Housing

Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Levels and Amounts Title II: Budgetary Restraints and Rulemaking Title III: Sense of the House of Representatives Sets forth the congressional budget for the Government for FY 1998. Sets forth appropriate budgetary levels for FY 1999 through 2002. Title I: Levels and Amounts - Lists recommended budgetary levels and amounts, for FY 1998 through 2002, with respect to: (1) Federal revenues; (2) new budget authority; (3) budget outlays; (4) deficits; (5) public debt; (6) new direct loan obligations; and (7) new primary loan guarantee commitments. (Sec. 102) Sets forth for such fiscal years specified amounts of revenues and outlays of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund. (Sec. 103) Lists the appropriate levels of new budget authority, budget outlays, new direct loan obligations, and new primary loan guarantee commitments for each of specified major functional categories for FY 1998 through 2002. (Sec. 104) Establishes reconciliation procedures for the Senate. Sets forth a deadline for submission of specified Senate committee recommendations to the Senate Committee on the Budget. Requires that Committee to report to the Senate a reconciliation bill without any substantive revision of such recommendations. Sets forth deficit reduction amounts for FY 1998 through 2002 for the Senate committees on: (1) Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; (2) Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and (3) Governmental Affairs. Specifies outlay reductions, for FY 1998 through 2002, for the Senate committees on: (1) Energy and Natural Resources; (2) Finance; (3) Labor and Human Resources; and (4) Veterans' Affairs. Specifies increased outlays for the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Establishes a ceiling on the increase to the statutory limit on the public debt required to be reported by the Senate Committee on Finance. Directs the Senate Committee on Finance to report a reconciliation bill proposing changes in laws necessary to reduce revenues by up to specified amounts in FY 2002 and for the period of FY 1998 through 2002. Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) treatment of congressional pay-as-you-go-requirements; and (2) deficit neutral adjustments and limited flexibility on adjustments. (Sec. 105) Sets forth deadlines for submission of specified House committee recommendations to the House Committee on the Budget, and for that Committee's report to the House of a reconciliation bill without any substantive revision of such recommendations, for the separate categories of entitlement reform and of tax relief and miscellaneous reforms. Specifies outlay limits, with respect to entitlement reform and to tax relief and miscellaneous reforms, for FY 1998 through 2002, for the House committees on: (1) Agriculture; (2) Banking and Financial Services; (3) Commerce; (4) Education and the Workforce; (5) Government Reform and Oversight; (6) Transportation and Infrastructure; (7) Veterans' Affairs; and (8) Ways and Means. Establishes deficit reduction amounts for the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight for FY 1998 through 2002 with respect to the two reform categories. Lists amounts of revenue increases and increases in the statutory limit on the public debt to be reported by the House Ways and Means Committee. Sets forth budgetary limits on a children's health initiative. Title II: Budgetary Restraints and Rulemaking - Establishes certain discretionary spending limits in the Senate for each of FY 1998 through 2002 for defense, nondefense, and discretionary categories. Sets forth related provisions regarding points of order in the Senate, waivers, and appeals. Declares that the levels of new budget authority, outlays, new entitlement authority, revenues, and deficits for a fiscal year shall be determined on the basis of Senate Budget Committee estimates. (Sec. 202) Requires the chairmen of the House or Senate Budget Committees to increase the appropriate allocations, budgetary aggregates, and discretionary limits (in the Senate) specified in appropriations measures reported in the Senate in FY 1998 through 2002, and in the House in FY 1998, by the amount of budget authority in such a measure that is the dollar equivalent, in terms of Special Drawing Rights, of: (1) an increase in the U.S. quota as part of the International Monetary Fund Eleventh General Review of Quotas; or (2) any increase in the maximum amount available to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to the Bretton Woods Agreement Act with respect to new arrangements to borrow. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the chairmen of the House or Senate Budget Committees to increase by up to a specified amount any allocation in a reported FY 1998 appropriations measure (or conference report) that includes an appropriation for the renewal of expiring contracts for Section 8 housing assistance. (Sec. 204) Permits the chairmen of the House or Senate Budget Committees to increase by up to specified amounts for FY 1998 and for the period of FY 1998 through 2002 the allocation for any legislation reported (including a conference report) by specified House or Senate committees to reform the Superfund program to facilitate the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. (Sec. 205) Authorizes limited increases in allocations for priority Federal land acquisitions and exchanges reported in appropriations measures in FY 1998. (Sec. 206) Directs the chairmen of the House or Senate Budget Committees to increase by up to specified amounts for FY 1998 through 2002 (FY 1998 in the House) the allocation for any reported appropriations measure (including a conference report) that includes an appropriation for arrearages for international organizations, international peacekeeping, and multilateral development banks. Permits increases in discretionary spending limits in the Senate for such purposes but limits the total amount of budget authority and outlays flowing from such adjustments. (Sec. 207) Authorizes, upon the enactment of specified legislation, the establishment of certain reserve funds, for FY 1998 through 2002, for: (1) intercity passenger rail transportation; (2) mass transit; (3) highways; and (4) surface transportation. (Sec. 211) Sets forth provisions regarding budgetary treatment of the sale of Government assets. Title III: Sense of the House of Representatives - Expresses the sense of the House regarding: (1) baselines; (2) repayment of the Federal debt; (3) creation of a commission on long-term budgetary problems; (4) corporate welfare; and (5) the desired absence of numerical limits on the States' grant of domestic violence good cause waivers with respect to certain welfare assistance requirements.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit tax-free distributions of property by cooperative housing corporations to its shareholders, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1997

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a tax-free (to corporation and shareholder) distribution of a dwelling unit by a cooperative housing corporation to its shareholder in exchange for the shareholder's stock in such corporation.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for an exclusion of capital gains upon the sale of a principal residence.

United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1997

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 jointly) of gain on the sale of a principal residence if owned and used as the principal residence for periods aggregating at least two years during the five-year period prior to sale or exchange. Sets forth special rules relating to: (1) jointly held property; (2) a deceased spouse; (3) a cooperative housing tenant-stockholder; (4) partial principal residence use; (5) determination of marital status; (6) acquisition after involuntary conversion; and (6) periods of out-of-residence health care.

Mass Transit Amendments Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1997

Mass Transit Amendments Act of 1997 - Amends Federal transportation law to add to the general purposes of mass transportation programs: (1) providing financial assistance to State and local governments to help carry out national goals related to mobility for individuals seeking employment or job training in order to end their reliance on public assistance programs; and (2) achieving demonstrable reductions in energy consumption and air pollution through increased reliance on mass transportation. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to States, local governments, and private nonprofit organizations to provide access, through the use of vans, buses, or train routes, to suburban employment and job training opportunities to residents of distressed urban and rural areas. Defines "distressed urban area" as any urban area with a population over 50,000 that meets certain Housing and Urban Development criteria. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 5) Requires metropolitan planning organizations in developing transportation plans and programs to consider, among other things, the transportation requirements of a strategy to revitalize the Nation's inner cities by creating new employment, job training, housing, mobility, and other economic opportunities in urban areas. (Sec. 6) Makes mass transportation block grants for capital projects and related equipment and facilities available for maintaining capital assets. (Sec. 7) Authorizes urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000 and rural areas to use capital project block grants for either operating or capital needs. (Sec. 8) Extends for an additional four-year period discretionary grants and loans: (1) for fixed guideway modernization and capital projects for new fixed guideway systems and extensions to existing systems; and (2) to replace, rehabilitate, and buy buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities. (Sec. 9) Declares that the Secretary may authorize a recipient who no longer needs an asset acquired with mass transportation block grant assistance to sell (currently, transfer) such asset and retain the proceeds of the sale if certain conditions are met. (Sec. 10) Authorizes appropriations through FY 2002 for: (1) certain apportionments to urbanized areas for fixed guideway modernization (nondiscretionary); (2) specified mass transportation programs; (3) the national mass transportation institute; (4) university research institutes; and (5) transportation centers (including set-asides). (Sec. 11) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary, for apportionment adjustment purposes, to estimate quarterly the net highway receipts of the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) for the 24-month period (currently, 12-month period) beginning at the close of the next fiscal year. (Sec. 12) Establishes in the HTF the Intercity Passenger Rail Account. Transfers to the Account certain portions of the amounts attributable to taxes for gasoline, diesel fuel, special motor fuels, compressed natural gas, methanol and ethanol fuel, and nongasoline noncommercial aviation fuels. Makes amounts in the Account available to finance qualified expenses of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and each non-Amtrak State. (Redistributes to the Intercity Passenger Rail Account and the Mass Transit Account the 4.3 cents per gallon gasoline tax which is currently going to deficit reduction.) Increases the rate of transfer to the Mass Transit Account. Extends until October 1, 2002, the availability of Mass Transit Account funds for authorized expenditures. Increases the HTF financing rate for gasoline, special motor fuels, and diesel fuel.

An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.

United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Levels and Amounts Title II: Budgetary Restraints and Rulemaking Title III: Sense of the Senate Sets forth the congressional budget for the Government for FY 1998. Sets forth appropriate budgetary levels for FY 1999 through 2002. Title I: Levels and Amounts - Lists recommended budgetary levels and amounts, for FY 1998 through 2002, with respect to: (1) Federal revenues; (2) new budget authority; (3) budget outlays; (4) deficits; (5) public debt; (6) new direct loan obligations; and (7) new primary loan guarantee commitments. (Sec. 102) Sets forth for such fiscal years specified amounts of revenues and of outlays of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund. (Sec. 103) Lists the appropriate levels of new budget authority, budget outlays, new direct loan obligations, and new primary loan guarantee commitments for each of specified major functional categories for FY 1998 through 2002. (Sec. 104) Establishes reconciliation procedures. Sets forth a deadline for submission of specified Senate committee recommendations to the Senate Committee on the Budget. Requires that Committee to report to House a reconciliation bill without any substantive revision of such recommendations. Specifies outlay reductions, for each of FY 1998 through 2002, for the Senate committees on: (1) Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; (2) Commerce, Science, and Transportation; (3) Energy and Natural Resources; (4) Finance; (5) Governmental Affairs; (6) Labor and Human Resources; and (7) Veterans' Affairs. Specifies increased outlays for the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Directs the Senate Committee on Finance to report a reconciliation bill proposing changes in laws necessary to reduce revenues by up to specified amounts in FY 2002 and for the period of FY 1998 through 2002. Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) treatment of congressional pay-as-you-go-requirements; and (2) deficit neutral adjustments and limited flexibility on adjustments. Title II: Budgetary Restraints and Rulemaking - Establishes certain discretionary spending limits for each of FY 1998 through 2002 for defense and nondefense categories. Sets forth related provisions regarding points of order in the Senate, waivers, and appeals. Declares that the levels of new budget authority, outlays, new entitlement authority, revenues, and deficits for a fiscal year shall be determined on the basis of Committee on the Budget estimates. (Sec. 202) Requires the chairman of the Committee on the Budget to increase the appropriate allocations, budgetary aggregates, and discretionary limits specified appropriations measures reported in any of Fy 1998 through 2002 by the amount of budget authority in such a measure that is the dollar equivalent, in terms of Special Drawing Rights, of: (1) an increase in the U.S. quota as part of the International Monetary Fund Eleventh General Review of Quotas; or (2) any increase in the maximum amount available to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to the Bretton Woods Agreement Act with respect to new arrangements to borrow. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the chairman of the Committee on the Budget to increase by up to a specified amount any allocation in an FY 1998 appropriations measure (or conference report) which fully funds all contract renewal obligations for FY 1998 with respect to Section 8 Housing Assistance. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the chairman of the Committee on the Budget to increase by up to specified amounts for FY 1998 and for the period of FY 1998 through 2002, the allocation for any legislation reported (including a conference report) that provides funding to reform the Superfund program to facilitate the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. (Sec. 205) Authorizes the chairman of the Committee on the Budget to increase by up to a specified amount for FY 1998 the allocation for any reported legislation (including a conference report) that provides for priority Federal land acquisitions and exchanges under the National Park Service's Land Acquisition and State Assistance account. (Sec. 206) Authorizes the chairman of the Committee on the Budget to increase by up to specified amounts for FY 1998 through 2000 the allocation for any reported appropriations measure (including a conference report) that includes an appropriation for arrearages for international organizations, international peacekeeping, and multilateral development banks. (Sec. 207) Authorizes, upon the enactment of specified legislation, the establishment of certain reserve funds, for FY 1998 through 2002, for: (1) intercity passenger rail transportation; (2) mass transit; and (3) highways. Title III: Sense of the Senate - Expresses the sense of the Senate regarding: (1) long term entitlement reforms, including accuracy in determining changes in the cost of living; (2) tactical fighter aircraft acquisition strategy; (3) immediate 100 percent tax deductibility of the health insurance costs of the self-employed (to provide for their children's health coverage); (4) Senate opposition to use of a Medicaid per capita cap; (5) use of added savings under a balanced budget for deficit reduction; (6) reform elements to ensure fairness in Medicare; (7) assistance to Lithuania and Latvia; (8) establishment of a National Commission on Higher Education; (9) a lockbox requirement to ensure all savings from Medicare reform are used to keep the Medicare program solvent; and (10) additional programmatic changes to ensure that the primary purpose of the earned income credit is achieved without wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on fraud and error.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the House of Representatives should participate in and support activities to provide decent homes for the people of the United States, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1997

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Members of the House of Representatives and Habitat for Humanity, with support from the National Partners in Homeownership, should sponsor and construct, commencing on June 5, 1997, two homes in the Anacostia neighborhood of the District of Columbia, each to be known as a "House That Congress Built"; (2) each house should be constructed primarily by Members and their families and staffs with the participation of the family that will own the home, involving and symbolizing the partnership of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of society; (3) upon completion and initial occupancy of the homes in the fall of 1997, the Members, their families and staffs, each family that will own each house, and local and national leaders from the public and private nonprofit sectors of society should participate in an event to celebrate the occasion; (4) the Members and their families and staff should participate in similar house building activities of Habitat for Humanity in their own districts as part of National Homeownership Week; and (5) these occasions should be used to emphasize the importance of providing decent homes for all of the people in the United States.

American Cities Investment Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1997

American Cities Investment Act of 1997 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to: (1) set limitations on maximum outstanding loan guarantees issued by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; (2) authorize the Secretary to guarantee advances from Federal Home Loan Banks; and (3) expand the community participation requirements to include major stakeholders (as defined by this Act). Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to authorize advances to metropolitan cities, urban counties, or their public agencies for certain extraordinary, nonusual community development purposes pursuant to such loan guarantees. Prohibits the use of such funds to supplant Federal or non-federal fund sources. Sets forth amount limit and repayment provisions.

Veterans' Benefits Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1997

Makes permanent (currently, terminates September 30, 1997) a pilot program under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to make direct housing loans to Native American veterans.

Multifamily Housing Restructuring and Affordability Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1997

Multifamily Housing Restructuring and Affordability Act of 1997 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to enter into agreements with participating administrative entities (with preference given to State housing finance agencies) to develop and implement mortgage restructuring and rental assistance plans for FHA-insured multifamily housing mortgages in order to: (1) reduce expiring section 8 contracts costs; (2) address troubled projects; and (3) correct management and ownership deficiencies. Includes two-tiered mortgage restructuring among plan incentives. Extends specified provisions relating to public housing and section 8 rental assistance. Amends the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 to terminate the Federal Housing Administration multifamily housing restructuring demonstration program upon the Secretary's determination that the restructuring program under this Act has been implemented. Terminates program authority as of a specified date.

The Americans For Affordable Housing Act.

United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1997

Amends the Tariff Act of 1930, with respect to the imposition of countervailing duties, to treat as noncountervailable subsidies any pricing practices or tenure arrangements for the sale of softwood timber grown on publicly owned lands, as well as log export restrictions.

Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Defense Supplementals Title II: Natural Disasters and Other Emergencies Title III: Other Supplementals Title IV: Department of Defense Offsets Title V: Other Offsets Title VI: Social Services Block Grant Amendment Title VII: Government Shutdown Prevention Act Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act of 1997 - Title I: Department of Defense Supplementals - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 to the Department of Defense (DOD)--Military, for: (1) Military Personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps,and Air Force; (2) operation and maintenance, Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer Fund; (3) OPLAN 34A-35 POW payments to individuals; and (4) the Reserve Mobilization Income Insurance Fund. (Sec. 101) Authorizes the Secretary of Defense, upon his determination that it is necessary in the national interest and with Office of Management and Budget approval, to transfer between such appropriations, but only for higher priority items, based on unforeseen military requirements, up to a specified amount of DOD working capital and other specified funds earmarked for: (1) U.S. participation in the Bosnia Stabilization Force (SFOR); and (2) enforcement of the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq. (Sec. 102) Prohibits the use of DOD funds to transfer management, development, and acquisition authority over the National Missile Defense Program from the Military Services until the contract for a Lead System Integrator for it is awarded. Directs the Joint Requirements Oversight Council to: (1) submit recommendations to Congressional Defense Committees on the future roles of the Services with respect to the management, technical development, cost, schedule, and acquisition plan for the elements in such program; and (2) certify that such contract will conform to these recommendations. (Sec. 103) Makes additional appropriations for a grant to reimburse the American Red Cross for disaster relief and recovery expenditures. (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer specified funds to reimburse costs incurred for repairing damage caused by hurricanes, flooding, and other natural disasters during 1996 and 1997 to real property and facilities at Marine Corps facilities (including Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Cherry Point, North Carolina; and the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California). (Sec. 105) Makes additional appropriations to cover incremental operation and maintenance costs from hurricane damage to family housing units at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. (Sec. 106) Prohibits use of DOD funds for operations or activities of the Armed Forces relating to Bosnia, unless the President reports to the Congress, with specified details, on the cost and source of funds for military activities relating to Bosnia. (Sec. 107) Authorizes the incumbent to continue to serve as the Secretary of Defense designee on the Board of the Panama Canal Commission if he retires as an officer of the Department of Defense, until and unless the Secretary of Defense designates another person to serve in this position. Title II: Natural Disasters and Other Emergencies - Chapter 1: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of Agriculture for: (1) the Farm Service Agency's Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account for the additional cost of certain emergency insured loans (including loan modifications); (2) the Emergency Conservation Program for expenses, including carcass removal; (3) the Tree Assistance Program for assistance to small orchardists to replace, rehabilitate, or replant disaster-damaged trees and vineyards, including (through the Forestry Incentives Program) trees damaged by 1997 tornadoes; and (4) the Commodity Credit Corporation Fund, Disaster Reserve Assistance Program, to implement a livestock indemnity program. Makes such appropriations to: (1) the Natural Resources Conservation Service, for Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations to repair damages to the waterways and watersheds; (2) the Rural Housing Service, Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program, for the cost of specified direct loans for emergency expenses, and Rural Housing Assistance Program, for very low-income housing repair grants and domestic farm labor grants; and (3) the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Utilities Assistance Program, for the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants. Chapter 2: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of Commerce for: (1) the Economic Development Administration, Economic Development Assistance Programs; and (2) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for construction. Chapter 3: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of Defense--Civil, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers--Civil, for: (1) flood control, Mississippi River and tributaries, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee; (2) general operations and maintenance; and (3) flood control and coastal emergencies. Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, for operation and maintenance. Chapter 4: Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of the Interior for: (1) the Bureau of Land Management; (2) the Fish and Wildlife Service; (3) National Park Service; (4) U.S. Geological Survey; and (5) the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Makes such appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to: (1) the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service for the National Forest System's emergency expenses;and (2) the Department of Health and Human Services' Indian Health Service. Chapter 5: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of Transportation for: (1) the Federal Highway Administration, Federal-Aid Highways, Emergency Relief Program; and (2) the Federal Railroad Administration, Emergency Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair, to repair and rebuild freight rail lines of regional and short line railroads damaged as a result of the floods in the northern plains States in March and April of 1997. Makes such appropriations for a related agency, the National Transportation Safety Board, for emergency expenses resulting from the crashes of TWA Flight 800 and ValuJet 592, and for assistance to families of victims of aviation accidents. Chapter 6: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations to: (1) the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Planning and Development, community development block grants fund; and (2) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for disaster relief. Requires the FEMA Director to submit to the Congress a legislative proposal to control disaster relief expenditures, including the elimination of funding for certain revenue producing facilities. Chapter 7: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Secretary, Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, to support research on environmental risk factors associated with breast cancer. Directs the Secretary of HHS to award such funds on a competitive basis. Title III: Other Supplementals - Chapter 1: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for: (1) the Farm Service Agency's Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account for the additional cost of certain direct operating loans; and (2) the Food and Consumer Service's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Chapter 2: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of State for payment of United States arrearages owed to the United Nations, subject to express authorization enacted in a subsequent Act. Chapter 3: Subcommittee on the District of Columbia - Makes supplemental FY 1997 appropriations to the District of Columbia, (Federal Payment to the District of Columbia) for deposit into an escrow account of the D.C. Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority and disbursal pursuant to the instructions of, and in accordance with a plan approved by, such Authority. Requires the use of specified portions of such funds for: (1) emergency repair of D.C. public schools; and (2) pay raises within the Metropolitan Police Department. Chapter 4: Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, for repairs, facilities construction, visitor transportation, and related purposes at Yosemite National Park. Chapter 5: Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, Congressional Operations, Senate - Makes supplemental appropriations for an additional amount for expenses of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, to carry out specified provisions of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1997. Chapter 6: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Transportation for: (1) Coast Guard retired pay and for operating expenses directly related to support activities in the TWA Flight 800 crash investigation; (2) Federal Aviation Administration, to reimburse State and local agencies for unanticipated disaster costs associated with efforts directly related to the 1996 TWA Flight 800 and ValuJet Flight 592 tragedies; and (3) Federal Highway Administration, Federal-Aid Highways. Chapter 7: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of the Treasury. Authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to use the law enforcement services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the State of Colorado and of the County and City of Denver for security arrangements for the Denver Summit of Eight. Makes supplemental appropriations to the U.S. Postal Service, for the Postal Service Fund, for revenue forgone on free and reduced rate mail for specified purposes. Chapter 8: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies - Makes supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration; and (2) the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for annual contributions for assisted housing and for capacity building for community development and affordable housing. Chapter 9: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies - Amends specified Federal law relating to appropriations to provide for additional amounts for: (1) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Health Resources and Services Administration's Health Education Assistance Loans Program, and the Administration for Children and Families' Social Services Block Grant program; and (2) the Department of Education, Education for the Disadvantaged programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Chapter 10: General Provisions - Earmarks a specified amount from the Counterterrorism Fund of the Department of Justice for allocation to the appropriate unit or units of government in Ogden, Utah, for necessary expenses to counter any potential terrorism threat related to the 2002 Winter Olympic games. (Sec. 303) Prohibits the use of any funds made available in any appropriations Act for FY 1997 to the Department of Commerce for preparing to use sampling in the 2000 decennial census. (Sec. 304) Provides that, for specified purposes, all patents in force on June 8, 1995, are entitled to the full benefit of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act of 1994 as well as any extension granted before such date. (Sec. 305) Repeals specified provisions of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, which make certain additional Department of Defense appropriations earmarked for the Dual-Use Applications Program. (Sec. 306) Declares that the U.S. members and alternate members, appointed under the Susquehanna River Basin Compact and the Delaware River Basin Compact, shall be officers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who hold Presidential appointments as Regular Army officers with Senate confirmation, and serve without additional compensation. (Sec. 307) Amends the Delaware River Basin Compact to provide that certain members serve at the pleasure of the President. (Sec. 308) Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (part of the Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996) with respect to a recreational fee demonstration program. (Sec. 309) Amends the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, to authorize the Indian Health Service (IHS), with respect to functions it transfers to tribes or tribal organizations, to provide goods and services to those entities, on a reimbursable basis, including payment in advance with subsequent adjustment. (Sec. 310) Prohibits the use of any funds for any Federal agency for FY 1997 and thereafter to promulgate or implement any rule, regulation, policy, statement, or directive issued after October 1, 1993, regarding the recognition, validity, or management of any right of way established pursuant specified Federal law relating to public lands. (Sec. 311) Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to exempt certain emergency flood control projects from specified consultation and conferencing requirements, and prohibitions against the taking of species. (Sec. 312) Extends through FY 1998 the availability, to recipients in Presidentially-declared disaster areas, of certain funds awarded for State-administered programs of the Department of Education for FY 1995 (and for FY 1996, with respect to such programs under the Rehabilitation Act). (Sec. 313) Authorizes the Secretary of Education, with respect to student aid awards for award year 1997-1998, to waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision applicable to the student financial aid programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to assist individuals and other program participants who suffered financial harm from natural disasters. (Sec. 314) Prohibits the use of any funds to administer or implement in Denver, Colorado, a Medicare Competitive Pricing-Open Enrollment Demonstration program. (Sec. 315) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1968 to make a specified limitation on the minimum rate of gross compensation inapplicable to any member or civilian employee of the Capitol Police whose compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate. (Sec. 316) Authorizes the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration, to provide additional facilities, services, equipment, and office space for use by a Senator in that Senator's State in connection with a Presidentially-declared disaster or emergency. (Sec. 319) Authorizes additional appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY 1997 for grants to States for alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures. (Sec. 320) Amends Federal transportation law to exempt from certain fees overflights operated by citizens of a country contiguous to the United States if: (1) both the origin and destination of such flights are within that country; and (2) that country exempts similar categories of flights operated by U.S. citizens. (Sec. 321) Authorizes the Administrator of General Services to obligate specified appropriations for construction of the Montgomery, Alabama, courthouse. (Sec. 322) Prohibits the use of funds to impose or collect any penalty imposed solely because of a failure to use the electronic fund transfer system by a person first required do so during the last six months of 1997. (Sec. 323) Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to repeal specified provisions relating to cooperative purchasing. (Sec. 324) Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to publish quarterly in the Federal Register a list of all contracts and task orders in excess of $250,000 entered into by HUD, the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), and the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. (Sec. 325) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise certain time periods relating to notice requirements for terminating section 8 housing contracts. Title IV: Department of Defense Offsets - Rescinds specified funds provided in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1997 for: (1) military personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force; (2) operation and maintenance for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Defense-wide; (3) environmental restoration by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense-wide; (4) Former Soviet Union Threat Reduction; (5) various types of procurement, including aircraft missile, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, shipbuilding and conversion, and ammunition, by various branches of the armed forces; (6) National Guard and Reserve equipment; (7) armed forces research, development, test and evaluation; (8) the National Defense Sealift Fund; (9) chemical agents and munitions destruction; and (10) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities. (Sec. 401) Rescinds specified amounts of the funds appropriated in specified categories in: (1) the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1996, including the Base Realignment and Closure Account; and (2) the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1997. (Sec. 402) Authorizes the continuing obligation and expenditure of certain funds appropriated for Navy weapons procurement that were obligated and expended to settle claims on the MK-50 torpedo program. (Sec. 403) Prohibits the use of any Department of Defense funds to pay the cost of operating a National Missile Defense Joint Program Office which includes more than 55 military and civilian personnel located in the National Capital Region. (Sec. 404) Requires the merger of certain National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Air Force funds for obligation only on Titan IV vehicles and related activities. (Sec. 405) Rescinds a certain amount of funds appropriated for Military Construction in the Navy under specified Federal law. Title V: Other Offsets - Chapter 1: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies - Rescinds specified amounts of the available unobligated balances for the Department of Justice under the General Administration Working Capital Fund. Chapter 2: Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies - Rescinds specified funds made available to the Department of Energy for Clean Coal Technology and for Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Chapter 3: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies - Rescinds specified contract authorizations for the Department of Transportation for: (1) Federal Aviation Administration grants-in-aid for airports; (2) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highway traffic safety grants; and (3) Federal Transit Administration discretionary grants for fixed guideway modernization and bus activities. Chapter 4: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government - Rescinds specified amounts available to the General Services Administration for Presidential transition expenses. Chapter 5: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies - Rescinds specified amounts recaptured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from annual contributions for assisted housing. Directs the Secretary of HUD to recapture a specified section 8 reserve funds made available to housing agencies for tenant-based assistance. Rescinds a specified amount of negative credit subsidy from the sale of mortgage notes for the HUD Federal Housing Administration General and Special Risk Program Account. Rescinds certain funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and NASA. Chapter 6: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies - Prohibits the use of Department of Agriculture funds under the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 to pay the personnel salaries and expenses above specified levels to carry out: (1) a combined program for export credit guarantees, supplier credit guarantees, and emerging democracies facilities guarantees; and (2) an export enhancement program. Chapter 7: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development - Cancels, permanently, specified funds for the Department of Defense--Civil, Corps of Engineers--Civil, for general construction. Title VI: Social Services Block Grant Amendment - Amends title XX of the Social Security Act to establish a program of block grants to States for non-Medicaid assistance to noncitizens. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997. Title VII: Government Shutdown Prevention Act - Government Shutdown Prevention Act - Provides for continuing appropriations for FY 1998 at 98 percent of the level of FY 1997 operations, in the absence of regular appropriations for FY 1998.

Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from Natural Disasters Title II: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Peacekeeping Title III: General Provisions -- This Act 1997 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from Natural Disasters, and for Overseas Peacekeeping Efforts, Including Those in Bosnia - Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from Natural Disasters - Chapter 1 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for FY 1997 to the Department of Agriculture for: (1) Farm Service Agency emergency conservation, conservation reserve, and tree assistance programs; (2) Natural Resources Conservation Service watershed and flood prevention operations; (3) the Rural Housing Service (RHS) Rural Housing Insurance Fund program (RHS grant and loan eligibility for the College Station area of Pulaski County, Arkansas); and (4) the Food and Consumer Service's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Chapter 2 - Makes such appropriations to the Department of Commerce for: (1) the Economic Development Administration's economic development assistance programs for emergency infrastructure expenses; (2) the National Institute of Standards and Technology, for new grants for industrial technology services under the Advanced Technology Program; and (3) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for emergency construction expenses resulting from flooding and other natural disasters. Chapter 3 - Makes such appropriations to the Department of Defense--Civil, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers--Civil, for emergency expenses due to flooding and other natural disasters, including flood control on the Mississippi River and tributaries, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Makes such appropriations to the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation for repair of damage caused by floods and other natural disasters. (Sec. 301) Makes the U.S. members and the alternate members, appointed under the Susquehanna River Basin Compact and the Delaware River Basin Compact, officers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who hold Presidential appointments as Regular Army officers with Senate confirmation, and serve without additional compensation, and at the President's pleasure. (Sec. 303) Declares that a specified policy issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to implement emergency provisions of the Endangered Species Act (currently applicable to certain California counties declared Federal disaster areas) shall also apply for a certain period of time to: (1) all counties nationwide declared Federal disaster areas at any time during 1997; and (2) repair activities on flood control facilities in response to an imminent threat to human lives and property. Chapter 4 - Makes such appropriations to the Department of the Interior for: (1) Bureau of Land Management flood damage repair and other activities for Oregon and California Grant Lands; (2) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service resource management; (3) National Park Service emergency expenses and construction; (4) the U.S. Geological Survey; and (5) the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Makes such appropriations for emergency expenses of the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the Department of Health and Human Services' Indian Health Service. (Sec. 401) Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (part of the Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996) to revise the formula for distribution of amounts collected under the recreational fee demonstration program. Chapter 5 - Makes such appropriations to the Department of Transportation for: (1) the Coast Guard, retired pay; (2) the Federal Aviation Administration; (3) the Federal Highway Administration, Federal-Aid Highway emergency relief program; and (4) the Federal Railroad Administration, to repair and rebuild freight rail lines of regional and short line railroads damaged as a result of the floods in the northern plains States in the spring of 1997. Makes such appropriations to the National Transportation Safety Board for: (1) emergency expenses resulting from the crashes of TWA Flight 800 and ValuJet 592; and (2) assistance to families of victims of aviation accidents. (Sec. 503) Authorizes additional appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY 1997 for grants to States for alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures. (Sec. 504) Extends through FY 1997 the authorization of appropriations for the National Driver Register. Chapter 6 - Makes such appropriations to: (1) the U.S. Postal Service, for revenue foregone on free and reduced rate mail; (2) the Federal Election Commission, for internal automated data processing systems to carry out the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971; and (3) the U.S. Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, for the Automated Targeting System with respect to counter-terrorism and drug law enforcement. (Sec. 601) Permits Federal contracting for procurement of distinctive currency paper with any corporation or other entity created under Federal or State law, more than 50 percent of which is held by U.S. citizens. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to induce an appropriate level of competition among those desiring to provide such paper to the United States. Chapter 7 - Makes such appropriations to: (1) the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration; (2) the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for preserving the existing housing investment and for drug elimination grants for low-income housing; and (3) the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for disaster relief as well as salaries and expenses. Reduces from 30 days to 15 days the waiting period before the effective date of new contracts for flood insurance coverage (and any coverage modifications for existing contracts) under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 entered into between January 1 and June 30, 1997. Chapter 8 - Sets forth various offset conditions for certain Department of Agriculture funds with respect to: (1) the Office of the Secretary, the Fund for Rural America and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); (2) the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Wetlands Reserve Program; (3) the Food and Consumer Service, the Emergency Food Assistance Program; and (4) the Foreign Agricultural Service, for the export credit and export enhancement programs. Rescinds specified funds available for: (1) the Department of Justice; (2) the Department of Commerce; (3) the Federal Communications Commission; (4) the Department of Energy; (5) the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Federal Transit Administration; (6) the General Services Administration; and (7) the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Title II: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Peacekeeping - Chapter 1 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense--Military, for: (1) Military Personnel, of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force; (2) operation and maintenance, Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer Fund; (3) OPLAN 34A-35 P.O.W. payments to individuals; and (4) the Reserve Mobilization Income Insurance Fund. (Sec. 2102) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer up to a specified amount from certain accounts to the Marine Corps for repair of damage caused by hurricanes, flooding, and other natural disasters during 1996 and 1997 to Marine Corps facilities (including Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point, North Carolina, and the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California). (Sec. 2103) Appropriates additional amounts for direct patient care at military treatment facilities and for force protection and counter-terrorism initiatives. (Sec. 2105) Requires prior and specific written approval from the Appropriations Committees of the Congress for the use of any funds appropriated for any fiscal year to compensate certain military personnel or civilian employees employed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) on or after May 1, 1997, or in the organization of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Resources, Warfare Requirements, and Assessments) for budgeting or financial management. Chapter 2 - Rescinds specified funds provided in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1997 to reflect savings from revised economic assumptions and revised foreign currency exchange rates. (Sec. 2203) Rescinds from funds provided in previous Department of Defense Appropriations Acts specified amounts associated with unobligated balances expected to expire at the end of the current fiscal year. (Sec. 2204) Rescinds specified amounts from funds provided in previous Department of Defense Appropriations Acts or appropriated in the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1996. Chapter 3 - Rescinds a specified amount of the funds appropriated for Military Construction, Navy, under specified Federal law. Makes appropriations in an additional amount (equal to the preceding rescission) for Family Housing, Navy and Marine Corps, to cover the incremental operation and maintenance costs arising from hurricane damage to family housing units at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Title III: General Provisions: This Act - Authorizes the President to waive any earmarks for Ukraine under Assistance for the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union in the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997 upon determining, and reporting to the congressional committees on Appropriations, that the Government of Ukraine: (1) is not making significant progress toward economic reform and the elimination of corruption; (2) is not permitting American firms and individuals to operate in Ukraine according to generally accepted business principles; or (3) is not effectively assisting American firms and individuals in their efforts to enforce commercial contracts and resist extortion and other corrupt demands.

Foreign Policy Reform Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Division A: International Affairs Agency Consolidation, United Nations Reform, Foreign Assistance Reform, and Foreign Assistance Authorizations Title I: General Provisions Title II: Consolidation of Certain Foreign Assistance Agencies Chapter 1: General Provisions Chapter 2: United States International Development Cooperation Agency Title III: Foreign Assistance Reform Title IV: Defense and Security Assistance Chapter 1: Narcotics Control Assistance Chapter 2: Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs Chapter 3: Foreign Military Financing Program Chapter 4: International Military Education and Training Chapter 5: Transfer of Naval Vessels to Certain Foreign Countries Chapter 6: Other Provisions Title V: Economic Assistance Chapter 1: Economic Support Assistance Chapter 2: Development Assistance Chapter 3: Urban and Environmental Credit Program Chapter 4: The Peace Corps Chapter 5: International Disaster Assistance Chapter 6: Debt Relief Chapter 7: Other Assistance Provisions Title VI: Trade and Development Agency Title VII: Special Authorities and Other Provisions Chapter 1: Special Authorities Chapter 2: Repeals Division B: Foreign Relations Authorizations Act Title X (sic): General Provisions Title XI: Authorization of Appropriations for Department of State and Certain International Affairs Functions and Activities Title XII: Department of State Authorities and Activities Chapter 1: Authorities and Activities Chapter 2: Consular Authorities of the Department of State Chapter 3: Refugees and Migration Title XIII: Organization of the Department of State; Department of State Personnel; the Foreign Service Chapter 1: Organization of the Department of State Chapter 2: Personnel of the Department of State; the Foreign Service Title XIV: United States Public Diplomacy: Authorities and Activities for United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs Title XV: International Organizations; United Nations and Related Agencies Chapter 1: General Provisions Chapter 2: United Nations and Related Agencies Title XVI: Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Title XVII: Foreign Policy Provisions Foreign Policy Reform Act - Division A: International Affairs Agency Consolidation, United Nations Reform, Foreign Assistance Reform, and Foreign Assistance Authorizations - Title I: General Provisions - Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 1997 - Declares that: (1) U.S. leadership overseas must be maintained to support America's vital national security, economic, and humanitarian overseas interests; and (2) with the end of the Cold War, foreign assistance programs must be reformed to take advantage of the opportunities for the United States in the 21st century. Title II: Consolidation of Certain Foreign Assistance Agencies - Chapter 1: General Provisions - International Affairs Agency Consolidation Act of 1997 - Chapter 2: United States International Development Cooperation Agency - Abolishes the United States International Development Cooperation Agency, and transfers all functions of the Director of such agency to the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). (Sec. 221) Provides for: (1) the continuation of USAID as a Federal agency; and (2) the Administrator of USAID to be under the direction of the Secretary of State. Title III: Foreign Assistance Reform - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise requirements for the annual report to the Congress on foreign assistance programs. Replaces responsibility for such report from the Chairman of the Development Coordination Committee to the President. (Sec. 301) Directs the President, as part of the annual requests for foreign assistance program authorizations and appropriations, to submit to the Congress annual congressional presentation documents that provide, among other things, the amount, the rationale, and the direct U.S. national interest for the allocation of assistance provided under this Act and the Arms Export Control Act to each foreign country or international organization. Requires the President, as part of such documents, to estimate the year in which each country will no longer receive bilateral development assistance. (Sec. 302) Prohibits U.S. assistance to countries that consistently oppose the U.S. position in the UN General Assembly. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such prohibition if it is determined that the provision of assistance is necessary to promote U.S. foreign policy objectives. (Sec. 303) Urges the President for FY 1998 and 1999 to allocate foreign assistance funds to private and voluntary organizations and cooperatives in a manner that reflects the increase in the funding of such entities since FY 1995. (Sec. 304) Replaces the Private Sector Revolving Fund with a program of assistance (including loans, guarantees, and training) to increase the availability of credit to micro- and small enterprises. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 305) Authorizes the Administrator of USAID to provide grant assistance for programs of credit and other assistance for microenterprises in developing countries. Urges the Administrator to establish a monitoring system establishing performance goals for such assistance. (Sec. 306) Authorizes the President to provide funds and support to private sector Enterprise Funds for countries eligible to receive development assistance on the same basis as such funds and support are provided to Enterprise Funds for Poland and Hungary under the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989. (Sec. 307) Authorizes the President to use certain Development Credit Authority to promote: (1) micro- and small enterprise development; and (2) certain urban and environmental activities. Authorizes appropriations. Requires, to the maximum extent practicable, the use of U.S. technology, firms, and equipment with respect to such activities. (Sec. 308) Withholds from obligation an amount equivalent to 110 percent of the total unpaid fully adjudicated parking fines owed to the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, New York, and New York City by the government of a foreign country in a fiscal year until the Secretary of State certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such fines are fully paid. Title IV: Defense and Security Assistance - Chapter 1: Narcotics Control Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for U.S. antinarcotics assistance to foreign countries. Chapter 2: Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to establish the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund to promote bilateral and multilateral nonproliferation and disarmament activities with specified goals. Prohibits the use of the Fund to implement U.S. obligations under bilateral or multilateral arms control treaties or nonproliferation accords. (Sec. 411) Earmarks specified amounts of U.S. military assistance funds for: (1) nonproliferation and disarmament activities; (2) demining activities; and (3) voluntary contributions to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO). Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999. Chapter 3: Foreign Military Financing Program - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for grant assistance and direct loans for the procurement of defense articles and services by countries and international organizations friendly to the United States. (Sec. 422) Earmarks specified amounts of military assistance for FY 1998 and 1999 for: (1) Israel and Egypt; (2) assistance for the transition of countries to NATO membership; (3) direct loans for Greece and Turkey; and (4) administrative expenses. Chapter 4: International Military Education and Training - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for military education and training for civilian personnel in foreign countries. (Sec. 432) Makes Panama and Haiti eligible for assistance under the international military education and training (IMET) program. Chapter 5: Transfer of Naval Vessels to Certain Foreign Countries - Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to transfer certain naval class vessels to: (1) Brazil; (2) Chile; (3) Egypt; (4) Israel; (5) Malaysia; (6) Mexico; (7) Taiwan; and (8) Thailand. (Sec. 444) Directs the Secretary to encourage recipient countries to have such vessels repaired or refurbished at U.S. shipyards. Chapter 6: Other Provisions - Amends Federal law to authorize for FY 1998 and 1999 the transfer of excess defense articles to countries eligible to participate in the Partnership for Peace program and eligible for assistance under the SEED Act of 1989. (Sec. 452) Authorizes the President, in return for specified concessions, to transfer to the Republic of Korea certain obsolete or surplus defense articles in the war reserve allies stockpile. (Sec. 453) Limits to no more than $60 million for FY 1998 the value of additions to the stockpiles of defense articles in foreign countries. Sets forth limits on stockpiles in the Republic of Korea and Thailand. Title V: Economic Assistance - Chapter 1: Economic Support Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for economic support funds (ESF) assistance. (Sec. 502) Earmarks amounts for Israel, Egypt, the International Fund for Ireland, and assistance and training for civilian personnel of the Ministry of Defense of the Government of Nicaragua. Chapter 2: Development Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for specified development assistance, including: (1) the Development Fund for Africa; (2) assistance for the independent states of the former Soviet Union (independent states); (3) assistance for Eastern Europe; (4) the Inter-American Foundation; and (5) the African Development Foundation. (Sec. 512) Earmarks certain foreign assistance funds for specified child survival, health, basic education for children, and disease prevention programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999. (Sec. 513) Limits the amount of foreign assistance funds available to the Russian Federation unless the President determines and reports to the Congress that the Government of the Russian Federation has terminated assistance to the ballistic missile or nuclear programs of Iran and Cuba. (Sec. 521) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for operating expenses of USAID and its Office of the Inspector General. Chapter 3: Urban and Environmental Credit Program - Revises the authority for the urban and environmental credit program to repeal: (1) minimum annual program levels; (2) authority for agricultural and productive credit and self-help community development programs; and (3) certain requirements for guaranties for housing projects (including face amounts for Egypt and Israel). Chapter 4: The Peace Corps - Amends the Peace Corps Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for the Peace Corps. (Sec. 542) Earmarks certain foreign assistance funds for Peace Corps activities in the independent states of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia. Prohibits the use of funds to pay for abortions. Chapter 5: International Disaster Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise congressional policy to affirm U.S. willingness to provide international disaster assistance for the reconstruction of foreign countries. (Sec. 522) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for international disaster assistance. Chapter 6: Debt Relief - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to replace the Central America Democracy, Peace, and Development Initiative with a program of special debt relief for poor countries. Authorizes the President to reduce amounts owed to the U.S. Government as a result of loans or guarantees issued under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or credits or guarantees extended under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 561) Makes eligible for such debt reduction countries with a heavy debt burden that: (1) are eligible to borrow from the International Development Association but not from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), and (2) meet other specified conditions concerning military expenditures, terrorism, narcotics control, and human rights. Limits such authority only to implement multilateral official debt relief ad referendum agreements (the Paris Club Agreed Minutes), and only to the extent that appropriations for the modifications are made in advance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999. (Sec. 562) Authorizes the President, subject to certain conditions, to sell to an eligible purchaser concessional loans made before January 1, 1995, to the government of an eligible country or reduce or cancel such loans on receipt of payment from an eligible purchaser for purposes of facilitating debt-for-equity, debt-for-development, or debt-for-nature swaps or debt buybacks by eligible countries to support specified activities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999. Chapter 7: Other Assistance Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to declare that restrictions on assistance for a country shall not be construed to restrict support of programs of nongovernmental organizations. (Sec. 571) Repeals authority to waive the requirement that U.S. private and voluntary organizations to which assistance is made available obtain at least 20 percent of their total annual financial support for international activities from sources other than the U.S. Government. (Sec. 573) Prohibits the availability of foreign assistance funds to private and voluntary organizations which: (1) fail to provide documents to meet auditing requirements of the USAID; or (2) are not registered with such agency. Title VI: Trade and Development Agency - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for the Trade and Development Agency. Title VII: Special Authorities and Other Provisions - Chapter 1: Special Authorities - Increases from ten to 20 percent the amount authorized to be transferred between specified accounts under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 702) Increases the amount of emergency assistance the President is authorized to use in any fiscal year for unanticipated contingencies. (Sec. 703) Authorizes the President to provide assistance, sales, or other action under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Arms Export Control Act, or any annual (or periodic) foreign assistance authorization or appropriations legislation, notwithstanding laws restricting such assistance, if the Speaker of the House and a specified congressional committee are notified that to do so is vital to national interests. Increases annual ceilings with respect to such assistance. (Sec. 704) Authorizes the President, to make an equitable settlement of termination claims under extraordinary contractual relief standards, to adopt as a contract or other U.S. obligation and assume any liabilities under it, any contract with a U.S. or third-country contractor to carry out any program of foreign assistance that was subsequently terminated. (Sec. 705) Amends the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 to authorize the use of foreign assistance provided to independent nongovernmental human rights organizations and individuals in Cuba for local costs in delivering such assistance. Chapter 2: Repeals - Repeals specified foreign assistance laws. Division B: Foreign Relations Authorizations Act - Title X: (sic) General Provisions - Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 - Sets forth general provisions and definitions. Title XI: Authorization of Appropriations for Department of State and Certain International Affairs Functions and Activities - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of State for FY 1998 and 1999 for: (1) the administration of foreign affairs; (2) contributions to international organizations and international peacekeeping activities; (3) international conferences and contingencies; (4) offset of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; (5) international commissions; (6) migration and refugee assistance; (7) the Asia Foundation; (8) international information activities and educational and cultural exchange programs; and (9) purposes of carrying out the Arms Control and Disarmament Act. Earmarks funds for specified organizations and activities. (Sec. 1102) Withholds certain amounts of funds from the United Nations Development Program unless the President certifies to 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 Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC); (3) provide no financial, political, or military support to SLORC; and (4) are supported by the leadership of the National League for Democracy and the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. Title XII: Department of State Authorities and Activities - Chapter 1: Authorities and Activities - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide for rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction of aiders or abettors of acts of international terrorism against U.S. persons or property or in certain narcotics-related offenses. Makes the resources of the rewards program available, at the Secretary's discretion, for the publication of rewards offered by foreign governments about acts of terrorism not involving the United States. Directs the President, in carrying out the rewards program, to take possession and exercise full control of up to two percent of earnings accruing on all assets of foreign governments blocked under the International Emergency Powers Act. (Sec. 1202) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit amounts contained in the Foreign Service national separation liability trust fund in interest-bearing accounts. (Sec. 1203) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 to make one of the purposes of the Capital Investment Fund the enhancement of information technology and other related capital investments for the Department of State. (Sec. 1204) Amends the International Center Act to authorize the deposit of amounts contained in the International Center Reserve Fund in interest-bearing accounts. Authorizes the Secretary to retain, and expend without further appropriation, the interest earned on such deposits. (Sec. 1205) Amends the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926 to authorize the deposit of proceeds from the sale of foreign properties into interest-bearing accounts. Authorizes the Secretary to retain, and expend without further appropriation, the interest earned on such deposits. (Sec. 1208) Amends the International Claims Settlement Act to grant jurisdiction to the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to adjudicate claims included in a category of claims against a foreign government which is referred to it by the Secretary. (Sec. 1210) Establishes a special fee account for use in paying certain expenses of the Department of State and the Foreign Service. Earmarks funds for the provision, without charge, of passport information services to U.S. citizens. (Sec. 1211) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 to require deposit in a special fund of the Treasury of a certain amount of fees collected from processing machine readable visas. Makes funds available for certain costs of the Department's border security program. Repeals the prohibition against the charging of fees to citizens of countries that are signatories to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). (Sec. 1212) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to change from $700,000 to all the amount of registration fees collected by the Office of Defense Trade Controls of the Department of State which shall be credited for each fiscal year to a Department of State account, without limitation. Adds to the permissible expenses payable from such account the enhancement of defense trade export compliance and enforcement activities to include compliance audits of U.S. and foreign parties, the conduct of administrative proceedings, end-use monitoring of direct commercial arms sales and transfers, and cooperation in criminal proceedings related to defense trade export controls. (Sec. 1213) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize the Secretary to provide training through the Foreign Service Institute to U.S. company employees engaged in business abroad, and their families. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such training on a reimbursable basis to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the judiciary, and their employees. Authorizes the Secretary to charge a fee for use of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center Facility of the Department. (Sec. 1214) Declares that the United States, in cases where a covered beneficiary is provided health care by the Department and is enrolled in a covered health benefits plan of a third-party payer, shall have the right to collect from such third-party payer a reasonable charge for the care to the extent that the payment would be made under such plan for such care if a claim were submitted by or on behalf of the covered beneficiary. (Sec. 1215) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize the Secretary to charge a fee for use of the Department's diplomatic reception rooms. (Sec. 1217) Bars the use of funds to further normalize diplomatic relations with Vietnam unless the President certifies to appropriate congressional committees that Vietnam: (1) accounts for American prisoners-of-war and missing in action from the Vietnam war; (2) has made substantial progress toward the release of all political and religious prisoners; and (3) is cooperating with U.S. requests to obtain access to persons of humanitarian interest there and in providing exit visas to such persons. Requires certification also that the U.S. Government is making vigorous efforts to interview and resettle former re-education camp victims, their immediate families, former U.S. Government employees, and certain other persons. (Sec. 1218) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 to extend through FY 1999 the authorization for admission into the United States of a specified number of refugees from the independent states of the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania based on religious persecution owing to participation in the Ukrainian Catholic or Orthodox churches. Makes September 30, 1999, the latest allowable entry date for specified aliens from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia for purposes of qualifying for adjustment of status. (Sec. 1219) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize a Federal agency to make grants to the Department, or otherwise reimburse or credit it with advance payment, for funds used in providing assistance to overseas educational facilities attended by children of agency employees. (Sec. 1220) Amends the International Child Abduction Remedies Act to authorize the U.S. Central Authority to make grants to, or enter into contracts or agreements with, any individual, corporation, or other Federal, State, or local agency, or U.S. private organization for the purpose of helping it remedy international child abductions (returning wrongfully removed children, as well as securing the exercise of visitation rights). Chapter 2: Consular Authorities of the Department of State - Makes 30 percent of the fees collected in FY 1998 and 1999 for expedited passport processing available only for enhancing passport services, investigating passport fraud, and deterring entry into the United States by terrorists and other criminals. Chapter 3: Refugees and Migration - Directs the Secretary to include in the monthly report to the Congress entitled "Update on Monitoring of Cuban Migrant Returnees" information on: (1) the methods employed by the Cuban Government to enforce the United States-Cuba Immigration Agreement of September 1994 to restrict the emigration of Cuban people to the United States; and (2) their treatment of persons who have returned to Cuba pursuant to the United States-Cuba Agreement of May 1995. (Sec. 1262) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize the Secretary to waive certain congressional notification requirements with respect to the reprogramming of Department funds if failure to do so would pose a substantial risk to human health or welfare. Requires such notification to specified congressional committees, with an explanation of the emergency circumstances, not later than three days after taking the action to which notification is required. Title XIII: Organization of the Department of State; Department of State Personnel; the Foreign Service - Chapter 1: Organization of the Department of State - Establishes a Coordinator for Counterterrorism within the office of the Secretary. (Sec. 1302) Repeals the statutory establishment of: (1) an Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs; (2) a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Burdensharing; and (3) a Bureau and Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. (Sec. 1303) Establishes within the Department of State: (1) an Assistant Secretary for Human Resources; (2) an Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security; and (3) a U.S. Special Envoy for Tibet. (Sec. 1306) Declares that the Bureau of Migration and Refugee Assistance: (1) shall be the State Department bureau charged with principal responsibility for carrying out the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962; and (2) shall not be charged with responsibility for assisting the Secretary in matters relating to family planning or population policy. Chapter 2: Personnel of the Department of State; the Foreign Service - Establishes limits on the number of Foreign Service personnel in the Department of State, the United States Information Agency (USIA), and the Agency for International Development (AID) during FY 1998 and 1999. Allows a waiver of such limitations as necessary to carry out foreign affairs functions. (Sec. 1323) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize the Secretary to separate from the Foreign Service without a hearing a member of the Service convicted of a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment of more than one year may be imposed. (Currently, a Foreign Service member can be separated without a hearing only if convicted of a crime related to the cause of separation). (Sec. 1325) Directs the Secretary report annually to the Congress on minorities and the Foreign Service officer corps. (Sec. 1326) Provides for certain retirement benefits under the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System and the Foreign Service Pension System for employees who are involuntarily separated from the Foreign Service. (Sec. 1327) Makes qualified criminal investigators within the Diplomatic Security Service eligible for availability pay. Title XIV: United States Public Diplomacy: Authorities and Activities for United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs - Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to decrease the fiscal year authorization of appropriations for the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between North and South. (Sec. 1405) Revises the Muskie Fellowship Program for graduate students from the independent states of the former Soviet Union, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to require selection of participants on the basis of academic and leadership potential in the additional fields of journalism and communications, education administration, public policy, and library and information science. (Sec. 1406) Establishes within USIA, in order to improve the coordination and effectiveness of U.S. Government sponsored international exchanges and training, a senior-level interagency Working Group on United States Government Sponsored International Exchanges and Training. (Sec. 1407) Requires the USIA Director to establish programs of educational and cultural exchange between the United States and the people of Tibet, including scholarships to Tibetan and Burmese students and professionals who are outside their countries. (Sec. 1408) Requires transfer from USAID to USIA of funds appropriated or allocated for the ATLAS and Mandela Fellows programs. Requires USIA to enter agreements with the J. William Fulbright Commission in South Africa to provide for oversight and management of such programs. (Sec. 1409) Urges the USIA and the Board of Broadcasting Governors to study and report to the appropriate congressional committees on the appropriateness, feasibility, and projected costs of: (1) providing surrogate broadcasting service to Africa; and (2) a Radio Free Europe- Radio Liberty broadcasting service to Iran. (Sec. 1410) Authorizes the Director of USIA to administer summer travel-work programs without regard to preplacement requirements. (Sec. 1411) Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to make permanent certain administrative authorities regarding appropriations for the USIA. (Sec. 1412) Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to revise the authorities of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Sets forth the responsibilities of the Director of the Board. (Sec. 1413) Amends the Japan-United States Friendship Act to authorize the investment of amounts from the United States-Japan Trust Fund, as redesignated, in interest-bearing obligations of Japan, or in obligations guaranteed by Japan. Renames: (1) the Japan-United States Friendship Commission as the United States-Japan Commission; and (2) the Japan-United States Friendship Trust Fund as the United States-Japan Trust Fund. Title XV: International Organizations; United Nations and Related Agencies - Chapter 1: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions governing employment benefits due to Federal employees who are reemployed after having served in an international organization. Chapter 2: United Nations and Related Agencies - Authorizes the President to withhold 20 percent of the funds appropriated for the U.S. assessed contribution to the United Nations if the United Nations has failed to implement consensus-based decisionmaking procedures on budgetary matters which assure that sufficient attention is paid to the views of the United States and other member states who are major financial contributors. Title XVI: Arms Control and Disarmament Agency - Amends the Arms Control and Disarmament Act to repeal the mandate for the Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency to report annually to the Congress a comprehensive compilation of studies relating to arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament issues concluded during the previous calendar year. Title XVII: Foreign Policy Provisions - Bars the use of funds for the involuntary return by the United States 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, except on grounds recognized as precluding protection as a refugee under the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of refugees of July 28, 1951, and the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees of January 31, 1967. (Sec. 1701) Bars the use of migration and refugee assistance funds for the involuntary return of a person to any country unless the Secretary first notifies the appropriate congressional committees. (Sec. 1702) Prohibits the United States from expelling, extraditing, or otherwise effecting the involuntary return of a person to a country in which there are reasonable grounds for believing the person would be in danger of subjection to torture. (Sec. 1703) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees on specific actions taken by the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Commerce in resolving certain commercial disputes between U.S. firms and the Saudi Arabia Government. (Sec. 1705) Prohibits the availability of appropriated funds to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), unless the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that: (1) UNFPA has terminated all activities in China; or (2) during the 12 months preceding such certification, there have been no forced abortions associated with family planning policies in China. (Sec. 1706) Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to the Congress on: (1) the number of persons and aliens residing in the United States entitled to diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution, including each case involving such an alien whom appropriate law enforcement authorities reasonably believe to have committed a serious crime within the United States; and (2) the number of U.S. citizens residing in a receiving state who are entitled to diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution there, including each case in which the United States has been requested by the government of the state to waive immunity. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should explore, in appropriate fora, whether states should enter into agreements and adopt legislation to provide: (1) jurisdiction in the sending state to prosecute crimes committed in the receiving state by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity; and (2) that where there is probable cause to believe that an individual with such immunity committed a serious crime, the sending state will waive immunity or will prosecute the individual. (Sec. 1707) Declares the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should submit to the Congress a plan to consolidate some or all of the functions currently performed by the Department of State, the Agency for International Development, and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, in order to increase efficiency and accountability in the conduct of the foreign policy of the United States. (Sec. 1708) Expresses the sense of the Congress that Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty should continue surrogate broadcasting beyond the year 2000 to countries (including Serbia, Belarus, Slovakia, and other countries) whose people do not yet fully enjoy freedom of expression. (Sec. 1709) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to withhold the U.S. share of assistance for IAEA projects in Cuba, except those for the discontinuation, dismantling, or safety inspection of nuclear facilities or related materials. Declares that such exception shall not apply to the Juragua Nuclear Power Plant near Cienfuegos, or the Pedro Pi Nuclear Research Center, unless Cuba: (1) ratifies the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (commonly known as the Treaty of Tlatelolco); and (2) incorporates internationally accepted nuclear safety standards. Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. representative to the IAEA to use the U.S. vote to oppose IAEA projects at: (1) the Juragua Nuclear Power Plant, Cuba; and (2) any other IAEA project there that is, or could become, a threat to the security of the United States. (Sec. 1710) Earmarks specified funds for construction of a U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel. Bars use of funds for the publication of any official government document which lists countries and their capitals unless it identifies Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. (Sec. 1711) Directs the Secretary to report semi-annually to the appropriate congressional committees on the compliance of its signatories with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

HUD Reverse Mortgage Program Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1997

HUD Reverse Mortgage Program Protection Act - Amends the National Housing Act with respect to the home equity conversion mortgage program for the elderly to: (1) make the program permanent; (2) remove the participant mortgage ceiling; (3) require adequate consumer education, and full disclosure to the mortgagor of all mortgage costs, including estate planning, financial advice, or other related costs; and (4) prohibit excessive referral fees.

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2) to repeal the United States Housing Act of 1937, deregulate the public housing program and the program for rental housing assistance for low-income families, and increase community control over such programs, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1997

Sets forth the rule (open) for the consideration of H.R. 2 (public and assisted housing).

Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1997

Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 1997 - Amends the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 to repeal a requirement that public investments made in the Appalachian region under the Act be concentrated in areas with a significant potential for future growth and where the expected return on public dollars invested will be the greatest. Modifies the Act's purpose to include: (1) assisting Appalachia to become a region with an educated and trained work force, healthy people, a sound physical infrastructure, a dynamic economic base, and the capacity to be economically self-sustaining; and (2) directing the Appalachian Regional Commission to be an advocate for and partner with the Appalachian people and to seek to achieve a viable, self- sustaining economy for the region. (Sec. 3) Requires the Commission to conduct at least one meeting each year with the Federal Co-Chairman and at least a majority of the State members present. Authorizes the Commission to conduct additional meetings by electronic means. Prohibits decisions involving the criteria for the designation of counties as distressed or economically strong from being made without a quorum of State members. (Sec. 4) Reauthorizes appropriations for: (1) administrative expenses; and (2) the Appalachian development highway system (and increases the Federal cost share). (Sec. 5) Revises provisions regarding: (1) compensation to authorize the Commission to appoint and fix the compensation of an executive director and other specified personnel at a rate not to exceed the maximum for the Senior Executive Service, including any applicable locality-based comparability payment that may be authorized (and extends the Commission's authorization to lease office space); and (2) supplements to Federal grant-in-aid programs to authorize the Federal Co-Chairman to use sums available to carry out the Act (current law authorizes the President to provide funds to the Co-Chairman to be used to carry out the Act) and to revise the definition of "Federal grant-in-aid programs" to remove the provision limitating such programs to those authorized on or before December 31, 1980. (Sec. 9) Adds specified criteria and measurements to be considered when determining programs and projects to be given assistance. (Sec. 10) Directs the Commission to: (1) designate as distressed counties those that are the most severely and persistently distressed and underdeveloped and two categories of economically strong counties (competitive counties are those approaching, and attainment counties are those having attained or exceeded, economic parity with the rest of the country); and (2) give special consideration to the needs of distressed counties. Limits or prohibits funds for projects in a competitive or attainment county, with exceptions and waivers. (Sec. 11) Empowers the Commission (currently, the President) to make grants for administrative expenses and research and development projects. (Sec. 12) Extends through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations and termination date under the Act.

Housing 2020: Multifamily Management Reform Act

United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Multifamily Restructuring Subtitle A: Housing Provisions Subtitle B: Extension of Time for Payment of Tax Attributable to FHA Portfolio Restructuring Title II: Housing Enforcement Subtitle A: Single Family and Multifamily Housing Subtitle B: Multifamily Housing Subtitle C: FHA Single Family Housing Title III: Exemption of HUD and USDA Multifamily Loan Foreclosures and Related Actions from the Bankruptcy Stay Title IV: FHA Multifamily Housing Consolidation and Reform Subtitle A: FHA Multifamily Housing Subtitle B: Extensions of Existing Authority and Other Provisions Title V: Rehabilitation Grants Housing 2020: Multifamily Management Reform Act - Title I: Multifamily Restructuring - Housing Opportunity Act of 1997 - Subtitle A: Housing Provisions - Directs the Secretary (Secretary) of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a program of multifamily housing debt restructuring and subsidy reduction that takes into account the goals of: (1) maintaining existing affordable and safe housing; (2) minimizing adverse effects on tenants and neighborhoods; (3) supporting fair housing strategies; and (4) encouraging ownership and property management. Authorizes the Secretary (or specified designee) to take the following actions to make qualifying multifamily projects financially viable at market rates: (1) pay mortgage claims; (2) remove or modify project restrictions; (3) purchase reinsurance or otherwise transfer insurance interests; (4) take actions to induce owner or lender participation; (5)restructure mortgages; and (6) make insurance payments. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the renewal of section 8 contracts. Authorizes the Secretary to provide: (1) tenant-based assistance to certain assisted and very-low-income families affected by such restructuring; and (2) project-based assistance in areas with tight housing markets or with high concentrations of elderly or disabled families. Prohibits owner discrimination with respect to section 8 certificate or voucher holders. Directs the Secretary to facilitate the sale of multifamily projects to tenant and nonprofit organizations. (Sec. 111) Amends the Balanced Budget Downpayment Act, I to authorize renewal of expiring section 8 contracts in excess of certain fair market standards at specified rental levels. (Sec. 112) Provides for the reuse and rescission of recaptured budget authority resulting from project restructuring. Subtitle B: Extension of Time for Payment of Tax Attributable to FHA Multifamily Restructuring - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize specified tax payment extensions on debt reduction or gain from a sale attributable to section 8 housing restructuring. Title II: Housing Enforcement - Housing Enforcement Act of 1997 - Directs the Secretary to issue implementing regulations. Subtitle A: Single Family and Multifamily Housing - Amends the National Housing Act (Act) to exempt the Mortgage Review Board from certain bankruptcy stay provisions. (Sec. 211) Authorizes the Board to immediately suspend a mortgage under specified conditions. (Sec. 212) Extends (and increases) equity skimming penalties to one- to -four family residences. (Sec. 213) Amends Federal criminal law to include equity skimming as a money laundering offense. (Sec. 214) Authorizes the Secretary to recover mortgage insurance claims against a person convicted of equity skimming. (Sec. 215) Expands the scope of penalties for mortgagees, lenders, and other Federal Housing Administration (FHA) program participants. Subtitle B: Multifamily Housing - Amends the Act to extend certain multifamily mortgagor civil penalties (and the scope of such penalties) to general partners of a partnership mortgagor, or officers or directors of corporate mortgagors. (Sec. 221) Establishes civil money penalties for specified section 8 violations by owners or other liable parties. (Sec. 222) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 to extend the double damages remedy for recovery of assets to specified insured mortgage agreements under the Housing Act of 1959 and the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992. (Sec. 223) Amends the Social Security Act to eliminate the 1994 termination date for HUD access to certain State employment information. (Sec. 224) Authorizes the Secretary to prohibit renewal or extension of certain expiring section 8 contracts unless the owner agrees to comply with any additional HUD conditions. Subtitle C: FHA Single Family Housing - Amends the Act to terminate mortgagee origination approval authority. Title III: Exemption of HUD and USDA Multifamily Loan Foreclosures and Related Actions from the Bankruptcy Stay - Amends Federal law to exempt HUD or Department of Agriculture appointment of receivership or loan foreclosures and related actions from the bankruptcy stay. Title IV: FHA Multifamily Housing Consolidation and Reform - FHA Multifamily Housing Reform Act of 1997 - Subtitle A: FHA Multifamily Housing - Amends the Act to authorize the Secretary (or approved mortgagee) to insure first or second mortgages and engage in related credit enhancement for certain multifamily housing projects and health care facilities. (Sec. 404) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into risk-sharing agreements with qualified participating mortgage entities and housing finance agencies in order to provide projects and facilities with first mortgage loans. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) mortgage insurance and reinsurance; (2) risk apportionment and risk-sharing alternatives; (3) reimbursement capacity; (4) underwriting standards; and (5) non-Federal participation. (Sec. 406) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) premiums and fees; (2) contracts; (3) default and contract claims; (4) prepayment charges; (5)environmental review; (6) lead-based paint poisoning prevention; (7) subsidy layering; (8)labor standards; and (9) disclosure of records. Subtitle B: Extensions of Existing Authority and Other Provisions - Amends the Act to extend authorities for: (1) mortgage auctions; and (2) transfer of certain excess receipts to the flexible subsidy program. (Sec. 422) Authorizes the Secretary to regulate rents, sales, charges, and operations with respect to certain multifamily housing projects in order to provide reasonable rentals and a reasonable rate of return. (Sec. 423) Includes health care facilities within the partial payment of claims authority. (Sec. 424) Amends the Housing Act of 1959 and the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to provide environmental protection under the supportive housing for the elderly program and the supportive housing for persons with disabilities program. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 425) Amends the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to authorize the Secretary to assign regulatory agreements in connection with the sale of HUD mortgages. Title V: Rehabilitation Grants - Amends the Act to authorize the Secretary to make rehabilitation grants to owners of formerly insured or assisted qualifying projects.

Public Housing Management Reform Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Public Housing and Rent Reforms Title II: Section 8 Streamlining and Other Program Improvements Title III: "One Strike And You're Out" Occupancy Provisions Public Housing Management Reform Act of 1997 - Title I: Public Housing And Rent Reforms - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to establish public housing Operating and Capital Funds. (Sec. 101) Revises specified public housing and section 8 rent provisions. (Sec. 104) Exempts (for 18 months with a subsequent three-year phase-in) earned income from a previously unemployed family member from public housing and section 8 rent and family contribution determinations. (Sec. 105) Authorizes a public housing agency (PHA) project sale to an organization acting as a tenant conduit under specified conditions. (Sec. 106) Sets forth PHA plan contents. (Sec. 107) Sets forth performance indicators for PHAs with fewer than 250 units (small PHAs). (Sec. 109) Revises provisions regarding defaulting and troubled PHAs. (Sec. 111) Establishes community service requirements for public and section 8 housing. (Sec. 112) Revises small PHA modernization plan requirements. Eliminates specified preference provisions. Increases PHA set-asides for disaster and emergency assistance. (Sec. 113) Increases permitted PHA fund uses. Authorizes mixed-finance development (public and non-public housing units). (Sec. 114) Revises public housing demolition and disposition provisions, including operating fund and comprehensive grant amounts. Eliminates the one-for-one replacement requirement. (Sec. 116) Revises the severely distressed public housing assistance program. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 117) Establishes a PHA performance evaluation board. (Sec. 118) Directs the Secretary to make grants for public housing tenant economic development and supportive services. (Sec. 120) Provides that a PHA not providing acceptable basic housing conditions shall be designated as a troubled PHA. (Sec. 121) Revises volunteer provisions to exempt from contract wage requirements volunteers performing services in accordance with the Community Improvement Volunteer Act of 1994. (Makes related amendments to such Act.) (Sec. 122) Authorizes specified appropriations for the Operation Safe Home program. Title II: Section 8 Streamlining And Other Program Improvements - Makes certain public housing preferences under The Balanced Budget Downpayment Act, I, permanent. Amends the Act, as amended by such Act, to base specified public and section 8 housing tenant selection criteria upon local conditions rather than upon the comprehensive housing affordability strategy under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. (Sec. 202) Amends the Act to revise public and section 8 housing income-based eligibility and occupancy provisions. (Sec. 203) Provides for section 8 rental payment standards which shall neither exceed nor be less than 80 percent of the "fair market rent-exception rent limit" (as defined by this Act). (Sec. 204) Amends the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 to increase specified section 8 administrative fees. (Sec. 205) Amends the section 8 home ownership option, including provision for cooperative eligibility. Eliminates the family self-sufficiency escrow. (Sec. 206) Authorizes a welfare to work (housing) certificate demonstration program to assist families in welfare to work transition. (Sec. 207) Prohibits a family in public or section 8 housing from receiving a rental reduction based upon lowered income resulting from failure to comply with certain public assistance self-sufficiency or work requirements. (Sec. 209) Amends the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to certain income verification provisions. (Sec. 210) Provides for: (1) nondiscrimination against section 8 voucher and certificate holders; and (2) recapture of certain PHA excess reserve funds. (Sec. 212) Amends the Public and Assisted Housing Drug Elimination Act of 1990 to: (1) expand coverage to include other than drug-related crimes; (2) establish formula funding; and (3) authorize appropriations and revise set-aside provisions. Title III: "One Strike And You're Out" Occupancy Provisions - Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) public housing ineligibility, or tenancy or assistance termination, based upon prior drug activity or serious lease violations, or current drug or alcohol abuse; (2) related lease requirements; and (3) availability of criminal records for tenant screening and eviction.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States respecting the right to a home.

United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1997

Constitutional Amendment - States that all U.S. citizens shall have a right to a home, which right shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State.

Josephine Butler United States Health Service Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Establishment and Operation of the United States Health Service Part A: Initial Organization Part B: Organization of Area Health Boards Part C: General Provisions Regarding Health Boards Title II: Delivery of Health Care and Supplemental Services Part A: Patients' Rights in Health Care Delivery Part B: Eligibility for, Nature of, and Scope of Services Provided by the Service Part C: Health Care Facilities and Delivery of Health Care Services Title III: Health Labor Force Part A: Job Categories and Certification Part B: Education of Health Workers Part C: Employment and Labor-Management Relations Within the Service Title IV: Other Functions of Health Boards Part A: Advocacy, Grievance Procedures, and Trusteeships Part B: Occupational Safety and Health Programs Part C: Health and Health Care Delivery Research Part D: Health Planning, Distribution of Drugs and Other Medical Supplies, and Miscellaneous Functions Title V: Financing of the Service Part A: Health Service Taxes Part B: Health Service Trust Fund Part C: Preparation of Plans and Budgets Part D: Allocation and Distribution of Funds Part E: General Provisions Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions Josephine Butler United States Health Service Act - Title I: Establishment and Operation of the United States Health Service - Part A: Initial Organization - Establishes the United States Health Service as an independent executive branch entity. Authorizes appropriations. Part B: Organization of Area Health Boards - Sets forth procedures regarding election and appointment of interim national, interim regional, interim district, and initial and subsequent national, regional, district, and community health boards. Part C: General Provisions Regarding Health Boards - Sets forth the membership and terms of office of health boards. Title II: Delivery of Health Care and Supplemental Services - Part A: Patients' Rights in Health Care Delivery - Affords every user the right to receive high quality care and supplemental services without charge and without discrimination. Sets forth a list of other basic health rights. Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1973 to entitle certain employees to health leave compensation. Part B: Eligibility for, Nature of, and Scope of Services Provided by the Service - Declares all individuals in the United States eligible to receive health care and supplemental services under this Act. Requires the Service to provide specified services. Provides for Service reimbursement of emergency health services costs. Part C: Health Care Facilities and Delivery of Health Care Services - Requires each community board to maintain health care facilities as necessary for the delivery of primary, specialized, and community-oriented services. Requires each district board to maintain a general hospital, other health care facilities, and specialized health care services. Requires each regional board to maintain: (1) a regional medical facility for highly specialized care; and (2) services that cannot be provided by community or district boards. Requires each area health board to hire health workers, purchase or lease necessary premises, and minimize care delivery fragmentation and duplication. Prohibits a health board from permitting its facilities to be used for private service delivery. Prohibits health board employees from engaging in private service delivery. Requires regular facilities inspections. Requires area health boards to provide specified services, including abortion services. Title III: Health Labor Force - Part A: Job Categories and Certification - Declares that, notwithstanding State laws to the contrary, the Service shall be the sole judge of the qualifications of its employees. Requires the National Board to establish guidelines for the classification, certification, and employment of health workers. Requires that the guidelines permit alternative approaches to healing. Requires that each regional board establish advanced specialty training certification standards. Part B: Education of Health Workers - Requires each regional board to establish a health team school to provide initial and continuing basic care delivery education and initial and continuing advanced specialty education. Requires that the schools be funded exclusively by the Service, prohibits them from charging or accepting tuition or fees, and requires them to provide each student with an allowance for living expenses, educational supplies, and any child care. Requires that enrollees agree to perform health care services as Service employees. Requires the National Board to make educational loan payments. Part C: Employment and Labor-Management Relations Within the Service - Requires the National Board to ensure that all individuals employed as health workers before enactment of this Act and desiring employment in the Service find appropriate employment in the Service. Amends the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 to include the Service in the term "employer." Makes the remedies provided by stated Federal laws regarding jurisdiction and tort claims exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding. Title IV: Other Functions of Health Boards - Part A: Advocacy, Grievance Procedures, and Trusteeships - Requires each area health board to establish a health advocacy program. Requires the National Board to establish a health rights legal services program for users and health workers. Part B: Occupational Safety and Health Programs - Requires the National Board to oversee regional occupational safety and health programs and to participate in the establishment and administration of standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Amends that Act to substitute references to the National Health Board for references to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Requires each: (1) community board to provide for the operation of a community occupational safety and health action council; (2) regional board to establish a regional occupational health and safety program; and (3) employer to maintain a health facility in or near the work place to meet occupational and emergency health care needs of employees, with the cost borne by the employer. Grants employees the right to establish work place occupational safety and health committees. Authorizes employees to monitor conditions and remove themselves from the site of any hazard without loss of pay or other job rights. Part C: Health and Health Care Delivery Research - Requires the Service to conduct a program of health and health care delivery research. Transfers the National Institutes of Health from the Department of Health and Human Services to the National Health Board. Requires the National Board to establish five new national institutes: Epidemiology, Evaluative Clinical Research, Health Care Services, Pharmacy and Medical Supply, and Sociology of Health and Health Care. Part D: Health Planning, Distribution of Drugs and Other Medical Supplies, and Miscellaneous Functions - Requires: (1) each area board to collect data on supply and demand regarding health workers and care delivery; (2) publication of a National Pharmacy and Medical Supply Formulary; and (3) each regional board to establish a program for the purchase and distribution of drugs and other medical supplies. Authorizes the National Board to operate drug and medical supply manufacturing facilities. Title V: Financing of the Service - Part A: Health Service Taxes - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose on individuals and corporations an additional tax of specified percentages of the normal tax and imposed by a specified section of the code. Ends the exclusion from gross income of amounts paid by third parties for medical care. Excludes from gross income employer contributions to accident or health plans to the extent that such contributions do not provide for health care available to such employees under the Health Service Act. Prohibits income tax deductions for: (1) health care expenses as a trade or business expense; and (2) contributions to certain medical and hospital facilities. Repeals Internal Revenue Code provisions regarding medical and dental expenses, hospital insurance tax imposed on employment and self-employment income, and receipts for railroad employees. Declares that no contractual or other nonstatutory obligation of any employer to pay or provide for health care for present or former employees and their dependents and survivors shall apply on or after the effective date of health services under this Act to the extent such individuals are eligible to receive such services under this Act. Prohibits Federal, State, or private workers' compensation programs from paying for or providing any health care on or after the effective date of health services under this Act to the extent such care is available under this Act. Part B: Health Service Trust Fund - Creates the Health Service Trust Fund. Appropriates to the Fund amounts equal to 100 percent of the expected net receipts from specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Appropriates to the Fund a Government contribution equal to 40 percent of the amount appropriated under the 100 percent provision. Transfers to the Fund all assets and liabilities of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. Part C: Preparation of Plans and Budgets - Requires the National Board to annually fix the maximum amount of funds which may be expended from the Fund during the fiscal year. Part D: Allocation and Distribution of Funds - Requires the National Board to annually transmit a national budget to regional boards. Declares the budget adopted on approval by a majority of the regional boards. Sets forth similar requirements for preparation and adoption of regional and district budgets. Requires funds allocated under the national health budget to be distributed by the National Board from the Trust Fund. Prohibits health boards from requesting or receiving funds from any other source. Part E: General Provisions - Authorizes the National Board to borrow money, issue and sell obligations, and pledge Fund assets. Empowers the National Board to require the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase the Service's obligations, to a specified maximum. Makes obligations issued by the Service obligations of the U.S. Government under certain circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, for the purchase of Service obligations, to use as a public debt transaction the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Repeals, on the effective date of health services, the Public Health Service Act, except for provisions regarding: (1) its short title and definitions; (2) licensing, quarantine, and inspections authority; and (3) safety of public water systems. Delays, until four years after the effective date of health services, repeal of portions of the Public Health Service Act regarding provision of assistance to educational institutions and their students in areas that have not established health team schools. Repeals provisions of the Social Security Act relating to maternal and child health, Medicare, Medicaid, professional standards review, entitlement to hospital insurance benefits, uniform health reporting systems, limitation on Federal participation for capital expenditures, the program for determining qualification for certain health care personnel, disclosure of ownership and related information, disclosure of certain convictions, and payments to States for health care and supplemental services. Repeals provisions of Federal law regarding health insurance for Federal employees, medical benefits and programs regarding veterans, and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS). Repeals the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970, the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974, and a provision of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 relating to medical treatment of narcotic addiction. Repeals Federal law regarding hospitals, community hospitals, and other health facilities for Indians. Repeals the District of Columbia Medical Facilities Construction Act of 1968 and the District of Columbia Medical and Dental Manpower Act of 1970. Repeals provisions of the National Housing Act regarding mortgage insurance for nursing homes, hospitals, and group practice facilities. Repeals the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963, the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act of 1970, the National Arthritis Act of 1974, and the National Diabetes Mellitus Research and Education Act. Repeals provisions of the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act regarding grant, demonstration, and research programs for lead-based paint poisoning prevention. Repeals the Act of March 2, 1897, relating to tea importation. (This Act was repealed by Public Law 104-128.) Repeals provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 regarding the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Requires the President to prepare and submit to the Congress legislation to repeal or amend provisions of laws that are inconsistent with this Act. Transfers to the Health Service Trust Fund amounts appropriated to carry out the purposes of any law repealed by this Act.

Children's Environmental Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1997

Children's Environmental Protection Act - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to state U.S. policy regarding the adequacy of protection of vulnerable subpopulations from exposure to environmental pollutants. Defines "vulnerable subpopulations" to mean children, pregnant women, the elderly, individuals with a history of serious illness, and other subpopulations identified by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as likely to experience elevated health risks from environmental pollutants. Directs the Administrator to: (1) consistently and explicitly evaluate environmental health risks to vulnerable subpopulations in all risk assessments and characterizations, environmental or public health standards, or general regulatory decisions; (2) ensure that all EPA standards protect such subpopulations with an adequate margin of safety; (3) develop and use a separate assessment with respect to such subpopulations; and (4) issue revised standards, after reevaluation, that meet the criteria of this Act. Requires a report to the Congress. Directs the Administrator to: (1) identify pollutants commonly used or found in areas reasonably accessible to children (defined as homes, schools, day care centers, shopping malls, movie theaters, and parks); (2) create and review at least annually a list of such substances that are known, likely, or suspected to pose health risks to children and a list of safer-for-children substances and products for use in such areas; (3) establish guidelines to reduce and eliminate exposure to pollutants in such areas, including advice on integrated pest management; (4) create a family right-to-know information kit; (5) make all information described above publicly available; and (6) prohibit the use of any product not on the safer-for-children list in Federal properties and areas. Directs the Administrator and the Secretaries of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services to: (1) coordinate and support the development and implementation of research initiatives to examine the health effects and toxicity of pesticides and other pollutants on vulnerable subpopulations; and (2) report to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations.

Senior Citizen Home Equity Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1997

Senior Citizen Home Equity Protection Act - Amends the National Housing Act with respect to home equity conversion mortgages to: (1) require full disclosure to the mortgagor of all mortgage costs, including estate planning, financial advice, or other related costs; and (2) provide for imposition of restrictions by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that the mortgagor is not charged for such costs.

Senior Homeowner Reverse Mortgage Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1997

Senior Homeowner Reverse Mortgage Protection Act - Amends the National Housing Act with respect to home equity conversion mortgages to: (1) require full disclosure to the mortgagor of all mortgage costs, including estate planning, financial advice, or other related costs; and (2) provide for imposition of restrictions by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that the mortgagor is not charged for such costs.

Veterans Nursing Care Availability Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1997

Veterans Nursing Care Availability Act of 1997 - Revises the manner by which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to rank applicants for grants under the State home construction grant program (a program providing grants to States for the construction of veterans' nursing homes). Prohibits any State from being awarded more than one such grant during any fiscal year.

Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: FHA-Insured Multifamily Housing Mortgage and Housing Assistance Restructuring Title II: Enforcement Provisions Subtitle A: FHA Single Family and Multifamily Housing Subtitle B: FHA Multifamily Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 - Title I: FHA-Insured Multifamily Housing Mortgage and Housing Assistance Restructuring - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enter into agreements with participating administrative entities (with preference given to State housing finance agencies) to develop and implement mortgage restructuring and rental assistance plans for FHA-insured multifamily housing mortgages in order to: (1) reduce expiring section 8 contracts costs; (2) address troubled projects; and (3) correct management and ownership deficiencies. Includes two-tiered mortgage restructuring among plan incentives. Terminates program authority as of a specified date. Title II: Enforcement Provisions - Directs the Secretary to issue implementing regulations. Subtitle A: FHA Single Family and Multifamily Housing - Amends the National Housing Act to expand HUD authorities with respect to: (1) lender sanctions; (2) equity skimming; and (3) civil money penalties. Subtitle B: FHA Multifamily - Amends the National Housing Act and the Housing Act of 1937 to expand multifamily housing-related civil money penalties. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 to extend the double damages remedy.

Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Provisions Title II: Interagency Council on the Homeless Title III: Federal Emergency Management Agency Food and Shelter Program Title IV: Housing Assistance Subtitle A: Reorganization of Certain McKinney Act Housing Provisions Subtitle B: Other Housing Assistance Programs for the Homeless Under McKinney Act Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Homeless Housing Provisions Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1997 - Title I: General Provisions - Requires budget compliance. Title II: Interagency Council on the Homeless - Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (Act) to authorize appropriations for and extend the Interagency Council on the Homeless. Title III: Federal Emergency Management Food and Shelter Program - Amends the Act to authorize appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency food and shelter program. Title IV: Housing Assistance - Subtitle A: Reorganization of Certain McKinney Act Housing Provisions - Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Housing Assistance Amendments Act of 1997 - Amends title IV (Housing Assistance) of the Act to replace the current individual programs of emergency shelter grants, supportive housing program, safe havens for homeless individuals, and the shelter plus care program with an inclusive flexible grant program. Sets forth program provisions. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Other Housing Assistance Programs for the Homeless Under McKinney Act - Amends the Act to increase budget authority for section 8 assistance for single room occupancy dwellings. Authorizes section 8 assistance for shelter plus care single room occupancy dwellings. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations for the rural homelessness grant program. Transfers such program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Department of Agriculture. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Homeless Housing Provisions - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to direct States and localities to eliminate unfit transient facilities for homeless families with children according to a specified housing strategy.

To amend title 13, United States Code, to make clear that sampling may be used in order to improve the accuracy of the decennial censuses of population, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1997

Amends Federal law to authorize the use of sampling to determine the total U.S. population by State with respect to the decennial census for purposes of the apportionment of Representatives in Congress among the several States, provided it is used in conjunction with a good faith effort using non-sampling techniques and is necessary in order to achieve a more accurate census. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to each decennial and mid-decade census, to report to the appropriate congressional committees on: (1) how it is proposed that the actual enumeration be carried out; (2) what types of surveys or statistical methods are proposed to be used in connection with such enumeration; and (3) how such surveys or methods would help achieve a more accurate census. Requires collection: (1) as part of the decennial census of population or population and housing characteristics data that is used for purposes of determining benefits to State, county, or local units of government; and (2) contemporaneously with the collection of data for purposes of the apportionment of Representatives in Congress among the several States. Authorizes collection of such data through sampling.

Kevin Emanuel Marchman, of Colorado, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, vice Joseph Shuldiner.

United States · United States Senate · 19 March 1997

A bill to provide for the establishment of not less than 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs of America facilities by the year 2000.

United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1997

Amends the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 to require the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, for FY 1997 through 2001, to make grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to establish and extend club facilities where needed, with particular emphasis on establishing clubs in and extending services to public housing projects and distressed areas. Directs the Attorney General to accept and approve an application for such a grant submitted by BGCA if the application: (1) includes a long-term strategy to establish 1,000 additional clubs and a detailed summary of those areas in which new facilities will be established or existing facilities expanded to serve additional youths during the next fiscal year; (2) includes a plan to insure that there are a total of not less than 2,500 BGCA facilities in operation before January 1, 2000; (3) certifies that there will be appropriate coordination with those communities where clubs will be located; and (4) explains the manner in which new facilities will operate without additional, direct Federal financial assistance. Earmarks specified funds to provide a grant to BGCA for administrative, travel, and other costs associated with a national role-model speaking tour program.

Retirement Security Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Pension Access and Coverage Subtitle A: Improved Access to Individual Retirement Savings Subtitle B: Improved Fairness in Retirement Plan Benefits Subtitle C: Improving Retirement Plan Coverage Subtitle D: Simplifying Plan Requirements Title II: Security Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: ERISA Enforcement Title III: Portability Title IV: Comprehensive Women's Pension Protection Subtitle A: Pension Reform Subtitle B: Protection of Rights of Former Spouses to Pension Benefits Under Certain Government and Government-Sponsored Retirement Programs Subtitle C: Modifications of Joint and Survivor Annuity Requirements Subtitle D: Spousal Consent Required for Distributions From Section 401(k) Plans Subtitle E: Women's Pension Toll-Free Phone Number Title V: Date for Adoption of Plan Amendments Retirement Security Act of 1997 - Title I: Pension Access and Coverage - Subtitle A: Improved Access to Individual Retirement Savings - Chapter 1: Contributions To Individual Retirement Plans Through Payroll Deductions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to require a private contractor with the Secretary of Labor to establish a system under which: (1) eligible employees, through employer payroll deductions, may make contributions to individual retirement plans; and (2) amounts in the individual retirement plans are invested according to certain requirements. (Sec. 103) Provides for: (1) contributions to individual retirement plans; (2) investment options; (3) accounting and information; (4) administrative costs; (5) fiduciary responsibilities, liability and penalties, bonding, and investigative authority; and (6) selection of contractor. (Sec. 108) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the Secretary of Labor to design and award the contract for such system; and (2) the contractor to begin operations. Chapter 2: Nonrefundable Tax Credit for Contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts - Amends IRC to allow a nonrefundable tax credit for a portion of contributions to individual retirement plans, calculated according to a specified scale. Chapter 3: Expanded Individual Retirement Accounts to Increase Coverage and Portability - Subchapter A: IRA Deduction - Raises the income limitations for the individual retirement account (IRA) tax deduction, with a corresponding adjustment to the formula for the phaseout of such limitations. (Sec. 122) Prescribes an inflation adjustment for the IRA deductible amount and income limitations. Subchapter B: Distributions and Investments - Allows the use of distributions from individual retirement plans, without additional tax, to: (1) purchase first homes; (2) pay higher education expenses; or (3) pay financially devastating medical expenses. (Sec. 132) Allows the use without penalty of distributions from certain plans during periods of unemployment. (Sec. 133) Requires that contributions to individual retirement plans (other than special individual retirement accounts) be held for at least five years in certain cases before they may be distributed without specified tax consequences. Chapter 4: Periodic Pension Benefits Statements - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) with respect to periodic pension benefits statements in cases of defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, and multiemployer plans. Subtitle B: Improved Fairness in Retirement Plan Benefits - Amends IRC to require a specified minimum employer contribution to simple retirement accounts. Provides for an employer option to suspend contributions with 30-days' notice. Amends ERISA with respect to fiduciary duties in the case of such accounts. (Sec. 152) Amends IRC to set forth various nondiscrimination rules for qualified cash or deferred arrangements and matching contributions. (Sec. 153) Increases from $75,000 to $80,000 per year specified compensation criteria for a highly compensated employee. Excludes specified categories of employees with respect to age, short length of service, and part-time service from the meaning of highly compensated employee. Subtitle C: Improving Retirement Plan Coverage - Allows a tax credit for up to a maximum $500 of the qualified start-up costs of eligible small employers in establishing a qualified pension plan or qualified employer payroll deduction system. (Sec. 162) Limits annual benefits under governmental and multiemployer plans to $90,000, eliminating the alternative 100 percent of high three-year average compensation limitation. Exempts from the $7,500 or one third of includible compensation limit for annual benefits certain excess benefit arrangements under deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations. Prohibits such arrangements from being taken into account in determining whether any other plan is an eligible deferred compensation plan. (Sec. 163) Declares that compensation deferred under a mirror plan shall not be taken into account in applying certain limits (with respect to deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations) to compensation deferred under any other deferred compensation plan. (Sec. 164) Sets forth special rules to treat contributions by self-employed individuals as matching contributions. (Sec. 165) Amends specified Federal law relating to Federal employees to allow immediate participation in the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal employees by eliminating certain waiting periods. (Sec. 166) Amends the IRC to revise the limits on contributions excluded from the calculation of non-deductible contributions for purposes of the tax on non-deductible contributions to a qualified employer plan. (Sec. 167) Excludes from gross income any workers' compensation received by former police officers or fire fighters for heart disease or hypertension. Subtitle D: Simplifying Plan Requirements - Amends IRC and ERISA to set a full funding limitation for multiemployer plans. (Sec. 172) Eliminates IRC partial termination rules for multiemployer plans. (Sec. 173) Revises IRC nondiscrimination and minimum participation rules with respect to governmental plans. (Sec. 174) Eliminates specified ERISA requirements for plan descriptions and for filing of summary plan descriptions and descriptions of material modifications to a plan. (Sec. 175) Replaces the 150 percent of current liability factor in the calculation of the full-funding limit with an incremental scale from 155 percent in 1998 to 170 percent in 2001, followed by zero in 2002 and succeeding years. (Sec. 176) Directs the Secretaries of the Treasury and of Labor to expand their efforts to examine existing guidance regarding notice, recordkeeping, and operational requirements for retirement plans, in order to permit the use of new technologies by plan sponsors and administrators in ways which maintain the protection of the rights of participants and beneficiaries. Title II: Security - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Amends ERISA to provide investment protection for specified plans that include qualified cash or deferred arrangements under IRC ("401(k) plans") by setting limitations on investment in employer securities and employer real property by cash or deferred arrangements. Provides a transition rule for plans holding excess securities or property. (Sec. 202) Applies an ERISA requirement for annual, detailed investment reports to certain IRC 401(k) plans. Directs the Secretary of Labor, in prescribing regulations for required information in such reports, to consider including specified types of information. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary of Labor to study and report to the Congress on: (1) the extent to which pension plans invest in collectibles; and (2) whether such investments present a risk to the pension security of the participants and beneficiaries of such plans. (Sec. 204) Amends IRC to prohibit qualified employer plans from making loans through credit cards and other intermediaries. (Sec. 205) Increases the amounts of multiemployer plan benefits guaranteed under ERISA. (Sec. 206) Increases the maximum amount of the civil penalty which may be assessed administratively for certain prohibited transactions. (Sec. 207) Amends ERISA with respect to substantial owner benefits to revise the phase-in of guarantee and the allocation of assets. (Sec. 208) Directs the Secretary of Labor to report annually to the President and the Congress on plans from which residual assets were distributed to employers (reversion report). (Sec. 209) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of the Treasury should: (1) review existing correction mechanisms to determine whether modifications might facilitate additional utilization by sponsors, improve voluntary compliance, and hasten the correction of pension plans; (2) consider whether additional means of addressing nonegregious violations should be explored; and (3) make appropriate legislative recommendations. Subtitle B: ERISA Enforcement - Amends ERISA enforcement provisions to repeal a limited scope audit requirement for employee pension benefit plans. Requires an accountant, in offering an opinion in the case of an employee pension benefit plan, to rely, to the extent consistent with generally accepted auditing standards, on the work of any independent public accountant of any bank or similar institution or insurance carrier that holds assets or processes transactions of the employee pension benefit plan, provided that such bank, institution, or insurance carrier is regulated, supervised, and subject to periodic examination by a State or Federal agency. (Sec. 212) Sets forth additional ERISA requirements for qualified public accountants. (Sec. 213) Amends ERISA and the IRC to exempt from the prohibition against assignment or alienation of an accrued pension benefit offsets for certain civil and criminal judgments against fiduciaries. Changes from mandatory to discretionary the imposition and amount of civil penalties for breach of fiduciary responsibilities. Title III: Portability - Amends ERISA and the IRC to provide for faster vesting of employer matching contributions. (Sec. 302) Revises certain restrictions on distributions from IRC 401(k) plans. (Sec. 303) Amends ERISA and IRC with respect to an accrued benefit not to be decreased by plan amendment to revise the treatment of transfers between defined contribution plans. (Sec. 304) Amends ERISA rules requiring transfer of benefits of missing participants to direct the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to prescribe similar rules for multiemployer plans that terminate. Requires transfer of missing participants' plan benefits to the PBGC by certain plans not otherwise subject to ERISA enforcement provisions. Title IV: Comprehensive Women's Pension Protection - Subtitle A: Pension Reform - Makes certain new rules for pension integration under the Tax Reform Act of 1986 applicable to all existing accrued benefits. (Sec. 401) Amends IRC to: (1) disallow integration for simplified employee pensions; and (2) provide for eventual repeal of certain pension integration rules. (Sec. 402) Sets forth rules regarding the application of minimum coverage requirements with respect to separate lines of business. (Sec. 403) Amends IRC and ERISA with respect to division of pension benefits upon divorce, at the former spouse's election, to deem any State divorce decree to be a domestic relations order specifying that half of the marital share of the participant's accrued benefit is to be provided to such former spouse. (Sec. 404) Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (RRA) to entitle divorced spouses to railroad retirement annuities independent of the employee's actual entitlement. Subtitle B: Protection of Rights of Former Spouses to Pension Benefits Under Certain Government and Government-Sponsored Retirement Programs - Amends RRA to extend Tier II railroad retirement benefits to surviving former spouses pursuant to divorce agreements. (Sec. 412) Amends Federal civil service law with respect to survivor annuities for widows, widowers, and former spouses of Federal employees who die before attaining the age for deferred annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). (Sec. 413) Amends Federal law relating to the armed forces to terminate a two-tier annuity computation and social security offset under the military survivor benefit plan. (Sec. 414) Amends Federal civil service law with respect to payment of lump-sum benefits to former spouses of Federal employees under CSRS and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS). Subtitle C: Modifications of Joint and Survivor Annuity Requirements - Modifies ERISA and IRC requirements for joint and survivor annuities to provide for an alternative joint and two-thirds survivor annuity payable while both the participant and the spouse are alive. Subtitle D: Spousal Consent Required for Distributions From Section 401(k) Plans - Amends IRC to require spousal consent for distributions from section 401(k) plans. Subtitle E: Women's Pension Toll-Free Phone Number - Directs the Secretary of Labor to contract with an independent organization to create a women's pension toll-free phone number and contact. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Date for Adoption of Plan Amendments - Sets forth dates for adoption of plan amendments.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998

United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Procurement Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Title III: Operation and Maintenance Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Environmental Provisions Subtitle C: Other Matters Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations Subtitle A: Active Forces Subtitle B: Reserve Forces Title V: Military Personnel Policy Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy Subtitle B: Enlisted Personnel Policy Subtitle C: Reserve Personnel Policy Subtitle D: Education Policy Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special Pays Subtitle C: Allowances Subtitle D: Other Matters Title VII: Health Care Provisions Title VIII: Repeal of Certain Acquisition Reports and Acquisition Policy Subtitle A: Repeal of Certain Acquisition Reports Subtitle B: Acquisition Policy Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management Title X: General Provisions Subtitle A: Financial Matters Subtitle B: Naval Vessels Subtitle C: Other Matters Subtitle D: Military Construction Provisions Title XI: Department of Defense Civilian Personnel National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 - Title I: Procurement - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) the Defense Inspector General; (3) the Defense Health Program; and (4) the chemical demilitarization program. (Sec. 108) Authorizes the transfer of up to $400 million from the National Defense Stockpile Transaction (NDST) Fund to specified aircraft procurement accounts for FY 1998. Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for the armed forces for research, development, test, and evaluation. (Sec. 202) Extends permanently (currently terminates on September 30, 1998) the authority of the Secretary of Defense to contract with commercial entities to conduct commercial test and evaluation activities at a major range and test facility installation. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for operation and maintenance (O&M) for the armed forces and specified activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (DOD). (Sec. 302) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for: (1) working capital and revolving funds; (2) the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and (3) O&M of Fisher houses, to be derived from the Fisher House Trust Fund. (Sec. 305) Authorizes the transfer of up to $150 million from the NDST Fund to specified O&M accounts. (Sec. 306) Repeals the Defense Business Operations Fund. Authorizes the Secretary to award contracts for capital assets of a working capital fund in advance of the availability of such funds. Subtitle B: Environmental Provisions - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to authorize the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with an Indian tribe to obtain assistance in certifying environmental technologies. (Sec. 312) Allows the use of a DOD facility for the storage and disposal of nondefense toxic and hazardous materials when such materials will or have been used in connection with a DOD activity or a service to be performed for the benefit of DOD. Provides as exceptions to the general prohibition against the use of DOD facilities for such storage and disposal the use of: (1) a space launch facility; and (2) DOD facilities for testing materials or training personnel. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Directs the Secretary to conduct programs to commemorate the 50th anniversaries of the Marshall Plan and the Korean War, using Army O&M funds. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Defense 50th Anniversary of the Marshall Plan and Korean War Commemoration Account. Requires a report from the Secretary to the congressional defense committees on the use of Account funds. (Sec. 322) Authorizes the Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School (currently, the Secretary of the Navy) to enter into an agreement with an accredited higher educational institution for an exchange of students. Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths for active-duty forces as of the end of FY 1998 and 1999. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 1998 and 1999 for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel on active duty in support of the reserves. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy - Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to allow military personnel of that department, or the Department of Transportation when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy, to serve in the management of a military welfare society and other designated entities. (Sec. 504) Revises generally the authority for the promotion of officers through promotion boards. (Sec. 505) Excludes chaplains, health care professionals, and officers assigned to duty with the American Battle Monuments Commission from current limitations on the period of recall to active duty. Subtitle B: Enlisted Personnel Policy - Authorizes the Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School to permit enlisted members of the armed forces and Coast Guard who are assigned to such School to receive instruction there on a space-available basis. (Sec. 512) Directs the Community College of the Air Force to prescribe programs for enlisted members of the armed forces, other than the Air Force, whose jobs are closely related to Air Force jobs and for enlisted personnel who are serving as instructors at Air Force training schools. Subtitle C: Reserve Personnel Policy - Allows lieutenant colonels (currently, only grades above lieutenant colonel) to serve on boards of inquiry for the involuntary separation of military personnel. Subtitle D: Education Policy - Protects educational assistance entitlements for those members of the Selected Reserve who are ordered to serve on active duty (current law) or in support of a contingency operation. Removes references to the entitlement period for such personnel who served on active duty during the Persian Gulf War. Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 1998 military pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases by 2.8 percent, effective on January 1, 1998, the rates of basic pay and basic allowance for quarters. (Sec. 602) Allows the Ready Reserve muster duty allowance to be paid before such duty is actually performed, while requiring such payment within 30 days after such duty. Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special Pays - Increases and extends through FY 2002 certain bonuses and special pay provided to nuclear-qualified officers. (Sec. 612) Provides a special pay incentive for enlisted personnel who enter into an agreement with the Secretary concerned to extend their tour of duty overseas. (Sec. 613) Increases the special pay for Selected Reserve personnel who: (1) extend their enlistments for either three or six years; and (2) reenlist in a critical military skill position after completing their initial service obligation. Subtitle C: Allowances - Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay a variable housing allowance to military personnel without dependents who make a close-proximity move within the United States. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary to use amounts appropriated for FY 1997 and thereafter for payments to participants in the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program. Authorizes the payment of supplemental stipends to such participants. Title VII: Health Care Provisions - Repeals a Federal provision which prohibits DOD funds from being used to perform abortions except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term. (Sec. 702) Authorizes the provision of prosthetic devices to military health care beneficiaries when determined necessary due to significant conditions resulting from trauma, congenital anomalies, or disease. Title VIII: Repeal of Acquisition Reports and Acquisition Policy - Subtitle A: Repeal of Certain Acquisition Reports - Amends prior defense authorization Acts to repeal various defense acquisition reporting requirements. Subtitle B: Acquisition Policy - Authorizes the use of a single payment due date for mixed invoices of a defense contractor. (Sec. 812) Authorizes the retention of amounts collected from a contractor under the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 during the pendency of any further litigation or appeals. (Sec. 813) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary concerned to contract for the procurement of severable services for periods which overlap fiscal years. (Sec. 814) Revises the quantity requirements for certain small arms weapons procurement objectives of the Secretary of the Army under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995. (Sec. 816) Eliminates certain time and qualifying requirements concerning acquisition unit cost reports. (Sec. 817) Repeals: (1) an additional competition documentation requirement with respect to international agreements; and (2) a certification requirement under the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. (Sec. 819) Requires, under a contract in which property vests to the United States, that such title vest regardless of any prior or subsequently asserted security interest in the property. (Sec. 820) Authorizes the head of an agency to enter into an undefinitized contract action with respect to: (1) contingency operations; (2) peacekeeping or peace enforcement operations; (3) disaster relief operations; and (4) humanitarian assistance. (Sec. 821) Authorizes a defense agency director, when considered advantageous, to lease personal property that is under the control of the defense agency, not needed for public use, and not excess property. Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management - Reduces from annually to every two years or as needed the required frequency of written policy guidance from the Secretary to defense agency heads concerning contingency plans. (Sec. 902) Changes from three to no less than two or more than four years the term for members of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board. (Sec. 903) Directs the Secretary to phase out the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, beginning in FY 1998 and ending with its closure no later than September 30, 2001. Prohibits the entry of any new class of students there after September 30, 1997, and the awarding of degrees after September 30, 2001. (Sec. 904) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act, 1968 to repeal the requirement to operate the Naval Academy Dairy Farm in Gambrills, Maryland. (Sec. 905) Includes the Information Resources Management College within the National Defense University. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Amends the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1992 to extend through FY 1999 the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance in support of international nonproliferation activities. Subtitle B: Other Matters (sic) - Sets forth procedures for the sale of naval vessels stricken from the Naval Register and not subject to disposal under any other laws. (Sec. 1011) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to charter a vessel in support of the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor Program. (Sec. 1012) Repeals Federal provisions providing shipbuilding contract adjustment limitations. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Authorizes a special agent of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service to: (1) carry firearms; (2) execute and serve warrants or other Federal process; and (3) make arrests without warrant for any offense against the United States committed in the officer's presence or for any Federal felony if such agent has probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing such felony. (Sec. 1022) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to extend through FY 1998 the authority of the Secretary to provide Mexico with specified support in connection with counter-drug activities. (Sec. 1023) Authorizes the Secretary to accept foreign gifts or donations in order to defray the costs of, or enhance the operation of, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Requires the Secretary to notify the Congress if total contributions exceed $2 million in any fiscal year. Requires a report identifying the foreign governments permitted to participate in Center programs during the preceding year. (Sec. 1024) Includes imagery, imagery intelligence, or geospatial information among the geodetic data authorized to be sold by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency. (Sec. 1025) Extends through FY 1999 the authority to carry out the National Guard civilian youth opportunities pilot program as authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993. (Sec. 1026) Repeals requirements for: (1) an annual DOD conventional standoff weapons master plan and report on standoff munitions under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991; and (2) annual reports concerning special operations training conducted with friendly foreign forces. (Sec. 1027) Revises general policy objectives and goals under the Ballistic Missile Defense Act of 1995. Subtitle D: Military Construction Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to construct a heliport at Fort Irwin, California, using prior authorized and appropriated funds. (Sec. 1032) Amends prior military construction authorization Acts to repeal report requirements concerning: (1) the procurement of overseas family housing from a U.S. contractor; (2) funding for naval strategic homeporting; and (3) a proposed contract for the sale of Gregg Circle Area, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. (Sec. 1033) Provides for the crediting of financial incentives received by military departments or defense agencies for energy savings or water conservation. (Sec. 1035) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to convey any U.S. interest in a utility system under the control of that department to another utility company or other entity, under specified conditions and requirements, including congressional notification. Title XI: Department of Defense Civilian Personnel - Extends through FY 2001 the authority of the Secretary to provide voluntary separation incentive pay to DOD civilian personnel. (Sec. 1104) Amends the Intelligence Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1990 to state that no prior admission for permanent U.S. residence shall be required of staff and faculty of the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies. (Sec. 1105) Preserves certain civil service benefits and protections for certain former employees of the Defense Mapping Agency who became employees of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency.

Public Housing Reform and Responsibility Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Public Housing Title II: Section 8 Rental Assistance Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Public Housing Reform and Responsibility Act of 1997 - Title I: Public Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 (Act) with respect to public housing agency (PHA) authority concerning: (1) ceiling and minimum rents; (2) police officer tenant eligibility; and (3) market value rental flexibility and encouragement of tenant self-sufficiency. Disallows (temporarily) from public housing rent determinations income earned from a family self-sufficiency or job training program. (Sec. 106) Requires PHAs to submit annual and five-year plans to the Secretary (Secretary) of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (Sec. 107) Revises contract provisions and requirements. Repeals public housing income and site (Federal) preferences. (Sec. 108) Provides with regard to a troubled PHA that: (1) the Secretary may take possession of a troubled PHA, including any of its projects or functions, and may give such PHA a one-year period to demonstrate satisfactory improvement; and (2) an appointed receiver may abrogate certain contract provisions or dispose of PHA assets or create new PHAs. (Sec. 109) Consolidates public housing assistance (other than section 8 assistance) into a Capital Fund and an Operating Fund. Directs the Secretary to establish assistance formulae. Obligates emergency reserve funding. (Sec. 110) Requires tenants (other than the elderly, disabled, full-time workers, or students) to perform eight hours of monthly community volunteer work. (Sec. 111) Permits PHAs to form consortia and joint ventures and operate subsidiaries. Eliminates: (1) certain energy conservation requirements; and (2) modernization fund authority. (Sec. 113) Revises assisted housing income eligibility provisions. (Sec. 114) Revises public housing demolition and disposition provisions. Eliminates the one-for-one replacement requirement. Provides, in a proposed disposition, for resident organization purchase opportunity. Stipulates that such provisions do not apply to a disposition in accordance with a home ownership program. (Sec. 115) Eliminates family investment center provisions. Authorizes PHAs to convert public housing projects to tenant-based (voucher) systems. Requires PHAs to do a project conversion assessment (market analysis and community impact). (Sec. 116) Eliminates the family self-sufficiency program. Authorizes PHAs to sell low-income units to residents or conduit organizations. Provides rental and relocation assistance for nonpurchasing tenants, including PHA assistance for tenant home ownership. (Sec. 118) Authorizes PHAs to own or operate mixed-finance and mixed-ownership projects. (Sec. 119) Provides for identification and conversion of distressed public housing to tenant-based assistance. (Sec. 120) Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) permit PHAs to mortgage or grant security interests in their projects; and (2) make grants to PHAs or resident management entities to promote tenant self-sufficiency. (Obligates related funds for resident management entities.) (Sec. 122) Prohibits HUD funds to be used to indemnify government contractors against costs associated with judgments of intellectual property rights infringement. (Sec. 123) Authorizes pet ownership in federally assisted rental housing. Title II: Section 8 Rental Assistance - Amends the Act to merge the section 8 voucher and certificate programs into a single voucher program. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 202) Amends certain housing Acts to repeal specified preference and other provisions and make technical corrections. (Sec. 205) Includes cooperatives within the assisted housing home ownership option. Revises monthly assistance determination provisions. (Sec. 206) Authorizes a public housing owner to admit law enforcement and security personnel not otherwise eligible for tenancy. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Act to remove Rockland County, New York, from the metropolitan statistical area in which it is located for purposes of assisted housing income-related determinations. (Sec. 305) Requires the Secretary to review specified housing security contracts with respect to hiring and award compliance.

A bill to provide for State housing occupancy standards, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1997

Prohibits the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from establishing a national housing occupancy standard for five years. Provides that during such period: (1) a State-established standard shall be presumed reasonable for purposes of determining familial status discrimination and the Secretary shall not decertify a State or local public agency based upon such standard or its operation; and (2) in the absence of a State standard a two-person per bedroom standard shall be deemed reasonable.

State Occupancy Standards Affirmation Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1997

State Occupancy Standards Affirmation Act of 1997 - Prohibits the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from establishing a national occupancy standard (as defined by this Act, with an exception for health and safety protection purposes). Provides that: (1) a State standard shall be considered reasonable for purposes of determining familial status discrimination; and (2) the Secretary, in the absence of a State standard, shall take no action respecting a two-person per bedroom standard established by a housing provider.

Low-Income Housing Preservation Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1997

Low-Income Housing Preservation Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a 15-year recovery period for the depreciation deduction for new investments to rehabilitate qualified low-income housing projects. Exempts $50,000 ($25,000 in the case of a separate return by a married individual) of such rehabilitation costs from the passive loss limitations. Provides a special rule for computing the depreciation deduction for such housing projects.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999

United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Procurement Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Title III: Operation and Maintenance Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Environmental Provisions Subtitle C: Other Matters Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations Subtitle A: Active Forces Subtitle B: Reserve Forces Title V: Military Personnel Policy Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy Subtitle B: Enlisted Personnel Policy Subtitle C: Reserve Personnel Policy Subtitle D: Education Policy Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special Pays Subtitle C: Allowances Subtitle D: Other Matters Title VII: Health Care Provisions Title VIII: Repeal of Certain Acquisition Reports and Acquisition Policy Subtitle A: Repeal of Certain Acquisition Reports Subtitle B: Acquisition Policy Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management Title X: General Provisions Subtitle A: Financial Matters Subtitle B: Naval Vessels Subtitle C: Other Matters Subtitle D: Military Construction Provisions Title XI: Department of Defense Civilian Personnel National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 - Title I: Procurement - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) the Defense Inspector General; (3) the Defense Health Program; and (4) the chemical demilitarization program. (Sec. 108) Authorizes the transfer of up to $400 million from the National Defense Stockpile Transaction (NDST) Fund to specified aircraft procurement accounts for FY 1998. Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for the armed forces for research, development, test, and evaluation. (Sec. 202) Extends permanently (currently terminates on September 30, 1998) the authority of the Secretary of Defense to contract with commercial entities to conduct commercial test and evaluation activities at a major range and test facility installation. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for operation and maintenance (O&M) for the armed forces and specified activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (DOD). (Sec. 302) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for: (1) working capital and revolving funds; (2) the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and (3) O&M of Fisher houses, to be derived from the Fisher House Trust Fund. (Sec. 305) Authorizes the transfer of up to $150 million from the NDST Fund to specified O&M accounts. (Sec. 306) Repeals the Defense Business Operations Fund. Authorizes the Secretary to award contracts for capital assets of a working capital fund in advance of the availability of such funds. Subtitle B: Environmental Provisions - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to authorize the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with an Indian tribe to obtain assistance in certifying environmental technologies. (Sec. 312) Allows the use of a DOD facility for the storage and disposal of nondefense toxic and hazardous materials when such materials will or have been used in connection with a DOD activity or a service to be performed for the benefit of DOD. Provides as exceptions to the general prohibition against the use of DOD facilities for such storage and disposal the use of: (1) a space launch facility; and (2) DOD facilities for testing materials or training personnel. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Directs the Secretary to conduct programs to commemorate the 50th anniversaries of the Marshall Plan and the Korean War, using Army O&M funds. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Defense 50th Anniversary of the Marshall Plan and Korean War Commemoration Account. Requires a report from the Secretary to the congressional defense committees on the use of Account funds. (Sec. 322) Authorizes the Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School (currently, the Secretary of the Navy) to enter into an agreement with an accredited higher educational institution for an exchange of students. Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths for active- duty forces as of the end of FY 1998 and 1999. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 1998 and 1999 for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel on active duty in support of the reserves. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy - Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to allow military personnel of that department, or the Department of Transportation when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy, to serve in the management of a military welfare society and other designated entities. (Sec. 504) Revises generally the authority for the promotion of officers through promotion boards. (Sec. 505) Excludes chaplains, health care professionals, and officers assigned to duty with the American Battle Monuments Commission from current limitations on the period of recall to active duty. Subtitle B: Enlisted Personnel Policy - Authorizes the Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School to permit enlisted members of the armed forces and Coast Guard who are assigned to such School to receive instruction there on a space-available basis. (Sec. 512) Directs the Community College of the Air Force to prescribe programs for enlisted members of the armed forces, other than the Air Force, whose jobs are closely related to Air Force jobs and for enlisted personnel who are serving as instructors at Air Force training schools. Subtitle C: Reserve Personnel Policy - Allows lieutenant colonels (currently, only grades above lieutenant colonel) to serve on boards of inquiry for the involuntary separation of military personnel. Subtitle D: Education Policy - Protects educational assistance entitlements for those members of the Selected Reserve who are ordered to serve on active duty (current law) or in support of a contingency operation. Removes references to the entitlement period for such personnel who served on active duty during the Persian Gulf War. Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 1998 military pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases by 2.8 percent, effective on January 1, 1998, the rates of basic pay and basic allowance for quarters. (Sec. 602) Allows the Ready Reserve muster duty allowance to be paid before such duty is actually performed, while requiring such payment within 30 days after such duty. Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special Pays - Increases and extends through FY 2002 certain bonuses and special pay provided to nuclear-qualified officers. (Sec. 612) Provides a special pay incentive for enlisted personnel who enter into an agreement with the Secretary concerned to extend their tour of duty overseas. (Sec. 613) Increases the special pay for Selected Reserve personnel who: (1) extend their enlistments for either three or six years; and (2) reenlist in a critical military skill position after completing their initial service obligation. Subtitle C: Allowances - Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay a variable housing allowance to military personnel without dependents who make a close-proximity move within the United States. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary to use amounts appropriated for FY 1997 and thereafter for payments to participants in the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program. Authorizes the payment of supplemental stipends to such participants. Title VII: Health Care Provisions - Repeals a Federal provision which prohibits DOD funds from being used to perform abortions except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term. (Sec. 702) Authorizes the provision of prosthetic devices to military health care beneficiaries when determined necessary due to significant conditions resulting from trauma, congenital anomalies, or disease. Title VIII: Repeal of Acquisition Reports and Acquisition Policy - Subtitle A: Repeal of Certain Acquisition Reports - Amends prior defense authorization Acts to repeal various defense acquisition reporting requirements. Subtitle B: Acquisition Policy - Authorizes the use of a single payment due date for mixed invoices of a defense contractor. (Sec. 812) Authorizes the retention of amounts collected from a contractor under the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 during the pendency of any further litigation or appeals. (Sec. 813) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary concerned to contract for the procurement of severable services for periods which overlap fiscal years. (Sec. 814) Revises the quantity requirements for certain small arms weapons procurement objectives of the Secretary of the Army under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995. (Sec. 816) Eliminates certain time and qualifying requirements concerning acquisition unit cost reports. (Sec. 817) Repeals: (1) an additional competition documentation requirement with respect to international agreements; and (2) a certification requirement under the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. (Sec. 819) Requires, under a contract in which property vests to the United States, that such title vest regardless of any prior or subsequently asserted security interest in the property. (Sec. 820) Authorizes the head of an agency to enter into an undefinitized contract action with respect to: (1) contingency operations; (2) peacekeeping or peace enforcement operations; (3) disaster relief operations; and (4) humanitarian assistance. (Sec. 821) Authorizes a defense agency director, when considered advantageous, to lease personal property that is under the control of the defense agency, not needed for public use, and not excess property. Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management - Reduces from annually to every two years or as needed the required frequency of written policy guidance from the Secretary to defense agency heads concerning contingency plans. (Sec. 902) Changes from three to no less than two or more than four years the term for members of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Scientific Advisory Board. (Sec. 903) Directs the Secretary to phase out the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, beginning in FY 1998 and ending with its closure no later than September 30, 2001. Prohibits the entry of any new class of students there after September 30, 1997, and the awarding of degrees after September 30, 2001. (Sec. 904) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act, 1968 to repeal the requirement to operate the Naval Academy Dairy Farm in Gambrills, Maryland. (Sec. 905) Includes the Information Resources Management College within the National Defense University. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Amends the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1992 to extend through FY 1999 the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance in support of international nonproliferation activities. Subtitle B: Other Matters (sic) - Sets forth procedures for the sale of naval vessels stricken from the Naval Register and not subject to disposal under any other laws. (Sec. 1011) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to charter a vessel in support of the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor Program. (Sec. 1012) Repeals Federal provisions providing shipbuilding contract adjustment limitations. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Authorizes a special agent of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service to: (1) carry firearms; (2) execute and serve warrants or other Federal process; and (3) make arrests without warrant for any offense against the United States committed in the officer's presence or for any Federal felony if such agent has probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing such felony. (Sec. 1022) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to extend through FY 1998 the authority of the Secretary to provide Mexico with specified support in connection with counter-drug activities. (Sec. 1023) Authorizes the Secretary to accept foreign gifts or donations in order to defray the costs of, or enhance the operation of, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Requires the Secretary to notify the Congress if total contributions exceed $2 million in any fiscal year. Requires a report identifying the foreign governments permitted to participate in Center programs during the preceding year. (Sec. 1024) Includes imagery, imagery intelligence, or geospatial information among the geodetic data authorized to be sold by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency. (Sec. 1025) Extends through FY 1999 the authority to carry out the National Guard civilian youth opportunities pilot program as authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993. (Sec. 1026) Repeals requirements for: (1) an annual DOD conventional standoff weapons master plan and report on standoff munitions under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991; and (2) annual reports concerning special operations training conducted with friendly foreign forces. (Sec. 1027) Revises general policy objectives and goals under the Ballistic Missile Defense Act of 1995. Subtitle D: Military Construction Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to construct a heliport at Fort Irwin, California, using prior authorized and appropriated funds. (Sec. 1032) Amends prior military construction authorization Acts to repeal report requirements concerning: (1) the procurement of overseas family housing from a U.S. contractor; (2) funding for naval strategic homeporting; and (3) a proposed contract for the sale of Gregg Circle Area, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. (Sec. 1033) Provides for the crediting of financial incentives received by military departments or defense agencies for energy savings or water conservation. (Sec. 1035) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to convey any U.S. interest in a utility system under the control of that department to another utility company or other entity, under specified conditions and requirements, including congressional notification. Title XI: Department of Defense Civilian Personnel - Extends through FY 2001 the authority of the Secretary to provide voluntary separation incentive pay to DOD civilian personnel. (Sec. 1104) Amends the Intelligence Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1990 to state that no prior admission for permanent U.S. residence shall be required of staff and faculty of the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies. (Sec. 1105) Preserves certain civil service benefits and protections for certain former employees of the Defense Mapping Agency who became employees of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency.

Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998

United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Division B (sic): Military Construction Authorizations Title XXI(sic): Army Title XXII: Navy Title XXIII: Air Force Title XXIV: Defense Agencies Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations Title XXVIII: General Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Other Matters Division B (sic): Military Construction Authorizations - Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 - Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1997 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the previous title. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. (Sec. 2305) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to increase the authorized amount for a military construction project at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out architectural planning and design activities and to improve existing military family housing units, in specified amounts. (Sec. 2404) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified energy conservation projects. (Sec. 2405) Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for fiscal years after 1997 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions. Limits the total cost of authorized construction projects. (Sec. 2406) Reallocates specified funds made available due to the closure of the McClellan Air Force Base, California, to fund medical construction projects at Andersen Air Base, Guam, and Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (Sec. 2407) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to increase the funding for military construction projects at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas, and the Umatilla Army Depot, Oregon. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1997. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1997 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in the preceding titles of this Act on October 1, 2000, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for FY 2001, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. (Sec. 2704) Extends until a specified conditional date the authorization of appropriations for the Over-the-Horizon Radar at the Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, as authorized under a prior military construction authorization Act. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Repeals a current Federal provision prohibiting the Secretary of a military department (Secretary concerned) from entering into certain real property transactions of over $200,000 until 30 days after a report concerning the proposed transaction is submitted to the Senate Armed Services and House National Security Committees. Subtitle B: Other Matters - Increases from $200,000 to $500,000 the maximum amount of real property that the Secretary concerned may acquire in the interest of national defense. (Sec. 2803) Authorizes DOD to accept funds from a non-Federal party for expenses incurred whenever the Secretary concerned exchanges real property with, or grants an easement, lease, or license to, such a party. (Sec. 2804) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to lease in Naples, Italy, structures and real property associated with a regional hospital complex that are needed for military purposes. Provides a lease term of up to 20 years. Terminates such authority on September 30, 2002.

Let Our Military Personnel Buy a Home Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1997

"Let Our Military Personnel Buy a Home" Act of 1997 - Extends through FY 2000 a pilot program under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may make payments on behalf of eligible veterans for buying down the interest rate on Federally-guaranteed veterans' loans for housing within housing shortage areas at military installations. Makes $25 million available from the Department of Defense during each of FY 1998 through 2000 for such purpose.

To stay implementation of the plan for allocation of health care resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs certifies that the Secretary, in developing such plan, took into account certain medical and nonmedical factors of veterans residing within each region to be served by a Veterans Integrated Services Network.

United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1997

Delays implementation of the plan for allocation of health care resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as submitted to the Congress under the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997, until after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has certified to the Congress that he has taken into account certain specified medical and nonmedical factors of veterans residing within each region to be served by a Veterans Integrated Services Network (a Department- developed network for veterans' health care).

American Community Renewal Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities Title II: Tax Provisions Subtitle A: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities Subtitle B: Charitable Contribution Credit Title III: Low-Income Educational Opportunity Scholarship Program Title IV: Additional Provisions American Community Renewal Act of 1997 - Title I: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities - Renewing American Communities Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to create a new subchapter on renewal communities (RCs), authorizing designation of not more than 100 areas (with the first 50 being from areas which are enterprise zones or empowerment communities) as RCs if: (1) the areas have pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress and meet other requirements; and (2) State and local governments agree to take actions such as tax reduction, crime reduction strategies, and reducing, repealing, or not enforcing within the area certain governmental requirements such as licensing, zoning, and permits. Provides for: (1) coordination of RCs with empowerment zones and enterprise communities; and (2) interaction of the provisions of this Act with other Federal programs. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to report to the Congress concerning such designations. Title II: Tax Provisions - Subtitle A: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities - Excludes from gross income the capital gain from an RC stock, business property, or partnership interest held more than five years. Allows a deduction to any qualified individual or other person for amounts paid in cash to a family development account for the individual's benefit. Allows account use for postsecondary education, first home purchase, business capitalization, medical expenses, and qualified rollovers. Excludes such accounts from taxation. Requires that the individual resided in an RC and was allowed an earned income credit for the preceding taxable year. Authorizes designation of not more than 25 RCs as account matching matching demonstration areas. Provides, to the extent provided in appropriations Acts, for matching contributions to accounts. Sets the commercial revitalization credit (established below) at 20 to 50 percent of the revitalization expenditures regarding a revitalization building. Increases, for an RC business, the dollar limit on expensing certain depreciable business assets. Permits a taxpayer to treat any RC environmental remediation cost as an expense which is not chargeable to capital account. Allows any cost so treated as a deduction. (Sec. 202) Provides a special work opportunity credit rule for RCs. (Sec. 203) Provides for the commercial revitalization credit. Subtitle B: Charitable Contributions Credit - Allows an individual a credit for 75 percent of the contributions (of up to $100 annually for a taxpayer) to an organization described in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) (charitable, etc., organizations) for which the taxpayer has done more than ten hours of volunteer service and which: (1) is primarily assisting poor individuals; (2) spends all of its resources providing services to the poor; and (3) has limited political activity. Terminates such credit after December 31, 1999. Title III : Low-Income Educational Opportunity Scholarship Program - Low-Income Educational Opportunity Act of 1997 - Requires an RC to establish and operate a Low-Income Educational Opportunity Scholarship program to: (1) provide RC families a choice of schools; and (2) provide assistance for attending public and private elementary and secondary schools, including religious schools. (Sec. 309) Requires that children attending: (1) private schools receive assistance for tuition, fees, and transportation; and (2) alternative public schools receive assistance for transportation. (Sec. 310) Sets forth school eligibility requirements. (Sec. 311) Declares that a scholarship under this title is an award of aid to a family, not to a school. Prohibits: (1) a Federal, State, or local agency taking into account Federal funds provided to a renewal community, school, or parent in determining whether to provide any other funds; and (2) deeming scholarships as parental income for Federal income tax purposes or for determining eligibility for other Federal programs. States that nothing in this title shall be construed to supersede any State law prohibiting the expenditure of public funds by sectarian schools, except that no State law may prohibit the expenditure by sectarian schools of Federal funds under this title. (Sec. 316) Requires that any constitutional challenge to the program be tried in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Permits an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Sec. 317) Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Additional Provisions - Provides for the transfer of ownership of any qualified Department of Housing and Urban Development property to the unit of local government having jurisdiction, if such unit of local government agrees to dispose such qualified property as specified, including granting to a community development corporation the right of first refusal. (Sec. 402) Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to declare that the provisions of this section apply to each program under the PHSA that makes Federal awards to prevent or treat substance abuse. Allows, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a religious organization (RO) to be an award recipient, make subawards, provide services through vouchers, or accept vouchers for providing services. Makes ROs eligible on the same basis as any other nonprofit private organization. Prohibits Federal or State: (1) discrimination against an organization on the basis that the organization has a religious character; and (2) requirements that an RO, in order to be a program participant, remove religious art, icons, scripture, or other symbols. Requires an RO to arrange for services through an alternative entity if an individual objects to the RO. Allows an RO to require a beneficiary who has elected to receive services from the organization to actively participate in religious practice, worship, and instruction. Prohibits using funds for sectarian worship or instruction, unless the beneficiary may choose where the assistance is redeemed or allocated. Declares that assistance to or on behalf of a beneficiary is aid to the beneficiary and not to the organization. Requires, if a State law or constitution would prevent the expenditure of State or local funds by ROs, that the Federal funds shall be segregated from State or other public funds. Requires, for personnel working in RO drug treatment programs, giving credit for religious education and training equivalent to credit given for secular course work. Mandates waiver of educational requirements if the RO has a record of successful drug treatment and the State or local government fails to demonstrate empirically that the educational qualifications are necessary. (Sec. 403) Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to allow the appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency, in assessing the record of a financial institution, to consider the institution's ventures with any community development organization in an RC.

A Living Wage, Jobs for All Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1997

A Living Wage, Jobs for All Act - Declares that the Congress affirms the basic economic rights and responsibilities under the 1944 "Economic Bill of Rights," while updating and extending it to include certain rights to: (1) decent jobs; (2) income security for individuals unable to work for pay; (3) a decent living for farm families; (4) freedom from monopolies; (5) decent housing; (6) adequate health services; (7) social security in old age, sickness, accidental injury, and unemployment; (8) education and work training; and (7) certain other rights relating to collective bargaining, a safe working environment, information on trends in pollution sources and products and processes that affect the well-being of workers throughout the world, voting and campaigning, and personal security. Recognizes specified personal responsibilities of persons benefitting from such rights. (Sec. 3) Sets forth requirements relating to corporate responsibility. Requires each corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to include in its annual reports to the SEC a full and fair disclosure of the impact of its activities in the United States and other countries on environmental quality and on the rights of other stakeholders, including employees, consumers, and communities. Requires each State, in order to be entitled to receive any Federal grants or enter into any Federal contracts, to have initiated a time-phased program to require that all State-chartered corporations submit annual reports including such disclosures of information. Requires the Secretary of Labor and the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) identify corporations that have gone the furthest in managing their enterprises with responsible action toward environmental quality and the rights of other stakeholders, including employees, consumers, and communities; and (2) recommend to the President a special annual award to those chief executives and boards of directors that have made the greatest progress in this direction. Directs the Attorney General, with the assistance of business leaders and organizations, to establish an ongoing computerized registration program of all corporations found guilty of violating a Federal or State law. Authorizes the President, in the absence of clear and convincing evidence of rehabilitation, to deny Federal contracts, loans, or loan guarantees to non-compliant corporations. Makes it the responsibility of each Federal agency and commission, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, to perform so as to help establish and maintain conditions under which all adult Americans may freely exercise the economic rights specified in 1944 and in this Act. Prohibits Federal agencies or commissions from directly or indirectly promoting recession, stagnation, or unemployment as a means of reducing wages and salaries or inflation. (Sec. 4) Directs the President to establish a framework for the annual budget submitted to the Congress that meets specified goals with respect to: (1) quality of life and environment; (2) responsible and sustainable growth; (3) reduction of officially measured unemployment; and (4) support for international human rights declarations. Requires such framework also to include specific legislative proposals, budgets, and executive policies and initiatives such as: (1) conversion from military to civilian economy; (2) truth in budgets; (3) improved indicators of progress and regress; (4) anti-inflation policies; (5) lower real interest rates; (6) public works and services; (7) international economic policy; (8) international conferences on reducing unemployment and underemployment; (9) reductions in work hours; (10) part-time employment with social benefits; (11) insurance protection for pension fund investments; and (12) other specified matters. (Sec. 5) Mandates Joint Economic Committee oversight of actions taken or proposed to be taken under this Act. Requires the Joint Economic Committee to submit an annual Concurrent Resolution on Economic Policy setting forth both in aggregate terms and in detail its proposed goals for employment by type of employment, with special attention to hours, wages, and social benefits, and for reducing unemployment, underemployment, and poverty in urban, suburban and rural areas. Requires these goals to serve as the framework for any concurrent resolutions on the Federal budget. (Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations.

Brownfield Economic Revitalization Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Brownfield Grants Programs Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development Brownfield Grants Title III: Expensing of Environmental Remediation Costs Brownfield Economic Revitalization Act of 1997 - Title I: Brownfield Grants Programs - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a program to provide grants to States, local governments, or Indian tribes to inventory and conduct site assessments of, and other pre-cleanup activities at, brownfield sites. Defines a "brownfield site" as an abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial or commercial facility where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. (Sec. 103) Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish a program of grants to States, local governments, or Indian tribes for capitalization of loan programs for brownfield site cleanup by the State, locality, tribe, or owner or prospective purchaser; (2) carry out programs of assistance for partnership agreements between EPA and State and local governments, Federal agencies, or private entities and for brownfields workforce training in affected communities; and (3) establish a program of voluntary cleanup grants to States or tribes. (Sec. 107) Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development Brownfield Grants - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants, in connection with the authority to guarantee obligations to finance certain community development activities, to eligible public entities for projects and activities for economic redevelopment of brownfield sites. Title III: Expensing of Environmental Remediation Costs - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a taxpayer to elect to treat certain hazardous substance remediation expenditures as expenses not chargeable to capital account and therefore deductible in the year in which paid or incurred. Requires that such expenditures be made at non-National Priorities List contaminated sites in areas that meet specified poverty, zoning, enterprise or empowerment zone, or brownfields pilot project criteria.

American Community Renewal Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities Title II: Tax Provisions Subtitle A: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities Subtitle B: Charitable Contribution Credit Title III: Low-Income Educational Opportunity Scholarship Program Title IV: Additional Provisions American Community Renewal Act of 1997 - Title I: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities - Renewing American Communities Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to create a new subchapter on renewal communities (RCs), authorizing designation of not more than 100 areas (with the first 50 being from areas which are enterprise zones or empowerment communities) as RCs if: (1) the areas have pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress and meet other requirements; and (2) State and local governments agree to take actions such as tax reduction, crime reduction strategies, and reducing, repealing, or not enforcing within the area certain governmental requirements such as licensing, zoning, and permits. Provides for: (1) coordination of RCs with empowerment zones and enterprise communities; and (2) interaction of the provisions of this Act with other Federal programs. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to report to the Congress concerning such designations. Title II: Tax Provisions - Subtitle A: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities - Excludes from gross income the capital gain from an RC stock, business property, or partnership interest held more than five years. Allows a deduction to any qualified individual or other person for amounts paid in cash to a family development account for the individual's benefit. Allows account use for postsecondary education, first home purchase, business capitalization, medical expenses, and qualified rollovers. Excludes such accounts from taxation. Requires that the individual resided in an RC and was allowed an earned income credit for the preceding taxable year. Authorizes designation of not more than 25 RCs as account matching demonstration areas. Provides, to the extent provided in appropriations Acts, for matching contributions to accounts. Sets the commercial revitalization credit (established below) at 20 to 50 percent of the revitalization expenditures regarding a revitalization building. Increases, for an RC business, the dollar limit on expensing certain depreciable business assets. Permits a taxpayer to treat any RC environmental remediation cost as an expense which is not chargeable to capital account. Allows any cost so treated as a deduction. (Sec. 202) Provides a special work opportunity credit rule for RCs. (Sec. 203) Provides for the commercial revitalization credit. Subtitle B: Charitable Contributions Credit - Allows an individual a credit for 75 percent of the contributions (of up to $100 annually for a taxpayer) to an organization described in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) (charitable, etc., organizations) for which the taxpayer has done more than ten hours of volunteer service and which: (1) is primarily assisting poor individuals; (2) spends all of its resources providing services to the poor; and (3) has limited political activity. Terminates such credit after December 31, 1999. Title III : Low-Income Educational Opportunity Scholarship Program - Low-Income Educational Opportunity Act of 1997 - Requires an RC to establish and operate a Low-Income Educational Opportunity Scholarship program to: (1) provide RC families a choice of schools; and (2) provide assistance for attending public and private elementary and secondary schools, including religious schools. (Sec. 309) Requires that children attending: (1) private schools receive assistance for tuition, fees, and transportation; and (2) alternative public schools receive assistance for transportation. (Sec. 310) Sets forth school eligibility requirements. (Sec. 311) Declares that a scholarship under this title is an award of aid to a family, not to a school. Prohibits: (1) a Federal, State, or local agency taking into account Federal funds provided to a renewal community, school, or parent in determining whether to provide any other funds; and (2) deeming scholarships as parental income for Federal income tax purposes or for determining eligibility for other Federal programs. States that nothing in this title shall be construed to supersede any State law prohibiting the expenditure of public funds by sectarian schools, except that no State law may prohibit the expenditure by sectarian schools of Federal funds under this title. (Sec. 316) Requires that any constitutional challenge to the program be tried in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Permits an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Sec. 317) Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Additional Provisions - Provides for the transfer of ownership of any qualified Department of Housing and Urban Development property to the unit of local government having jurisdiction, if such unit of local government agrees to dispose such qualified property as specified, including granting to a community development corporation the right of first refusal. (Sec. 402) Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to declare that the provisions of this section apply to each program under the PHSA that makes Federal awards to prevent or treat substance abuse. Allows, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a religious organization (RO) to be an award recipient, make subawards, provide services through vouchers, or accept vouchers for providing services. Makes ROs eligible on the same basis as any other nonprofit private organization. Prohibits Federal or State: (1) discrimination against an organization on the basis that the organization has a religious character; and (2) requirements that an RO, in order to be a program participant, remove religious art, icons, scripture, or other symbols. Requires an RO to arrange for services through an alternative entity if an individual objects to the RO. Allows an RO to require a beneficiary who has elected to receive services from the organization to actively participate in religious practice, worship, and instruction. Prohibits using funds for sectarian worship or instruction, unless the beneficiary may choose where the assistance is redeemed or allocated. Declares that assistance to or on behalf of a beneficiary is aid to the beneficiary and not to the organization. Requires, if a State law or constitution would prevent the expenditure of State or local funds by ROs, that the Federal funds shall be segregated from State or other public funds. Requires, for personnel working in RO drug treatment programs, giving credit for religious education and training equivalent to credit given for secular course work. Mandates waiver of educational requirements if the RO has a record of successful drug treatment and the State or local government fails to demonstrate empirically that the educational qualifications are necessary. (Sec. 403) Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to allow the appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency, in assessing the record of a financial institution, to consider the institution's ventures with any community development organization in an RC.

Brooke Amendment Restoration Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1997

Brooke Amendment Restoration Act - Amends the following Acts with respect to certain housing program rental contributions: (1) the United States Housing Act of 1937; (2) the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act; (3) the Housing Act of 1959; (4) the National Housing Act; (5) the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983; (6) the Stewart B. Mckinney Homeless Assistance Act; and (7) the Housing Act of 1949.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to offer a loan guaranteed by an adjustable rate mortgage under chapter 37 of such title.

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1997

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to guarantee veterans loans for adjustable rate mortgages in a manner similar to the manner in which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development insures adjustable rate mortgages under provisions of the National Housing Act.

Neighborhood Assistance Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1997

Neighborhood Assistance Act - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the Administrator of General Services to transfer to any nonprofit organization that exists for the purpose of providing housing or housing assistance for homeless or low-income individuals or families, such surplus real and personal property as is needed for housing use. Directs the Administrator, in making transfers, to take such action as may be necessary to ensure that: (1) assistance provided is used to facilitate and encourage home ownership opportunities through the construction of self-help housing, under terms that require that the person receiving the assistance contribute a significant amount of labor toward the construction; and (2) the dwellings constructed with property transferred be quality dwellings that comply with local building and safety codes and standards and be made available at prices below prevailing market prices. States that if the Administrator transfers a significant portion of a surplus real property, the transfer of the entire surplus real property is deemed to be in compliance with title V of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Modifies the exception regarding the transfer of surplus personal property by the Administrator to a State agency for distribution through donation to nonprofit educational or public health institutions or organizations, to include providers of assistance to families or individuals whose annual incomes are below 185 percent of the poverty line.

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Arkansas Tornadoes Relief Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1997

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Arkansas Tornadoes Relief Act of 1997 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for FY 1997, for relief from the tornadoes that occurred in the State of Arkansas, under the Department of Housing and Urban Development's community development block grant and home program assistance.

Commercial Revitalization Tax Act of 1997

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1997

Commercial Revitalization Tax Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an investment tax credit equal to a percentage of expenditures for depreciable property in connection with the rehabilitation or reconstruction of a nonresidential building located in: (1) an empowerment zone or enterprise community; (2) an area established pursuant to a consolidated planning process for the use of Federal housing and community development funds; or (3) a low-income commercial revitalization district specially designated by a State or local government which is not primarily a nonresidential central business district. Requires, for qualification of such expenditures, that they exceed 25 percent of the fair market value of the building before rehabilitation. Imposes a State ceiling on the availability of the credit.

Jesse Gray Housing Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1997

Jesse Gray Housing Act - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out a program to construct new public housing units. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to make financial assistance available for public housing projects, especially those likely to be disposed of or demolished. Prohibits the Secretary from approving a project demolition application. Reduces lower-income rent contribution and related amounts under: (1) the United States Housing Act of 1937; (2) the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act; (3) the Housing Act of 1959; (4) the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965; (5) the National Housing Act; (6) the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978; (7) the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983; (8) the Low-Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of 1990; (9) the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997, (10) the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996; (11) the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992; (12) the Housing Act of 1949; (13) the Federal Home Loan Bank Act; (14) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; (15) the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; and (16) the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992. Excludes welfare or social security cost-of-living adjustments from such adjusted income determinations. Directs the Secretary to prepare a Federal housing assistance report.

Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title XXI (sic): Army Title XXII: Navy Title XXIII: Air Force Title XXIV: Defense Agencies Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations Title XXVIII: General Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Other Matters Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 - Title XXI (sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1997 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the previous title. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. (Sec. 2305) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to increase the authorized amount for a military construction project at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out architectural planning and design activities and to improve existing military family housing units, in specified amounts. (Sec. 2404) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified energy conservation projects. (Sec. 2405) Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for fiscal years after 1997 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions. Limits the total cost of authorized construction projects. (Sec. 2406) Reallocates specified funds made available due to the closure of the McClellan Air Force Base, California, to fund medical construction projects at Andersen Air Base, Guam, and Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (Sec. 2407) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to increase the funding for military construction projects at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas, and the Umatilla Army Depot, Oregon. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1997. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1997 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in the preceding titles of this Act on October 1, 2000, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for FY 2001, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. (Sec. 2704) Extends until a specified conditional date the authorization of appropriations for the Over-the-Horizon Radar at the Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, as authorized under a prior military construction authorization Act. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Repeals a current Federal provision prohibiting the Secretary of a military department (Secretary concerned) from entering into certain real property transactions of over $200,000 until 30 days after a report concerning the proposed transaction is submitted to the Senate and House Armed Services and National Security Committees. Subtitle B: Other Matters - Increases from $200,000 to $500,000 the maximum amount of real property that the Secretary concerned may acquire in the interest of national defense. (Sec. 2803) Authorizes DOD to accept funds from a non-Federal party for expenses incurred whenever the Secretary concerned exchanges real property with, or grants an easement, lease, or license to, such a party. (Sec. 2804) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to lease in Naples, Italy, structures and real property associated with a regional hospital complex that are needed for military purposes. Provides a lease term of up to 20 years. Terminates such authority on September 30, 2002.