disabled Medicare+Choice disenrollees, and of the same Medigap benefit package for certain Medicare+Choice disenrollees; and (4) prohibition of attained-age rating of premiums for Medigap policies. Title VIII: Medicare Preservation through Fraud Prevention - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) site inspections for suppliers of durable medical equipment (DME), community mental health centers, and other provider groups as determined by the Secretary; (2) background checks on applicants for provider numbers; and (3) registration of billing agencies and individuals. (Sec. 803) Amends SSA title XI to provide for exclusion of applicable persons from participation in Federal health care programs if such a person submitted a fraudulent claim for reimbursement under Medicare. Provides for: (1) expanded access to the database maintained through the national health care fraud and abuse data collection program; and (2) a criminal penalty for misuse of database information. (Sec. 804) Amends SSA title XVIII to make Medicare carriers and fiscal intermediaries liable for claims submitted by excluded providers. (Sec. 805) Revises Medicare provisions on community mental health centers. (Sec. 806) Amends SSA title XI to: (1) limit the discharge of debts in bankruptcy proceedings in cases where a health care provider or a supplier engages in fraudulent activity; and (2) impose a criminal penalty for the selling or distribution of two or more Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary identification or provider numbers. (Sec. 808) Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for the treatment of certain SSA crimes as Federal health care offenses. (Sec. 809) Authorizes any criminal investigator of the HHS' Inspector General's (IG's) Office, upon designation, to execute a variety of specified duties, including obtaining and executing any warrant or other process issued under the authority of the United States, while engaged in activities within the lawful jurisdiction of the IG. Provides that the HHS IG may receive and expend funds that represent the equitable share from the forfeiture of property in investigations in which the HHS IG participated, and that are transferred to the HHS IG by the Departments of Justice or the Treasury or the U.S. Postal Service. Requires such equitable sharing funds to be deposited in a separate account and to remain available until expended. (Sec. 810) Outlines requirements for universal product numbers (UPN's, or bar codes) on claims forms for Medicare reimbursement of any UPN covered item. Authorizes appropriations.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 183 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Designates September 19 through September 25, 1999, as National Home Education Week.
Bill· HRH.R. 2849 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Illegal Alien Educational Impact Aid Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Education to provide grants to States for certain educational costs for eligible illegal alien students. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2850 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Older Americans Amendments of 1999 - Revises the Older Americans Act of 1965 in toto. Older Americans Act of 1999 - Retains the Administration on Aging in the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as well as the Assistant Secretary for Aging. Directs the Assistant Secretary to establish: (1) an Office on Native Americans (currently, the Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs) and (2) an office of long-term care ombudsman programs (currently, the Office of Long-term Care Ombudsman Programs). (Sec. 3) Directs the Assistant Secretary to designate individuals with pertinent expertise who shall be responsible for administration of: (1) grants for Native American programs on aging; (2) Federal activities relating to State long-term care ombudsman programs; and (3) nutrition services. Revises the duties of the Assistant Secretary. Directs the Assistant Secretary to: (1) make education and training grants to institutions of higher education, historically Black colleges or universities, Hispanic Centers of Excellence in Applied Gerontology, and other educational institutions that serve the needs of minority students, to prepare students for careers in the field of aging; (2) establish and carry out pension rights demonstration projects; and (3) make grants to eligible public agencies and nonprofit private organizations for health care service demonstration projects through multipurpose senior centers in rural areas. Authorizes the Assistant Secretary or the Secretary of Labor, as the case may be, to bar recipients from receiving grants under this Act for a maximum five-year period for misuse of such funds. Repeals the specific mandate for the Assistant Secretary to engage in certain activities with respect to policy alternatives for long-term care. Eliminates the National Center on Elder Abuse, the National Aging Information Center, and the Federal Council on the Aging. Authorizes appropriations. Revises and consolidates programs of grants to Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians for the delivery costs of supportive and nutrition services. Prescribes the distribution of funds among the appropriate organizations. Retains the Secretary of the Interior's authority, acting through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to make surplus educational facilities available for multipurpose senior centers. Authorizes appropriations. Revises the programs of grants for State and community programs on aging. Prescribes the allotment of funds for supportive services, multipurpose senior centers, and nutrition and family care giver services, including additional funds for State long-term care ombudsman programs and for services for the prevention and remediation of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Requires State and area plans to provide an opportunity for older individuals to contribute voluntarily to the cost of services. Expands the scope of such services to include: (1) home delivered nutrition services; (2) disaster relief reimbursements to grant recipients; (3) grants for authorized programs for disease prevention and health promotion services; and (4) family caregiver programs. Retains basic existing requirements for such grants, services, and centers. Eliminates certain rights relating to in-home services for frail older individuals. Repeals authority for: (1) school-based meals for volunteer older individuals and multigenerational programs; (2) specified in-home services for frail older individuals; (3) additional assistance for the special needs of older individuals; (4) specified disease prevention and health promotion services; (5) supportive activities for caretakers who provide in-home services for frail older individuals; (6) specified research; (7) numerous specified demonstration projects, including those concerning ombudsman and advocacy, housing, and pension rights; and (8) numerous specified grant programs, including the neighborhood senior care program, Resource Centers for Native American Elders, and career preparation for the field of aging. Authorizes appropriations. Revises requirements for State long-term care ombudsman programs. Repeals the mandate that a State agency establish an Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Requires the State agency to perform the functions of such Office directly, or contract them out to a public agency or nonprofit private organization. Continues the current mandate for State programs for the prevention and remediation of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; but repeals all specific requirements except those relating to whistleblower immunity, record confidentiality, training, and the prohibition against involuntary participation by alleged victims, abusers, or members of their households. Repeals mandates for State programs for: (1) development of legal and advocacy assistance as a means for ensuring a comprehensive elder rights system; and (2) outreach, counseling, and assistance for insurance and public benefits. Authorizes appropriations for State long-term care ombudsman programs and programs for the prevention and remediation of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Older American Community Service Employment Act of 1999 - Replaces the current authority of the Secretary of Labor to establish an older American community service employment program with a mandate to make competitive grants to States and public and nonprofit private organizations to provide unemployed low-income older individuals, with otherwise poor employment prospects, employment opportunities in providing community services. Revises grant and employment project requirements. Provides for allotments and reservation of funds for such grants. Requires the Secretary of Labor to: (1) establish objective performance standards for projects; and (2) contract with nongovernmental entities to makes independent evaluations of grant recipient performance. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2865 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Universal Pre-Kindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 1999 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to include, among authorized uses of grant funds for community learning center programs, the planning, implementing, or expanding of pre-kindergarten curricula and classes for students four years of age or younger. Requires such pre-kindergarten programs to be taught by teachers who possess qualifications equivalent or similar to those of teachers of other grades in the school involved.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 293 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Supports the goals and ideas of National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.
Bill· HRH.R. 2845 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1999
21st Century Teacher Training Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education, through the Office of Educational Technology, to award competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide intensive classroom-related computer training for teachers. Requires grantees to enter into contracts with institutions of higher education or other nonprofit educational providers under which the contractor will establish, operate, and provide the non-Federal share of the cost of such teacher training programs. Requires such teacher training programs to: (1) be conducted during the school year and during the summer months; (2) train teachers who teach grades kindergarten through college; (3) select teachers to become members of a teacher network whose members will conduct workshops for other teachers employed by the LEA; and (4) encourage teachers from all disciplines to participate. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a personal income tax credit of up to $1,000 for technology-related professional development expenses for eligible teachers. Provides such credit for qualified technology expenses which: (1) would be allowed as a deduction for being related to teaching activities (but prohibits a double benefit of both deduction and credit for the same expense); and (2) are for training in the use of technology in the classroom. Includes among such expenses the cost of any computer or technology equipment that is used at least 50 percent for teaching-related activities. Expands the deduction for computer donations to include donations to public libraries, as well as to schools. Establishes a business-related tax credit for donations of computers to schools and public libraries.
Bill· HRH.R. 2840 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1999
Children's Asthma Relief Act of 1999 - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish an asthma treatment grants program providing comprehensive asthma services for children and other individuals. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to encourage States to implement plans to carry out activities to assist children with respect to asthma in accordance with the guidelines of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (Institute). Provides that if a State CHIP plan under SSA title XXI (Children's Health Insurance) (CHIP) provides for such activities to the Secretary's satisfaction, the Secretary shall make a grant to assist the State in carrying them out. Sets forth certain matching funds requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Public Health Service Act to include, within the preventive health and health services block grant, any systems for reducing asthma and asthma-related illnesses, especially with regard to children, through urban cockroach pest management in public facilities that minimizes or avoids chemical pesticides through a combination of appropriate practices involving the maintenance, cleaning, and monitoring of such sites. Directs the Institute Director to: (1) identify all Federal programs carrying out asthma-related activities; (2) develop a Federal plan for responding to asthma; and (3) submit recommendations to Congress on ways to strengthen and improve the coordination of such activities. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to: (1) conduct local asthma surveillance activities to collect data on the prevalence and severity of asthma and the quality of asthma management; and (2) compile and publish annually data on the prevalence of children suffering from asthma in each State, and the childhood mortality rate associated with asthma nationally and in each State.
Bill· HRH.R. 2831 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1999
Emergency Medical Services Efficiency Act of 1999 - Title I: Medicare Coverage of Certain Ambulance Services - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to ensure Medicare reimbursement for ambulance services rendered because of the sudden onset of a medical condition manifested by symptoms believed to be serious but whose ultimate diagnosis results in the conclusion that the ambulance services were not necessary. Title II: State Emergency Medical Services Agency Participation in Certain Federal Programs - Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to include State emergency medical services agencies among the entities eligible for financial assistance with regard to telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas. Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to allow a State emergency medical services agency to participate in the Informatics, Telemedicine, and Education Demonstration Project as part of an eligible health care provider telemedicine network (consortium). Title III: Federal Commission for Emergency Ambulance Services - Establishes the Federal Commission for Emergency Ambulance Services to study and report to the President and Congress on all matters relating to emergency ambulance services, including any existing or proposed Federal department or agency rules that impact such services, together with recommendations for improving such matters. Provides for Commission funding. Title IV: Study and Report Regarding Consolidation of Federal Authority Over Emergency Medical Services - Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the President and Congress on the consolidation of Federal authority over emergency medical services in a single Federal agency, together with appropriate recommendations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2837 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1999
Sexual Harassment Awareness Reporting and Posting Act of 1999 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to require institutions of higher education participating in any program under HEA title IV (Student Assistance) to distribute and post information for prospective and enrolled students describing their procedures for receiving and responding to complaints regarding sexual harassment.
Bill· HRH.R. 2826 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow penalty-free distributions, on account of the death or disability of the participant's spouse, from qualified retirement plans, including: (1) employee annuities purchased by charitable organizations or public schools; (2) custodial accounts for regulated investment company stock; and (3) Roth individual retirement accounts (Roth IRAs).
Bill· SS. 1536 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Older Americans Act Amendments of 1999 - Title I: Amendment to Title I of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to add certain definitions. Title II: Amendments to Title II of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Revises the duties of the Administration on Aging. Provides for a set of performance outcome measures to be used for planning, managing, and evaluating activities performed and services provided under the Act. Reauthorizes appropriations for the Administration on Aging. Title III: Amendments to Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Authorizes appropriations indefinitely for making grants relating to: (1) supportive services, (2) senior centers; (3) congregate nutrition services, (4) home delivered nutrition services; (5) in-home services; and (6) special needs. Authorizes appropriations for a nutrition services incentive program. Authorizes a State to require or permit cost sharing by recipients for all direct services, with specified exceptions, provided for in the Act. Expands the list of supportive services for which grants to States are provided. Establishes grant programs for support services for family caregivers, education and training related to programs for older individuals, and pension counseling projects. Title IV: Amendments to Title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Repeals provisions regarding training, research, and discretionary projects Title V: Amendments to Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to establish projects to place community service employment program participants in unsubsidized employment in both the public and private sectors. Reauthorizes the community service employment for older Americans program. Title VI: Amendments to Title VI of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Makes the authorization of appropriations for title VI of the Act indefinite, with exceptions. Establishes programs for grants to carry out vulnerable elder rights protection activities and for a Native American caregiver support program. Title VII: Amendments to Title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 - Revises provisions regarding the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Title VIII: Technical and Conforming Amendments - Makes technical and conforming amendments.
Bill· SS. 1534 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1999 - Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to modify several definitions and the Act's statement of national policy. (Sec. 6) Extends provisions authorizing management program development grants. (Sec. 7) Allows grants to States for administering the State's coastal zone management program (administrative grants) to be used for developing and implementing coastal nonpoint pollution control program components. (Sec. 8) Allows resource management improvement grants (resource grants) to be used (among other authorized uses) for: (1) important coastal habitats that have not been designated, under specified provisions, for preservation or restoration; (2) redevelopment of deteriorating and underutilized historic waterfronts and ports designated in the State's management program, under specified provisions, as areas of particular concern; (3) coordination and implementation of approved coastal nonpoint pollution control plans; and (4) work, resources, or technical support necessary to preserve, restore, enhance, or create coastal habitats. Replaces provisions relating to State matching funds (regarding this or other Federal programs) and limiting the amount of grants with provisions requiring: (1) a State that chooses to fund a project under this paragraph to submit a combined application for administrative grants and resource grants and match the combined amount of such grants in the ratio required in administrative grant provisions; and (2) that the Federal funding for the project be a portion of the State's annual allocation under administrative grant provisions. Allows resource grants to be used to pay a State's share of costs required under any other Federal program that is consistent with the purposes of this paragraph. Allows a State to allocate (in addition to currently- authorized recipients) to any reserve in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System a portion of any resource grant to carry out the purpose of this paragraph. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to assist States (currently, States and their local governments) in identifying and obtaining from other Federal agencies (currently, from other sources) technical and financial assistance in achieving the resource grant objectives. (Sec. 9) Requires that Coastal Zone Management Fund loan repayments be: (1) retained by the Secretary (currently, retained by the Secretary as offsetting collections) and deposited into the Fund; and (2) available to the Secretary, subject to appropriations Acts, for the purposes of this Act and transferred to the Operations, Research, and Facilities account of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to offset the costs of implementing the Act. (Sec. 10) Modifies the objectives of coastal zone enhancement grants. Removes provisions directing the Secretary to retain between ten and 20 percent of the amounts appropriated to implement administrative grants and resource grants provisions to implement enhancement grants provisions. (Sec. 11) Authorizes grants to coastal States to assist in specified community and local activities (community grants). Requires: (1) a State that chooses to fund a project under this paragraph to submit a combined application for enhancement grants and community grants and match the combined amount of such grants in a specified ratio; and (2) that the Federal funding for the project be a portion of the State's annual allocation under enhancement grant provisions. Allows a State to allocate to a qualified local entity amounts received by the State under this paragraph. Directs the Secretary to assist States and local entities in identifying and obtaining from other Federal agencies technical and financial assistance in achieving community grant objectives. (Sec. 12) Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) conduct a program to develop and apply innovative coastal and estuarine environmental technology and methodology through a cooperative program; and (2) make extramural grants to conduct the program. (Sec. 13) Modifies the required contents of a currently-mandated continuing review of the performance of coastal States regarding coastal management. (Sec. 14) Allows (currently, requires) the conducting of the "Walter B. Jones Awards" program to promote excellence in coastal zone management by identifying and acknowledging outstanding accomplishments in the field. Modifies the source of the funds involved. (Sec. 15) Sets forth the nature of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Authorizes the Secretary to designate a reserve if (among other criteria) the Secretary finds that designation will provide opportunities for education, interpretation, training, and demonstration projects (currently, for public education and interpretation). Revises the matters required to be included in the Secretary's guidelines for System research, education and resource stewardship (currently, for System research). Includes in the actions the Secretary must take to promote and coordinate System use for research establishing partnerships with other Federal and State estuary management programs to coordinate and collaborate on estuarine research. Authorizes grants for educational, interpretive, or training activities as well as for research and monitoring. Removes the dollar limit on the assistance provided for acquisition of lands and waters for any one reserve and allows certain nonfederal costs to be used to match the Federal share. Modifies other limits on the grants. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into cooperative agreements, financial agreements, grants, contracts, or other agreements authorizing a nonprofit organization to solicit donations to carry out System purposes and policies; and (2) accept donations of funds and services to carry out System purposes and policies. (Sec. 16) Modifies various reporting requirements. (Sec. 17) Authorizes appropriations to carry out specified provisions of the Act. Removes a provision prohibiting the use of Federal funds received from other sources from being used to pay a State's share of costs under enhancement grant provisions. Increases to three years the limit after which unobligated funds revert to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to make reverted funds available to States under the Act (currently, available for grants under the section for which the reverted amount was originally made available). Allows Federal funds allocated under the Act to be used by grantees to purchase Federal products and services not otherwise available. Requires that appropriated amounts, except for amounts appropriated under administrative costs provisions, be available only for grants to States and prohibits their use for other program, administrative, or overhead costs of NOAA or the Department of Commerce.
Law· SS. 1515 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 1999 - Amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to revise eligibility requirements for claims relating to: (1) atmospheric nuclear testing and leukemia; (2) uranium mining as it pertains to individuals employed in the transport of uranium ore or vanadium-uranium ore and additional designated eligible State sites; (3) written documentation of pertinent diagnoses; (4) determination and payment of claims; (5) application of Native American law and Native American considerations to claims; (6) resubmittal of previously denied claims; and (7) reduction of attorney's fees. Directs the General Accounting Office to submit detailed, periodic status reports to Congress. Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a program of grants (including grants through the Indian Health Service) to certain Federal, State, or local medical centers, or nonprofit organizations for education, prevention, and early detection of radiogenic cancers and diseases. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1507 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Native American Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program Consolidation Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), in cooperation with the Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation, the Attorney General, and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, upon receiving an acceptable plan from an Indian tribe, to authorize such tribe to coordinate its federally funded alcohol and substance abuse by integrating the program services involved into a single, comprehensive program and reducing administrative costs through the consolidation of administrative functions. Sets forth plan requirements and provisions governing plan review, waivers of statutory requirements for plan implementation, and plan approval. Requires such officials to enter into an interdepartmental memorandum of agreement providing for the implementation of authorized plans. Establishes the Bureau of Indian Affairs as the lead agency with specified responsibilities, including use of a single format report for plans and projects and development of a single system of Federal oversight for the plan. Prohibits any reduction of Federal funds available to a participating tribe as a result of this Act. Provides for interagency fund transfers to carry out this Act. Makes any State with an alcohol and substance abuse program targeted to Indian tribes eligible to receive, at no cost, such Federal personnel assignments as the Secretary may deem appropriate to help ensure the success of such program. Requires the Secretary to permit Alaska Native villages or regional or village corporations to carry out a project under a plan that meets this Act's requirements.
Bill· SS. 1559 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Title I: Motor Carrier Safety - Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1999 - Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation, in prescribing regulations on minimum standards for testing and ensuring the fitness of an individual operating a commercial motor vehicle, to require that such individual has received training, including in-vehicle training, in the safe operation of a motor vehicle of the type the individual operates or will operate. (Sec. 102) Requires a State, in order to avoid withholding of its apportionment of Federal-aid highway funds, to comply with certain commercial driver's license requirements, including to: (1) record on a driver's commercial driver's license record each conviction for a moving traffic violation, including one committed in a non-commercial motor vehicle; (2) not issue a commercial driver's license to an individual within three years after the date the individual was convicted of any drug- or alcohol-related traffic violation, including one committed in a non-commercial motor vehicle; and (3) not issue a special license or permit to a commercial driver's license holder that permits the driver to drive a commercial motor vehicle during a period in which the individual is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle, or the individual's driver's license is revoked, suspended, or canceled. Requires the Secretary, if a State is not in substantial compliance with specified Federal commercial driver's license requirements, to transfer up to five percent of the State's apportionment of Federal-aid highway funds to amounts made available to such State for enforcement of Federal and State programs for improving motor carrier safety, including commercial motor vehicle safety and hazardous materials transportation safety. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary, in prescribing regulations for determining the safety fitness of an owner or operator of a commercial motor vehicle, to require that no owners or operators beginning commercial motor vehicle operations after enactment of this Act will be determined fit unless they have attended a program that educates them on at least safety, size and weight, and financial responsibility regulations administered by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to assess a fee to defray the cost of the program. (Sec. 104) Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to prohibit the redistribution to a State of its unused apportionment of funds for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs during a fiscal year, if the State that fails to reduce the number of fatalities in a year resulting from commercial motor vehicle crashes by at least five percent. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary, after notice and opportunity for comment, to issue regulations requiring the installation and use of on-board recorders or other technologies on commercial motor vehicles to manage driver hours of service. (Sec. 106) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on methods used to compensate drivers of commercial motor vehicles, and how they may affect safety and compliance with State and Federal motor carrier safety requirements (including hours of service regulations), including ways safety could be improved through changes in driver compensation. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 107) Requires the Secretary to expend a specified amount from certain Federal-aid highway funds each fiscal year to carry out public information and education programs to prevent crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. (Sec. 108) Requires the Secretary to amend a specified regulation to require the periodic updating of the Motor Carrier Identification Report, Form MCS-150, by each motor carrier conducting operations in interstate or foreign commerce. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 109) Amends Federal transportation law to subject to civil and criminal penalties, to the same extent as the motor carrier or driver committing such violation, any person who knowingly aids, abets, commands, or induces a violation of Federal regulations pertaining to qualifications, hours of service, safety, and equipment standards with respect to motor carriers (including migrant worker motor carriers). (Sec. 110) Redefines "imminent hazard" for which a commercial motor vehicle may be ordered out of service to mean any violation, or series of violations, of specified Federal commercial motor carrier safety regulations that could result in a highway crash if not discontinued within 24 hours. (Sec.111) Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program with one or more States to develop innovative methods (including use of photography and other imaging technologies) of improving compliance with traffic laws, including those pertaining to highway-rail grade crossings. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 112) Directs the Secretary to conduct research on heavy vehicle safety, including measures to improve braking and stability, measures to improve vehicle compatibility in crashes between heavier and lighter vehicles, and measures to improve the performance of motor vehicle drivers. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 113) Directs the Secretary to carry out a program, in cooperation with the States, to improve the collection and analysis of data on crashes involving commercial vehicles. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 114) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) grants to States for the development and enforcement of Federal and State regulations on commercial motor vehicle safety; and (2) the establishment and operation of motor carrier, commercial motor vehicle, and driver information systems and data analysis programs to support safety regulatory and enforcement activities. Title II: Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety - Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 1999 - Amends Federal rail transportation law to promote the establishment of emergency notification systems utilizing toll-free telephone numbers that the public can use to convey to railroad carriers (either directly or through public safety personnel) information about malfunctions of automated warning devices or other safety problems at highway-rail grade crossings. (Sec. 203) Amends railroad trespassing and vandalism provisions to require the Secretary to evaluate and review current local, State, and Federal laws regarding, among other things, violations of highway-rail grade crossing signals, and develop model prevention strategies and enforcement laws to be used for the consideration of State and local legislatures and governmental entities. Requires the Secretary to develop and make available to State and local governments model State legislation providing for civil or criminal penalties, or both, for violations of highway-rail grade crossing signals. (Sec. 204) Directs each railroad carrier to report to the Secretary, with periodic updates, certain information concerning each highway-rail crossing through which such carrier operates.
Bill· SS. 1511 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
21st Century School Modernization Act - Title I: School Modernization and Improvement - Establishes a grants program for modernization of public elementary and secondary education facilities. (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to award such grants to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) in specified categories based on numbers of students enrolled, and to set maximum award amounts for each such category. Authorizes the Secretary to reserve not more than one percent of program funds to provide assistance to Indian schools. (Sec. 102) Sets forth requirements for grant award criteria, allocation among categories, and frequency. (Sec. 103) Sets forth application requirements for eligible LEAs. (Sec. 104) Requires grant funds to be used only to ensure the health and safety of students through the repair, renovation, alteration, or construction of a public elementary school or secondary school facility. Authorizes use of grant funds to meet specified requirements under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. (Sec. 105) Sets forth general program provisions for the Secretary, relating to budget and accounting, use of funds, legal powers, and applicability of the Government Corporation Control Act. (Sec. 106) Requires program contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers and mechanics at least at the rate required under the Davis-Bacon Act, and provides for coverage under the Copeland Anti-Kickback Act. (Sec. 107) Sets forth requirements for maintenance of effort, supplementation of other funds, and environmental safeguards. Prohibits use of grant funds for acquiring real property, for paying associated maintenance costs, or for athletic and similar facilities. (Sec. 108) Directs the Secretary to reserve not more than one percent of program funds for data collection, studies and evaluations, and a report to the Congress. (Sec. 109) Authorizes appropriations. Title II: State Infrastructure Banks for Schools - Establishes a pilot program for State infrastructure banks. (Sec. 201) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make grants to State infrastructure banks and multistate infrastructure banks in States that have entered into cooperative agreements to provide initial capital for loans to LEAs for building or repairing public elementary or secondary schools and to public libraries for building or repairing library facilities. Sets forth requirements for such State infrastructure banks, including provisions for loan applications, criteria for loans, qualifying projects, Davis-Bacon wage rate coverage, program administration costs, and Secretarial review and report to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Schools as Centers of the Community - Establishes a grants program to assist LEAs and their communities to increase the involvement of parents, teachers, students, and community groups in the planning and design of new and renovated public elementary and secondary school buildings that: (1) enhance teaching and learning, and accommodate the needs of all learners; (2) serve as a center of the community; (3) promote health, safety, and security; (4) effectively use all available resources; and (5) are flexible and can accommodate changing community needs. (Sec. 303) Directs the Secretary to award such one-year matching grants to LEAs participating in eligible consortia to support such planning and design. (Sec. 304) Requires such grants to be used for planning and design of a new, or of the renovation of an existing, school building. Allows grants to be used for: (1) community outreach activities; (2) developing a master plan for a school district, involving all stakeholders; and (3) administrative support. (Sec. 305) Sets forth grant application requirements for LEAs. (Sec. 306) Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1545 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require libraries and elementary and secondary schools receiving universal service assistance to certify that they have installed systems or implemented policies for blocking or filtering Internet access to matter inappropriate for minors. Requires the school board, library, or other responsible non-Federal authority to determine what matter is inappropriate for minors. Directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to initiate a notice and comment proceeding for: (1) evaluating whether or not currently available commercial Internet blocking and filtering software adequately addresses the needs of educational institutions; (2) recommending how to foster the development of products which meet such needs; and (3) evaluating the development and effectiveness of local Internet use policies that are currently in operation after community input.
Bill· SS. 1556 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Parental Accountability, Recruitment, and Education National Training Act of 1999 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to increase parental involvement requirements under various programs. (Sec .4) Revises ESEA title I (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards) part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational agencies) to require State plans to demonstrate that the State has identified or developed effective research-based best practices designed to foster meaningful parental involvement. Requires such best practices to: (1) be disseminated to all schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) in the State; (2) be implemented in all schools in the State; and (3) address the full range of specified parental involvement activities. Sets forth related revisions to requirements for LEA plans, schoolwide programs, targeted assistance, assessments, State assistance, current parental involvement requirements, and State review. Requires States to collect and disseminate effective parental involvement practices to LEAs and schools. Requires such practices to be: (1) based on the most current research on effective parental involvement that fosters achievement to high standards for all children; (2) geared toward lowering barriers to greater participation in school planning, review, and improvement experienced by parents; and (3) implemented by the State in LEAs and schools requesting such assistance from the State. Requires State educational agencies (SEAs) to review LEAs' parental involvement policies and practices to determine if they are meaningful and targeted to improve home and school communication, student achievement, and parental involvement in school planning, review, and improvement. (Sec. 5) Revises ESEA title II (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program) to include among authorized Federal activities developing and disseminating model programs that teach teachers and administrators how best to work with parents and how to encourage the parent's involvement in the full range of specified parental involvement activities. Requires SEA allotment applications to describe how the State will train teachers to foster relationships with parents and encourage parents to become collaborators with schools in their children's education. Includes among authorized State-level program activities providing professional development programs that enable teachers, administrators, and pupil services personnel to communicate effectively with and involve parents in the education process to support school planning, review, improvement, and classroom instruction, and to work effectively with parent volunteers. Requires LEA subgrant plans and applications to describe the specific professional development strategies that will be implemented to improve parental involvement in education and how the LEA will be held accountable for implementing such strategies. Authorizes LEAs and schools to engage in professional development activities to enable teachers, administrators, and pupil services personnel to communicate with parents regarding student achievement on assessments. (Sec. 6) Revises ESEA title III (Technology for Education) to require the national long-range technology plan to describe how the Secretary of Education will promote increased parental involvement in schools through the use of technology. Authorizes the Secretary to use certain funds to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate model technology programs designed to improve parental involvement. Includes among authorized LEA uses of title III funds: (1) using technology to develop or expand efforts to connect schools and teachers with parents to promote meaningful parental involvement and foster increased communication about curriculum, assignments, and assessments; and (2) providing ongoing training and support for parents to help them learn and use the technology being applied in their children's education, so as to equip them to reinforce and support their children's learning. Requires local applications for such funds to describe how such activities will be carried out. Requires the Secretary to give priority in awarding national challenge grants for technology in education to consortia which demonstrate that the project will enhance parental involvement by providing parents the means and the skills needed to more fully participate in their child's learning. (Sec. 7) Revises ESEA title IV (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities) to require State applications for allotments to describe how the SEA will receive input from parents regarding its use of title IV funds, its review of LEA applications for such funds, and the use of such funds for Governor's programs. Requires SEA and LEA reports to describe how parents were informed of and participated in violence and drug prevention efforts. (Sec. 8) Revises ESEA title VI (Innovative Education Program Strategies) to include as a factor in identifying effective schools a climate that promotes meaningful parental involvement in the classroom and in site-based activities. Requires State applications for title VI State program assistance to provide information on the parental involvement policies and practices promoted by the State. Includes programs to promote the meaningful involvement of parents among the innovative assistance programs which are targeted for LEA use of title VI funds. (Sec. 9) Revises ESEA title XIV (General Provisions) to require SEAs, as a condition for receiving Federal funding for any ESEA program and as part of a consolidated application, or other State plan or application submitted under ESEA, to submit to the Secretary descriptions of: (1) their parental involvement policies, with details on how Federal funds will be used to implement such policies and successful research-based practices in schools throughout the State; and (2) how such policies will be evaluated with respect to increased parental involvement in the schools throughout the State. Requires SEAs, prior to application submission, to involve parents in the development and review of such policies through notice and opportunity to make comments. Directs SEAs and LEAs that are required to establish a parental involvement plan or policy under a program assisted under ESEA to make available, to the parents of children eligible to participate in the program, the plan or policy in the language most familiar to the parents and in an easily understandable manner.
Bill· SS. 1548 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Early Education Act of 1999 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish an early education program of grants to States to provide programs for at least half-day schooling during the year preceding kindergarten. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award such matching grants to not less than ten State educational agencies (SEAs) to expand the existing education system with programs that provide such early education. Requires each such assisted program to: (1) be carried out by one or more local educational agencies (LEAs), as selected by the SEA; (2) be carried out in a public school building, or in another facility by, or through a contract or agreement with, an LEA; (3) be available to all children served by the LEA carrying out the program; and (4) only involve licensed or certified instructors. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1524 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Motor Carrier Safety Specialist Certification Act - Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a training and certification program, to be administered by a tax exempt organization that specializes in developing and administering such procedures, for Federal, State, and local government and nongovernmental motor carrier safety specialists. Requires the Secretary, as part of maintaining a clearinghouse on motor carrier, commercial motor vehicle, and driver information, to accept and include information obtained from certified nongovernmental motor carrier safety specialists. Requires such information be made available to the public. Directs the Secretary to work with the Motor Carrier Safety Specialist Certification Board to establish and carry out a public education campaign to promote the use of safety performance information in the decision-making process for hiring motor carriers. Defines "motor carrier safety specialist" to mean an individual responsible for conducting regulatory compliance reviews and safety inspections of commercial motor carriers.
Bill· SS. 1512 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Title I: Educational Opportunities - Establishes a demonstration program of grants to States for school choice vouchers for children from low-income families who are enrolled in low-performing public schools. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for such program, and for a national evaluation of such program by the Comptroller General. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of Education to make allotment grants to States for educational choice programs that provide scholarships. (Sec. 104) Bases State allotments on relative numbers of children in elementary and secondary public (including charter) schools. (Sec. 105) Makes a school eligible for assistance under this title if the State identifies it as among public elementary and secondary schools at or below the 25th percentile for academic performance of schools in that State, based on the State's criteria for such performance. (Sec. 106) Requires each grantee State to provide scholarships to the parents of eligible children. Sets the value of each scholarship at $2,000 per year. Provides that such scholarships shall not be considered income of the parents for Federal income tax purposes or for determining eligibility for any other Federal program. Requires that a child eligible for such a scholarship be: (1) enrolled in an eligible public elementary or secondary school; and (2) a member a family with income not more than 200 percent of the poverty line. Requires the grantee State to provide scholarships for eligible children through a lottery system administered for all eligible schools in the State by the State educational agency. Provides for continuing awards to scholarship recipients for each year of the program, except under specified individual circumstances. (Sec. 107) Allows funds under this title to be used: (1) for the payment of tuition and fees at the school selected by the parents of the child for whom the scholarship was provided, and for the reasonable costs of the child's transportation to the school, if the school is not the school to which the child would be assigned in the absence of a program under this title; (2) if the parents so choose, to obtain supplementary academic services for the child, at a cost of not more than $500, from any provider chosen by the parents, that the State determines is capable of providing such services and has an appropriate refund policy; and (3) for educational programs that help eligible children achieve high levels of academic excellence in the school attended by the eligible children for whom a scholarship was provided, if they attend a public school. (Sec. 108) Requires a grantee State to allow lawfully operating public and private elementary and secondary schools, including religious schools, serving the area involved to participate in the program. (Sec. 109) Provides that this title shall not affect funding under other State or local programs, or under other Federal programs, including specified programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Declares that scholarships under this title are to aid families, not institutions, and that a parent's expenditure of such scholarship funds at a school or for supplementary academic services shall not constitute Federal financial aid or assistance to that school or to the provider of supplementary academic services. Requires, as a condition of participating and receiving scholarship funds on under this title, that a school or provider of supplementary academic services comply with specified antidiscrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (Sec.110) Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a national evaluation of such program, including certain assessments and comparisons. (Sec. 111) Prohibits any provision or requirement of this title from being enforced through a private cause of action. Title II: Revenue Provisions - Offsets title I program costs by eliminating specified tax provisions relating to the ethanol, gas and oil, and sugar industries. (Sec. 201) Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to phase out certain tax deductions with respect to oil and gas expensing of drilling and development costs. Eliminates tax credits for ethanol producers. (Sec. 202) Repeals specified tax incentives for alcohol fuels, including ones relating to: (1) alcohol used as fuel; (2) qualified methanol and ethanol; (3) fuels containing alcohol; (4) taxable fuels mixed with alcohol; (5) reduced tax rate for aviation fuel in alcohol mixture, etc.; and (6) gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, and aviation fuel used to produce certain alcohol fuels. (Sec. 203) Eliminates the tax credit for enhanced oil recovery. (Sec. 204) Terminates unlimited passive loss tax deductions for oil and gas properties. (Sec. 205) Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to eliminate authority to use sugar as collateral for loans. Eliminates, with respect to the 2003 and subsequent crops of sugarcane and sugar beets, the sugar price support and production adjustment programs. Makes a processor of any such crop ineligible for a loan with respect to such crop under any Federal law. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from making any form of price support available for any of such crops by using Commodity Credit Corporation funds or other available funds. Terminates provisions relating to sugar marketing quotas and allotments under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, the Agricultural Act of 1949, the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, and other specified Federal law.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 178 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Designates the week beginning September 19, 1999, as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.
Bill· HRH.R. 2753 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Abandoned Mine Restoration Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to carry out a program, managed by the head of the Sacramento District Office of the Corps of Engineers, to assist stewards of lands owned by the United States and non-Federal entities to address environmental and water quality problems caused by drainage and related activities from abandoned, inactive, and post-production noncoal mines. Permits the Secretary to provide technical, planning, design, restoration, remediation, and construction assistance to Federal and non-Federal entities for carrying out projects to address such environmental and water quality problems, but only if the Secretary determines that such a project will improve environmental quality, is in the public interest, and is cost-effective. Requires that the Federal share of the cost of a project to be 100 percent for projects carried out on Federal land and 65 percent for other projects. Sets forth provisions governing Federal cost share credits and reimbursements to non-Federal entities for project resources, services, and work. Requires that the non-Federal share of operation and maintenance costs for a project to be 100 percent, except that in the case of a project undertaken on Federal lands, the Federal agency with management responsibility for the lands shall be responsible for all operation and maintenance costs. Prohibits more than $10 million from being allotted for projects in a single locality, but permits the Secretary to accept funds voluntarily contributed by the non-Federal or Federal entity for expanding the scope of services requested. Prohibits the Secretary or any State or political subdivision which implements any remedial action which is consistent with a State and Environmental Protection Agency approved remediation plan at an abandoned mine site and adjacent lands to provide water quality protection from being treated, based on actions taken consistent with the plan, as being: (1) the site owner or operator or the arranger or transporter for disposal; (2) responsible for any discharge or release of pollutants, contaminants, or hazardous substances on or from the abandoned mine site or adjacent lands; or (3) subject to any enforcement action pursuant to Federal law, except for violations involving gross negligence. Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance to the Western Universities Mine-Land Reclamation and Restoration Consortium for carrying out the purposes of the program. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2804 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Alaska Federal Lands Management Demonstration Project - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an Alaska Federal Lands Management Demonstration Project. Requires the Secretary to: (1) select not less than six eligible Alaska Native tribes or tribal organizations per year to participate in the Project in FY 2000 and 2001; and (2) negotiate and enter into a contract with each participant to plan, conduct, and administer requested programs and services related to the administration of a conservation system unit or other public land unit substantially located within the respective Indian tribe's or tribal organization's geographic region. Requires contracts to include, at the participant's request, the operation and support of the regional advisory councils, biological research, harvest monitoring, and other technical research related to conservation and allocation actions by the regional councils and such other programs and services reasonably necessary to carry out title VIII of the Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). Makes available the benefits, privileges, terms, and conditions of agreements entered into pursuant to titles I and IV of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act for inclusion in the contract, at the request of the contracting tribe or tribal organization. Prohibits the separation of any career Federal employee employed at the time of the transfer of an operation or program from Federal service to a tribe or tribal organization. Directs the Secretary to provide each tribe or tribal organization funds that would have otherwise been provided for the operation of the requested programs and services. Specifies that contracts shall not include revenue producing visitor services unless an agreement is reached with the most directly affected Alaska Native corporations. Exempts Denali National Park from the provisions of this Act. Requires the Secretary, upon application, to award a planning grant to any participating Alaska Native tribe or tribal organization to plan for the contracting of programs and services authorized under this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Requires transmittal by the Secretary to the appropriate congressional committees of a report on the progress that the Department of the Interior has made in the implementation of ANILCA provisions concerning: (1) the continuation of existing visitor services in areas established as or added to a conservation system unit; and (2) establishment of a program for hiring individuals who, by reason of having lived or worked in or near public lands, have special knowledge or expertise concerning the natural or cultural resources of public lands, without regard to certain civil service training requirements, employment preferences, or numerical limitations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2755 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorization of Human Capital Investment Contracts Title II: Tax Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts Title III: Securities Law Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts Title IV: Bankruptcy Law Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts Title V: Federal Student Assistance Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts Student Success Act of 1999 - Title I: Authorization of Human Capital Investment Contracts - Authorizes individuals to enter into human capital investment contracts (HCICs) for the purposes of obtaining funds for the payment of tuition and other related expenses of postsecondary education by agreeing to pay to the holder of the contract a specified percentage of the individual's future earned income. (Sec. 101) Makes any HCIC that complies with required terms and conditions under this Act a valid, binding, and enforceable contract notwithstanding any State law limiting or otherwise regulating assignments of future wages or other income. (Sec. 102) Sets forth terms and conditions of HCICs, including requirements relating to: (1) specification of the percentages of future earned income which the student will be obligated to pay and of the maximum amount of earned income for each year to which such specified percentage shall apply; (2) a schedule of reductions in such percentage if the student's earned income from full-time employment is less than amounts specified in the contract (and an allowable schedule of limited increases in such percentage if the student obtains a deferral); (3) prohibitions against a student's entering into HCICs where payments exceed 20 percent of future earned income; (4) specification of the maximum period of time during which the student will be obligated to pay a portion of the student's future earned income from full-time employment, up to 180 months, with extensions by the number of deferred months; (5) no obligation to commence payments while carrying at least a minimum academic workload or while eligible for deferrals; (6) deferrals during periods of unemployment (as well as allowing certain payments to extinguish obligation after a maximum period of unemployment); (7) deferrals for up to 48 months of graduate education; (8) accelerated repayment; and (9) required disclosures. Title II: Tax Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that: (1) an HCIC shall not be treated as a debt instrument for specified purposes; and (2) amounts received by the student for entering into an HCIC shall be includible in such student's gross income for certain tax purposes. (Sec. 201) Sets forth conditions for allowable depreciation deductions with respect to HCICs. Allows a tax deduction, in determining adjusted gross income, for an individual's obligated payments under an HCIC. Deems income derived from, or gain from the sale or other disposition of, an HCIC as qualifying income which would exempt a publicly traded partnership from treatment as a corporation. Title III: Securities Law Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts - Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to provide for pooling of HCICs into investment companies. Title IV: Bankruptcy Law Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts - Amends Federal bankruptcy law to except from discharge in bankruptcy any payment owed by the debtor as a result of a payment made to or for the benefit of the debtor under an HCIC, unless: (1) such payment owed by the debtor first became due more than seven years (exclusive of any applicable suspension of the debtor's payment period) before the date of the filing of the petition for bankruptcy; or (2) excepting such debt from discharge will impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor's dependents. Title V: Federal Student Assistance Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to provide that no portion of any amounts received by a student for entering into an HCIC shall be included as income or assets in the computation of expected family contribution for any program funded in whole or in part under HEA.
Bill· HRH.R. 2801 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Parental Accountability, Recruitment, and Education National Training Act of 1999 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to increase parental involvement requirements under various programs. (Sec .4) Revises ESEA title I (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards) part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational agencies) to require State plans to demonstrate that the State has identified or developed effective research-based best practices designed to foster meaningful parental involvement. Requires such best practices to: (1) be disseminated to all schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) in the State; (2) be implemented in all schools in the State; and (3) address the full range of specified parental involvement activities. Sets forth related revisions to requirements for LEA plans, schoolwide programs, targeted assistance, assessments, State assistance, current parental involvement requirements, and State review. Requires States to collect and disseminate effective parental involvement practices to LEAs and schools. Requires such practices to be: (1) based on the most current research on effective parental involvement that fosters achievement to high standards for all children; (2) geared toward lowering barriers to greater participation in school planning, review, and improvement experienced by parents; and (3) implemented by the State in LEAs and schools requesting such assistance from the State. Requires State educational agencies (SEAs) to review LEAs' parental involvement policies and practices to determine if they are meaningful and targeted to improve home and school communication, student achievement, and parental involvement in school planning, review, and improvement. (Sec. 5) Revises ESEA title II (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program) to include among authorized Federal activities developing and disseminating model programs that teach teachers and administrators how best to work with parents and how to encourage the parent's involvement in the full range of specified parental involvement activities. Requires SEA allotment applications to describe how the State will train teachers to foster relationships with parents and encourage parents to become collaborators with schools in their children's education. Includes among authorized State-level program activities providing professional development programs that enable teachers, administrators, and pupil services personnel to communicate effectively with and involve parents in the education process to support school planning, review, improvement, and classroom instruction, and to work effectively with parent volunteers. Requires LEA subgrant plans and applications to describe the specific professional development strategies that will be implemented to improve parental involvement in education and how the LEA will be held accountable for implementing such strategies. Authorizes LEAs and schools to engage in professional development activities to enable teachers, administrators, and pupil services personnel to communicate with parents regarding student achievement on assessments. (Sec. 6) Revises ESEA title III (Technology for Education) to require the national long-range technology plan to describe how the Secretary of Education will promote increased parental involvement in schools through the use of technology. Authorizes the Secretary to use certain funds to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate model technology programs designed to improve parental involvement. Includes among authorized LEA uses of title III funds: (1) using technology to develop or expand efforts to connect schools and teachers with parents to promote meaningful parental involvement and foster increased communication about curriculum, assignments, and assessments; and (2) providing ongoing training and support for parents to help them learn and use the technology being applied in their children's education, so as to equip them to reinforce and support their children's learning. Requires local applications for such funds to describe how such activities will be carried out. Requires the Secretary to give priority in awarding national challenge grants for technology in education to consortia which demonstrate that the project will enhance parental involvement by providing parents the means and the skills needed to more fully participate in their child's learning. (Sec. 7) Revises ESEA title IV (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities) to require State applications for allotments to describe how the SEA will receive input from parents regarding its use of title IV funds, its review of LEA applications for such funds, and the use of such funds for Governor's programs. Requires SEA and LEA reports to describe how parents were informed of and participated in violence and drug prevention efforts. (Sec. 8) Revises ESEA title VI (Innovative Education Program Strategies) to include as a factor in identifying effective schools a climate that promotes meaningful parental involvement in the classroom and in site-based activities. Requires State applications for title VI State program assistance to provide information on the parental involvement policies and practices promoted by the State. Includes programs to promote the meaningful involvement of parents among the innovative assistance programs which are targeted for LEA use of title VI funds. (Sec. 9) Revises ESEA title XIV (General Provisions) to require SEAs, as a condition for receiving Federal funding for any ESEA program and as part of a consolidated application, or other State plan or application submitted under ESEA, to submit to the Secretary descriptions of: (1) their parental involvement policies, with details on how Federal funds will be used to implement such policies and successful research-based practices in schools throughout the State; and (2) how such policies will be evaluated with respect to increased parental involvement in the schools throughout the State. Requires SEAs, prior to application submission, to involve parents in the development and review of such policies through notice and opportunity to make comments. Directs SEAs and LEAs that are required to establish a parental involvement plan or policy under a program assisted under ESEA to make available, to the parents of children eligible to participate in the program, the plan or policy in the language most familiar to the parents and in an easily understandable manner.
Bill· HRH.R. 2771 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Medical Education Trust Fund Act of 1999 - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XXII (Medical Education Trust Fund) establishing in the Treasury the Medical Education Trust Fund, consisting of various specified accounts. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make annual payments from the Fund to eligible medical schools and teaching hospitals applying for assistance to: (1) maintain and develop quality educational programs in an increasingly competitive health care system; and (2) meet the indirect and direct costs of graduate medical education. Outlines requirements for Fund investments and determination of payments. Amends SSA titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) to provide for annual transfers to the Fund. Makes specified appropriations to the Fund. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax equal to 1.5 percent of premiums received under accident or health insurance policies (including applicable self-insured plans), and equal to 1.5 percent of the amount received for certain health-related administrative services, payable by the policy issuer and the service provider, respectively. Makes specified appropriations and transfers of such amounts collected to the Fund for allocation among the various specified accounts. Establishes the Medical Education Advisory Commission to study and report on Fund operations and other specified matters, including recommendations for demonstration projects. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to prescribe guidelines for the establishment and operation of such demonstration projects. Provides funding.
Bill· HRH.R. 2789 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
School Administrators Recruitment and Retention Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to provide grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to recruit and retain qualified elementary and secondary school administrators. Requires applicant LEAs to demonstrate a need to recruit and retain such administrators. Requires each grant award to be of sufficient size to enable a grantee to develop incentive programs to recruit and retain such administrators. Allows LEAs to use such grant funds to develop incentive programs to recruit and retain such administrators, including: (1) salary increases; (2) assistance to pay graduate school tuition and training expenses; (3) reimbursement for relocation expenses; and (4) professional development activities that enable school administrators to be effective school leaders preparing students to meet challenging State content and student performance standards. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2802 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Seniors in Our Schools Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require that senior citizens be given an opportunity to serve as mentors, tutors, and volunteers for: (1) 21st Century Learning Centers; and (2) State Governors', local, and national programs for drug and violence prevention.
Bill· HRH.R. 2761 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make competitive grants to State educational agencies (SEAs), and to specially designated local educational agencies (LEAs), to enable each public secondary school to employ a director to develop or improve a school safety plan. Sets forth application requirements for: (1) SEAs, for grants; (2) LEAs other than specially designated ones, for subgrants; and (3) specially designated LEAs in States which do not apply for such grants, for direct grants. Requires funds provided under this Act to be used only to hire an individual or entity as a director to develop or improve a public secondary school safety plan and implement security measures approved in the school safety plan. Requires such a director to have the authority to: (1) discipline, in accordance with the school safety plan, any student whose actions or words threaten the safety of any student, teacher, employee, or administrator of the school; and (2) refer any student to the appropriate law enforcement authority, family and children services, or any other agency or organization the director considers appropriate to meet school safety plan requirements. Amends the General Education Provisions Act to include, among those to whom certain educational records may be released without the written consent of students' parents, directors of school safety, discipline, and assistance in their developing and implementing school safety plans.