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351 records in 1999
Austria · National Council · 9 July 1999
Bericht des Ausschusses für Wissenschaft und Forschung über die Regierungsvorlage (1973 d.B.): Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Tierversuchsgesetz 1988 geändert wird
Austria · National Council · 8 July 1999
Bericht des Umweltausschusses über die Regierungsvorlage (1751 d.B.): Änderung des Basler Übereinkommens über die Kontrolle der grenzüberschreitenden Verbringung gefährlicher Abfälle und ihrer Entsorgung, angenommen auf der Dritten Tagung der Vertragsparteienkonferenz in Genf am 22. September 1995; die Änderung und Annahme von Anlagen des Basler Übereinkommens über die Kontrolle der grenzüberschreitenden Verbringung gefährlicher Abfälle und ihrer Entsorgung, angenommen auf der Vierten Tagung der Vertragsparteienkonferenz in Kuching, Malaysia, 23. bis 27. Februar 1998
Austria · National Council · 8 July 1999
Bericht des Ausschusses für Land- und Forstwirtschaft über den Antrag 1018/A(E) der Abgeordneten Dr. Gabriela Moser und Genossen betreffend Förderungsrichtlinie für Entschädigungen nach § 33f Abs. 6 Wasserrechtsgesetz <i>(Ausgleich von Einkommensminderungen, welche auf</i> <i>Nutzungsbeschränkungen zugunsten der Grundwassersanierung</i> <i>zurückgehen)</i>
Austria · National Council · 8 July 1999
Bericht des Ausschusses für Land- und Forstwirtschaft über die Regierungsvorlage (1199 d.B.): Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Wasserrechtsgesetz 1959 geändert wird (WRG-Novelle 1998), und den Antrag 1071/A der Abgeordneten Andreas Wabl und Genossen betreffend ein Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Wasserrechtsgesetz 1959 geändert werden soll
Austria · National Council · 8 July 1999
Bericht und Antrag des Ausschusses für Land- und Forstwirtschaft betreffend ein Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Hydrographiegesetz geändert wird
Austria · National Council · 7 July 1999
Bericht des Wirtschaftsausschusses über den Antrag 1170/A der Abgeordneten Ingrid Tichy-Schreder, Dr. Günther Kräuter, Mag. Dr. Udo Grollitsch und Genossen betreffend ein Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Mineralrohstoffgesetz - MinroG geändert wird
Austria · Federal Council · 2 July 1999
Anfrage der Bundesräte Monika Mühlwerth und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Ministerratsvortrag vom 30. September 1997 zur Gewalt in der Gesellschaft, Gewalt in der Familie, Kindesmißhandlung, sexueller Kindesmißbrauch, Gewalt gegen Frauen, Gewalt unter Jugendlichen, Gewalt in den Medien
Austria · Federal Council · 1 July 1999
Anfrage der Bundesräte Ernest Windholz und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Mobbing-Prävention im Ressortbereich
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Public Lands Planning and Management Improvement Act of 1999 - Provides that this Act shall prevail in the event of an inconsistency with other laws applicable to Federal lands, except for laws governing the National Wilderness Preservation System, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, or the National Trails System and as otherwise provided. Title I: Ensuring the Effectiveness and Implementation of Federal Land Planning - Part A: In General - Requires the mission of the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to be to manage Federal lands to assure the health, sustainability, and productivity of the lands' ecosystems, to furnish a sustainable flow of multiple goods and services while protecting and providing a full range and diversity of natural habitats of native species, and to designate appropriate areas to conserve certain resources or allow certain uses. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretaries, in rendering decisions concerning resource management plans (plans) for and management activities on Federal lands, to utilize the best scientific and commercial data available. Part B: Resource Management and Management Activity Planning - Limits the Secretaries to two levels of planning for Federal lands comprised of: (1) multiple-use planning in the form of plans for planning units; and (2) site or area specific planning for management activities. Authorizes the Secretaries to conduct analyses or assessments for regions or areas that are not designated planning units and to apply the results of such analyses or assessments to the affected Federal lands by amendment or revision of plans for such units. Grants the Secretaries three years from this Act's enactment date to amend or revise plans to modify policies in plans which do not comply with this Act's planning requirements. Terminates noncomplying plans after such three-year period. (Sec. 105) Sets forth specific plan requirements, planning deadlines, and procedures for amending and revising plans to eliminate conflicts between plan provisions and the Secretaries' policies. (Sec. 107) Continues management activities during the amendment or revision process, except as otherwise required by this Act, court order, or a formal declaration of the Secretary concerned. (Sec. 108) Requires, in preparing or revising plans, consideration of the stability of each community dependent on the resources of the Federal lands to which a plan applies. (Sec. 109) Requires consideration of ecosystem management principles in environmental analysis documents prepared for plans and plan revisions. Part C: Encouragement of Collaborative Planning - Requires alternatives to plans or revisions developed by independent committees of local interest to be included in documentation related to environmental impact assessment analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Requires committees to be composed of interests representing commodity resource production and noncommodity resource protection, respectively. Authorizes funding to such committees for plan monitoring and implementation if the Secretary concerned adopts a significant part of a committee's alternative. Encourages the Secretaries to establish committees corresponding to planning units. (Sec. 111) Sets forth procedures for citizen petitions to challenge plans or plan revisions. (Sec. 112) Requires each Secretary to establish a notice and comment process for proposed actions concerning activities implementing plans. Part D: Consideration and Disclosure of Budget and Funding Effects - Requires the environmental analysis accompanying each plan or plan revision to disclose the funding constraints on each plan or alternative plan. Directs the Secretaries, in such documents, to specify the fully allocated cost, expressed as a user cost or cost-per-beneficiary, of each noncommodity output from Federal lands to which plans apply. Requires the President's budget requests to Congress governing the planning and management of Federal lands to include a statement of what funds would be required to achieve 100 percent of annual outputs specified in, and implement fully, the plan for each planning unit. Directs each Secretary to report annually to specified congressional committees on the total cost and costs per function or procedure incurred in the preparation of plans and significant plan revisions, including costs incurred by other Federal agencies. Part E: Monitoring and Adaptive Management - Provides for monitoring of plan implementation and Federal land management at least every two years. (Sec. 117) Directs that if, as a result of such monitoring, the Secretary finds that a plan has been constructively changed, then corrective measures shall be undertaken to restore plan compliance or to amend or revise the plan. (Sec. 118) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Public Lands Monitoring Fund and the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Forest Lands Monitoring Fund. Part F: Planning-Related Assessments - Authorizes each Secretary to prepare or participate in the preparation of assessments which may encompass all Federal and non-Federal lands within a region or area that is not a planning unit, with special rules for non-Federal lands not subject to the jurisdiction of a federally recognized Indian tribe. Requires congressional and public notification of such assessments. (Sec. 120) Prohibits such assessments from containing any decisions concerning resource management planning or management activities on the Federal lands. Requires such assessments to be reviewed to determine whether a plan should be amended or revised to include such lands. (Sec. 120) Requires biannual reports from the Secretary to the appropriate congressional committees on such assessments and their results. Requires a review and report on such assessments by the General Accounting Office. Part G: Challenges to Planning - Requires each Secretary to promulgate regulations to govern administrative appeals of decisions to approve plans and plan revisions and to approve or disapprove Federal land management activities. Replaces certain Forest Service regulations promulgated pursuant to provisions related to decisionmaking and appeals reform with those required by this Act. (Sec. 123) Sets forth provisions regarding judicial review of challenges to planning, citizen suits, and filing deadlines. Title II: Coordination and Compliance with Other Environmental Laws - Directs the Secretary concerned to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) pursuant to NEPA in developing a plan or plan revision. Requires environmental assessments (or an EIS if the nature or scope of activity is substantially different from, or greater than, consequences considered in the plan EIS) with respect to planning management activities on Federal lands. (Sec. 203) Directs the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Forest Service, as appropriate, to ensure that plan or management activities are not likely to jeopardize the existence of any threatened or endangered species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. Sets forth procedures for certifying such agencies to perform certain consultation and biological assessment actions currently assigned to the Secretaries of the Interior or Commerce. (Sec. 204) Deems management activities on Federal lands which constitute a nonpoint source of water pollution certified by the State in which the Federal lands are located to meet best management practices to be in compliance with area-wide waste treatment management plans and State nonpoint source management programs under the Clean Water Act. (Sec. 205) Deems a prescribed use of fire on Federal lands which, pursuant to a finding by a Forest Service supervisor or BLM district manager, would reduce the risk of greater emissions from a wildfire and will be conducted in a manner to minimize air quality impacts, to be in compliance with State implementation plans for air quality standards and any other Environmental Protection Agency requirements imposed under the Clean Air Act. Title III: Development of a Global Renewable Resources Assessment - Directs the National Council on Renewable Resources Policy (established by this Act) to prepare a Global Renewable Resources Assessment, to be submitted to specified congressional committees every five years. (Sec. 303) Establishes the Council. (Sec. 304) Repeals provisions of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act relating to a Renewable Resource Assessment and presidential budget requests for Forest Service activities. Title IV: Administration - Part A: In General - Sets forth provisions regarding the presidential appointment and confirmation of the Chief of the Forest Service. (Sec. 402) Authorizes interagency land transfers and interchanges of jurisdiction between the Secretaries to facilitate land management or achieve other public purposes, subject to specified conditions. (Sec. 403) Authorizes the Secretaries to permit the use of Federal land and facilities for motion picture, television, soundtrack, or advertisement production or any similar commercial project, unless such use is not appropriate or will impair the value or resources of such land or facility. Requires assessment of a use fee which shall include a reimbursement fee (all Federal application and cleanup costs) and a special use fee. Requires 80 percent of the special use fee to be available to the supervisors of units of Federal land where the fee was collected. Allows the special use fee to be waived if the activity provides clear educational or interpretive benefits for the public. Provides civil penalties for nonpayment of fees. (Sec. 404) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a public-private venture demonstration program of not more than 15 projects to evaluate the feasibility of using non-Federal funds to construct, rehabilitate, maintain, and operate federally owned visitor facilities on Forest Service lands and to conduct the requisite environmental analysis associated with those activities. Allows such projects to be depreciated over a term not to exceed 30 years. Allows such Secretary to sell existing facilities on such lands to a concessionaire if such sale is in the best interests of the Government and such concessionaire agrees that facility use will be consistent with applicable plans and Federal and State laws. Directs such Secretary to charge and collect concession fees. Requires a report to specified congressional committees evaluating the programs established and providing recommendations for permanent authority to conduct such programs. (Sec. 405) Directs each Secretary to charge and collect a fee for linear rights-of-way (power and communications lines, oil and gas pipelines) on Federal lands under that Secretary's jurisdiction. (Sec. 407) Requires the General Accounting Office to conduct, and report to specified congressional committees on, a study of the feasibility and likely effects of prohibiting appropriations to the Forest Service and the BLM, except for activities conducted on or related to non-Federal lands, and permitting such agencies to retain for their use, without fiscal year limitation, all revenues from Federal lands minus funds necessary to make payments to State and local governments. (Sec. 408) Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to bar the imposition of liability without fault for fire suppression costs with respect to a right-of-way granted or renewed to or for a nonprofit entity. Part B: Non-Federal Lands - Sets forth deadlines and processing requirements for applications for access through Federal lands to non-Federal lands pursuant to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. (Sec. 410) Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to set forth certain procedural deadlines and requirements related to the exchange of Federal lands for non-Federal lands. Increases the maximum combined value of Federal lands that may be exchanged in exchanges of lands of approximately equal value. Part C: The Forest Resource - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a pilot program to charge and collect fees to cover the direct costs to the Department of Agriculture of timber sale preparation and harvest administration on Forest Service lands. Provides exceptions. Terminates such authority eight years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 412) Authorizes the Secretaries to require, as a condition of any specific salvage sale of forest products from Federal lands or any sale of forest products constituting a forest health enhancement project, that the purchaser undertake a forest management activity which addresses effects of the sale or past sales or involves vegetation management within the sale or affected area. Sets forth financing provisions and authorizes the use of appropriated funds for such activities, subject to certain conditions. Requires the Secretary, prior to the advertisement of such sales, to determine the amount of forest health credits to be allocated to each activity to be performed by the purchaser. Permits the transfer of unused credits from one sale to another sale held by the same purchaser if the other sale applies to Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the same Secretary and is located in the same State as the original sale. Terminates the authority to offer such sales five years after this Act's enactment date but continues contracts in effect on such date. (Sec. 413) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to maintain a special fund to be derived from the Federal share of monies received from the salvage sales of forest products from BLM lands and to be available for planning, preparing, and administering such sales, subsequent site preparation and reforestation, and forest health enhancement projects. Credits the Federal share of all monies received from such sales and other specified activities on lands within the National Forest System to the Forest Service Permanent Appropriations. Lists purposes for which such funds shall be expended. Considers monies received from salvage sales and other activities funded by this section to be money received for purposes of computing and distributing payments to State and local governments under other laws concerning the distribution of revenues derived from forest resources from affected lands. (Sec. 414) Requires the Secretaries, to the extent feasible and subject to specified conditions, to use private contractors to prepare sales of forest products. (Sec. 415) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to charge and collect not less than the fair market value for special forest products harvested on Forest System lands. Authorizes a fee waiver. Provides authorized fee uses. Title V: Miscellaneous - Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act. (Sec. 504) Sets forth certain laws that will prevail in case of inconsistencies with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Naval Air Station Fallon Ranges, Nevada Title II: Nellis Air Force Range, Nevada Title III: Barry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona Title IV: Military Use of Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge Title V: Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright Training Ranges, Alaska Title VI: McGregor Range, Fort Bliss, New Mexico Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 - Terminates, upon the enactment of this Act, all withdrawals made under the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1986. Title I: Naval Air Station Fallon Ranges, Nevada - Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws specified lands and land interests within the Naval Air Station Fallon Ranges, Nevada. Transfers such lands and interests to the Secretary of the Navy for specified military uses. (Sec. 102) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish and file a map and legal description of the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to close areas of such lands as necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Directs the Secretaries of the Navy and the Interior to jointly prepare an integrated natural resources management plan for the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into memoranda of understanding or cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, Indian tribes, or other public or private organizations or institutions as necessary to implement such plan. Provides for the management and use of mineral resources on the withdrawn lands. Requires joint reports from such Secretaries concurrent with each plan review describing changes in the condition of the withdrawn lands. Directs such Secretaries to establish an intergovernmental executive committee for exchanging views, information, and advice relating to the management of the natural and cultural resources on the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the transfer back to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibility over such withdrawn lands if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such lands are not being used for military purposes and that such failure is resulting in significant degradation of the natural and cultural resources of such lands; (2) the Secretary of the Navy is notified of, and given a reasonable period of time to correct, such deficiencies; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such deficiencies have not been corrected within such period. (Sec. 105) Makes the Secretary of the Navy responsible for all applicable environmental requirements on such lands during the withdrawal period, including any required environmental remediation. (Sec. 106) Terminates such withdrawal and reservation 25 years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary of the Navy, at least three years prior to such withdrawal termination, to notify Congress and the Secretary of the Interior whether the Navy will have a continuing military need, beyond the termination date, for any part of the withdrawn lands and, if so, to file an application for an extension of the withdrawal period. (Sec. 108) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to notify the Secretary of the Interior of the intention to relinquish any or all of such withdrawn lands during the withdrawal period due to the lack of continuing military need for such lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept jurisdiction over such lands, under certain conditions. (Sec. 109) Authorizes the delegation of the authority of the Secretaries of the Navy and the Interior for actions taken under this title. (Sec. 110) Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Nellis Air Force Range, Nevada - Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws specified lands and land interests within the Nellis Air Force Range, Nevada. Transfers such lands and interests to the Secretary of the Air Force for specified military uses. Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws all lands of the Pahute Mesa within the Nevada Test and Training Range, to be reserved for use by the Secretary of Energy. (Sec. 202) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish and file a map and legal description of the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to close areas of lands withdrawn for such Secretary as necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Directs the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Interior to jointly prepare an integrated natural resources management plan for the lands withdrawn for the Secretary of the Air Force. Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into memoranda of understanding or cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, Indian tribes, or other public or private organizations or institutions as necessary to implement such plan. Provides for the management and use of mineral resources on the withdrawn lands. Requires joint reports from such Secretaries, concurrent with each plan review, describing changes in the condition of such withdrawn lands. Directs such Secretaries to establish an intergovernmental executive committee for exchanging views, information, and advice relating to the management of the natural and cultural resources on the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the transfer back to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibility over such withdrawn lands if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such lands are not being used for military purposes and that such failure is resulting in significant degradation of the natural and cultural resources of such lands; (2) the Secretary of the Air Force is notified of, and given a reasonable period of time to correct, such deficiencies; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such deficiencies have not been corrected within such period. (Sec. 204) Provides for management by the Secretary of the Interior of that portion of the Desert National Wildlife Range withdrawn under this title. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Air Force for replacement of Refuge System lands in Nevada transferred to such Secretary under this title. (Sec. 205) Makes the Secretary of the Air Force responsible for all applicable environmental requirements on such lands during the withdrawal period, including any required environmental remediation. (Sec. 206) Terminates such withdrawal and reservation 25 years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 207) Directs the Secretary of the Air Force, at least three years prior to such withdrawal termination, to notify Congress and the Secretary of the Interior whether the Air Force will have a continuing military need, beyond the termination date, of any part of the withdrawn lands and, if so, to file an application for an extension of the withdrawal period. (Sec. 208) Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to notify the Secretary of the Interior of the intention to relinquish any or all of such withdrawn lands during the withdrawal period due to the lack of continuing military need for such lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept jurisdiction over such lands, under certain conditions. (Sec. 209) Authorizes the delegation of the authority of the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Interior for actions taken under this title. (Sec. 210) Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Barry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona - Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws all lands and land interests within the Barry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona. Transfers such lands and interests to the Secretaries of the Navy (East Range) and Air Force (West Range) for specified military uses. (Sec. 302) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish and file a map and legal description of the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the Secretaries of the Navy or Air Force to close areas of lands withdrawn for their respective use as necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Directs the Secretaries of the Navy, Air Force, and the Interior to jointly prepare an integrated natural resources management plan for the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy and Air Force to enter into memoranda of understanding or cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, Indian tribes, or other public or private organizations or institutions as necessary to implement such plan. Provides for the management and use of mineral resources on the withdrawn lands. Requires joint reports from such Secretaries concurrent with each plan review describing changes in the condition of such withdrawn lands. Directs such Secretaries to establish an intergovernmental executive committee for exchanging views, information, and advice relating to the management of natural and cultural resources on the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the transfer back to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibility over such withdrawn lands if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such lands are not being used for military purposes and that such failure is resulting in significant degradation of the natural and cultural resources on such lands; (2) the Secretary of the Navy or Air Force is notified of, and given a reasonable period of time to correct, such deficiencies; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such deficiencies have not been corrected within such period. (Sec. 304) Makes the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force responsible for all applicable environmental requirements on such lands during the withdrawal period, including any required environmental remediation. (Sec. 305) Terminates such withdrawal and reservation 25 years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 306) Directs the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force, at least three years prior to such withdrawal termination, to notify Congress and the Secretary of the Interior whether the Navy or Air Force will have a continuing need, beyond the termination date, of any part of the withdrawn lands and, if so, to file an application for an extension of the withdrawal period. (Sec. 307) Directs the Secretary of the Navy or Air Force to notify the Secretary of the Interior of the intention to relinquish any or all of such withdrawn lands during the withdrawal period due to the lack of continuing military need for such lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept jurisdiction over such lands, under certain conditions. (Sec. 308) Authorizes the delegation of the authority of the Secretaries of the Navy, Air Force, and Interior for actions taken under this title. (Sec. 309) Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Military Use of Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to manage Cabeza Prieta for the purposes for which such refuge and wilderness were established, and to support current and future military aviation training needs consistent with a 1994 Memorandum of Understanding between the Departments of the Interior and the Air Force. Directs the Secretaries of the Interior, Navy, and Air Force to extend such Memorandum for a period that coincides with the duration of the withdrawal and reservation of the Barry M. Goldwater Range under title III of this Act. Requires such Memorandum to be amended to meet future military aviation training needs of the Navy and Air Force. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force, during the duration of the Goldwater Range withdrawal, to maintain a program of decontamination of the portions of Cabeza Prieta used for military training purposes at least at the level of cleanup currently achieved on such lands. (Sec. 403) Provides for the closure to the public of any portion of Cabeza Prieta that the Secretary of the Navy or Air Force determines to be necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Title V: Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright Training Ranges, Alaska - Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws specified lands within the Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright Training Ranges in Alaska. Transfers such withdrawn lands to the Secretary of the Army for specified military purposes. (Sec. 502) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish and file a map and legal description of the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 503) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to close areas of such withdrawn lands as necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Interior to jointly prepare an integrated natural resources management plan for the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into memoranda of understanding or cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, Indian tribes, or other public or private organizations or institutions as necessary to implement such plan. Provides for the management and use of mineral resources on the withdrawn lands. Requires joint reports from such Secretaries concurrent with each plan review describing changes in the condition of such withdrawn lands. Directs such Secretaries to establish an intergovernmental executive committee for exchanging views, information, and advice relating to the management of natural and cultural resources on the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the transfer back to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibility over such withdrawn lands if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such lands are not being used for military purposes and that such failure is resulting in significant degradation of the natural and cultural resources on such lands; (2) the Secretary of the Army is notified of, and given a reasonable period of time to correct, such deficiencies; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such deficiencies have not been corrected within such period. (Sec. 504) Makes the Secretary of the Army responsible for all applicable environmental requirements on such lands, including any required environmental remediation. (Sec. 505) Terminates such withdrawal and reservation 25 years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 506) Directs the Secretary of the Army, at least three years prior to such withdrawal termination, to notify Congress and the Secretary of the Interior whether the Army will have a continuing need, beyond the termination date, of any part of the withdrawn lands and, if so, to file an application for an extension of the withdrawal period. (Sec. 507) Directs the Secretary of the Army to notify the Secretary of the Interior of the intention to relinquish any or all of such withdrawn lands during the withdrawal period due to the lack of continuing military need for such lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept jurisdiction over such lands, under certain conditions. (Sec. 508) Authorizes the delegation of the authority of the Secretaries of the Army and the Interior for actions taken under this title. (Sec. 509) Authorizes appropriations. Title VI: McGregor Range, Fort Bliss, New Mexico - Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws specified lands in Otero County, New Mexico, and located within the McGregor Range. (Sec. 602) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to file a map and legal description of the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 603) Directs the Secretary of the Army to manage the withdrawn lands and to use them for military training and testing. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to close areas as necessary for military operations, public safety, or national security. Directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Interior to jointly prepare an integrated natural resources management plan for the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into memoranda of understanding or cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, Indian tribes, or other public or private organizations or institutions as necessary to implement such plan. Provides for the management and use of mineral resources on the withdrawn lands. Requires joint reports from such Secretaries concurrent with each plan review describing changes in the condition of such withdrawn lands. Directs such Secretaries to establish an intergovernmental executive committee for exchanging views, information, and advice relating to the management of natural and cultural resources on the withdrawn lands. Authorizes the transfer back to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibility over such withdrawn lands if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such lands are not being used for military purposes and that such failure is resulting in significant degradation of the natural and cultural resources on such lands; (2) the Secretary of the Army is notified of, and given a reasonable period of time to correct, such deficiencies; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior determines that such deficiencies have not been corrected within such period. (Sec. 604) Makes the Secretary of the Army responsible for all applicable environmental requirements on such lands during the withdrawal period, including any required environmental remediation. (Sec. 605) Terminates such withdrawal and reservation 25 years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 606) Directs the Secretary of the Army, at least three years prior to such withdrawal termination, to notify Congress and the Secretary of the Interior whether the Army will have a continuing need, beyond the termination date, of any part of the withdrawn lands and, if so, to file an application for an extension of the withdrawal period. (Sec. 607) Directs the Secretary of the Army to notify the Secretary of the Interior of the intention to relinquish any or all of such withdrawn lands during the withdrawal period due to the lack of continuing military need for such lands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to accept jurisdiction over such lands, under certain conditions. (Sec. 608) Authorizes the delegation of the authority of the Secretaries of the Army and the Interior for actions taken under this title. (Sec. 609) Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
EC-EZ Economic Development Act - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to provide for a grant funding entitlement for additional Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, and Strategic Planning Communities. Authorizes direct grant funding for Indian tribes. Outlines provisions for use of grant funds, and environmental review.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorizations of Appropriations Title II: Department of State Authorities and Activities Title III: Organization of the Department of State; Personnel of the Department of State; Foreign Service Title IV: United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs Title V: International Broadcasting Title VI: International Organizations and Commissions Title VII: General Provisions American Embassy Security Act of 1999 - Title I: Authorizations of Appropriations - Chapter 1: Department of State - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of State for FY 2000 for: (1) the administration of foreign affairs; (2) contributions to international organizations and international peacekeeping activities; (3) international commissions; (4) migration and refugee assistance (including for the Kosovar refugees along the Albania and Macedonia border under the Front Line States Initiative); (5) public diplomacy programs; (6) certain voluntary contributions to international organizations; and (7) the Asia Foundation. Withholds a certain amount of funds from the United Nations Development Program that will be spent in Burma during each fiscal year unless the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the Program's activities in Burma: (1) are focused on eliminating human suffering and addressing the needs of the poor; (2) are undertaken only through international or private voluntary organizations that are independent of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) (formerly known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)); (3) provide no financial, political, or military benefit to the SPDC; and (4) are carried out only after consultation with the leadership of the National League for Democracy and the national Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. Limits the U.S. voluntary contributions to international organizations for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Makes such funds available only if: (1) UNFPA maintains funds available to it in a separate account; (2) it does not commingle such funds; and (3) it does not fund abortions. Prohibits the use of funds for UNFPA for a country program in China. Withholds the funds from UNFPA that would be spent on a country program in China during each fiscal year unless the Secretary of State (Secretary) certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the UNFPA country program in China: (1) focuses on improving the delivery of voluntary family planning information and services; (2) is designed in conformity with the human rights principles affirmed at the International Conference on Population and Development; (3) is implemented only in Chinese counties where all quotas and targets for recruitment of program participants have been abolished and the use of coercive measures has been eliminated; (4) is subject to regular independent monitoring to ensure compliance with the principles of informed consent and voluntary participation; and (5) suspends operations in project counties found to be in violation of program guidelines. Chapter 2: Broadcasting Board of Governors - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 for the Broadcasting Board of Governors to carry out certain international broadcasting activities. Title II: Department of State Authorities and Activities - Chapter 1: Authorities and Activities - Authorizes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, subject to the availability of appropriations, to lease commercial aircraft to transport equipment and personnel in the event of a terrorist attack abroad, provided there have been reasonable efforts to obtain appropriate Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft and such aircraft are unavailable. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the extent of international drug trafficking from, through, or over Cuba. (Sec. 203) Amends the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 to extend through FY 2000 the requirement that the Secretary report to the appropriate congressional committees on the compliance by the parties with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Requires the report to include: (1) a list of countries in which there are unresolved applications for the return of children of U.S. citizens who are being wrongfully retained in violation of U.S. court orders, or which have failed to comply with their obligations under the Convention with respect to applications for the return of such children, access to them, or both; and (2) a list of countries party to the Convention in which, due to the absence of a effective method for enforcement of civil court orders, the absence of comity, or other factors, there is a substantial possibility that an order of return or access under a Hague Convention proceeding, or a U.S. custody, access, or visitation order, will not be promptly enforced. (Sec. 204) Amends specified Federal laws to repeal requirements for certain reports. (Sec. 205) Amends the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (as enacted by division G of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999) to make permanent certain reporting requirements, including reports on: (1) claims by U.S. firms against the Government of Saudi Arabia; (2) certain determinations under title IV of the Libertad Act; and (3) relations with Vietnam. Extends through January 1, 2002, the requirement that the President report to specified congressional committees on cooperative projects with Russia in the area of ballistic missile defense, including in the area of early warning. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary to attempt, through negotiations with all Wassenaar Arrangement countries, to achieve the foreign policy goal of an international arms sales code of conduct that restricts or prohibits arms transfers to countries that: (1) do not respect democratic processes and the rule of law; (2) do not adhere to internationally recognized norms on human rights; (3) are engaged in acts of armed aggression; or (4) do not participate in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. Directs the Secretary to report on the progress of such negotiations, and the extent to which each country meets the requirements of this section, to the appropriate congressional committees. (Sec. 207) Establishes within the Department of State the Human Rights and Democracy Fellowship Program. Provides for the employment of between six and 12 fellows in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor who have expertise in human rights policy, human rights law, or related subjects and who are not permanent employees of the U.S. Government. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 208) Authorizes interest accrued on certain joint funds under agreements for cooperation in environmental, scientific, cultural and related areas to be used by the Department of State without return to the Treasury and without further appropriation by Congress. (Sec. 209) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on international extradition. (Sec. 210) Directs the Secretary to establish a regulatory regime of expedited approval for the licensing for export of satellites, satellite technologies, components, and systems to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, major non-NATO allies, and other friendly countries. Earmarks specified funds for the Office of Defense Trade Controls. Chapter 2: Consular and Related Activities - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to revise provisions concerning the State Department and the death of U.S. citizens abroad. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) notification of next of kin by consular officers; (2) the appointment of such officers as administrators of the estate; and (3) losses in connection with the conservation of the estate. (Sec. 253) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 with respect to fees charged for processing machine readable nonimmigrant visas and machine readable combined border crossing identification cards and nonimmigrant visas. Makes any fee collections that exceed certain amounts for FY 2000 through 2002 available to any State Department appropriation to recover the costs of providing consular services only if Congress is notified in accordance with specified reprogramming notification procedures. Repeals: (1) provisions making inapplicable certain requirements concerning accounting for consular fees to fees collected under this section; and (2) the prohibition against the charging of fees to citizens of countries signatory to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). (Sec. 254) Declares it should be State Department policy to process immigrant visa applications of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant k-1 visa applications of fiances of U.S. citizens within 30 days (60 days for other than immediate relative) of the receipt of all necessary documents from the applicant and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Directs the Secretary to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on the extent to which the State Department is meeting such policy standards. Directs the Secretary to establish a joint task force with the goal of reducing the overall processing time for visa applications. (Sec. 255) Repeals a provision concerning the return of passport fees upon refusal to vise'. (Sec. 256) Authorizes the Secretary to charge a fee for services provided by the State Department to an individual for assistance in the preparation and filing of an affidavit of support to ensure that it is properly completed before a consular officer considers it and an immigrant visa application. Chapter 3: Refugees - Bars the use of funds (including migration and refugee assistance) for the involuntary return of a person to a country in which the person has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. (Sec. 272) Requires a certain human rights report in connection with the provision of security assistance to a foreign country to include the extent to which such country has extended protection to refugees (including the provision of first asylum and resettlement). (Sec. 273) Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to include State Department employees together with Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel within guidelines that address potential biases by such personnel who are hired abroad and involved with duties which could constitute a barrier to a refugee claim if they carry a bias against the claimant on the grounds of religion, race, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Directs the Secretary to issue guidelines to ensure that persons with potential biases against a refugee applicant (including persons employed by, or otherwise subject to influence by, governments known to be involved in such persecution) shall not be used in processing determinations of refugee status, including interpretation of conversations or examination of documents presented by such applicants. (Sec. 274) Bars the use of funds to support a larger number of personnel assigned to U.S. diplomatic or consular posts in Vietnam than the number assigned to such posts on March 22, 1999, unless the Secretary certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that certain conditions with respect to Vietnamese refugees have been met. Title III: Organization of the Department of State; Personnel of the Department of State; Foreign Service - Chapter 1: Organization of the Department of State - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish within the Department of State the Bureau for International Information Programs and the Bureau for Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs. (Sec. 302) Amends specified Federal laws to remove the Inspector General of the Foreign Service from their provisions. Chapter 2: Personnel of the Department of State - Provides for the award of the Foreign Service Star to an individual whose death occurs while overseas while a member of the Foreign Service or a civilian employee of the U.S. Government. (Sec. 322) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to eliminate provisions allowing leaves of absence with pay in accordance with prevailing law and employment practices in the locality of employment for non-family members of foreign national employees of the Foreign Service and U.S. citizens hired abroad for employment in positions customarily filled by Foreign Service employees. (Sec. 323) Requires a Foreign Service employee who regularly commutes from his or her place of residence in the United States to an official duty station in Canada or Mexico to receive a border equalization adjustment (locality pay adjustment). (Sec. 324) Declares that nothing shall prevent a Foreign Service grievant from placing a rebuttal to accompany a record of disciplinary action in such grievant's personnel records nor prevent the Department of State from including a response to such rebuttal, including documenting those cases in which the Foreign Service Labor Relations Board has reviewed and upheld the discipline. (Sec. 325) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees concerning the extent to which administrative and technical personnel posted to U.S. missions abroad who do not have diplomatic status suffer financial disadvantages from their lack of such status, including proposals to alleviate such disadvantages. (Sec. 326) Authorizes the Secretary to extend hiring authority to the heads of Federal agencies or other Government entities to appoint individuals abroad (including family members of the Foreign Service or of other Government employees) to positions to which career Foreign Service employees are not customarily assigned. (Sec. 327) Amends Federal law to authorize up to three months advance pay to: (1) an employee (other than an employee appointed by the Secretary and employed as a family member of a Government employee) who is a U.S. citizen, stationed outside the United States, and requires (or has a family member who requires) medical treatment outside the United States; and (2) a foreign national employee or nonfamily member U.S. citizen who is located, and must undergo medical treatment, outside of the country of employment. (Sec. 328) Authorizes the spouse and dependents of Foreign Service employees who have died at post in a foreign country to receive a transfer allowance (extraordinary, necessary, and reasonable subsistence and other relocation expenses) for their return to the United States. (Sec. 329) Amends Federal law to provide for an education allowance to an employee at a post in a foreign area not to exceed the cost of obtaining kindergarten, elementary and secondary educational services, plus room and board, where adequate schools are not available at the post of the employee, and periodic transportation between that post and the school chosen by the employee, not to exceed the total cost to the Government of the dependent attending an adequate school in the nearest locality where an adequate school is available. (Currently, an employee can receive an allowance only for a school at the nearest locality). (Sec. 330) Changes from annual to quadrennial the Secretary's report to the Speaker of the House and to a specified congressional committee on, among other things, a Foreign Service workforce plan for the subsequent five years, including projected personnel needs, by grade and by skill. (Sec. 331) Directs the Secretary to examine the current benefit structure for survivors of Government employees who are killed while serving at U.S. diplomatic facilities abroad as a result of terrorism. Title IV: United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs - Amends the Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996 to designate educational and cultural exchange programs between the United States and Tibet as the Ngawang Choephel Exchange Programs. (Sec. 401) Extends through FY 2000 scholarships for Tibetan and Burmese students and professionals who live outside Tibet and Burma, respectively. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary (currently, the Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA)), in carry out programs of educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy (including but not limited to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet, and Burma), to: (1) include, as a substantial proportion of the participants in such programs, nationals of such countries who have demonstrated a commitment to freedom and democracy; (2) consult with human rights and democracy advocates from such countries on the selection of participants and grantees for such programs; and (3) select grantees for such programs only after a competitive process and specified other conditions are met. (Sec. 403) Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to prohibit the Secretary (currently, the United States Information Agency (USIA)) from awarding any grant with respect to educational and cultural exchange programs until 45 days (currently, 15 days) after notice is provided to specified congressional committees of the intent to award such grant. (Sec. 404) Directs the Secretary, in coordination with other appropriate executive branch officials, to take all appropriate steps to prevent foreign espionage agents from participating in educational and cultural exchange programs under such Act. Directs the Secretary to take all appropriate steps to ensure that no individual, who is employed by an office or department involved with the research, development, or production of missiles or weapons of mass destruction, from a country identified as a country involved in the proliferation of missiles or weapons of mass destruction, is a participant in any such programs. (Sec. 405) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to: (1) rename the North-South Center Act of 1991 as the Dante B. Fascell North-South Center Act of 1991; and (2) redesignate the North-South Center as the Dante B. Fascell North-South Center. (Sec. 406) Repeals a specified section of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 calling for the abolition of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (effectively continuing the Commission). (Sec. 407) Prohibits the State Department (currently, the USIA) from expending any funds for a U.S. Government funded pavilion or other major exhibit at any international exposition or world's fair registered by the Bureau of International Expositions in excess of amounts expressly authorized and appropriated, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 408) Directs the Secretary to take all appropriate steps to ensure that members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) are not participants in any educational or cultural exchange program or training through the National Academy program at Quantico, Virginia, under the auspices of the State Department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, unless the President certifies: (1) that complete and independent investigations of the murders of defense attorneys Rosemary Nelson and Patrick Finucane have been initiated by the Government of the United Kingdom; and (2) that such government has taken appropriate steps to protect defense attorneys against RUC harassment in Northern Ireland. Title V: International Broadcasting - Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to make permanent the authorization of funding for Radio Free Asia. Repeals Radio Free Asia funding limits. (Sec. 502) Repeals policy statements urging the privatization of Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, Incorporated (RFE-RL). Raises the limit on grant amounts to RFE-RL, Incorporated. (Sec. 503) Grants immunity from civil liability to members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors when acting in their capacities as members of the board of directors of RFE-RL, Incorporated and Radio Free Asia. Title VI: International Organizations and Commissions - Provides for the appointment of members as part of the American delegation to a conference or assembly of the Bureau of the Interparliamentary Union, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), the Mexico-United States Interparliamentary Group, the North Atlantic Assembly, or any similar interparliamentary group whenever either house of Congress does not appoint its allotment of members to the American delegation. Renames the United States-European Community Interparliamentary Group as the Transatlantic Legislative Dialogue. (Sec. 602) Authorizes the Commissioner of the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission to provide technical tests, evaluations, information, surveys, or other similar services to State or local governments upon request on a reimbursable basis. (Sec. 603) Amends the American-Mexican Chamizal Convention Act of 1964 to authorize the Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission to receive payments of money from public or private sources in the United States or Mexico for the purpose of sharing in the cost of operations and maintenance of the Bridge of the Americas which crosses the Rio Grande between El Paso, Texas, and Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua. (Sec. 604) Declares that Congress: (1) commends the State Department for the vote of the United States against United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10-6 affirming that the text of such resolution politicizes the Fourth Geneva Convention which was primarily humanitarian in nature; and (2) urges the State Department to continue its efforts against convening the conference. Title VII: General Provisions - Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States: (1) should increase its support to democracy and human rights activists in Cuba; and (2) should substantially increase funding for programs and activities designed to support such activists and others in Cuba who are committed to peaceful and democratic change there. (Sec. 702) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) in light of the extraordinary actions taken by the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the importance of a Cyprus settlement to American security interests, the United States should do all that is possible to bring about commensurate actions by Turkey; (2) the time has come for the United States to expect from Turkey actions on the Cyprus issue in the interest of peace, including steps in conformity with U.S. proposals concerning Cyprus and in compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1217 and 1218; and (3) such an effort would also be in the best interest of the Turkey people, as well as all others involved.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Arctic Tundra Habitat Emergency Conservation Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement the rules published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on February 16, 1999, relating to use of additional hunting methods to increase the harvest of mid-continent light geese and the establishment of a conservation order for the reduction of such goose populations, without regard to the withdrawal of such rules by a certain rule published on June 17, 1999. Makes such requirement applicable until the later of: (1) the effective date of rules issued by the Service to control such overabundant geese populations; or (2) the date of the publication of a final environmental impact statement for such rules.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Abolishment of Department of Commerce Title II: Disposition of Programs, Functions, and Agencies of Department of Commerce Title III: Establishment of United States Trade Administration Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: United States Trade Administration Title IV: Statistical Consolidation Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Establishment of the Federal Statistical Service Subtitle C: Transfers of Functions and Offices Subtitle D: Administrative Provisions Subtitle E: Miscellaneous Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions Department of Commerce Elimination Act - Title I: Abolishment of Department of Commerce - Abolishes the Department of Commerce (Department). Transfers all Department functions to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before the applicable date of abolishment, which is the earlier of: (1) the last day of the six-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act; or (2) September 30, 1999. (Sec. 103) Sets forth requirements for the resolution of all Department functions. Terminates all functions that are transferred to the Director that are not otherwise continued by this Act on the last day of the three-year period beginning on the date of enactment. (Sec. 104) Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) the OMB Director's responsibilities during the resolution and termination of functions; and (2) transfer of Department personnel. (Sec. 106) Provides for the submission of specified reports. (Sec. 107) Requires General Accounting Office (GAO) audits of: (1) persons performing functions or activities pursuant to this Act; and (2) persons providing certain goods or services to, or receiving financial assistance from, persons performing functions or activities pursuant to this Act. (Sec. 109) Sets forth provisions for privatizing transferred functions designated for privatization under Title II of this Act. (Sec. 110) Amends Federal law concerning Government organization and employees to require affected agencies to establish agencywide priority placement programs for Federal employees affected by a reduction in force attributable to this Act. (Sec. 111) Limits the total amount authorized to be appropriated as funding related to the performance of functions transferred to the Director or to OMB from the Department to not exceed: (1) for the first fiscal year that begins after the abolishment date, 75 percent of the total amount of funding appropriated to the Department for FY 1999; and (2) for the second fiscal year that begins after the abolishment date and for each fiscal year thereafter, 65 percent of the total amount appropriated to the Department for FY 1999. Title II: Disposition of Programs, Functions, and Agencies of Department of Commerce - Repeals the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 and transfers all financial obligations owned by the Department under such Act to the Department of the Treasury. Requires an audit by the Comptroller General of all Department grants made under such Act in FY 1999. (Sec. 202) Terminates the Technology Administration and the Office of Technology Policy. Redesignates the National Institute of Standards and Technology as the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). Transfers: (1) the NBS to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reestablished under this Act; (2) all functions relating to the Bureau that were functions of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) or the Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology to the NBS Director; and (3) all functions of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) to the OMB Director for privatization. Provides for the reestablishment of NTIS as a wholly owned Government corporation if an arrangement for privatization of the functions of the NTIS has not been made. (Sec. 203) Transfers all functions of the Secretary relating to the Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis to the Federal Statistical Service established under this Act. (Sec. 204) Terminates assistance to: (1) public telecommunications; (2) educational television programs; and (3) telecommunications demonstrations. Repeals establishment of the National Endowment for Children's Educational Television (thus abolishing it). Transfers: (1) National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) laboratories to the OMB Director for privatization; (2) NTIA functions concerning the research and analysis of the electromagnetic spectrum to the NBS Director; and (3) functions of the NTIA, and of the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Communications and Information with respect to NTIA to the Federal Communications Commission. Provides for the transfer of NTIA laboratories to the reestablished NOAA if an arrangement for privatization of the laboratories has not been made. Abolishes the NTIA. (Sec. 205) Terminates specified miscellaneous NOAA research programs. Transfers from the NOAA: (1) aeronautical mapping and charting functions to the Transportation Administrative Services Center at the Department of Transportation; (2) functions relating to mapping, charting, and geodesy authorized under a certain Act to the Army Corps of Engineers; (3) all functions and assets performed by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information System to the reestablished NOAA; (4) all functions and assets (including global programs) performed by the NOAA that were authorized to be performed by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to the reestablished NOAA; and (5) all functions and assets of the NOAA that are authorized to be performed by the National Weather Service to the reestablished NOAA. Prohibits: (1) funding for the NOAA Corps of commissioned officers after FY 1997; and (2) allowing individuals to serve as such commissioned officers after FY 1997. Provides for the establishment of a priority placement program by NOAA to assist commissioned officers who are separated from the active list because of the termination. Abolishes on September 30, 2002: (1) the Office of the NOAA Administration Corps of Operations or its successor; and (2) the Commissioned Personnel Center. Sets forth service contract provisions with respect to the NOAA Administration Fleet. Directs the Administrator of Oceans and Atmosphere to: (1) use excess capacity of University National Oceanographic Laboratory System vessels; and (2) enter into memoranda of agreement with the operators of such vessels. Transfers certain excess vessels to the National Defense Reserve Fleet. Transfers to the: (1) NOAA all functions authorized to be performed by the National Marine Fisheries Service; (2) reestablished NOAA all functions performed by the National Ocean Service, including the Coastal Ocean Program; and (3) Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency coastal nonpoint pollution functions that are vested in the Secretary under the Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. (Sec. 206) Reestablishes as an independent agency in the executive branch the NOAA. Provides for administration of NOAA, and all functions and offices transferred to the new NOAA, under the supervision and direction of an Administrator of Oceans and Atmosphere. Transfers to the new NOAA: (1) the functions and offices of NOAA; (2) the NBS along with its functions and offices; and (3) the Office of Space Commerce, along with its functions and offices. Terminates NOAA and certain other agency offices affected by the transfer. (Sec. 207) Terminates: (1) the Minority Business Development Administration; (2) NTIA programs and activities mentioned in section 204 of this Act; (2) the Advanced Technology Program; (3) the Manufacturing Extension Programs; (4) the NIST METRIC Program; and (5) the Economics and Statistics Administration. Title III: Establishment of United States Trade Administration - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Sets forth definitions. Subtitle B: United States Trade Administration - Chapter 1: Establishment - Reestablishes the Trade Administration in the executive branch as an independent establishment to be headed by the Trade Representative who shall retain ambassador rank and represent the United States in all trade negotiations conducted by the Trade Administration. Directs the Trade Representative to serve as the principal adviser to the President on international trade policy, along with certain additional trade related functions, including those under Chapter 3. Chapter 2: Officers - Sets forth provisions related to Trade Administration management positions and related functions, among other things establishing three Deputy U.S. Trade Representatives: (1) the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Negotiations (with ambassador rank); (2) the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative to the World Trade Organization (with ambassador rank); and (3) the U.S. Trade Representative for Administration (acts for and exercises the functions of the Trade Representative during the absence, disability, or vacancy of the Trade Representative and exercises all transferred or established Trade Administration functions, except those functions exercised by certain Trade Administration officials). (Sec. 322) Establishes four Assistant Administrators to exercise certain transferred Department functions under the direction of the Deputy Trade Representative for Administration: (1) the Assistant Administrator for Export Administration; (2) the Assistant Administrator for Import Administration; (3) the Assistant Administrator for Trade and Policy Analysis; and (4) the Assistant Administrator for Export Promotion (with ambassador rank). Creates the position of chief financial officer to perform all functions prescribed by the Deputy Trade Representative for Administration under the direction of such Deputy. Chapter 3: Transfers to the Trade Administration - Abolishes the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Transfers to the Trade Administration Federal trade functions, including those of the Department, the Trade and Development Agency, the Export-Import Bank, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Amends the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to reestablish the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service within the Trade Administration (currently, such Service is in the International Trade Administration of the Department) and to revise certain functions of the Trade and Development Program with respect to the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. (Sec. 336) Directs the President to: (1) transmit to the Congress a comprehensive plan to consolidate Federal nonagricultural export promotion and financing activities; and (2) transfer those functions to the Trade Administration. (Sec. 337) Transfers: (1) functions of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) to the Trade Administration; and (2) other functions of CITA related to the assessment of the impact of textile imports on domestic industry to the International Trade Commission. Abolishes CITA. Chapter 4: Administrative Provisions - Sets out Trade Representative related administrative provisions pertaining to personnel and other miscellaneous administrative matters, including those relating to a working capital fund for administrative expenses. Chapter 5: Related Agencies - Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the National Security Act of 1947, and the Bretton Woods Agreement Act to make miscellaneous and conforming changes to complete the consolidation and streamlining process described above. Chapter 6: Conforming Amendments - Makes miscellaneous technical and conforming amendments to various specified provisions of Federal law, including those relating to executive schedule positions. Chapter 7: Miscellaneous - Limits the total amount appropriated in the performance of all functions vested in the Trade Representative and the Trade Administration to not exceed: (1) for the first fiscal year that begins after the effective date, 75 percent of the total amount appropriated in FY 1999; and (2) for the second fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, 65 percent of the total amount appropriated in FY 1999. Title IV: Statistical Consolidation - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to: (1) a more centralized statistical system and the role of the Chief Statistician of OMB; (2) confidentiality; and (3) decennial censuses of population. Subtitle B: Establishment of the Federal Statistical Service - Establishes the Federal Statistical Service as an independent establishment in the executive branch. Sets forth provisions for principal officers, including: (1) an Administrator; (2) a Deputy Administrator; (3) a Director of the Census; (4) a Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis; and (5) a Director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Sec. 413) Establishes a Federal Council on Statistical Policy to advise the Service, nominate the Administrator, serve as an advisory body to the Chief Statistician on certain confidentiality issues, and establish a unified statistical policy for the Federal Government. Mandates studies by the Council on: (1) whether the functions of the Bureau of the Census relating to decennial censuses of population could be delineated from the other functions of the Bureau; and (2) making the Bureau's field offices part of the field offices of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Subtitle C: Transfers of Functions and Offices - Transfers to the Service the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor, along with all of its functions and offices. Subtitle D: Administrative Provisions - Sets forth provisions related to the administrative functions of the Administrator. Subtitle E: Miscellaneous - Sets forth miscellaneous provisions with respect to functions or offices of the Service and makes conforming amendments relating to certain officials of the Service. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth provisions pertaining to officers and employees to whom a function is transferred by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Amends the Clean Air Act to remove a limitation on the amount of funds authorized to be allocated to any one State for air pollution control programs under provisions regarding grants for air pollution planning and control.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Federal Facilities Clean Water Compliance Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (the Act) to require each Federal department, agency, and instrumentality to be subject to and comply with all Federal, State, and local requirements with respect to the control and abatement of water pollution and management in the same manner and extent as any person is subject to such requirements, including the payment of reasonable service charges. Waives immunity of the United States with respect to any such requirements. Absolves Federal employees of personal liability for civil penalties under water pollution control laws for acts or omissions within the scope of official duties. Makes Federal employees subject to criminal sanctions under Federal or State water pollution laws, but prohibits applying criminal sanctions to Federal agencies. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of the Army, and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to pursue enforcement actions under this Act. Requires States to use funds collected from the Federal Government under this Act only for projects designed to improve or protect the environment or to defray the costs of environmental protection or enforcement. Includes Federal agencies within the definition of "person" for purposes of the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Railroad Safety Reform Act of 1999 - Title I: Employee Fatigue - Amends Federal transportation law to revise the hours of duty limitations with respect to train employees (including determining when an employee is on or off duty). Declares that a railroad carrier shall not be held responsible for violating such requirements in the case of a dually employed employee if none of the railroad carrier's managers, supervisors, officers, and agents had actual knowledge of the employee's work schedule for another employer. Makes similar changes with respect to signal employees and dispatching service employees and power directors. (Sec. 105) Revises certain sleeping quarters limitations with respect to train employees (including signal employees), and for any individuals employed to maintain the right of way of a railroad carrier, to require such carrier and its managers, supervisors, officers, and agents to provide, among other things, a separate bedroom for each employee or individual. (Sec. 106) Requires each Class I and Class II railroad carrier, each railroad carrier providing intercity rail passenger transportation, and each railroad carrier providing commuter rail passenger transportation, to submit to the Secretary of Transportation a fatigue management plan designed to reduce: (1) fatigue experienced by railroad employees or its independent contractors; and (2) the likelihood of accidents and injuries caused by such fatigue. Provides a waiver for the submission of such plan. (Sec. 108) Prohibits, except in a specified emergency, a railroad carrier and its managers, supervisors, officers, and agents from requiring a transport vehicle driver to remain or go on duty: (1) unless such driver has at least eight consecutive hours off duty, during which such driver receives no communication from such carrier and its managers, supervisors, officers, and agents, during the prior 24 hours; (2) for a period in excess of ten consecutive hours; (3) unless such driver has received notice at least eight hours before going on duty; and (4) unless such driver has had at least one period of at least 24 consecutive hours off duty in the past seven days. (Sec. 110) Authorizes a railroad carrier and its managers, supervisors, officers, and agents to require a train employee to work a split shift only if the split shift begins between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. and ends before 2:00 a.m. on the day following the day on which the shift begins. (Sec. 111) Prohibits a railroad carrier and its managers, supervisors, officers, and agents from requiring an employee to report for duty to begin an eight-hour shift which begins at a time that is more than four hours earlier or more than six hours later than the time of day when that employee, within the previous 72 hours, began a prior eight-hour shift (rotating shift). Directs the Secretary to report to Congress the results of a study regarding: (1) the effect of rotating shifts on employee fatigue; and (2) alternative methods of preventing fatigue due to such shifts. (Sec. 112) Directs the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee to convene a working group to consider what legislative changes might be appropriate with respect to hours of service. Requires the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration to report to Congress on the Committee's recommendations with respect to such changes. Title II: Protection of Employees and Witnesses - Revises certain employee protection requirements prohibiting a railroad carrier from discharging or discriminating against an employee also to prohibit such carrier from threatening, intimidating, or disciplining for, or preventing an employee from (among other things): (1) notifying, or attempting to notify, the carrier of a work-related personal injury or illness; (2) cooperating with a safety investigation; (3) furnishing information to any party as to the facts relating to any accident resulting in injury or death or damage to property occurring in connection with railroad transportation; (4) accurately reporting hours of duty or dual employment status; or (5) reporting a hazardous condition or refusing to work when confronted by a hazardous condition. Sets forth both civil and criminal penalties for violations of the requirements under this Act. (Sec. 201) Sets forth certain requirements with respect to the exclusion of an individual from employment by a railroad carrier as a safety-critical employee. (Sec. 203) Requires a railroad carrier to have an annual audit of the process by which it reports accidents. (Sec. 204) Makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly interfere with, obstruct, or hamper a railroad safety investigation, or knowingly or intentionally use intimidation, harassment, or threats to influence the testimony of any person or prevent a person from attending such investigation. Sets forth both civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Title III: Grade Crossing Safety - Revises grade crossing safety requirements to require each railroad carrier to: (1) establish a toll-free telephone service to receive calls reporting malfunctions of safety equipment, or disabled vehicles blocking railroad tracks, at grade crossings; (2) notify trains operating near a grade crossing of the malfunction or disabled vehicle and contact appropriate public safety officials; and (3) ensure placement of signs at each grade crossing displaying the toll-free telephone information. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary to review current local, State, and Federal laws regarding violations of grade crossing signals. Directs 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 grade crossing signals. Title IV: Passenger Service Safety Standards - Requires all passenger railroad cars to have emergency windows after January 1, 2002. (Sec. 402) Sets forth requirements for: (1) passenger railroad signals; and (2) internal and compartmentalized fuel tanks on passenger locomotives. Title V: Safety Rulemaking and Enforcement - Amends Federal transportation law with respect to railroad safety to direct the Secretary to convene an annual conference to determine the most important actions needed to improve railroad safety, and report the results to Congress. (Sec. 503) Directs the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to report monthly to specified congressional committees on the status of FRA's safety-related rulemakings and reports. (Sec. 504) Sets forth requirements with respect to the rulemaking process of rules proposed by the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee. (Sec. 505) Declares that certain railroad power brake safety rules proposed on September 16, 1994, shall take effect as final rules one year after enactment of this Act if before that time the Secretary has not issued all final regulations required by specified law. (Sec. 506) Directs the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking to ensure the safety of operators of railroad cranes and other hoisting equipment, and of railroad employees working in the vicinity of cranes and other hoisting equipment. (Sec. 508) Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations addressing noise emissions from high-speed rail systems (including magnetic levitation systems) when operating at speeds greater than 150 miles per hour. (Sec. 509) Directs the Secretary to issue rules requiring that no track inspection shall be conducted from a vehicle traveling at a speed of more than 15 miles per hour. (Sec. 510) Authorizes officers, employees, or agents of the Secretary to monitor railroad radio communications for purposes of conducting any rulemaking, accident investigations, and acquiring general information as to railroad operations as it relates to railroad safety. Prohibits the use of information obtained from such monitoring as evidence for the assessment or collection of civil penalties or for implementation of other enforcement activities, except that it may be used as background for further investigation which might lead to the discovery of other useful evidence. (Sec. 511) Expands the Secretary's emergency authority to order restrictions and prohibitions to include instances of unsafe conditions involving significant harm to the environment. (Sec. 512) Requires fees imposed on railroad carriers to cover the costs of providing an additional 400 railroad safety inspectors. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Federal Transit Administrator to consult with the Federal Railroad Administrator concerning relevant safety issues when making a grant or loan to a commuter railroad to help eliminate or correct an unsafe condition that may cause a serious hazard of death or injury. (Sec. 602) Provides for the adjustment of civil penalties for inflation with respect to railroad safety violations committed under Federal railroad safety law. (Sec. 603) Requires certification of other safety-related railroad personnel in addition to locomotive engineers. (Sec. 604) Sets forth requirements with respect to: (1) transport motor vehicle inspections; and (2) railroad employee seniority rights.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Better America Bonds Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited income tax credit to a holder of a Better America Bond. Requires the proceeds of such bonds to be used for specified purposes, including: (1) the acquisition of land for use as open space, wetlands, public parks, or greenways, and the provision of visitor facilities for land so used; (2) the remediation of land so acquired to enhance water quality; and (3) the environmental assessment and remediation of real property owned by a State or local government.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1999
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the people of the United States should review their own conduct, take all reasonable steps to use freedom of speech to build up and not destroy, advance public morality, restrain the growth of illegal sexual speech and activity, and create an environment in which children will learn to do good and oppose evil; (2) the President, Congress, and the States should review their laws, executive orders, and policies to determine and effectuate what may be done to end the use of individuals and their images as sexual objects or tools; and (3) the President and the Attorney General should vigorously enforce Federal obscenity laws and aggressively pursue violations of laws involving the interstate movement of individuals for illegal sexual purposes.
Austria · National Council · 30 June 1999
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten MMag. Dr. Madeleine Petrovic und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft betreffend Wasserbedarf und Abwasserbelastung von Hausmüllverbrennungsanlagen anhand der MVA <i>(Hausmüllverbrennungsanlage)</i> Flötzersteig, der MVA Wels und MVA Spittelau
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1999
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish: (1) an eleventh region of the EPA, comprised solely of the State of Alaska; and (2) a regional office for the region located in the State. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1999
Department of Energy Elimination and National Security Protection Act of 1999 - Title I: Abolishment of Department of Energy - Redesignates the Department of Energy (DOE) as the Energy Programs Resolution Agency (the Agency), headed by an Administrator to perform the previous functions of the Department of Energy. Provides for the continuation of service of the Secretary of Energy as the interim Administrator. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the Administrator to establish, consolidate, alter, or discontinue in the Energy Programs Resolution Agency any organizational entities that were entities of DOE. Sunsets the Agency three years after enactment of this Act. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the most efficient way to accomplish the complete abolishment of DOE and the transfer or termination of its functions. Title II: Energy Laboratory Facilities - Establishes an independent Energy Laboratory Facilities Commission to reduce energy laboratories and programs through reconfiguration, privatization, and closure. Prescribes procedural guidelines. (Sec. 205) Establishes the Energy Laboratory Facility Closure Account to fund implementation of such guidelines. Title III: Privatization of Federal Power Marketing Administrations - Federal Power Asset Privatization Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to sell, at the highest possible price, all Federal electric power generation and transmission facilities supervised by, or coordinated with, the Federal Power Marketing Administrations (except the Bonneville Power Administration). Restricts such sales to domestic entities or U.S. citizens. Requires the Secretary to terminate Federal Power Marketing Administration operations upon completion of the sales. Directs the Secretary to retain a private sector firm through a competitive bidding process to serve as financial advisor with respect to such sales. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the purchaser of any such facilities should offer to employ former Federal Power Marketing Administration personnel. Mandates that sale proceeds be deposited into the Treasury. Sets forth a sales completion deadline for each Power Marketing Administration concerned. (Sec. 305) Mandates that the pertinent sales agreements require each purchaser providing electric power to customers within any region to insure that the price of electric power does not increase above the baseline price at a rate greater than ten percent annually. (Sec. 306) Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue to the purchaser of a hydroelectric generation facility a ten-year original license under the Federal Power Act to insure that the project will continue operations under the same conditions as were applicable prior to the sale. Grants FERC Federal Power Act jurisdiction over any such facility sold. (Sec. 307) Amends the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1993 to repeal the prohibition against the use of appropriated funds for studies regarding a changeover from an "at cost" to a "market rate" or other noncost-based methodology for pricing hydroelectric power. Title IV: Transfer and Disposal of Reserves - Transfers to the Secretary of the Interior all former DOE functions affecting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Instructs the Secretary to appoint an advisory board to monitor the sale of such reserves. (Sec. 402) Transfers to the Administrator of the Energy Programs Resolution Agency all functions performed with respect to the naval petroleum reserves, except Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 (Elk Hills). Instructs the Administrator to: (1) obtain the highest possible price for the naval petroleum reserves; and (2) develop a joint plan with the Secretary of the Interior for disposal of the naval petroleum reserves within a specified timeframe. Title V: National Security and Environmental Management Programs - Subtitle A: Defense Nuclear Programs Agency - Establishes the Defense Nuclear Programs Administration (the Administration) in the Department of Defense (DOD), headed by the Under Secretary for Defense Nuclear Programs, who shall be responsible for the exercise of all Administration powers and duties. (Sec. 503) Transfers to the Under Secretary all: (1) DOD national security functions; (2) supervisory functions previously performed by DOE over Sandia, Los Alamos, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories; (3) functions of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency of DOD relating to nuclear weapons systems; and (4) functions of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to transfer other nuclear weapons-related functions to the Under Secretary. (Sec. 504) Restricts the transfer of funds by the Administration. Subtitle B: Environmental Restoration Activities at Defense Nuclear Facilities - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to require the Under Secretary to review ongoing and planned remediation activities consistent with this Act. (Sec. 521) Sets forth guidelines for site-specific risk assessment, including a cost-benefit analysis of risk reduction, before the selection of a remedial action at a defense nuclear facility. (Sec. 522) Instructs the Under Secretary to renegotiate the terms of any compliance agreement entered into with the Secretary of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the relevant State in order to have it reflect this Act. Title VI: Disposition of Miscellaneous Particular Programs, Functions, and Agencies of Department - Directs the Energy Laboratory Facilities Commission to identify for the Congress all DOE research and development activities carried out at energy laboratories or institutions of higher education that perform a critical research function important to the long-term economic well-being of the United States. (Sec. 601) Directs the Secretary of Energy to terminate the following DOE research and development activities: (1) clean coal technology; (2) fossil energy; (3) energy conservation; and (4) energy supply research and development (including basic energy sciences, magnetic fusion energy, solar and renewable energy, nuclear fission, and biological and environmental sciences). Transfers from DOE to DOD specified weapons and defense activities. (Sec. 602) Transfers to the Department of the Treasury all functions performed by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Authorizes appropriations for the EIA. (Sec. 603) Transfers to the Attorney General all functions performed by the Energy Regulatory Administration. Title VII: Civilian Radioactive Waste Management - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to terminate the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management and to transfer its authority and assets regarding a repository for radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel to the Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps). Requires: (1) the Corps to assume all obligations of the Office affecting the Yucca Mountain site; and (2) reissuance of Nevada State permits for the Corps. Prescribes procedural guidelines for Corps preparation and implementation of a Yucca Mountain site characterization plan. (Sec. 702) Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to reaffirm that the obligation of the Secretary of Energy to accept high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel beginning by January 31, 1998, is absolute and is not dependent on commencement of operation of a repository or a monitored retrievable storage facility. States that such obligation shall be neither voided nor delayed for any reason. Repeals: (1) the site selection limitation placed upon the siting of a monitored retrievable storage facility; and (2) the licensing conditions placed upon such facility. (Sec. 703) Prescribes procedural guidelines for the licensing and expansion of an initial uranium storage facility. Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Office of Management and Budget to make any determination regarding functions transferred under this Act and incidental transfers.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1999
Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from approving the construction of a facility for the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) unless the construction is in the public interest and the facility's design, location, and operation will protect public health and the environment. Allows any person to file a petition with a court of appeals for review of such approval. Applies to approval of a PCB disposal facility Solid Waste Disposal Act requirements of public notice and participation for issuance of a permit regarding a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility. Prohibits approval of construction of a PCB disposal facility unless the owner or operator provides the Administrator (and the Administrator makes publicly available) a complete violations record.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1999
Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate rules to prohibit the importation for disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), or PCB items, at concentrations of 50 parts per million or greater. Permits the Administrator to grant exemptions from this prohibition for specific transboundary shipments into the United States of such materials. Provides procedures for congressional oversight of any such exemption.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Small Business Lawsuit Abuse Protection Title II: Product Seller Fair Treatment Small Business Liability Reform Act of 1999 - Title I: Small Business Lawsuit Abuse Protection - Allows punitive damages to be awarded against a small business only if the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that conduct carried out by the defendant through willful misconduct or with a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of others was the proximate cause of the harm that is the subject of the action. Limits such punitive damages to the lesser of two times the amount awarded for economic and noneconomic losses, or $250,000. (Sec. 104) States that, in any civil action against a small business: (1) each defendant shall be liable only for the amount of noneconomic loss allocated to that defendant in direct proportion to the percentage of responsibility of that defendant for the harm caused to the plaintiff; and (2) the court shall render a separate judgment against each defendant describing such percentage of responsibility. (Sec. 105) Excepts from such liability limitations any misconduct of a defendant: (1) that constitutes a crime of violence, international terrorism, or a hate crime; (2) that results in liability for damages under specified provisions of the Oil Pollution Control Act of 1990 or the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980; (3) that involves a sexual offense or violation of a Federal or State civil rights law; or (4) caused by being under the influence of intoxicating alcohol or a drug. (Sec. 106) Preempts inconsistent State law. Title II: Product Seller Fair Treatment - States that this title governs any product liability action brought in any Federal or State court. Excludes from this title actions for commercial loss, negligent entrustment, negligence per se concerning firearms and ammunition, and actions brought under a dram-shop or third-party liability arising out of the sale or provision of alcohol to an intoxicated person or a minor. (Sec. 204) Mandates that, in any product liability action covered by this Act, a product seller other than a manufacturer shall be liable to a claimant only if such claimant establishes that: (1) the product that caused the harm was sold, rented, or leased by the seller, the seller failed to exercise reasonable care with respect to the product, and such failure was the proximate cause of harm to the plaintiff; (2) the seller made an express warranty applicable to such product, the product failed to conform to the warranty, and such failure caused the harm to the plaintiff; or (3) the product seller engaged in intentional wrongdoing (as determined under applicable State law), and such wrongdoing caused the harm to the plaintiff. States that a seller shall not be considered to have failed to exercise reasonable care with respect to a product based upon a failure to inspect if: (1) there was no reasonable opportunity to inspect; or (2) such inspection would not have revealed the aspect of the product that allegedly caused the claimant's harm. Allows a seller to be liable as a manufacturer if: (1) the manufacturer is not subject to appropriate service of process; or (2) the court determines that the claimant is or would be unable to enforce a judgment against the manufacturer. Provides limited liability for persons engaged in the business of renting or leasing a product.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1999 - Title I: Storage and Disposal - Sets forth a milestone schedule by which final decisions regarding development of the Yucca Mountain site as a nuclear waste repository shall be made by: (1) the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary); (2) the President; and (3) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Prescribes implementation guidelines. (Sec. 102) Cites circumstances under which the Secretary shall take title and transport for storage at the repository site such spent nuclear fuel amounts as the NRC determines cannot be stored onsite. (Sec. 103) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to repeal its nuclear waste disposal provisions. Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to substitute Environmental Protection Agency oversight of repository licensing standards with that of the NRC. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into settlement agreements and grant specified relief to contract holders to: (1) relieve harm caused by failure to meet Department of Energy commitments; or (2) settle legal claims arising out of such failure. Delimits expenditures which may be made from the Nuclear Waste Fund for costs incurred pursuant to a settlement agreement or backup storage contract. (Sec. 106) Prescribes implementation guidelines for an acceptance schedule. Title II: Transportation - Prescribes guidelines for transportation planning and readiness which encompasses: (1) shipping campaign transportation plans; (2) safe shipping routes and modes, including rail routes; (3) training and technical assistance for personnel; and (4) package certification requirements. States there shall be no shipments of radioactive waste through any State or Indian reservation lands until the Secretary has determined that acceptable training standards and technical assistance and funds to implement safe transportation have been available prior to shipment. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants from the Nuclear Waste Fund to implement transportation readiness. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a public education program regarding transportation of radioactive waste; (2) use private carriers for such transportation; and (3) apply specified employee protection provisions for persons engaged in the interstate commerce of radioactive waste disposal. Instructs the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate training standard regulations applicable to workers directly involved in the removal and transportation of radioactive waste. Prescribes training standards contents, including emergency responder training standards. Title III: Development of National Spent Nuclear Fuel Strategy - Establishes an Office of Spent Nuclear Fuel Research, within the Office of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology of the Department of Energy, to implement an integrated research, development and demonstration program on technologies for the treatment, recycling, and disposal of radioactive waste. Requires the Associate Director of such Office to involve national laboratories, universities, and the private sector to investigate technologies for the treatment, recycling and disposal of radioactive waste, and to submit an annual status report to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of the Treasury Title II: Postal Service Title III: Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President Title IV: Independent Agencies Title V: General Provisions Title VI: General Provisions Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for the Treasury Department, the U.S. Postal Service, the Executive Office of the President, and certain independent agencies. Title I: Department of the Treasury - Treasury Department Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for the Department of the Treasury for: (1) departmental offices; (2) department-wide systems and capital investments programs for development and acquisition of automatic data processing equipment, software, and services; (3) the Office of Inspector General; (4) the Inspector General for Tax Administration; (5) repair and restoration of the Treasury building and annex; (6) the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; (7) violent crime reduction programs; (8) the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, including amounts for maintenance and facility improvements; (9) the Financial Management Service; (10) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; (11) the U.S. Customs Service, including amounts for operations and maintenance of marine vessels and aircraft and collection of the Harbor Maintenance Fee; (12) the Bureau of the Public Debt; (13) the Internal Revenue Service, including amounts for tax law enforcement, earned income tax credit compliance and error reduction initiatives, and information systems and telecommunications support; and (14) the Secret Service, including an amount for construction and improvement of facilities. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 116) Authorizes the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, from October 1, 1999, through January 1, 2003, to offer voluntary separation incentives to specified employees to carry out the plan to reorganize the Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. (Sec. 117) Permits the Commissioner of the Financial Management Service, from October 1, 1999, through January 31, 2000, to offer such incentives to specified employees to carry out the closure of the Chicago Financial Center in a manner deemed efficient, equitable to employees, and cost-effective. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, prior to obligating resources for voluntary separation incentive payments, to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a strategic plan outlining the intended use of such payments and a proposed organizational chart for the agency once such payments have been completed. Provides for approval of such plan by the OMB Director. Permits such payments only in accordance with the strategic plan. Reduces the total number of funded employee positions in the agency by one position for each vacancy created by the separation of any employee who has received such a payment unless OMB believes that the agency plan demonstrates that the positions would better be used to reallocate occupations or reshape the workforce and produce a more cost-effective result. (Sec. 118) Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that moneys due from or payable by the United States to any state against which a judgment is pending with respect to damages sought for certain terrorist acts shall be subject to attachment and execution to the same extent as if the United States were a private person. Authorizes the President, upon determining that a waiver is necessary in the national security interest, to waive certain requirements for execution or attachment of property with respect to which certain financial transactions are regulated under the Trading with the Enemy Act, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in connection with a judicial order directing attachment or execution against the principal office of a foreign mission to the United States used for diplomatic purposes or any funds held by such mission necessary to satisfy actual office operating expenses. Makes such a waiver inapplicable to: (1) the principal office of a foreign mission used for any nondiplomatic purpose by either the foreign state or the United States or to the proceeds of such a purpose; or (2) the proceeds of a sale or transfer if any asset of the office is sold or transferred for value to a third party. Applies the amendments made by this section to any claim for which a foreign state is not immune from the jurisdiction of the U.S. courts in cases where damages are sought for certain terrorist activity, including claims arising before this Act's enactment date. Title II: Postal Service - Postal Service Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for payments to the Postal Service Fund for revenue foregone on free and reduced rate mail. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title III: Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President - Executive Office Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for: (1) compensation of the President and the White House office; (2) operating, maintenance, and reimbursable expenses of the Executive Residence at the White House; (3) White House repair and restoration; (4) special Assistance to the President and the official residence of the Vice President; (5) the Council of Economic Advisers; (6) the Office of Policy Development; (7) the National Security Council; (8) the Office of Administration; (9) OMB; (10) the Office of National Drug Control Policy; (11) the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center; and (12) Federal drug control programs, including amounts for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and for a national anti-drug campaign for youth. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title IV: Independent Agencies - Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for the: (1) Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled; (2) Federal Election Commission; (3) Federal Labor Relations Authority; and (4) General Services Administration (GSA), including amounts for the Federal Buildings Fund, Government-wide policy and operations, Office of Inspector General, and allowances and office staff for former Presidents. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 409) Designates the Federal building located at 220 East Rosser Avenue in Bismarck, North Dakota, as the William L. Guy Federal Building, Post Office and United States Courthouse. Makes appropriations for: (1) the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation; (2) the Merit Systems Protection Board; (3) the National Archives and Records Administration, including amounts for repairs and restoration of archives; (4) the National Historical Publications and Records Commission; (5) the Office of Government Ethics; (6) the Office of Personnel Management, including an amount for the Office of Inspector General; (7) Government contributions for health and life insurance benefits for annuitants; (8) the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (9) the Office of Special Counsel; and (10) the U.S. Tax Court. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Rescinds a specified amount of funds made available for the National Historical Publications And Records Commission grants program. Establishes a revolving fund in the Treasury to be available for expenses and equipment necessary to provide for storage and related services for all temporary and pre-archival Federal records to be stored or stored at Federal National and Regional Records Centers by Federal agencies. Appropriates funds for the fund's initial capitalization. Credits the fund with user charges received from other Federal Government accounts as payment for providing personnel, storage, materials, supplies, equipment, and services. Requires the National Archives and Records Administration to provide quarterly reports on the fund to specified congressional committees. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds made available under this Act. (Sec. 506) Sets forth Buy American provisions. (Sec. 511) Requires OMB to prepare and submit an inventory of existing Federal grant programs to specified congressional committees. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated for Federal departments, agencies, and corporations. (Sec. 621) Bars the use of funds made available for the Customs Service in this Act to allow the importation of any good produced or manufactured by forced or indentured child labor. (Sec. 628) Requires the OMB Director to report to Congress: (1) estimates of annual costs and benefits of Federal rules and paperwork; (2) impacts of Federal regulation on State, local, and tribal government, small business, wages, and economic growth; and (3) recommendations for reform. Requires the Director to issue guidelines to agencies to standardize measures of costs and benefits and the format of accounting statements. (Sec. 634) Bars the use of funds appropriated by this Act to enter into or renew a contract which includes a provision providing prescription drug coverage, except where the contract also includes a provision for contraceptive coverage. Makes exceptions to such prohibition for religious health plans.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Missouri River Valley Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends the Flood Control Act of 1944 to direct the Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect, enhance, and restore fish and wildlife habitat on the Missouri River (River). (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a River study to examine needs and opportunities for acquisition of land and water surrounding the River as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. (Sec. 6) Amends provisions of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 relating to a project for the mitigation of River fish and wildlife losses to require the Secretary of the Army to report to Congress outlining the feasibility and costs of acquiring and restoring up to 25 percent of lost habitat in the River floodplain in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary of the Army to complete, and report to Congress on, a study that: (1) analyzes any adverse effects on aquatic and riparian-dependent fish and wildlife resulting from operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir Project in Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana; and (2) recommend appropriate measures to mitigate such effects. Directs such Secretary to: (1) develop and administer a pilot mitigation program; and (2) complete, and report to Congress on, a study to analyze and recommend measures to avoid or reduce the loss of fish, including rainbow smelt, through Garrison Dam in North Dakota and Oahe Dam in South Dakota. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary of the Army to modify and improve River navigation training and bank stabilization structures to protect, enhance, and restore native River fish and wildlife habitat and support ecosystem restoration. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 9) Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior, if requested, to work with riverside communities to develop projects to revitalize historic riverfronts in specified River communities in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete, and report to Congress on, a study to evaluate opportunities to protect and replenish cottonwood trees in the associated riparian woodland communities along the River between Fort Benton and Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program at the River Studies Center, Columbia, Missouri, to monitor the physical, biological, and chemical characteristics of the River in accordance with title I of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997. Directs such Secretary to: (1) develop a program to monitor and assess the biota, habitats, and water quality of the River (requiring certain consultation); and (2) establish and make available a database on such biota, habitats, and water quality. Requires a report to Congress every three years. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 12) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish Lewis and Clark Interpretive Centers to educate the public about the economic and environmental importance of the River and the scientific and cultural discoveries of Lewis and Clark in the vicinity of River communities. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of the Army to provide improvements to recreation facilities and visitors centers at the Missouri River mainstem projects to provide for increased visitor use associated with the Lewis and Clark commemoration. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Hydroelectric Licensing Process Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Power Act to prescribe statutory procedures for consideration by Federal agencies of: (1) conditions to a hydroelectric license on a Federal reservation, including a prescription relating to construction, maintenance or operation of a fishway; (2) their impact upon economic and power values, electric generation capacity and system reliability, air quality, environmental water and maritime concerns, and (3) means to ensure that conditions address only direct project environmental impacts at the lowest project cost. Prescribes implementation guidelines, including scientific and administrative review, and coordinated environmental review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the designated lead agency. Directs FERC to submit a feasibility study to certain congressional committees congressional committees regarding the establishment of a special licensing procedure for small hydroelectric projects (projects with a generating capacity of five megawatts or less).
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1999
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize: (1) grants to States for carrying out methods and procedures to control pollution sources from, and restore quality of, lakes; and (2) a lake water quality demonstration program.
France · Senate · 22 June 1999
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
Amends the Clean Air Act to exclude from the definition of "volatile organic compound" beverage alcohol compounds (ethanol) emitted from aging warehouses.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
Urban and Environmental Credit Program Elimination Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the worldwide shelter guaranteed loan program.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1999
Coral Reef Protection Act of 1999 - Declares that it is U.S. policy to conserve coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems. (Sec. 6) Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide: (1) financial assistance for projects that provide for the restoration or conservation of coral reefs or coral reef ecosystems; and (2) technical assistance to any State or Federal agency with coral reef jurisdiction. (Sec. 7) Authorizes: (1) the conducting of activities that conserve coral reefs or coral reef ecosystems or that further public awareness and education; and (2) joint projects with any Federal, State, or local authority or financial assistance to any person for such activities. (Sec. 8) Amends Federal law relating to vessels eligible for documentation to prohibit a vessel that is otherwise qualified to be documented as a vessel of the United States from being documented if the owner has abandoned any vessel on a reef subject to U.S. jurisdiction and the vessel remains on the reef or was removed using funds under this Act or any other Act on the same subject enacted after 1998. (Sec. 9) Designates, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, nine fishing vessels driven by Typhoon Val in 1991 onto coral reefs inside Pago Pago harbor near the villages of Leloaloa and Aua and the reefs they are on as sites at which there is a substantial threat of release of a hazardous substance into the environment. Declares that, for purposes of that Act, the site shall not be considered to have resulted from an act of God. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a foundation under which the foundation may receive, hold, and administer amounts to support public-private partnerships that further this Act's purposes. Authorizes such a foundation to solicit and accept any gift or donation to further this Act's purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer certain funds appropriated under this Act to such a foundation. (Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1999
Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1999 - Subtitle (sic) A: Health Insurance Bill of Rights - Chapter 1: Access to Care - Requires any group health plan, or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, providing emergency services benefits to cover emergency services furnished: (1) without the need for any prior authorization determination; (2) whether or not the health care provider furnishing such services is a participating health care provider; and (3) without regard to any other term or condition of such coverage (other than exclusion or coordination of benefits, or an affiliation or waiting period, permitted under specified provisions of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), or the Internal Revenue Code). Requires such coverage in a manner so that, if the emergency services are provided by a nonparticipating health care provider, the participant, beneficiary, or enrollee is not liable for amounts exceeding the liability that would be incurred if the services were provided by a participating provider with prior authorization. Prescribes the same coverage for maintenance care or post-stabilization care (subject to certain guidelines) by nonparticipating health care providers. (Sec. 102) Requires a plan or coverage that provides benefits only through participating providers to offer a participant the option to purchase point-of-service coverage for benefits provided by a nonparticipating provider, unless the plan offers the participant a choice of health insurance coverage and one or more coverage options that do not provide benefits only through participating health care providers. (Sec. 103) Requires any plan and issuer to permit each participant, beneficiary, and enrollee to receive: (1) primary care from any participating primary care provider available to accept such individual; and (2) (unless the plan or issuer clearly declares choice limitations) medically necessary or appropriate specialty care, pursuant to appropriate referral procedures, from any qualified participating provider available to accept such individual for such care. (Sec. 104) Requires any plan or issuer that requires or provides for designation of a participating primary care provider to permit: (1) a female participant, beneficiary, or enrollee to designate a participating physician who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology as the individual's primary care provider; and (2) designation of a pediatrician as a child's primary provider. Prohibits the plan or issuer, in the absence of such a designation, from requiring authorization or a referral by the individual's primary care provider or otherwise for coverage of routine gynecological care (such as preventive women's health examinations) and pregnancy-related services provided by a participating specialist in obstetrics and gynecology to the extent such care is otherwise covered. Permits a plan or issuer to treat the ordering of other gynecological care by such a participating health professional as the primary care provider's authorization of such care. Requires the plan or issuer to refer to an available and accessible specialist any participant, beneficiary, or enrollee with a condition or disease of sufficient seriousness and complexity to require treatment by a specialist, if benefits for such treatment are covered. Requires a plan or issuer to refer an individual to a nonparticipating specialist only: (1) if a participating specialist is not available and accessible; and (2) at no additional cost to the individual. Requires a plan or issuer to have a procedure by which an individual with an ongoing special condition (life-threatening, degenerative, or disabling) may be referred to a specialist who shall be responsible for and capable of providing and coordinating the individual's primary and specialty care, without referral from the individual's primary care provider. Requires standing referrals to a specialist for any condition requiring ongoing specialist care. (Sec. 105) Prescribes requirements for continuity of care for participants, beneficiaries, or enrollees in the event of a termination of a health care provider or of the contract between a plan and an issuer. (Sec. 106) Prescribes requirements for participation in approved clinical trials of individuals with life-threatening or serious illnesses for which no standard treatment is effective. Prohibits denial of participation in such trials, or discrimination against participants. Limits plan or issuer payments to routine patient costs. (Sec. 107) Requires any plan or issuer that provides prescription drug benefits limited to drugs included in a formulary to: (1) ensure participation of participating physicians and pharmacists in the development of the formulary; (2) disclose to providers, and upon request to participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees, the nature of the formulary restrictions; and (3) consistent with the standards for a utilization review program, provide for exceptions from the formulary limitation when a non-formulary alternative is medically indicated. Prohibits a plan or issuer from denying coverage of such a drug or device on the basis that the use is investigational, if certain labeling requirements are met. (Sec. 108) Requires each plan and issuer to have (in relation to the coverage) a sufficient number, distribution, and variety of qualified participating providers to ensure that all covered health care services, including specialty services, will be available and accessible in a timely manner to all participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees. Permits inclusion among such providers of federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, migrant health centers, and other essential community providers located in the service area. Requires inclusion of such providers if necessary to meet such number, distribution, and variety requirements. (Sec. 109) Prescribes nondiscrimination requirements. Chapter 2: Quality Assurance - Directs each plan and issuer to establish an ongoing, internal quality assurance and continuous quality improvement program meeting specified requirements. (Sec. 112) Requires each plan and issuer to: (1) collect uniform quality data, including a minimum uniform data set specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (2) have a written process for the selection of participating health care professionals, including minimum professional requirements; and (3) establish and maintain, as part of any internal quality assurance and continuous quality improvement program including prescription drug benefits, a drug utilization program which encourages appropriate drug use and takes appropriate action to reduce the incidence of improper drug use and adverse drug reactions and interactions. (Sec. 115) Requires each plan and issuer to conduct (or arrange for qualified outside agents to conduct) benefit utilization review activities only in accordance with a utilization review program that meets certain requirements. Prohibits a program from permitting or providing contingent compensation arrangements with its employees, agents, or contractors in a manner that: (1) provides incentives, direct or indirect, for such persons to make inappropriate review decisions; or (2) is based, directly or indirectly, on the quantity or type of adverse determinations rendered. Requires a utilization review program to make determinations and notifications concerning: (1) prior authorization services within three business days after receiving any necessary information; (2) authorization for continued or extended health care services within one business day after receipt of such information; and (3) retrospective review of services previously provided, within 30 days of such receipt. (Sec. 116) Directs the President to establish an advisory board to provide information to Congress and the administration on issues relating to quality monitoring and improvement in the health care provided under group health plans and health insurance coverage. Chapter 3: Patient Information - Specifies benefits, access, emergency coverage, prior authorization, grievance and appeals, and other pertinent information which plans and issuers shall provide to participants and beneficiaries at the time of initial coverage, annually, within a reasonable period before or after the date of significant changes, and upon request. (Sec. 122) Requires plans and issuers to establish procedures to: (1) safeguard the privacy of any individually identifiable enrollee information; (2) maintain records and information in an accurate and timely manner; and (3) assure individuals timely access to such records and information. (Sec. 123) Provides for grants to States for creation and operation of a Health Insurance Ombudsman. Requires any State receiving such a grant to contract for such an Ombudsman with a not-for-profit organization that operates independent of group health plans and health insurance issuers. Requires the Secretary to provide through such a contract for an Ombudsman in any State that does not provide for one. Makes such an Ombudsman responsible to: (1) assist consumers in choosing among health insurance coverage or among coverage options offered within group health plans; and (2) provide counseling and assistance to enrollees dissatisfied with their treatment by issuers and plans, and with respect to grievances and appeals of coverage or plan determinations. Chapter 4: Grievances and Appeals Procedures - Requires each plan and issuer to establish a system for the presentation and resolution of oral and written grievances brought by participants, beneficiaries, or enrollees, or health care providers or other individuals acting on behalf of an individual and with the individual's consent. Requires the system to include grievances regarding access to and availability of services, quality of care, choice and accessibility of providers, network adequacy, and compliance with the requirements of this subtitle. (Sec. 132) Requires each plan and issuer to establish an internal appeals process, and provide for an external appeals process, which meet certain requirements. Specifies the appeal rights of participants, beneficiaries, and their representatives, as well as the kinds of decisions which are appealable. Chapter 5: Protecting the Doctor-Patient Relationship - Prohibits any contract or agreement between a plan or issuer and a health care provider from: (1) prohibiting or restricting the provider from engaging in medical communications with the provider's patient; or (2) containing any provision purporting to transfer to the health care provider by indemnification or otherwise any liability relating to activities, actions, or omissions of the plan, issuer, or agent (as opposed to the provider). Declares null and void any such contract or agreement provisions. (Sec. 142) Prohibits any plan or issuer from operating any physician incentive plan that does not meet certain requirements under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 143) Requires any plan or issuer to establish reasonable procedures relating to the participation of health care professionals, including notice of participation rules, written notice of adverse participation decisions, and a process for appealing adverse decisions. (Sec. 144) Prohibits a plan or an issuer from retaliating against a participant, beneficiary, enrollee, or health care provider based on use of, or participation in, a utilization review or a grievance process. Prohibits a plan or an issuer from retaliating or discriminating against a protected health care professional because the professional in good faith: (1) discloses information relating to the care, services, or conditions affecting one or more participants, beneficiaries, or enrollees to an appropriate public regulatory agency, private accreditation body, or management personnel of the plan or issuer; or (2) initiates, cooperates, or otherwise participates in an investigation or proceeding by such an agency with respect to such care, services, or conditions. Defines good faith action. Chapter 6: Promoting Good Medical Practice - Prohibits a plan or issuer from arbitrarily interfering with or altering the decision of the treating physician regarding the manner or setting in which particular covered services are delivered (including the number of days in a hospital) if they are medically necessary or appropriate for treatment or diagnosis. Allows a plan or issuer to limit the delivery of services to one or more providers within a network. (Sec. 152) Requires a plan or issuer that provides medical and surgical benefits to provide inpatient coverage following a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or lymph node dissection for the treatment of breast cancer for a period of time as is determined by the attending physician, in his or her professional judgment consistent with medical standards, to be medically appropriate. Prohibits a plan or issuer from: (1) denying to a woman eligibility to enroll or renew coverage solely for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of this title; (2) providing monetary payments or rebates to encourage women to accept less than the minimum protections available under this title; (3) penalizing or otherwise reducing or limiting reimbursement because an attending provider gave care to a participant or beneficiary in accordance with this title; (4) providing incentives (monetary or otherwise) to induce an attending provider to provide care to a participant or beneficiary in a manner inconsistent with this title; or (5) restricting benefits (other than imposing deductibles, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing) for any portion of a period within a required hospital length of stay in a manner less favorable than the benefits provided for any preceding portion of such stay. Chapter 7: Definitions - Sets forth definitions. Subtitle B: Application of Patient Protection Standards to Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Coverage Under Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require each plan and issuer to comply with the patient protection requirements of this Act. (Sec. 202) Requires each health insurance issuer to comply with such requirements with respect to individual health insurance coverage. Subtitle C: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Amends ERISA to require each plan and issuer to comply with the patient protection requirements of this Act. (Sec. 302) Provides that nothing in ERISA shall be construed to invalidate, impair, or supersede any cause of action under State law to recover damages resulting from personal injury or wrongful death against any person (except employers and other plan sponsors): (1) in connection with the provision of insurance, administrative services, or medical services by that person to or for a group health plan; or (2) that arises out of the arrangement by that person for the provision of insurance, administrative services, or medical services by other persons. Allows such an action against an employer or other plan sponsor (or against an employee of such an employer or sponsor acting within the scope of employment) only if it is based on the employer's or sponsor's exercise of discretionary authority to decide a claim for covered benefits, and such exercise resulted in personal injury or wrongful death. (Sec. 303) Prohibits participants and beneficiaries from bringing an action under specified provisions of subtitle A of this Act. Allows actions under other specified provisions, but prohibits class actions and limits relief to benefits, items, or services denied plus attorney's fees and costs. Subtitle D: Application to Group Health Plans under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a group health plan to comply with the requirements of this Act. Subtitle E: Effective Dates; Coordination in Implementation - Sets forth effective dates for provisions of this Act. (Sec. 502) Amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 to provide for coordination in the implementation of this Act. (Sec. 503) Mandates an annual estimate of the impact of enactment of this title (sic) on the income and balances of the trust funds under specified provisions of the Social Security Act and requires, if the estimate is that this title (sic) has a negative impact, transfer from general Federal revenues, sufficient funds to ensure that the income and balances are not reduced. Subtitle F: Revenue-Related Provisions - Amends provisions of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act relating to Medicare as a secondary payer to require plans (and employers and employee organizations that maintain or participate in plans) subject to those provisions to provide certain information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Sec. 602) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reimpose the environmental tax from December 31, 1998, through January 1, 2010 and to remove provisions allowing for the termination of that tax, in specified circumstances, before 2010. Amends provisions relating to the tax on crude oil received at a U.S. refinery and on petroleum products entered into the United States to apply the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate to dates between September 15, 1999, and October 1, 2009. (Sec. 603) Modifies foreign tax credit carryback and carryover periods. (Sec. 604) Modifies rules relating to the exemption of certain ten or more employer plans from welfare benefit fund provisions. (Sec. 605) Makes the installment method not apply to accrual method taxpayers. Modifies requirements regarding pledges of installment obligations.
Austria · National Council · 18 June 1999
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Peter Keppelmüller und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Verwendung von Abfall als Material im Landschaftsbau
Austria · National Council · 18 June 1999
Antrag der Abgeordneten Karlheinz Kopf und Genossen betreffend ein Bundesgesetz über die Prüfung der Umweltverträglichkeit (Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfungsgesetz, UVP-G)
Austria · National Council · 18 June 1999
Antrag der Abgeordneten Karlheinz Kopf und Genossen betreffend ein Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Abfallwirtschaftsgesetz geändert wird (Abfallwirtschaftsgesetz-Novelle 1999)
Austria · National Council · 18 June 1999
Antrag der Abgeordneten Ingrid Tichy-Schreder, Dr. Günther Kräuter, Mag. Dr. Udo Grollitsch und Genossen betreffend ein Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Mineralrohstoffgesetz - MinroG geändert wird
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
Truth in Regulating Act of 1999 - Allows the Comptroller General, when a Federal agency develops or issues an economically significant rule, to review the rule at the request of a committee of either House of Congress. Defines "economically significant rule" to mean any proposed or final rule, including an interim or direct final rule, that may have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities. Requires the Comptroller General to submit a report on each rule reviewed, including an independent analysis of the costs and benefits, alternative approaches, impact on State and local governments, and differences from the agency's analyses. Grants the Comptroller General discretion to develop procedures for determining the priority and number of requests for review. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2002. Provides for the pilot project established under this Act to continue for a three-year period, if specified appropriations are provided. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on such project's effectiveness and on whether it should be authorized permanently.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
Recognizes that the creation of a better United States requires the active involvement of fathers in the rearing and development of their children. Urges: (1) each father in the United States to accept his full share of responsibility for the lives of his children, to be actively involved in rearing them, and to encourage their emotional, academic, moral, and spiritual development; (2) the States to hold fathers who ignore their legal responsibilities accountable for their actions and to pursue more aggressive enforcement of child support obligations; and (3) governments and institutions at every level to remove barriers to father involvement and enact public policies that encourage and support the efforts of fathers who do want to become more engaged in the lives of their children. Encourages each father to devote time, energy, and resources to his children, recognizing that children need not only material support, but also, more importantly, a secure, affectionate, family environment. Designates June 20, 1999, as National Father's Return Day. Calls on fathers around the country to use the day to reconnect and rededicate themselves to their children's lives, to spend National Father's Return Day with their children, and to express their love and support for them.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Agricultural Programs Title II: Conservation Programs Title III: Rural Economic and Community Development Programs Title IV: Domestic Food Programs Title V: Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Title VI: Related Agencies and Food and Drug Administration Title VII: General Provisions Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 - Title I: Agricultural Programs - Appropriates funds for FY 2000 for the following Department of Agriculture programs and services: (1) Office of the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) executive operations ; (3) Office of the Chief Information Officer; (4) Office of the Chief Financial Officer; (5) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration; (6) Agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments; (7) hazardous waste management; (8) departmental administration; (9) outreach for socially disadvantaged farmers; (10) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations; (11) Office of Communications; (12) Office of the Inspector General; (13) Office of the General Counsel; (14) Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics; (15) Economic Research Service; (16) National Agricultural Statistics Service; (17) Agricultural Research Service; (18) Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; (Native American Institutions Endowment Fund); (19) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; (20) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; (19) Agricultural Marketing Service; (21) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; (22) Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety; (23) Food Safety and Inspection Service; (24) Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; (25) Farm Service Agency; (26) Risk Management Agency; (27) Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund; and (28) Commodity Credit Corporation Fund. Title II: Conservation Programs - Appropriates funds for the: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment; and (2) Natural Resources Conservation Service. Title III: Rural Economic and Community Development Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development; (2) Rural Housing Service; (3) Rural Business-Cooperative Service; (4) Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation Revolving Fund; and (5) Rural Utilities Service. Title IV: Domestic Food Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; and (2) Food and Nutrition Service. Title V: Foreign Assistance and Related Programs - Appropriates funds for the Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager. Title VI: Related Agencies and Food and Drug Administration - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Food and Drug Administration; and (2) Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Title VII: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses and limits on or prohibitions against the use of funds appropriated by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Chemical Security Act of 1999 - Bars the public disclosure of off-site consequence analysis submissions under the Clean Air Act for a period of one year after this Act's enactment. Defines an "off-site consequence analysis submission" as a portion of a risk management plan submitted to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency by stationary sources of certain hazardous substances. Permits disclosure of such information for official use only. Prescribes penalties for violation of such prohibition. Directs the Administrator, after June 21, 1999, to make information from risk management plans, including information from off-site consequence analysis submissions, publicly available in a form which excludes information concerning the identity or location of covered stationary sources. Requires owners or operators of such sources to convene a meeting with community representatives, employees and contractors working at such sources, and local emergency planning committees and other emergency responders to discuss measures necessary to prevent, and protect such sources from, attacks by terrorists and other criminals. Provides for certifications to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by such owners or operators that such meetings have been held. Directs the Attorney General to review and report to Congress on the vulnerability of covered stationary sources to criminal and terrorist activity, current industry practices regarding site security, security of transportation of extremely hazardous substances, and this Act's effectiveness. Provides for biennial updates of such report and for recommendations for reducing such vulnerability through inherently safer practices and site security and the need for additional legislation. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the health and environmental effects of public disclosure of information. Requires, as part of such report, an examination of the reductions in toxic chemical releases associated with reporting requirements of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the areas eligible for the expensing of environmental remediation costs from qualified contamination sites within targeted areas only to qualified contamination sites anywhere within the United States.
Austria · National Council · 16 June 1999
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Dr. Gabriela Moser und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend UVP <i>(Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung)</i> -Pflicht der geplanten 2. Röhre des Tauerntunnels
Austria · National Council · 16 June 1999
Austria · National Council · 16 June 1999
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Dr. Gabriela Moser und Genossen an den Bundesminister für wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten betreffend UVP <i>(Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung)</i> -Pflicht der geplanten 2. Röhre des Tauerntunnels
Austria · National Council · 16 June 1999
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten MMag. Dr. Madeleine Petrovic und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft betreffend Beeinträchtigung des Figurteiches in Guntramsdorf/NÖ durch Niederschlagswässer aus Betriebs- und Industriegebiet
Austria · National Council · 16 June 1999
Austria · National Council · 16 June 1999