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101 records in 1998
Germany · German Bundestag · 23 July 1998
Einrichtung von Abschiebelagern an der Ostgrenze der Türkei zur Eindämmung der illegalen Einwanderung aus dem Irak und anderen Ländern Asiens, Verhandlungen mit Vertretern der EU, Entsendung von Verbindungsbeamten des BGS
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1998
Agricultural Job Opportunity Benefits and Security Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a database system of U.S. agricultural worker registries to provide temporary and seasonal agricultural job opportunity and referral information. Bases registry coverage on job opportunities in a State or group of contiguous States with a common pool of workers. Sets forth individual registrant requirements, including validation of employment status. (Sec. 4) Requires an employer (including employer associations) prior to hiring a temporary agricultural worker to apply to the Secretary for a U.S. worker referral from the appropriate registry. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) employer application and labor- related assurance requirements; and (2) registry search and worker referral by the Secretary, including alien worker visa issuances in cases of insufficient registered workers. (Sec. 7) Sets forth employer requirements regarding: (1) wages; (2) housing, including an allowance in lieu of housing; and (3) transportation reimbursement, including establishment of a pilot program to provide certain registered workers with vouchers to purchase employment location transportation. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to establish an enforcement process with respect to employer application violations, including: (1) written notice of finding and opportunity for administrative appeal; (2) payment of back wages; (3) civil monetary penalties; and (4) temporary and permanent program disqualification. (Sec. 9) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to replace the existing H-2A temporary agricultural worker admissions program with an alternative admissions program. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) admissibility criteria; (2) length of stay; (3) abandonment of employment; (4) issuance of identification and employment documents; and (5) extension of stay for aliens in the United States. Establishes a trust fund in the Treasury to administer such program, and to provide monetary incentives for alien workers to return to their country of origin upon a finding by the Attorney General that such financial inducements are necessary to assure departures. Prohibits admission of H-2A alien family members. (Sec. 10) Includes certain H-2A workers who have complied with applicable visa conditions in the employment-based immigration preference allocation. (Sec. 11) Amends the Head Start Act to make certain seasonal agricultural worker families eligible for the migrant and seasonal (as added by this section) Head Start program. Increases the set-aside for specified Head Start programs. (Sec. 13) States that additional funds for the registry program, if necessary, shall come from amounts available to Federal and State entities under the Wagner-Peyser Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1998
Directs the Secretary of State to establish a cultural and training program for disadvantaged individuals from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Declares that the purpose of such program is to provide such individuals with the experience of living and working in a multicultural society while obtaining valuable work skills and experience. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize 60-month nonimmigrant visas for an alien having a residence in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland (which the alien has no intention of abandoning) who is coming temporarily to the United States as a participant in a United States-Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland cultural and training program. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1998
VAWA Restoration Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify procedures and provide special rules for battered spouses and children with respect to: (1) adjustment of status; and (2) removal and deportation.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1998
Provides permanent resident status for a named individual under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Justice Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Title III: The Judiciary Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies Title V: Related Agencies Title VI: General Provisions Title VII: Rescissions Title VIII: Citizens Protection Subtitle A: Ethical Standards for Federal Prosecutors Subtitle B: Punishable Conduct Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, and Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for FY 1999 for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the judiciary, and related agencies. Title I: Department of Justice - Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for the Department of Justice for: (1) general administration; (2) counterterrorism activities; (3) administration of pardon and clemency petitions and immigration-related activities; (4) the Office of Inspector General; (5) the U.S. Parole Commission; (6) legal activities; (7) antitrust activities; (8) the Offices of U.S. Attorneys; (9) the U.S. Trustee Program; (10) the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission; (11) the U.S. Marshals Service, including an amount for expenses related to prisoners in the custody of the Marshals Service; (12) fees and expenses of witnesses; (13) the Community Relations Service; (14) certain uses of the Assets Forfeiture Fund; (15) administrative expenses related to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act; (16) interagency law enforcement with respect to organized crime drug trafficking; (17) the Federal Bureau of Investigation; (18) construction for specified agencies; (19) the Drug Enforcement Administration; (20) the Immigration and Naturalization Service, including an amount for violent crime reduction programs; (21) the Federal prison system, including amounts for buildings and facilities; (22) the Office of Justice programs; (23) State and local law enforcement assistance, including amounts for violent crime reduction programs; (24) the Executive Office for Weed and Seed; (25) community-oriented policing services for violent crime reduction; (26) juvenile justice programs; and (27) public safety officers' benefits. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Establishes a Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System Fund for the payment of expenses related to the scheduling and transportation of U.S. prisoners and illegal and criminal aliens in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. (Sec. 103) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated by this title to: (1) pay for abortions except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or in the case of rape; or (2) require any person to perform or facilitate an abortion. (Sec. 109) Amends the Federal judicial code to extend the authority of the Attorney General to transfer real or personal property of limited value to State or local government agencies to support drug abuse treatment, drug and crime prevention and education, housing, job skills, and other community-based public health and safety programs during FY 1999. Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies - Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for the Department of Commerce for: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the International Trade Commission; (3) international trade administration; (4) export administration and national security activities; (5) the Economic Development Administration; (6) minority business development; (7) economic and statistical analysis programs; (8) the Census Bureau; (9) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; (10) public telecommunications facilities, planning, and construction grants; (11) information infrastructure grants; (12) the Patent and Trademark Office; (13) the Under Secretary for Technology-Office of Technology Policy; (14) the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and for construction and renovation of facilities; (15) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including amounts for procurement, acquisition, and construction of capital assets; (16) the Coastal Zone Management Fund; (17) the Fishermen's Contingency Fund; (18) the Foreign Fishing Observer Fund; (19) the fisheries finance program account; (20) general administration; and (21) the Office of Inspector General. Rescinds specified amounts of funds for Patent and Trademark Office salaries and expenses and NOAA procurement, acquisition, and construction. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 210) Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to grant the States of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi exclusive fishery management authority over all fish in the Gulf of Mexico within nine miles of the coast of each such State. Title III: The Judiciary - Judiciary Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for: (1) the Supreme Court, including an amount for care of the building and grounds; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; (3) the U.S. Court of International Trade; (4) the courts of appeals, district courts, and other judicial services; (5) violent crime reduction programs; (6) defender services; (7) fees of jurors and commissioners; (8) court security; (9) the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts; (10) the Federal Judicial Center; (11) judicial retirement funds; and (12) the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies - Department of State and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for the Department of State for: (1) administration of foreign affairs, diplomatic and consular programs; (2) salaries and expenses; (3) the Capital Investment Fund; (4) the Office of Inspector General; (5) representation allowances; (6) protection of foreign missions and officials; (7) security and maintenance of U.S. missions; (8) emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service; (9) the repatriation loans program account; (10) the American Institute in Taiwan; (11) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (12) international organizations, conferences, peacekeeping, and commissions, including an amount for arrearage payments to the United Nations, subject to conditions; (13) the Asia Foundation; and (14) the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Appropriates funds for the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) for: (1) international information programs; (2) educational and cultural exchanges; (3) the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships, Incorporated; (4) the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program; (5) international broadcasting, including broadcasting to Cuba; (6) radio construction; and (7) the National Endowment for Democracy. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, funds appropriated under this title. (Sec. 403) Provides for border equalization adjustments for certain State Department, USIA, Agency for International Development, and International Joint Commission employees who commute from a residence in the United States to an official duty station in Canada or Mexico. (Sec. 404) Redesignates: (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. (Sec. 406) Amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend privileges and immunities under such Act to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in the same manner as such privileges and immunities are extended to a public international organization in which the United States participates. (Sec. 407) Amends Federal civil service provisions to make certain special agents of the Diplomatic Security Service eligible for availability premium pay for criminal investigators. Title V: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for the: (1) Maritime Administration for maritime security, operations and training, and the maritime guaranteed loan program; (2) Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (3) Commission on Civil Rights; (4) Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (5) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); (6) Federal Communications Commission; (7) Federal Maritime Commission; (8) Federal Trade Commission; (9) Legal Services Corporation; (10) Marine Mammal Commission; (11) Securities and Exchange Commission; (12) Small Business Administration, including amounts for the Office of Inspector General, business and disaster loans, and capital for the Surety Bond Guarantees Revolving Fund; and (13) State Justice Institute. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth limitations on the use of funds under this Act. (Sec. 607) Sets forth Buy American provisions. (Sec. 608) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to enforce any EEOC guidelines covering harassment based on religion if such guidelines do not differ from proposed guidelines of October 1, 1993. (Sec. 609) Prohibits funds appropriated by this Act from being expended to pay for costs incurred in operating certain diplomatic or consular posts in Vietnam or increasing the number of personnel assigned to such posts unless the President certifies that the Vietnamese Government is cooperating in specified activities regarding resolution of sightings of, and accounting for, prisoners-of-war and individuals missing in action, recovery and analysis of American remains, and investigations in Laos. (Sec. 610) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act for any United Nations undertaking if: (1) such undertaking is a peacekeeping mission and will involve U.S. armed forces under the command of a foreign national; and (2) the President's military advisors have not submitted a recommendation that such involvement is in the national security interest and the President has not submitted such recommendation to the Congress. (Sec. 611) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to provide specified personal comforts in the Federal prison system. (Sec. 616) Bars the use of funds made available in this Act to issue or renew a fishing permit or authorization for any U.S. vessel exceeding certain limitations on length or tonnage and horsepower: (1) as specified in the permit application and authorization required to engage in fishing for Atlantic mackerel or herring under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; or (2) that would allow such vessel to engage in the catching or harvesting of fish in any other fishery within the U.S. exclusive economic zone (except territories), unless a certificate of documentation had been issued for the vessel and endorsed with a fishery endorsement that was effective on September 25, 1997. Invalidates any permit or authorization issued or renewed prior to this Act's enactment date that would allow a vessel subject to such prohibition to engage in fishing for Atlantic mackerel or herring during FY 1999. Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to allow a vessel with such invalidated permit or authorization to engage in the catching or harvesting of fish in any other fishery within the U.S. exclusive economic zone. (Sec. 617) Makes funds provided by this Act unavailable to promote the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco products or to seek the reduction or removal by any foreign country of restrictions on the marketing of such products, except for restrictions which are not applied equally to all products of the same type. (Sec. 618) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to pay the expenses of an election officer appointed by a court to oversee an election of any officer or trustee for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Title VII: Rescissions - Rescinds specified amounts of funds made available for the Department of Justice for: (1) the working capital fund; and (2) the U.S. Trustee System Fund. Title VIII: Citizens Protection - Citizens Protection Act of 1998 - Subtitle A: Ethical Standards for Federal Prosecutors - Subjects a Government attorney to State laws and rules, and local Federal court rules, governing attorneys in each State where such attorney engages in duties to the same extent and in the same manner as other attorneys in that State. Directs the Attorney General to make and amend rules of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assure compliance with this subtitle. Subtitle B: Punishable Conduct - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish by rule that it shall be punishable conduct for any DOJ employee to seek an indictment in the absence of probable cause, to fail promptly to release information that would exonerate a person under indictment, to intentionally or knowingly misstate or alter evidence, to attempt to influence or color a witness' testimony, to act to frustrate or impede a defendant's right to discovery, to offer or provide sexual activities to any government witness or potential witness, to leak or otherwise improperly disseminate information to any person during an investigation, or to engage in conduct that discredits DOJ; and (2) establish penalties for engaging in such conduct, including probation, demotion, dismissal, referral of ethical charges to the bar, loss of pension or other retirement benefits, suspension from employment, and referral of the allegations (if appropriate) to a grand jury for possible criminal prosecution. (Sec. 822) Sets forth procedures regarding written complaints of such conduct by a DOJ employee, investigation of such complaints by the Attorney General, and imposition of appropriate penalties. (Sec. 823) Establishes an independent Misconduct Review Board to review all determinations by the Attorney General with respect to such complaints and to investigate allegations made in statements that may be submitted to it with respect to complaints for which the Attorney General has made no determination or imposed no penalty. Authorizes the Board to impose penalties established above.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1998
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, to direct the Attorney General to waive the requirement that an alien seeking to pursue a course of study in a school reimburse the school's local educational agency (LEA), if the LEA certifies to the Attorney General that such waiver will promote educational interest and not impose on it an undue financial burden.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1998
Establishes in the Department of Justice (DOJ) the Bureau of Enforcement and Border Affairs, to be headed by a Director. Transfers from the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to the Director all functions, personnel, infrastructure, and funding of the following programs: (1) the Border Patrol program; (2) the detention and deportation program; (3) the intelligence program; (4) the investigations program; and (5) the inspections program. Transfers DOJ personnel and assets, liabilities, contracts, property, records, and INS funds in connection with such functions to the Bureau, for allocation by the Director. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) continuation of proceedings and suits and nonabatement of actions in connection with transferred functions; and (2) delegation and assignment and authority regarding functions transferred.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1998
Head Start Amendments of 1998 - Amends the Head Start Act to reauthorize and revise its programs. (Sec. 3) Revises the statement of purpose to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children. (Sec. 4) Revises definitions of family literacy services and of full-working-day. Adds definitions of child with a disability and of reliable and replicable research. (Sec. 5) Provides for financial assistance to Head Start programs that enable children to attain school readiness (as well as to attain their full potential). (Sec. 6) Extends through FY 2003 the authorization of appropriations for Head Start program activities. Directs the Secretary of Education to make available certain amounts for such program activities, transition activities, impact studies, other research and evaluation activities, and family literacy services. (Sec. 7) Revises requirements for allotment of funds. Allows set-aside funds to be used for: (1) activities related to correcting deficiencies and conducting proceedings to terminate the designation of Head Start agencies; and (2) research and evaluation. Revises funding for Indian and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs. Directs the Secretary to: (1) continue the administrative arrangement for meeting the needs of migrant and Indian children; and (2) assure that appropriate funds are provided to meet the needs of such children. Revises requirements relating to use of quality improvement funds for: (1) children with disabilities; (2) encouraging staff training; and (3) staff training related to promoting language skills and literacy growth of children and the acquisition of English by children from non-English-speaking backgrounds, fostering school readiness skills, and addressing children's problems, including dysfunction, violence, and substance abuse in their families and communities. Requires that each State initially receive an amount of Head Start funds equal to the amount received in FY 1998. Revises various requirements for collaboration grants. Directs the Secretary to provide supplemental funding to States that engage in other innovative collaborations, including plans for collaborative training and professional development initiatives for child care, early childhood education, and Head Start service managers, providers, and staff. Requires the Secretary to: (1) review barriers to collaboration; and (2) develop initiatives to eliminate such barriers. Increases the amount of funds set-aside for Early Head Start. Authorizes the Secretary to reduce these amounts, if necessary to avoid a reduction in Head Start services or quality, subject to certain conditions. Revises requirements relating to enrollment of children with disabilities. Directs the Secretary to consider specified factors concerning applicants in awarding expansion funds. (Sec. 8) Revises requirements relating to designation of Head Start agencies. Allows designation of for-profit organizations. Revises priority designation requirements and considerations. Directs the Secretary to designate an interim Head Start grantee until a qualified applicant from the community is designated. (Sec. 9) Requires education performance standards to ensure children's school readiness and development of a minimum level of literacy and numeracy awareness and understanding. Requires performance measures to assess the impact of the services provided to children and their families. Revises monitoring provisions to require: (1) review teams to include individuals knowledgeable about the needs of children with disabilities; (2) reviews to include a review and assessment of program effectiveness in accordance with results-based performance measures and performance standards; and (3) seeking out information from the community and the State on the program's performance and its collaboration with other entities in carrying out early childhood education and child care programs in the community. Requires Head Start agencies to: (1) correct any identified deficiencies that threaten health or safety or the integrity of Federal funds within 90 days, if the Secretary determines that 90 days is reasonable; and (2) develop and obtain approval for a quality improvement plan, if required by the Secretary. (Sec. 10) Revises powers and functions of Head Start agencies. (Sec. 11) Requires each Head Start agency to coordinate with the local education agency and schools in which participating Head Start children will enroll. (Sec. 12) Allows State Governors 60 days in which to disapprove any plan to carry out a Head Start program within the State through contract, agreement, grant, or other assistance. Prohibits the Secretary from overruling a Governor's disapproval in cases in which the disapproval is because of failure to comply with State health, safety and child care laws and regulations applicable to comparable programs within the State. (Sec. 13) Eliminates a Head Start Act requirement that all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in construction or renovation of Head Start program facilities be paid at least prevailing local wages for such work in accordance with Davis-Bacon Act requirements. (Sec. 14) Revises requirements for participation in Head Start regarding continuing eligibility of children who have participated in the Head Start program and whose families have met the low-income criteria. (Sec. 15) Revises requirements for Early Head Start programs for families with infants and toddlers. Provides for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Limits eligibility to pregnant women and families with children under age three. Directs the Secretary to use a portion of Early Head Start funds for monitoring, training, technical assistance, and evaluation. (Sec. 16) Provides for certain technical assistance and training with respect to collaborative efforts toward full-day, full-year Head Start services, early childhood education, child care, and family literary services. (Sec. 17) Establishes a program of grants and other assistance for family literacy services under the Head Start Act. Directs the Secretary to make competitive grants for up to 100 Head Start agencies to initiate provision of family literacy services through collaborative partnerships with entities that provide: (1) adult education services; (2) Even Start programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; or (3) other services deemed necessary for providing family literacy services. Authorizes the Secretary to provide: (1) training and technical assistance to Head Start agencies that already provide family literacy services; (2) financial assistance to designated mentor Head Start agencies that demonstrate effective implementation of family literacy services, in order to provide training and technical assistance to other agencies; and (3) grants or other assistance to facilitate training and technical assistance to programs for development of collaboration agreements with other service providers. (Sec. 18) Requires each Head Start classroom to have a teacher with demonstrated competency to perform certain functions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) ensure, by the end of FY 2003, that the majority of all Head Start classrooms in a center-based program are assigned one teacher who has an associate, baccalaureate, or an advanced degree in early childhood education or development; and (2) require Head Start agencies to demonstrate continuing progress each year to reach that result. Requires, in the remaining balance of such classrooms, that there be assigned one teacher who has: (1) a child development associate (CDA) credential that is appropriate to the age of the children being served in center-based programs; (2) a State-awarded certificate for preschool teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential; or (3) a degree in a field related to early childhood education with experience in teaching preschool children and a State-awarded certificate to teach in a preschool program. (Sec. 19) Requires research and evaluation studies and reports on the following: (1) models for integrating family literacy services with Head Start programs; (2) comparisons of children participating in Head Start with eligible children who did not participate; (3) national Head Start impact; and (4) use of quality improvement funds. (Sec. 20) Repeals a consultation requirement. (Sec. 22) Repeals the Head Start Transition Project Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1998
Illegal Alien Forfeiture Act of 1998 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to the civil penalty for illegal U.S. entry to: (1) make such penalty mandatory; and (2) authorize related asset seizure and forfeiture. (Sec. 4) Provides additional civil penalties (and asset seizure and forfeiture) for: (1) transporting illegal aliens into or in the United States; and (2) the alien so transported. (Sec. 5) Makes aliens owing a debt to the United States: (1) deportable; and (2) ineligible for admission or visas. (Sec. 6) Increases the civil penalty for entry of an alien at the improper time or place.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1998
Freedom and Privacy Restoration Act of 1998 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the provision relating to standards for Federal agency acceptance of birth certificates or driver's licenses for identification-related purposes. Prohibits a Federal agency from accepting an identification document for any identification purpose if another Federal agency accepts such document for any such purpose.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1998
Declares two named individuals to have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act upon payment of the required visa fees.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Investigating and Punishing Violent Crimes Against United States Nationals Abroad Title II: Strengthening the Air, Land, and Sea Borders of the United States Subtitle A: Violence Committed Along United States Border Subtitle B: Strengthening Maritime Law Enforcement Along United States Borders Subtitle C: Smuggling of Contraband and Other Illegal Products Title III: Denying Safe Havens to International Criminals Subtitle A: Strengthening Extradition to Ensure International Criminals are Brought to Justice Subtitle B: Strengthening Immigration Laws to Exclude International Criminals from the United States Subtitle C: Additional Tools to Deny Safe Haven to International Criminals Title IV: Seizing and Forfeiting the Assets of International Criminals Title V: Responding to Emerging International Crime Threats Subtitle A: Computer and High-Tech Crime Subtitle B: Alien Smuggling Subtitle C: Trafficking in Chemicals Used to Produce Drugs Subtitle D: Arms Trafficking Title VI: Promoting Global Cooperation in the Fight Against International Crime Title VII: Streamlining the Investigation and Prosecution of International Crimes in United States Courts International Crime Control Act of 1998 - Title I: Investigating and Punishing Violent Crimes Against United States Nationals Abroad - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit, and set penalties for, committing or attempting to commit extortion against a U.S. national. Authorizes prosecution for homicide, an attempt or conspiracy to commit homicide, or acts of physical violence with intent to cause, or resulting in, serious bodily injury with respect to U.S. nationals abroad where the Attorney General or the highest ranking subordinate of the Attorney General with responsibility for criminal prosecutions certifies in writing that the offense was intended to further the objectives of an organized criminal group (currently, limited to circumstances where such actions were intended to coerce, intimidate, or retaliate against a government or a civilian population). Specifies that such certification shall not be subject to judicial review. (Sec. 1002) Prohibits, and sets penalties for, the murder or serious assault of a State or local law enforcement, judicial, or other official abroad while such official is engaged in, or if the prohibited activity occurs on account of the performance by that official of, training or providing technical or other assistance to the United States or a foreign government in connection with any program funded by the Federal Government. Limits prosecution and judicial review under this section. Title II: Strengthening the Air, Land, and Sea Borders of the United States - Subtitle A: Violence Committed Along United States Border - Prohibits, and sets felony penalties for, violence committed while eluding inspection or during violation of arrival, reporting, entry, or clearance requirements, including conspiracy and reckless endangerment. Subtitle B: Strengthening Maritime Law Enforcement Along United States Borders - Prohibits, and sets penalties for: (1) failing to obey an order to heave to (on being so ordered by an authorized Federal law enforcement officer); and (2) failing to comply with an order of such officer in connection with the boarding of the vessel, impeding or obstructing a boarding, arrest, or other law enforcement action authorized by Federal law, or providing false information to such an officer during a boarding regarding the destination, origin, ownership, registration, nationality, cargo, or crew of the vessel. Authorizes: (1) a foreign country to consent or waive objection to the enforcement of U.S. law by the United States under this subtitle by international agreement or, on a case-by-case basis, by radio, telephone, or similar oral or electronic means; (2) the Secretary of State or his or her designee to prove a consent or waiver by certification; and (3) the seizure and forfeiture of a vessel used in violation of this subtitle. (Sec. 2202) Sets a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for failure to comply with a lawful boarding, obstruction of boarding, or provision of false information. Provides for in rem liability. (Sec. 2203) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to define an "authorized place" to board vessels to include a location in a foreign country at which U.S. customs officers are permitted to conduct inspections, examinations, or searches. Subtitle C: Smuggling of Contraband and Other Illegal Products - Prohibits, and sets penalties for, smuggling contraband and other goods from the United States and for facilitating the transportation of such goods prior to exportation. Makes such smuggling, and smuggling goods into foreign countries, a predicate offense under the money laundering statute. Amends the Tariff Act to provide for the forfeiture of merchandise illegally exported or attempted to be exported from the United States. (Sec. 2302) Expands the scope of provisions prohibiting smuggling goods into foreign countries to include the use of vehicles, aircraft, and conveyances or other modes of transportation (currently, limited to vessels). Repeals a requirement that the penalties shall apply only if any penalty or forfeiture is provided under the laws of the foreign government for violation of U.S. laws respecting customs revenue. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary) to promulgate regulations regarding illicit liquor trafficking enforcement. Prohibits, and sets penalties for: (1) transporting more than 360 liters of distilled spirits from one State into another State or foreign country; or (2) receiving or possessing more than such amount of distilled spirits that have been transported in interstate or foreign commerce in violation of Federal or State law. Provides for its seizure and forfeiture. (Sec. 2303) Increases the penalty for entry of goods by means of false statements. Prohibits, and applies such penalty to, embezzling, stealing, or wrongfully converting to personal use funds, assets, securities, or other property entrusted to a person's care or to the care of another for the purpose of paying any lawful customs duties. (Sec. 2304) Prohibits, and sets penalties for, false certifications relating to exports. Title III: Denying Safe Havens to International Criminals - Subtitle A: Strengthening Extradition to Ensure International Criminals are Brought to Justice - Authorizes the Attorney General, if a foreign government makes a request for the extradition of a person who is charged with or has been convicted of an offense within that government's jurisdiction, and if an extradition treaty between that government and the United States is in force but does not provide for extradition for the offense for which the person has been charged or convicted, or if no treaty is in force, to authorize the filing of a complaint for extradition, subject to specified conditions. Subtitle B: Strengthening Immigration Laws to Exclude International Criminals from the United States - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to make inadmissible for a visa or for admission into the United States any alien coming to the United States to avoid lawful prosecution in a foreign country for a crime involving moral turpitude (other than a purely political offense). Provides for the removal of such aliens to the country seeking prosecution of that alien unless, in the Attorney General's discretion, the removal is determined to be impracticable, inadvisable, or impossible. (Sec. 3202) Amends the INA to provide for the inadmissibility of persons: (1) involved in racketeering and arms (or explosive material) trafficking; (2) who have benefited from illicit activities of drug traffickers; and (3) involved in international alien smuggling. Subtitle C: Additional Tools to Deny Safe Haven to International Criminals - Grants the Attorney General the authority, if a person is being held in pretrial detention or is otherwise in custody in a foreign county based upon a violation of the law in that country and the person is found extraditable to the United States by the competent authorities of that country while still in pretrial detention or custody, to: (1) request the temporary transfer of that person to the United States to face prosecution in a Federal or State criminal proceeding; (2) maintain the custody of that person while he or she is in the United States; and (3) return that person to the foreign country at the conclusion of the criminal prosecution, including any imposition of sentence. Sets forth similar provisions regarding the Attorney General's authority with respect to the temporary transfer of persons in pretrial detention or custody in the United States to foreign governments seeking their extradition. (Sec. 3302) Amends the Federal judicial code to prohibit a person from using the resources of the U.S. courts in furtherance of a claim in any related civil forfeiture action, or a claim in third party proceedings in any related criminal forfeiture action, if that person: (1) purposely leaves U.S. jurisdiction; (2) declines to enter or reenter the United States to submit to its jurisdiction; or (3) otherwise evades the jurisdiction of the court in which a criminal case against that person is pending. (Sec. 3303) Removes restrictions on the transfer of foreign prisoners to serve sentences in their country of origin where provided by treaty. (Sec. 3304) Authorizes the Attorney General to permit the temporary transit through the United States of a person wanted for prosecution or imposition of sentence in a foreign country. Title IV: Seizing and Forfeiting the Assets of International Criminals - Prohibits, and sets penalties for, violations of anti-money laundering orders. (Sec. 4002) Amends the Tariff Act to authorize a customs officer, in order to assure compliance with and enforce U.S. customs laws, to stop and search mail originating in the United States that is addressed to a location outside the United States in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Sets forth provisions regarding requirements for such regulations (examination and search by customs officers, sealed versus unsealed mail), limitations on reading correspondence contained in such mail, and procedures for such examination. (Sec. 4003) Provides for civil forfeiture of the proceeds of foreign crimes, the property used to commit drug crimes abroad and to violate Federal explosives laws, and the property involved in a transaction in violation of the prohibition of illegal money transmitting businesses. (Sec. 4005) Establishes a presumption in international drug and money laundering cases that property is subject to civil forfeiture if the United States establishes: (1) that such property was acquired by a person who was engaged in an offense against a foreign nation involving the manufacture, importation, sale, or distribution of a controlled substance and there was no likely source for the property other than the offense; or (2) three of the following factors: such property constitutes or is traceable to more than $10,000 that has been or was intended to be transported to or from a major drug transit, drug producing, or money laundering country; the transaction occurred in a foreign country whose bank secrecy laws prevent the United States from obtaining records; an involved person has been convicted of or is a fugitive from a felony money laundering or controlled substance offense; or the transaction was conducted by a shell corporation not engaged in any legitimate activity in the United States. (Sec. 4006) Authorizes the Attorney General, if a person is arrested or charged in a foreign country in connection with an offense that would give rise to the forfeiture of property in the United States under the code or under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), to apply to any Federal judge or magistrate judge in the district in which the property is located for an ex parte order restraining the property subject to forfeiture for up to 30 days, subject to specified requirements. (Sec. 4007) Specifies that in a civil forfeiture case, or in an ancillary proceeding in a criminal forfeiture case under CSA, the refusal of a claimant to provide financial records located in a foreign country in response to a discovery request shall result in the dismissal of the claim with prejudice if: (1) the records may be material to a claim or the Government's ability to respond to the claim or, in a civil forfeiture case, to the Government's ability to establish the forfeitability of the property; and (2) it is within the claimant's capacity to waive his or her rights under those secrecy laws, or to obtain the records himself or herself, so that the records can be made available. (Sec. 4008) Grants the district courts jurisdiction over any foreign person, including any financial institution registered in a foreign country, that commits a money laundering offense involving a financial transaction that occurs in whole or in part in the United States, if service of process is made as specified. Authorizes the court to take action necessary to ensure that any bank account or other property held by the defendant in the United States is available to satisfy a judgement under this section. (Sec. 4009) Amends the money laundering statute to: (1) include foreign banks within the definition of "financial institution"; and (2) add specified serious foreign crimes to the list of money laundering predicate offenses. (Sec. 4011) Amends CSA to authorize the court: (1) in the case of property that has been placed beyond the court's jurisdiction, to order the defendant to return the property to the court's jurisdiction so it may be seized and forfeited; and (2) to order the defendant to repatriate any property subject to forfeiture pending trial and to deposit that property in the registry of the court, or with the United States Marshals Service or the Secretary, in an interest-bearing account (sets penalties for failure to comply). (Sec. 4012) Amends the judicial code to establish a procedure by which: (1) a foreign nation seeking to have its value based confiscation judgment registered and enforced by a U.S. district court shall first submit to the Attorney General a request; and (2) the Attorney General shall determine whether to certify the request. Authorizes that nation to file a civil proceeding in U.S. district court seeking to enforce such judgment if the request is certified. Sets forth provisions regarding entry and enforcement of judgment, finality of foreign findings, and currency conversion. (Sec. 4013) Expands the Secretary's administrative summons authority under the Bank Secrecy Act. (Sec. 4014) Revises the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 to authorize a person or entity to divulge the contents of a communication to a law enforcement agency or supervisory agency if such contents were inadvertently obtained by the service provider, appear to pertain to the commission of the crime, and appear to reveal a suspicious transaction relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation. (Sec. 4015) Amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Trading With the Enemy Act of 1917 (TWEA) to provide that information obtained under such Acts may be withheld only to the extent permitted by statute, except that information submitted, obtained, or considered in connection with any transaction prohibited under such Acts, including license applications, licenses or other authorizations, information or evidence obtained in the course of any investigation, and information obtained or furnished in connection with international agreements, treaties, or obligations shall be withheld from public disclosure, unless the release of the information is determined by the President to be in the national interest. (Sec. 4016) Increases the civil penalty and the criminal fine for violations of IEEPA. (Sec. 4017) Amends TWEA to cover attempted violations of the Act. Title V: Responding to Emerging International Crime Threats - Subtitle A: Computer and High-Tech Crime - Authorizes the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications when such interception may provide or has provided evidence of a felony relating to computer fraud and attacks on computer systems. Specifies circumstances under which a person who commits an offense outside the United States that would constitute fraud or another prohibited related activity in connection with an access device shall be subject to the penalties for such offense as if it were committed in the United States. Subtitle B: Alien Smuggling - Modifies INA to provide for the civil and criminal forfeiture of any conveyance, including any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft, that has been or is being used in the commission of an alien smuggling offense (currently, only provides for civil forfeiture) and of property that constitutes, is derived from or traceable to the proceeds obtained from, or is used to or intended to be used to facilitate, the commission of such offense. Specifies that, in cases of: (1) civil forfeiture, any such property may be seized by the Attorney General in accordance with procedures under the code; and (2) criminal forfeiture, certain provisions of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 shall apply. Subtitle C: Trafficking in Chemicals Used to Produce Drugs - Amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (CSIEA) to require each person who proposes to engage in a transaction involving the importation or exportation of a listed chemical that requires advance notification, or of an encapsulating machine, to notify the Attorney General within 15 days before the transaction. Authorizes the Attorney General to provide that the 15-day notification requirement: (1) shall apply to all imports of a listed chemical, regardless of the status of certain importers of that listed chemical as regular importers, upon finding that such notification is necessary to support effective chemical diversion control programs or is required by treaty or other international agreement to which the United States is a party; and (2) for certain importations or exportations, shall include additional information to enable a determination to be made that the listed chemical will be used for a legitimate purpose or at the time the information is needed to satisfy requirements of the importing or exporting country. Directs the Attorney General to provide notice of such additional requirements specifically identifying the listed chemicals and countries involved. Rewrites CSIEA provisions to authorize a controlled substance in schedule I to be imported into the United States for transshipment to another country or for transference or transshipment from one vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to another within the United States for immediate exportation, only if: (1) evidence is furnished that enables the Attorney General to determine that the substance will be used for scientific, medical, or other legitimate purposes in the country of destination; and (2) the substance is imported, transferred, or transshipped with the prior written approval of the Attorney General (which shall be granted or denied within 21 days after the request is made) based on a determination that specified requirements have been satisfied. Authorizes a controlled substance in schedule II, III, or IV, or a listed chemical to be imported, transferred, or transshipped only if: (1) evidence is furnished that enables the Attorney General to determine that the substance or chemical will be used for scientific, medical, or other legitimate purposes in the country of destination; and (2) advance notification is given to the Attorney General within 15 days prior to the exportation of the substance or chemical from the foreign port of embarkation. Authorizes suspension of the importation, transfer, transshipment, or exportation of: (1) a controlled substance on the ground that it may be diverted to other than scientific, medical, or other legitimate purposes; and (2) a listed chemical on the ground that it may be diverted to the clandestine manufacture of a controlled substance. Allows the Attorney General to place under seal any shipment of a controlled substance or listed chemical that: (1) has been imported or is subject to U.S. jurisdiction; and (2) is subject to an order suspending the importation, transfer, transshipment, or exportation of the controlled substance or listed chemical. Prohibits any disposition of a controlled substance or listed chemical under seal until the suspension order becomes final. Sets forth provisions regarding orders of sale, disposal, surrender to the Attorney General for appropriate disposition, and forfeiture. Establishes penalties for importing or exporting a listed chemical with intent to evade reporting or recordkeeping requirements by: (1) falsely representing to the Attorney General that the importation or exportation is not subject to the 15-day advance notification requirement or to reporting requirements established by the Attorney General; or (2) misrepresenting the actual country of final destination of the listed chemical or the actual listed chemical being imported or exported. Replaces certain penalty provisions with a provision stating that, in addition to any other applicable penalty, any person convicted of a felony violation of CSIEA relating to the receipt, distribution, manufacture, importation, or exportation of a listed chemical may be enjoined from engaging in any transaction involving a listed chemical for not more than ten years. Subtitle D: Arms Trafficking - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to make prohibitions regarding transactions with countries supporting acts of international terrorism inapplicable with respect to any transaction arising out of an investigation by a Federal law enforcement agency concerning possible criminal violations of U.S. law. Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to provide for background checks for purchases of explosives. Sets forth provisions regarding penalties for violations, written reasons provided on request for denial of requests for permission to receive explosive materials, correction of erroneous system information, remedies for erroneous denial of such materials, and attorney's fees. Requires that: (1) applications for a user permit or license to import, manufacture, or deal in explosive materials include fingerprints and a photograph of the applicant; (2) each applicant for a license pay a fee established by the Secretary of up to $300 and each applicant for a permit pay a fee established by the Secretary of up to $100 (currently, $200 for a license or permit). (Sec. 5403) Prohibits convicted felons from receiving and possessing explosive materials. Title VI: Promoting Global Cooperation in the Fight Against International Crime - Authorizes the Attorney General or the Secretary, whenever property is civilly or criminally forfeited under any provision of Federal law, to transfer such property or proceeds to a cooperating foreign country which participated in the seizure or forfeiture of the property. (Sec. 6002) Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize the Attorney General to present a request made by a foreign government for assistance with respect to a foreign investigation, prosecution, or proceeding regarding a criminal matter the execution of which requires the use of compulsory measures in more than one judicial district, to a judge or judge magistrate of any one of such districts or of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Grants such judge or magistrate the authority to issue orders to execute the request. (Sec. 6003) Grants the Attorney General authority to temporarily transfer a person who is serving a sentence, is in pretrial detention, or is otherwise being held in U.S. custody, whose testimony is needed in a foreign criminal proceeding, subject to specified requirements, if such transfer is consistent with the international obligations of the United States. (Sec. 6004) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make an exception to the prohibition against training of foreign law enforcement agencies with respect to assistance and training provided for antiterrorism purposes. (Sec. 6005) Authorizes the Attorney General to make payments from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to return forfeited property repatriated to the United States by a foreign government or others acting at the direction of a foreign government, and interest earned on the property under specified conditions. Title VII: Streamling the Investigation and Prosecution of International Crimes in United States Courts - Authorizes the Attorney General to obligate, as necessary expenses from any appropriate appropriation account available to the Department of Justice in FY 1998 or any fiscal year thereafter, the cost of reimbursement to State or local law enforcement agencies for translation services and related expenses, including transportation expenses, in cases involving extradition or requests for mutual legal assistance from foreign governments. (Sec. 7002) Amends the Federal judicial code to establish procedures governing the admission of foreign records in U.S. courts. (Sec. 7003) Authorizes the Attorney General to: (1) determine that, if a person located outside the United States is requested by a magistrate judge or Federal law enforcement officer to appear and provide testimony or answer questions in the United States in connection with any Federal or State criminal matter, the person shall not be subject to service of process, or be detained or subjected to any restriction of personal liberty, by reason of any acts or convictions that preceded such person's departure from the foreign jurisdiction; and (2) specify the appropriate duration and conditions of any grant of safe conduct. Specifies conditions of safe conduct granted. (Sec. 7004) Prohibits a defendant from receiving credit for any time spent in official detention in a foreign country if: (1) the defendant fled from, or remained outside of, the United States to avoid prosecution or imprisonment; (2) the United States officially requested the defendant's return to the United States for prosecution or imprisonment; and (3) the defendant is in custody in the foreign country pending surrender to the United States for prosecution or imprisonment. (Sec. 7005) Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that a period of suspension of the statute of limitations for collection of evidence located abroad shall end on the date on which the foreign court or authority, having taken final action on the request and having transmitted the decision or results to the United States, delivers the decision or results to the requesting U.S. authority. (Sec. 7006) Amends the Tariff Act to specify that the awarding of compensation to informers with respect to violations of the customs or navigation laws shall be at the sole discretion of the Secretary or the Secretary's designee.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1998
Citizen's Privacy Protection Act of 1998 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the provision relating to standards for Federal agency acceptance of birth certificates or driver's licenses for identification-related purposes. Prohibits Federal agencies from construing Federal law as authorizing establishment of a national identification card.
Germany · German Bundestag · 14 July 1998
Behandlung nicht-europäischer Asylsuchender bzw. Flüchtlinge in der Türkei, Aktionsplan des BMI bezüglich des Zustroms von Einwanderern aus dem Irak und Nachbarregionen, Errichtung von Auffanglagern in der Türkei, Unterstützung durch die EU, Rückübernahme von Drittstaatsangehörigen, Entsendung von Experten an Grenzorte in der Türkei, Ausbildungs- und Ausstattungshilfe
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 1998
Directs the Secretary of State to establish a cultural and training program for disadvantaged individuals from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Declares that the purpose of such program is to provide such individuals with the experience of living and working in a multicultural society while obtaining valuable work skills and experience. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize 60-month nonimmigrant visas for an alien having a residence in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland (which the alien has no intention of abandoning) who is coming temporarily to the United States as a participant in a United States-Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland cultural and training program. Authorizes appropriations.
Germany · German Bundestag · 3 July 1998
Anzahl der Ermittlungsverfahren, U-Haft, Verurteilungen, Verletzte bzw. getötete Personen
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Justice Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Title III: The Judiciary Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies Title V: Related Agencies Title VI: General Provisions Title VII: Rescissions Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for FY 1999 for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the judiciary, and related agencies. Title I: Department of Justice - Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for the Department of Justice for: (1) general administration; (2) a joint automated booking system; (3) counterterrorism activities; (4) administration of pardon and clemency petitions and immigration-related activities; (5) the Office of Inspector General; (6) the U.S. Parole Commission; (7) legal activities; (8) antitrust activities; (9) the Offices of U.S. Attorneys; (10) the U.S. Trustee Program; (11) the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission; (12) the U.S. Marshals Service, including an amount for expenses related to prisoners in the custody of the Marshals Service; (13) fees and expenses of witnesses; (14) the Community Relations Service; (15) certain uses of the Assets Forfeiture Fund; (16) administrative expenses related to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act; (17) interagency law enforcement with respect to organized crime drug trafficking; (18) the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); (19) construction for specified agencies; (20) the Drug Enforcement Administration; (21) the Immigration and Naturalization Service; (22) the Federal prison system, including amounts for buildings and facilities; (23) the Office of Justice programs; (24) State and local law enforcement assistance, including amounts for violent crime reduction programs; (25) the Executive Office for Weed and Seed; (26) community-oriented policing services for violent crime reduction; (27) juvenile justice programs; and (28) public safety officers' benefits. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Establishes a Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System Fund for the payment of expenses related to the scheduling and transportation of U.S. prisoners and illegal and criminal aliens in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Makes appropriations for initial capitalization of the Fund. (Sec. 102) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated by this title to: (1) pay for abortions except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or in the case of rape; or (2) require any person to perform or facilitate an abortion. (Sec. 110) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to remove the authority for beneficiaries of certain petitions for classification or applications for labor certifications to apply to the Attorney General for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Repeals provisions which allow certain employment-based immigrants to adjust to permanent residence status. Establishes the Immigration Detention and Naturalization Activity Account in the Treasury. Provides for: (1) the deposit of certain application fees into the Account; and (2) refunds to any appropriation for expenses incurred by the Attorney General for the detention of aliens, construction relating to such detention, and activities relating to naturalization. (Sec. 112) Prohibits any immigration inspection fee from being charged in connection with the arrival of any passenger, other than aircraft passengers, whose journey originated in a U.S. State. (Sec. 115) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require the Attorney General to provide investigative assistance to tribal law enforcement agencies. (Sec. 116) Repeals provisions of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 that provide for an automated entry and exit control system. Revises provisions requiring aliens to present border identification cards that match appropriate biometric characteristics in order to cross the border to phase in such requirement over a number of years, requiring all cards in circulation as of April 1, 1998, to match by October 1, 2003. (Current law applies such requirement to all cards presented three years after such Act's enactment date.) (Sec. 117) Directs the President, with the FY 2000 budget request, to present the specific dollar amounts budgeted, by appropriation account and line item, for counterterrorism and antiterrorism programs. Requires a narrative outline of the content of, and detail of the amounts budgeted for, each program for FY 1998 through 2000 and the succeeding five years of the Federal Counterterrorism Strategy. (Sec. 118) Amends the Controlled Substances Act to make unlawful certain knowing failures to provide records or reports, including those pertaining to listed chemicals and certain machines. (Current law provides that all failures to do so are unlawful.) Limits penalties for knowing violations regarding reports or recordkeeping to $500 if no unauthorized person obtains unlawful control of a controlled substance as a result of such a violation. (Sec. 120) Requires the General Accounting Office to report to specified congressional committees on compliance of the Department of Justice and all U.S. Attorneys with the Guidance on the Use of the False Claims Act in Civil Health Care Matters. Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies - Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for the Department of Commerce for: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the International Trade Commission; (3) international trade administration; (4) export administration and national security activities; (5) the Economic Development Administration; (6) minority business development; (7) economic and statistical analysis programs; (8) the Census Bureau; (9) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; (10) public telecommunications facilities, planning, and construction grants; (11) information infrastructure grants; (12) the Patent and Trademark Office; (13) the Under Secretary for Technology-Office of Technology Policy; (14) the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and for construction and renovation of facilities; (15) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including amounts for procurement, acquisition, and construction of capital assets; (16) the Coastal Zone Management Fund; (17) the Fishermen's Contingency Fund; (18) the Foreign Fishing Observer Fund; (19) the fisheries finance program account; (20) general administration; and (21) the Office of Inspector General. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title III: The Judiciary - Judiciary Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for: (1) the Supreme Court, including an amount for care of the building and grounds; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; (3) the U.S. Court of International Trade; (4) the courts of appeals, district courts, and other judicial services; (5) defender services; (6) fees of jurors and commissioners; (7) court security; (8) the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts; (9) the Federal Judicial Center; (10) judicial retirement funds; and (11) the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 304) Authorizes U.S. judges and justices to receive a salary adjustment during FY 1999. Appropriates funds for such purpose. Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies - Department of State and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for the Department of State for: (1) administration of foreign affairs, diplomatic and consular programs; (2) salaries and expenses; (3) the Capital Investment Fund; (4) the Office of Inspector General; (5) representation allowances; (6) protection of foreign missions and officials; (7) security and maintenance of U.S. missions; (8) emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service; (9) the repatriation loans program account; (10) the American Institute in Taiwan; (11) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (12) international organizations, conferences, peacekeeping, and commissions; and (13) the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Appropriates funds for the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) for: (1) international information programs; (2) information technology improvements; (3) educational and cultural exchanges; (4) the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships, Incorporated; (5) the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program; (6) international broadcasting, including broadcasting to Cuba; (7) radio construction; (8) the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West; (9) the North-South Center; and (10) the National Endowment for Democracy. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 403) Requires funds made available by any Act for arrearage payments to the United Nations for peacekeeping operations to be reduced by 25 percent of total U.S. expenditures between October 30, 1997, and February 23, 1998, made in response to efforts by Iraq to block United Nations-sanctioned inspections of Iraqi military and civilian facilities with respect to weapons of mass destruction. Makes such reductions during FY 1998 through 2000. (Sec. 404) Bars the use of funds made available in this Act by the State Department or USIA to provide assistance to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation or a similar organization. (Sec. 405) Prohibits funds appropriated by any Act from being expended to pay for costs incurred in operating certain diplomatic or consular posts in Vietnam or increasing the number of personnel assigned to such posts unless the President certifies that the Vietnamese Government is cooperating in specified activities regarding resolution of sightings of, and accounting for, prisoners-of-war and individuals missing in action, recovery and analysis of American remains, and investigations in Laos. (Sec. 406) Grants the Secretary of State discretionary authority to pay tort claims in connection with damages sought against the United States for injury or loss of property or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of a Federal employee in a foreign country with respect to State Department overseas operations. Title V: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for the: (1) Maritime Administration for maritime security, operations and training, and the maritime guaranteed loan program; (2) Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (3) Commission on Civil Rights; (4) Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (5) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); (6) Federal Communications Commission; (7) Federal Maritime Commission; (8) Federal Trade Commission; (9) Legal Services Corporation; (10) Marine Mammal Commission; (11) Commission on Ocean Policy; (12) Securities and Exchange Commission; (13) Small Business Administration, including amounts for the Office of Inspector General, business and disaster loans, and capital for the Surety Bond Guarantees Revolving Fund; and (14) State Justice Institute. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth limitations on the use of funds under this Act. (Sec. 607) Sets forth Buy American provisions. (Sec. 608) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to: (1) enforce any EEOC guidelines covering harassment based on religion if such guidelines do not differ from proposed guidelines of October 1, 1993; or (2) provide specified personal comforts in the Federal prison system. (Sec. 613) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to issue visas to certain individuals from Haiti, including those involved in specified extrajudicial and political killings. (Sec. 614) Prohibits the use of funds made available in any Act to issue or renew a fishing permit or authorization for any U.S. fishing vessel exceeding a specified length, tonnage, or horsepower that would allow such vessel to engage in fishing in any fishery within the U.S. exclusive economic zone unless: (1) a certificate of documentation had been issued for the vessel, endorsed with a fishery endorsement effective on September 25, 1997, and endorsed at all times thereafter; or (2) the regional fishery management council recommends, and the Secretary of Commerce approves, a fishery management plan that allows the vessel to engage in such fishing. Invalidates any permit or authorization issued or renewed prior to this Act's enactment date for a vessel exceeding such limits that would allow the vessel to engage in fishing for any Atlantic mackerel or herring in the waters off the U.S. east coast during FY 1999 unless the Secretary has approved a plan to allow such fishing. Bars the use of funds made available in any Act to issue an individual fishing quota under a fishery management plan approved by a regional fishery management council after September 30, 2000, to a non-U.S. citizen or a corporation or other entity in which less than 75 percent controlling interest is owned by U.S. citizens. (Sec. 615) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to pay the expenses of an election officer appointed by a court to oversee an election of any officer or trustee for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. (Sec. 616) Amends the International Security and Development Corporation Act of 1985 to reduce the number of members of the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. (Sec. 618) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to study and report to the Appropriations Committee on: (1) taxation of the Internet by States and political subdivisions; (2) access to the Internet; and (3) communications and transactions conducted through the Internet. (Sec. 619) Authorizes, upon the joint motion of the United States and the State of Alaska and the issuance of an order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, the deposit of the joint trust funds or any portion thereof, including any interest accrued thereon, received, or to be received by the United States and Alaska under the Agreement and Consent decree issued in United States v. Exxon Corporation (i.e., the Exxon Valdez oil spill consent decree), in appropriate accounts outside the Court Registry, including the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Fund. Allows any interest accrued under the authority of this section to be used only for grants for marine research and monitoring and for community and economic restoration projects. Terminates the authority provided in this section on September 30, 2002, unless by September 30, 2001, the trustees have submitted to the Congress legislation to establish a board to administer funds invested, interest received, and grants awarded from such interest. Title VII: Rescissions - Rescinds specified amounts of funds made available for: (1) the Department of Justice working capital fund; (2) FBI construction, salaries and expenses, and violent crime reduction; (3) the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration; and (4) the Endowment for Children's Educational TV.
Germany · Bundesrat · 1 July 1998
<b>Europäische Impulse:</b> Empfehlung des Rates der EU vom 27. September 1996 betr. Sanktionen gegen die illegale Beschäftigung von Drittstaatenangehörigen <br><br><b>Inhalt:</b> Verbesserung der Bekämpfung aller Formen der illegalen Beschäftigung, insbesondere Erweiterung der Eingriffsmöglichkeiten auf seiten der Auftraggeber bzw. Arbeitgeber, Änderung steuerrechtlicher Bestimmungen zur Ausweitung der Verantwortlichkeiten von Hauptunternehmern zur Verhinderung der Steuerhinterziehung durch Nachunternehmen; Änderung versch. §§ 3. und 4. Buch Sozialgesetzbuch und Einkommensteuergesetz, Änderung und Ergänzung versch. §§ Gesetz zur Bekämpfung der Schwarzarbeit und der Abgabenordnung, Änderung der §§ 15 a und 18 Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz, §§ 17 und 118 Handwerksordnung, Art. 97 § 1 Einführungsgesetz zur Abgabenordnung sowie der Anlage 1 Gewerbeordnung. Das Gesetz ist weitgehend kostenneutral. <br><br><b>Nebenschlagwörter:</b> Sozialgesetzbuch III/Änderung versch. §§ SGB III betr. BillBG- Ergänzungsgesetz * Sozialgesetzbuch IV/Änderung versch. §§ SGB IV betr. BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz * Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz/ Änderung der §§ 15 a und 18 AÜG betr. BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz * Schwarzarbeit/Änderung und Ergänzung versch. §§ Gesetz zur Bekämpfung der Schwarzarbeit betr. BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz * Handwerksordnung/Änderung der §§ 17 und 118 HandwO betr. BillBG- Ergänzungsgesetz * Gewerbeordnung/Änderung Anl 1 GewO betr. BillBG- Ergänzungsgesetz * Abgabenordnung/Änderung und Ergänzung versch. §§ AO betr. BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz * Einführungsgesetz zur Abgabenordnung/Änderung Art. 97 § 1 EGAO betr. BillBG- Ergänzungsgesetz * Einkommensteuergesetz/Änderung versch. §§ EStG betr. BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz * Ausländischer Arbeitnehmer/ Bekämpfung der illegalen Beschäftigung durch BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz
Germany · Bundesrat · 1 July 1998
<b>Bezug:</b> Die Vorlage wurde bereits in der 13.WP eingebracht (s. GESTA 13.WP 2c-G103) Siehe auch D054 und G089 <br><br><b>Europäische Impulse:</b> Empfehlung des Rates der EU vom 27. September 1996 betr. Sanktionen gegen die illegale Beschäftigung von Drittstaatenangehörigen <br><br><b>Inhalt:</b> Verbesserung der Bekämpfung aller Formen der illegalen Beschäftigung, insbesondere Erweiterung der Eingriffsmöglichkeiten auf Seiten der Auftraggeber bzw. Arbeitgeber, Änderung steuerrechtlicher Bestimmungen zur Ausweitung der Verantwortlichkeiten von Hauptunternehmern zur Verhinderung der Steuerhinterziehung durch Nachunternehmen; Änderung versch. §§ 3. und 4. Buch Sozialgesetzbuch und Einkommensteuergesetz, Änderung und Ergänzung versch. §§ Gesetz zur Bekämpfung der Schwarzarbeit und der Abgabenordnung, Änderung der §§ 15a und 18 Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz, §§ 17 und 118 Handwerksordnung, Art. 97 § 1 Einführungsgesetz zur Abgabenordnung sowie der Anlage 1 Gewerbeordnung. Das Gesetz ist weitgehend kostenneutral. <br><br><b>Nebenschlagwörter:</b> Sozialgesetzbuch III/Änderung versch. §§ SGB III betr. BillBG- Ergänzungsgesetz * Sozialgesetzbuch IV/Änderung versch. §§ SGB IV betr. BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz * Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz/ Änderung §§ 15a und 18 AÜG betr. BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz * Schwarzarbeit/Änderung und Ergänzung versch. §§ Gesetz zur Bekämpfung der Schwarzarbeit betr. BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz * Handwerksordnung/Änderung §§ 17 und 118 HandwO betr. BillBG- Ergänzungsgesetz * Gewerbeordnung/Änderung Anl 1 GewO betr. BillBG- Ergänzungsgesetz * Abgabenordnung/Änderung und Ergänzung versch. §§ AO betr. BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz * Einführungsgesetz zur Abgabenordnung/Änderung Art. 97 § 1 EGAO betr. BillBG- Ergänzungsgesetz * Einkommensteuergesetz/Änderung versch. §§ EStG betr. BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz * Ausländischer Arbeitnehmer/ Bekämpfung der illegalen Beschäftigung durch BillBG-Ergänzungsgesetz
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorities of Departmental Office of Minority Health With Respect to Tobacco Products Title II: Additional Authorities Minority Community Tobacco Reduction Act - Title I: Authorities of Departmental Office of Minority Health With Respect to Tobacco Products - Amends the Public Health Service Act to instruct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to plan, coordinate, and evaluate all minority tobacco activities conducted or supported by Public Health Service agencies (Service agencies). Prescribes a formula for the allocation of funds for such activities. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, to: (1) establish a comprehensive plan for implementation of minority tobacco activities by designated Service agencies according to prescribed guidelines and criteria; (2) ensure that minority tobacco activities are provided in contexts that are culturally and linguistically appropriate; and (3) ensure that there is in operation an advisory committee appointed from among non-Federal individuals experienced in minority-health concerns. Requires allocation to minority tobacco activities, according to a specified formula, of any block grants to States made pursuant to national tobacco legislation. Authorizes the use of such grant funds to: (1) establish or operate an office of minority health; or (2) make grants to Indian Health Service area offices. Title II: Additional Authorities - Directs the Secretary to make grants from amounts received by the Federal Government pursuant to national tobacco legislation to: (1) establish at certain minority medical schools endowments whose income shall be used exclusively for public health programs and biomedical research on diseases for which tobacco product consumption is the principal causal factor; (2) public and private nonprofit private entities for research, training, and demonstrations regarding child health and biomedical research (including with respect to tobacco products); and (3) community, migrant, and homeless health centers to assist them in providing health services and prevention activities for tobacco-related diseases. (Sec. 204) Makes Federal grants available to provide transition assistance to certain entities whose activities had previously been supported through the advertising or promotion of tobacco interests. (Sec. 205) Exempts from the application of national tobacco legislation the use of tobacco and tobacco products by Indian tribes for religious, ceremonial, and traditional purposes.
Germany · Bundesrat · 25 June 1998
<b>Inhalt:</b> Ausweisung erheblich straffällig gewordener Kinder und minderjähriger Jugendlicher auch mit ihren Eltern, Neuregelungen zum Familiennachzug rechtmäßig in Deutschland lebender Ausländer; Änderung versch. §§ Ausländergesetz. Den Länderhaushalten entstehen nicht näher quantifizierbare Kosten. <br><br><b>Nebenschlagwörter:</b> Ausländisches Kind/Ausweisung straffällig gewordener ausländischer Kinder * Ausländischer Jugendlicher/Ausweisung straffällig gewordener ausländischer Jugendlicher * Ausweisung/Ausweisung straffällig gewordener ausländischer Kinder * Familienzusammenführung/Neuregelungen zum Familiennachzug rechtmäßig in Deutschland lebender Ausländer
Germany · Bundesrat · 25 June 1998
<b>Bezug:</b> Die Vorlage wurde bereits in der 13.WP eingebracht (s. GESTA 13.WP 2c-B117) <br><br><b>Inhalt:</b> Ausweisung erheblich straffällig gewordener Kinder und minderjähriger Jugendlicher auch mit ihren Eltern, Neuregelungen zum Familiennachzug rechtmäßig in Deutschland lebender Ausländer; Änderung versch. §§ Ausländergesetz. Den Länderhaushalten entstehen nicht näher quantifizierbare Kosten. <br><br><b>Nebenschlagwörter:</b> Ausländisches Kind/Ausweisung straffällig gewordener ausländischer Kinder * Ausländischer Jugendlicher/Ausweisung straffällig gewordener ausländischer Jugendlicher * Ausweisung/Ausweisung straffällig gewordener ausländischer Kinder * Familiennachzug/ Neuregelungen zum Familiennachzug rechtmäßig in Deutschland lebender Ausländer
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1998
Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act of 1998 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a nonimmigrant classification for (nonimmigrant) nurses in health professional shortage areas. Sets forth admissions requirements, including a maximum three-year stay. Limits: (1) eligible hospitals; (2) fiscal year entrants; and (3) the number of entrants permitted to work in any one State. Requires the Secretary of Labor to compile a public list of facilities petitioning for the admission of each such nurse. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to jointly submit recommendations for an alternative solution to using foreign nurses to resolve the U.S. nursing shortage.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Head Start Programs Title II: Community Services Block Grant Program Title III: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Title IV: Assets for Independence Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998 - Title I: Head Start Programs - Head Start Amendments of 1998 - Amends the Head Start Act to reauthorize and revise its programs. (Sec. 103) Revises the statement of purpose to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low income children. (Sec. 104) Revises definitions of family literacy services, of full-working-day, and of migrant or seasonal Head Start program. Adds definitions of child with a disability and of reliable and replicable research. (Sec. 105) Provides for financial assistance to Head Start programs that enable children to attain school readiness (as well as to attain their full potential). (Sec. 106) Extends through FY 2003 the authorization of appropriations for Head Start program activities. Directs the Secretary of Education to make available certain amounts for such program activities, transition activities, impact studies, and other research and evaluation activities. (Sec. 107) Revises requirements for allotment of funds. Allows set-aside funds to be used for: (1) activities related to correcting deficiencies and conducting proceedings to terminate the designation of Head Start agencies; and (2) research and evaluation. Revises funding for Indian and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs. Directs the Secretary to: (1) continue the administrative arrangement for meeting the needs of migrant and Indian children; and (2) assure that appropriate funds are provided to meet the needs of such children. Revises requirements relating to use of quality improvement funds for: (1) children with disabilities; (2) encouraging staff training; and (3) staff training related to promotion of language skills and literacy growth of children and the acquisition of English for children from non-English-speaking backgrounds. Requires that each State initially receive an amount of Head Start funds equal to the amount received in FY 1998. Revises various requirements for collaboration grants. Directs the Secretary to provide supplemental funding to: (1) States that develop unified plans for early childhood education and child care that include participation of Head Start agencies; and (2) States that engage in other innovative collaborations. Requires the Secretary to: (1) review barriers to collaboration; (2) develop initiatives to eliminate such barriers; and (3) develop a mechanism to resolve conflicts between programs. Increases the amount of funds set-aside for Early Head Start. Authorizes the Secretary to reduce these amounts, if necessary to avoid a reduction in Head Start services or quality, subject to certain conditions. Revises requirements relating to enrollment of children with disabilities. Directs the Secretary to consider specified factors concerning applicants in awarding expansion funds. (Sec. 108) Revises requirements relating to designation of Head Start agencies. Allows designation of for-profit organizations. Directs the Secretary, in making such designations, to: (1) consult with the State Governor; (2) give priority to existing Head Start grantees or their successors, unless the agency has failed to meet certain requirements; (3) give priority to Head Start agencies that have met or exceeded performance standards and performance measures; and (4) consider an applicant's plan to seek parent involvement and meet the needs of non-English background children and children with disabilities. Authorizes the Secretary to designate an interim Head Start grantee until a qualified applicant from the community is designated. (Sec. 109) Requires education performance standards to ensure children's school readiness and development of a minimum level of literacy awareness and understanding. Requires performance measures to assess the impact of the services provided to children and their families. Revises monitoring provisions to require: (1) review teams to include individuals knowledgeable about the needs of children with disabilities; and (2) reviews to include a review and assessment of program effectiveness in accordance with outcome-based performance measures and performance standards. Requires Head Start agencies to: (1) immediately correct any identified deficiencies that threaten health or safety or the integrity of Federal funds; (2) correct a deficiency within 90 days of being informed, if the Secretary determines that 90 days is reasonable; and (3) develop and obtain approval for a quality improvement plan, if required by the Secretary. (Sec. 110) Revises powers and functions of Head Start agencies. (Sec. 111) Revises Head Start transition provisions to require each Head Start agency to coordinate with the local education agency and schools in which participating Head Start children will enroll. (Sec. 112) Allows State Governors 45 days in which to disapprove any plan to carry out a Head Start program within the State through contract, agreement, grant, or other assistance. Prohibits the Secretary from overruling a Governor's disapproval in cases in which the disapproval is because of failure to comply with State health, safety and child care laws and regulations applicable to comparable programs within the State. (Sec. 113) Revises requirements for participation in Head Start regarding: (1) continuing eligibility of children who have participated in the Head Start program and whose families have met the low-income criteria; (2) use of a sliding fee scale for extended day services in full-day programs that operate through collaborations with other agencies or entities; and (3) continuous recruitment and acceptance of applications for Head Start throughout the year. (Sec. 114) Revises requirements for Early Head Start programs for families with infants and toddlers. Adds a reference to infants and toddlers with disabilities. Limits eligibility to pregnant women and families with children under age three. Directs the Secretary to use a portion of Early Head Start funds for monitoring, training, technical assistance, and evaluation. (Sec. 115) Directs the Secretary to: (1) ensure provision of technical assistance to Head Start agencies, other entities and States in collaborative efforts to promote full-day, full-year services; and (2) assist Head Start agencies and programs in expediting information sharing about innovative models for providing full-day, full-year services, and in ensuring school readiness of children and meeting education performance standards. (Sec. 116) Requires each Head Start classroom to have a teacher with demonstrated competency to perform certain functions (in addition to certificate and degree requirements already contained in current law). Directs the Secretary to grant a 180-day waiver of degree requirements for Head Start teachers, upon request, if the Head Start agency has unsuccessfully attempted to recruit an individual with the required credential, certificate or degree. (Sec. 117) Requires: (1) comparative studies of children participating in Head Start with eligible children who did not participate; and (2) a national Head Start impact research and a quality improvement study. Title II: Community Services Block Grant Program - Amends the Community Services Block Grant Act to reauthorize and revise its programs. (Sec. 201) Extends through FY 2003 the authorization of appropriations for community services block grants. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reserve specified portions of annual appropriations for payments to territories, training and technical assistance and other activities, and discretionary activities. Revises or adds provisions relating to: (1) program authorization; (2) apportionment of funds to territories; (3) allotment and payment of funds to States; (4) use of funds by States for grants to eligible entities; (5) State applications and plans; (6) designation and redesignation by States of eligible entities in unserved areas of the State; (7) tripartite boards for eligible entities; (8) direct payment of funds by the Secretary to Indian tribes and tribal organizations; (9) the Secretary's carrying out certain functions of the Act through the Office of Community Services, and through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements; (10) the Secretary's use of set-aside funds for training, technical assistance, planning, evaluation, and data collection activities; (11) State monitoring of eligible entities to determine whether such entities meet performance goals, administrative standards, financial management requirements, and other State requirements; (12) corrective action, termination and reduction of funding, in cases where a State determines that an eligible entity materially fails to comply with the terms of an agreement or the State plan, or to meet appropriate standards, goals, and other State requirements; (13) fiscal controls, audits, and withholding of Federal funds; (14) Federal and State accountability and reporting on the performance of eligible entities; (15) limitations on the use of funds; (16) participation of faith-based organizations in programs under the Act; and (17) the Secretary's use of set-aside funds for discretionary activities involving community economic development, rural community development, and neighborhood innovation projects. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for: (1) community food and nutrition programs; and (2) national or regional programs designed to provide instructional activities for low-income youth. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 203) Repeals provisions of the Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1986 relating to: (1) interest rates payable on certain rural development loans, and assignment of loan contracts; and (2) demonstration partnership agreements addressing the needs of the poor. Title III: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance - Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to reauthorize and revise its programs. (Sec. 301) Extends through FY 2004 the authorization of appropriations for: (1) low-income home energy assistance programs (LIHEAP) in general; and (2) the incentive program for leveraging non- Federal resources. (Reduces the authorized amount for the incentive program except in fiscal years when appropriations for the general program reach a specified minimum level.) (Sec. 303) Provides for release of LIHEAP funds in response to emergencies, including a natural disaster, any other event meeting criteria the Secretary determines appropriate, or a significant increase in: (1) home energy supply shortages or disruptions; (2) the cost of home energy; (3) home energy disconnections; (4) participation in a public benefit program such as the food stamp program; or (5) a significant increase in unemployment or layoffs. (Sec. 304) Includes the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the combined Freely Associated States as participants in LIHEAP. (Sec. 306) Prohibits certain transfers out of LIHEAP. (Sec. 307) Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate and report to the Congress on the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge program. (Sec. 308) Increases the amount of funds available for technical assistance, training, and compliance reviews. Authorizes the Secretary to use such funds for: (1) onsite program reviews; and (2) interagency agreements, including agreements with Federal agencies. Title IV: Assets for Independence - Assets for Independence Act - Provides for the establishment of individual development account (IDA) demonstration projects designed to determine: (1) the social, civic, psychological, and economic effects of providing to individuals and families with limited means an incentive to accumulate assets by saving a portion of their earned income in an individual development account; (2) the extent to which an asset-based policy that promotes saving for education, home ownership, and microenterprise development may be used to enable individuals and families with limited means to increase their economic self-sufficiency; and (3) the extent to which an asset-based policy stabilizes and improves families and the community in which they live. (Sec. 404) Limits the use of IDA distributions to specified postsecondary educational, first-home purchase, and business capitalization expenses, as well as transfers to IDAs of family members. (Sec. 405) Allows not-for-profit organizations, State or local government agencies, and tribal governments to apply to the Secretary of HHS for grants for such demonstration projects. Directs the Secretary to publicly announce funding for such projects and make applications widely available to qualified entities. Sets forth criteria for application approval, including project sufficiency, administrative ability, ability to assist participants, commitment of non-Federal funds, and adequacy of information for evaluation. (Sec. 406) Directs the Secretary to make annual grants for four project years for such demonstration projects to entities with approved applications. Limits the amount of such a grant to any qualified entity in a single year to the lesser of $1 million or an amount equal to the amount of non-Federal matching funds. (Sec. 407) Requires each qualified not-for-profit organization receiving a grant to establish a reserve fund for deposit of private and public funds provided for the demonstration project, as well as proceeds from investments. (Sec. 408) Makes an individual eligible for assistance under a demonstration project if the individual is a member of a household that: (1) is eligible for assistance under part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) of title IV of the Social Security Act; or (2) meets certain income and net worth tests. (Sec. 410) Allows IDAs, to which qualified individuals may contribute, to be matched from grant funds by the qualified entity conducting the demonstration project, according to a certain formula, in an amount up to $2,000 per individual ($4,000 per household). (Sec. 411) Provides for local control over such demonstration projects. (Sec. 412) Requires annual progress reports by qualified entities. (Sec. 413) Directs the Secretary to terminate a demonstration project upon determination of noncompliance with requirements and failure to implement corrective recommendations. (Sec. 415) Prohibits considering funds in the IDA of a demonstration project participant as income for purposes of any Federal or federally-assisted program based on need. (Sec. 416) Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1998
Border Visa Simplification Act - Directs the Secretary of State to waive the tourist or business visitor visa fee for certain Mexican citizens under the age of 15. States that such visa shall expire when the child reaches the age of 18, unless at the request of the parent a regular visa with fee is issued. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to revise the border crossing restriction implementation schedule. Requires tourist and business visitor visas to continue to be processed at least until October 1, 2003, in the Mexican border cities of Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Acuna, Piedras Negras, Agua Prieta, and Reynosa.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1998
Border Visa Simplification Act - Directs the Secretary of State to waive the tourist or business visitor visa fee for certain Mexican citizens under the age of 15. States that such visa shall expire when the child reaches the age of 18, unless at the request of the parent a regular visa with fee is issued. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to revise the border crossing restriction implementation schedule. Requires tourist and business visitor visas to continue to be processed at least until October 1, 2003, in the Mexican border cities of Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Acuna, Piedras Negras, Agua Prieta, and Reynosa.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1998
United States Immigration Court Act of 1998 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish the United States Immigration Court, which shall consist of trial and appellate divisions. Sets forth operational, administrative, and jurisdictional provisions.
Germany · German Bundestag · 19 June 1998
Aufnahme von Kosovo-Albanern als politisch Verfolgte in Deutschland, ausländer- und asylrechtliche Einzelfallprüfung
Germany · German Bundestag · 19 June 1998
Abschiebestopp für Kosovo-Albaner
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1998
Provides permanent resident status for two named individuals under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
European Union · EUR-Lex · 11 June 1998
European Union · EUR-Lex · 11 June 1998
European Union · EUR-Lex · 11 June 1998
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1998
Amends the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act to eliminate the requirement that spouses and children of aliens eligible for status adjustment to permanent resident be nationals of Nicaragua or Cuba.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1998
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1998
Classifies a named individual as a child for immediate relative status under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Food and Drug Administration Fees Part A: User Fees Part B: General Provisions Title II: Medicare Administrative Fees Title III: Miscellaneous User Fees User Fee Act of 1998 - Title I: Food and Drug Administration Fees - Part A: User Fees - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish fees to cover activities of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in connection with: (1) petitions and notifications for food additives, food contact substances, and color additives; (2) applications for approval of generic drugs; (3) applications for approval of animal drugs; (4) applications for approval of medical devices; (5) the review of import inspections and export certificates for drugs, devices, and food subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and (6) regulating entities subject to FDA oversight. Part B: General Provisions - Set forth provisions concerning, among other things: (1) fee amounts and availability; (2) assessment, publication, and reduction or waiver of fees; and (3) with respect to such fees, the FDA agency plan and reporting requirements. Title II: Medicare Administrative Fees - Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary to impose, to the extent provided in appropriations Acts, fees for initial Medicare+Choice contracts and annual fees for renewal of such contracts and monitoring of the ongoing operations of Medicare+Choice organizations. (Sec. 201) Directs the Secretary to establish fee amounts annually, which shall not exceed reasonably estimated costs. Allows the Secretary to provide for reduction or waiver of such fees in exceptional circumstances in the public interest. Requires such fees to be credited to the Health Care Financing Administration Program Management Account. (Sec. 202) Amends SSA title XVIII part D (Miscellaneous Provisions) to repeal the prohibition against the imposition of fees for conducting certification surveys. Requires imposition of such fees, except upon entities subject to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1998. Prohibits an entity from including such a fee as an allowable item on a cost report under SSA title XVIII or XIX (Medicaid). (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to establish a procedure for initial and periodic renewal of registration of individuals and entities that furnish items or services for which Medicare payment may be made and that are not otherwise subject to Medicare provisions for such procedures. Requires the Secretary, to the extent provided in appropriations Acts, to impose: (1) fees for initial agreements with service providers, and initial registrations of other entities and individuals that furnish items or services for which Medicare payment may be made; and (2) annual fees to cover the costs of renewals of agreements and registrations of such individuals and entities. Sets forth fee-related assessment limitations, crediting requirements, and cost-reporting restrictions similar to those for the other fees required by this title. (Sec. 204) Outlines requirements for new mandatory fees for review, audit, and cost settlement activities under the Medicare Integrity Program, to be credited to the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account. (Sec. 205) Subjects certain claims to a $1 processing fee, including claims which duplicate another claim submitted by the same individual or entity, and claims which are not submitted electronically. Allows the waiver of fees in the latter case where compelling circumstances exist. Sets forth guidelines for the collection, crediting, and availability of such fees similar to the guidelines for initial Medicare+Choice contract and renewal fees. Title III: Miscellaneous User Fees - Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to collect fees to cover costs of providing services under specified agricultural laws. (Sec. 302) Requires the Secretary of Commerce to collect fees for the provision of navigation assistance and fisheries management and enforcement services. Limits a fisheries management fee to one percent of the ex-vessel value of harvested fish with respect to which the fee is collected. (Sec. 304) Amends Federal law to increase patent fees (including maintenance fees), except fees for the filing of provisional applications for original patents. (Sec. 305) Authorizes appropriations to the International Trade Administration, to be derived from fees collected for the provision of export promotion services. (Sec. 306) Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to increase claim maintenance fees to be paid by holders of unpatented mining claims, mills, or tunnel sites for FY 1999 and subsequent years. Increases and permanently extends location fees for such claims. Makes fees available for mining law administration program operations. (Sec. 307) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Secretary of Labor, beginning in FY 2000, to impose fees for the filing of applications for labor certifications, employer attestations, or similar petitions required for programs relating to the provision to an alien of immigrant or nonimmigrant employment-based status. (Sec. 308) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to collect fees for the provision of navigation assistance services. (Sec. 309) Amends Federal law to require the Surface Transportation Board to prescribe a schedule of user fees for carriers subject to the Board's jurisdiction. (Sec. 310) Requires the Secretary of the Army to collect fees from applicants for permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for: (1) evaluation of permit applications; (2) preparation of environmental impact statements in connection with permit issuance; and (3) delineation of wetlands for major developments affecting wetlands. Establishes the Army Civil Works Regulatory Program Account in the Treasury into which such fees shall be deposited. Makes the Account available to the Secretary for costs incurred in administering laws pertaining to regulation of U.S. navigable waters. (Sec. 311) Establishes in the Treasury a radiological emergency preparedness fund for offsite radiological emergency planning, preparedness, and response. Requires the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to collect fees from persons subject to radiological emergency preparedness regulations, to be deposited in such fund. (Sec. 312) Directs the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board to collect fees from air carriers to cover partial costs of aviation accident investigations. Caps such fees at $6 million per fiscal year. (Sec. 313) Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to authorize fees to be assessed on persons rendering services in connection with claims for benefits where their service fees are fixed or approved by the Commissioner of Social Security or determined by a court. Authorizes appropriations for administrative expenses in carrying out such title and related laws from amounts credited to a special Treasury account from such assessments. Applies service fee provisions to title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act as well. (Sec. 314) Amends Federal law to extend provisions for railroad carrier user fees through FY 2003. (Sec. 315) Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to authorize an increased maximum ad valorem rate adjustment for certain customs merchandise processing. Makes fees collected in excess of the established .21 percent ad valorem to be available for expenses incurred by the Secretary of the Treasury for the National Customs Automation Program. (Sec. 316) Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to levy fees upon applicants for pesticide registration, amendments to registration, and experimental use permits to cover costs associated with application review. Provides for waivers or reductions of fees under specified circumstances. (Sec. 317) Authorizes the Administrator to assess fees from persons required to submit certain test data under the Toxic Substances Control Act without regard to dollar limitations specified in such Act. (Sec. 318) Amends the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990 to extend the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's authority to assess certain user fees and annual charges through FY 2003. (Sec. 319) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) to require the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to assess fees for examinations against insured depository institutions. Amends the Federal Reserve Act (FRA) to require (currently, authorize) fees to be assessed against banks examined (other than those examined by State authorities) upon order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve Board). Amends the FDIA to reduce annual regular examination fees imposed on any State depository institution under the FDIA, FRA, or the Home Owners' Loan Act to reflect that the supervision of the institution by a State bank supervisor has reduced the need for Federal supervision. Bars the imposition of such fees on institutions with assets of less than $100 million. Directs the Federal Reserve Board to report to the Congress on: (1) total costs incurred by the Board during the preceding year attributable to examinations of bank holding companies; and (2) total amounts assessed against, and paid by, such holding companies for examinations. (Sec. 319) Extends through FY 2005 National Park Service (NPS) authority under the recreational fee demonstration program. Makes such authority available for all NPS units, except that no recreational admission fee may be charged at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Requires a report from the Secretary of the Interior to specified congressional committees on the program's status. (Sec. 320) Repeals the Concessions Policy Act of 1965. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to authorize, under specified conditions, private persons, corporations, or other entities to provide and operate such facilities and services as the Secretary deems necessary and appropriate in the National Park System. Authorizes the Secretary, upon request and under specified criteria, to allow such entities to provide services to park visitors through a commercial use authorization. Requires the provision of such services to have minimal impact on park resources and values and to be consistent with park purposes. Provides a two-year term limit for the provision of such services. Requires a concession contract to be awarded to the person submitting the best proposal through a competitive selection process to be established by the Secretary. Allows the award of a temporary contract to avoid interruption of services. Requires the Secretary to publish a notice of availability for a prospectus soliciting proposals for contracts for concessions at a park specifying minimum contract requirements and contract terms and conditions. Requires congressional notification of any proposed contract with anticipated annual gross receipts exceeding $5 million or of a duration of ten or more years. Prohibits the Secretary from granting a preferential right to a concessioner to: (1) renew concession contracts under this section, with exceptions; or (2) provide new or additional services at a park. Allows preferential rights of renewal to be granted for certain outfitting and guide contracts and certain contracts with annual gross receipts of under $500,000. Sets forth criteria for determining franchise fees, including fees for multiple concession contracts within a park. Requires all fees to be covered into a special Treasury account established for reallocation to National Park System units for resource management and protection, maintenance activities, interpretation, and research. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior to conduct biennial audits of concession fees. Establishes a maximum: (1) ten-year duration for a concessions contract, provided that the Secretary may award a contract for up to 20 years if determined necessary; and (2) two-year duration for a temporary contract. Requires the approval of the Secretary before a concession contract can be transferred, assigned, sold, or conveyed and sets forth conditions that preclude such conveyance. Grants possessory interest to concessioners who have commenced acquisition or construction of any structure on Federal land within a park before the enactment of this Act. Places conditions on a concessioner's rates and charges to the public. Directs the Secretary to: (1) periodically evaluate the performance of each concessioner under contract; and (2) terminate a contract if a concessioner fails, within the prescribed time, to meet minimum requirements identified in a notice of unsatisfactory performance. Grants the Comptroller General, until the expiration of five calendar years after the close of the business year for each concessioner, access to and the right to examine any pertinent books, documents, papers, and records of the concessioner related to contracts. Exempts contracts awarded by the Secretary under this section from certain provisions of Federal law relating to the leasing of U.S. buildings and properties. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 321) Amends Federal law to authorize the use of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for costs incurred by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after FY 1999. Requires fees to be assessed for FAA services obtained outside the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1998
Amends Federal law to require passport applications for children under age 16 to be signed by: (1) both parents if the child lives with both parents; (2) the parent having primary custody of the child if the child does not live with both parents; or (3) the surviving parent (or legal guardian) of the child if one or both parents are deceased. Permits waiver of such requirement if the Secretary of State determines that circumstances do not permit obtaining the signatures of both parents.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1998
National Year 2000 Readiness Act - Directs the Chairperson of the Year 2000 Conversion Council to submit to the Congress: (1) a national assessment of the Year 2000 computer problem covering all critical national infrastructures and key sectors of the economy; and (2) a national strategy to ensure that the most critical services provided by the Federal, State, and local governments as well as key sectors of the economy will be prepared for the Year 2000 date change. Requires the Chairperson, in preparing the strategy, to: (1) include a plan for ensuring the availability of an adequate supply of technical personnel to remedy the Year 2000 computer problem in the private sector as well as the Federal Government before December 31, 1999; and (2) in formulating such plan, make recommendations relating to any need to raise immigrant visa ceilings under the Immigration and Nationality Act for such purpose. Requires the Chairperson, in preparing such plan, to: (1) make recommendations relating to the capacity of the Federal Government to attract and retain individuals of high-quality technology competence; and (2) consider whether a Federal technology information service should be established in a form similar to the Senior Executive Service. Directs the Chairperson, in preparing the strategy, to include: (1) the goals and strategies the United States will pursue at the Bank for International Settlements, the Group of Ten Industrialized Nations, the European Union, and elsewhere to encourage an international effort to ensure readiness for the Year 2000 at banks and other financial institutions; and (2) the initiatives which U.S. representatives to the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Development and Reconstruction, and other international development banks are taking to engage such institutions in providing funding or technical assistance to developing countries for remedying the Year 2000 computer problem. Requires the submission of quarterly progress reports after the submission of the report on the national assessment and strategy. Permits the revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to provide for an appropriate period for which contractors who knowingly provide goods or services to Federal agencies that are not Year 2000 compliant shall be ineligible for award of any Federal contract. Permits waiver of any restrictions developed pursuant to the revision of such Regulation, at the discretion of the applicable Federal agency, if the new goods or services are Year 2000 compliant.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1998
Waives specified requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the naturalization of a named individual if he is otherwise qualified.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Strengthening Law Enforcement to Reduce Violence Against Women Title II: Strengthening Services to Victims of Violence Title III: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children Title IV: Strengthening Education and Training to Combat Violence Against Women Title V: Extension of Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund Violence Against Women Act II - Title I: Strengthening Law Enforcement to Reduce Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States, Indian tribal governments, or local governmental units to provide technical assistance and computer and other equipment to police departments, prosecutors, and courts to facilitate the widespread, including interstate, enforcement of protection orders. Instructs the Attorney General to give priority to grant applicants that: (1) have established cooperative agreements with neighboring jurisdictions to facilitate the enforcement of protection orders from other jurisdictions; and (2) will use the grant to develop and install data collection and communication systems linking police, prosecutors, and the courts in order to identify and track protection orders and violations of such orders. (Sec. 101) Directs the Attorney General to compile and disseminate information about successful data collection and communication systems. Amends Federal criminal code provisions governing full faith and credit given to protection orders to provide that such provisions shall not be construed to: (1) require prior filing or registration of such orders in the enforcing State as a prerequisite to enforcement by such State; or (2) permit a State to notify the party against whom the order has been made that a protection order has been registered or filed in that State. Includes custody and visitation provisions in protection orders within the purview of Federal criminal law governing domestic violence and stalking. (Sec. 102) Amends such Act to designate State, local, and Indian tribal courts as eligible grantees in the program to combat violent crimes against women. Revises allocation percentages for police and prosecutors, victim services, and State and local courts (not less than 25 percent, 30 percent, and ten percent, respectively). Amends the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act to expand training that may be provided under domestic violence training grants to include training with respect to issues concerning individuals with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund for FY 1999 through 2002. Includes State, local, and tribal courts among the grantees eligible for Federal grants to encourage arrest policies. Earmarks a minimum of five percent of the total amount available for grants each fiscal year for grants to Indian tribal governments. (Sec. 103) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2002 for grants to combat violent crimes against women. Directs the Attorney General to make grants to State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions for coordinating State victim services activities and for coordinating with Federal, State and local entities engaged in violence against women activities. (Sec. 104) Instructs the Attorney General to transfer flunitrazepam (the "date-rape" drug) from schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act to schedule I (the strictest level of Federal drug penalty and control). (Sec. 105) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2002 for grants to encourage arrest policies. (Sec. 106) Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to institutions of higher education for use by campus personnel and student organizations and nonprofit nongovernmental victim services programs to assist campus administrators and campus security personnel to develop and strengthen: (1) effective security and investigation strategies to combat violent crimes against women on campuses; and (2) services to victims of such crimes. Sets forth provisions regarding application requirements and certifications, grant disbursement, the Federal cost share, nonmonetary assistance, and regulations. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2002. (Sec. 107) Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that any person who, while employed by or accompanying the armed forces outside of the United States, engages in conduct that would constitute a domestic violence or sexual assault offense if the conduct had been engaged in within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, shall be subject to prosecution in a U.S. district court. Sets forth provisions regarding concurrent jurisdiction and priority of exercise of jurisdiction. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to designate and authorize any individual serving in a law enforcement position in the Department of Defense to arrest such a person outside of the United States if there is probable cause to believe that such person committed such an offense. Provides for the release of such arrested persons to civilian law enforcement authorities in specified circumstances. Provides for delivery of such persons to the appropriate authorities of a foreign country if: (1) delivery is requested for trial for such conduct as an offense under the laws of that country; and (2) delivery is authorized by a treaty or other international agreement to which the United States is a party. Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned to transmit to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation a copy of records of any penal actions taken, including certain nonjudicial punishments imposed, against a member of the armed forces who is discharged, dismissed, or released from active duty. (Sec. 108) Prohibits and sets penalties for willfully causing bodily injury to any person or attempting, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive device, to cause bodily injury to any person, whether or not acting under color of law, because of: (1) the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person; or (2) the actual or perceived religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person if, in connection with the offense, the defendant or the victim travels in interstate or foreign commerce, uses a facility or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce, or engages in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or the offense is in or affects such commerce. Authorizes appropriations to the Departments of the Treasury and of Justice for FY 1998 through 2000 to increase the number of personnel to prevent and respond to such alleged violations. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study and, if appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for adult defendants who recruit juveniles to assist in the commission of hate crimes. Directs the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice to make grants to State and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 109) Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to reauthorize for FY 1999 through 2002: (1) rural domestic violence and child abuse enforcement grants (and allots not less than five percent of the total made available for each fiscal year for grants to Indian tribal governments); and (2) national stalker and domestic violence reduction grants. (Sec. 111) Modifies Federal criminal code provisions regarding interstate domestic violence, interstate stalking, and interstate violation of a protective order to cover situations where persons travel in interstate or foreign commerce or to or from Indian country. Title II: Strengthening Services to Victims of Violence - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to public and private nonprofit entities: (1) to establish and expand cooperative efforts and projects between domestic violence victim advocacy organizations and civil legal assistance providers to strengthen civil legal assistance for victims of domestic violence; and (2) to establish and expand efforts and projects to strengthen such assistance by organizations with a demonstrated history of responsive direct legal or advocacy services on behalf of such victims. (Sec. 201) Requires the Attorney General, through contracts, grants, or other arrangements, to establish and operate a network of attorneys and lay advocates to provide legal assistance and other guidance to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 202) Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act with respect to State demonstration grants for programs and projects to prevent family violence and provide immediate shelter and related assistance to victims. Requires grant applicants to provide documentation, including memoranda of understanding, of the specific involvement of the State domestic violence coalition and other knowledgeable individuals and interested organizations, in the development of the application. Earmarks funds to provide emergency assistance directly to victims of family violence, or their dependents, who are in the process of fleeing an abusive situation. Changes from a formula amount to $500,000 the minimum allotment to each State for such grants. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to Indian tribes and organizations from any sums not distributed to them. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to private nonprofit organizations for information, training, and technical assistance initiatives in specified subject areas. Authorizes appropriations under such Act through 2002. Revises the formula for the allocation of appropriations for grants for State coalitions. Directs the Secretary to conduct a nationwide needs assessment relating to family violence prevention and services programs. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to up to ten State domestic violence coalitions, and up to ten local entities that carry out domestic violence programs providing shelter or related assistance, to develop and implement model community intervention strategies to address family violence in underserved populations. Prescribes formulae for the redistribution of funds available due to certain limitations. (Sec. 203) Prohibits any insurer from, directly or indirectly, taking any adverse action against: (1) an innocent insured; or (2) an applicant or insured on the basis that the applicant or insured, or any person employed by the applicant or insured or with whom the applicant or insured is known to have a relationship or association is, has been, or may be the subject of abuse. Defines an innocent insured as a subject of abuse insured under the same policy as the abuser, but who is not (in light of all the facts and circumstances) the cause of any claim incurred or that may incur. Requires any insurer taking an adverse action against a known subject of abuse to advise the applicant or insured in writing of the specific reasons for the action. Empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce such prohibitions and policy. Provides for a private action against an insurer by an applicant or insured affected by a violation of this Act. (Sec. 204) Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to extend through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations for the national domestic violence hotline. (Sec. 205) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to extend through FY 2002 and increase the authorization of appropriations for Federal victims' counselors. (Sec. 206) Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to entitles employees to leave: (1) to address domestic violence and its effects; or (2) to care for a child or parent of the employee who is addressing domestic violence and its effects. Authorizes an employer to require an employee to provide documentation or other corroborating evidence. Amends Federal civil service law to entitle Federal employees to take such leave, subject to the same requirements. (Sec. 207) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize unemployment compensation where an individual is separated from employment due to circumstances directly resulting from the individual's experience of domestic violence. Amends the Social Security Act to require State laws to provide for methods of administration that will ensure that claims reviewers and hearing personnel are adequately trained in the nature and dynamics of claims for unemployment compensation based on domestic violence, including methods of ascertaining and keeping information confidential. (Sec. 208) Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998, the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 with respect to aliens who have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty to provide for: (1) legal assistance; and (2) waiver of certain immigration requirements. (Sec. 209) Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to add a new Subtitle H (Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation, Including Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Against Older Individuals). Directs the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to law school clinical programs for the purposes of funding the inclusion of cases addressing issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault, against older individuals; and (2) develop curricula and offer, or provide for the offering of, training programs to assist law enforcement officers and prosecutors in recognizing, addressing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of such abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and the Older Americans Act of 1965 with respect to programs addressing such issues, including related training for health professionals. Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for programs and activities for the prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Requires the Secretary to make grants to: (1) support projects in local communities to coordinate activities concerning intervention in and prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault, against older individuals; and (2) develop and implement outreach programs directed toward assisting older individuals who are victims of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including those in senior housing complexes and senior centers. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to give preference in the award of certain grants and contracts to any health professions educational entity that requires, as a condition of receiving a degree or certificate, that each student have had significant training in the identification and referral of victims of elder abuse and neglect. Title III: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States and Indian tribal governments to enable them to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements to assist public or private nonprofit entities in establishing and operating supervised visitation centers for purposes of facilitating supervised visitation and visitation exchange of children by and between parents. Requires that priority be given to States that consider domestic violence in making a custody decision and require findings on the record. (Sec. 302) Directs the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on Federal and State laws relating to child custody, including the Parental Kidnaping Prevention Act of 1980, and their effect on child custody cases in which domestic violence is a factor. Requires such study to examine the sufficiency of defenses to parental abduction charges available in cases involving domestic violence, and the burdens and risks encountered by victims of domestic violence arising from compliance with the full faith and credit (and judicial jurisdiction) requirements of that Act. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 303) Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations for grants through FY 2002. Directs the Secretary to compile annually and disseminate, especially to community-based programs (including domestic violence and sexual assault programs), specified information about the use of amounts expended and the projects funded under such Act. (Sec. 304) Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations through FY 2002 for: (1) the court-appointed special advocate program; (2) child abuse training programs for judicial personnel and practitioners; and (3) grants for televised testimony. Directs the Attorney General to compile annually and disseminate, especially to community-based programs (including domestic violence and sexual assault programs), specified information about the use of amounts expended and the projects funded under such Act. Title IV: Strengthening Education and Training to Combat Violence Against Women - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in awarding grants or contracts for health professions and nurse education, to give preference to a relevant health professions entity that requires, as a condition of receiving a degree or certificate, that a student has had significant training in the identification, examination, treatment, and referral of victims of domestic violence. (Sec. 401) Defines relevant health professions entity as a school of medicine, a school of osteopathic medicine, a graduate program in mental health practice, a school of nursing, a program for the training of physician assistants, or a program for the training of allied health professionals. (Sec. 402) Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants for the development and dissemination of model programs to provide education and training in appropriate and effective responses to victims of domestic violence and victims of sexual assault (including, as appropriate, the effects of domestic violence on children) to individuals (other than law enforcement officers and prosecutors) who are likely to come into contact with such victims during the course of their employment. Limits such grants to public and private nonprofit entities that have: (1) nationally recognized expertise in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assault; and (2) a record of commitment and quality responses to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 403) Requires States to use certain transferred funds for rape prevention and education programs conducted by rape crisis centers, State sexual assault coalitions, and other public and private nonprofit entities for: (1) educational seminars; (2) hotlines; (3) training programs for professionals; (4) the preparation of informational material; (5) education and training programs for students and campus personnel designed to reduce the incidence of sexual assault at colleges and universities; and (6) other efforts to increase awareness of, or to help prevent, sexual assault, including efforts to increase awareness in underserved communities and awareness among individuals with disabilities. Requires at least 25 percent of grant funds are used for educational programs targeted for middle school, junior high, and high school students. Directs the Secretary, through the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to establish a National Resource Center on Sexual Assault (with a central resource library) to provide resource information, policy, training, and technical assistance to Federal, State, and Indian tribal agencies, as well as to State sexual assault coalitions and local sexual assault programs and to other professionals and interested parties on issues relating to sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 404) Directs the Secretary to provide grants to individuals or organizations to carry out educational programs for elementary schools, middle schools, secondary schools, or institutions of higher education with respect to information regarding, and prevention of, domestic violence and violence among intimate partners. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 405) Directs the Attorney General to make grants to States and nongovernmental private entities to provide education and technical assistance for the purpose of providing training, consultation, and information on violence, abuse, and sexual assault against women who are individuals with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 406) Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to make groups that provide services to or advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities eligible for demonstration grants for community initiatives. Authorizes appropriations for such grants. (Sec. 407) Directs the Attorney General to establish a multidisciplinary, multiagency national commission to: (1) evaluate standards of training and practice for licensed health care professionals performing sexual assault forensic examinations, and develop a national recommended training standard; (2) recommend minimum sexual assault forensic examination training for all health care students; (3) review national, State, and local protocols on sexual assault for forensic examinations, and develop a recommended national protocol and a mechanism for nationwide dissemination; and (4) study and evaluate State procedures for payment of forensic examinations for victims of sexual assault, and establish a recommended Federal protocol for such payment. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 408) Authorizes the Attorney General to make a grant to a private, nonprofit entity meeting certain requirements to establish a national clearinghouse and resource center to provide information and assistance to employers and labor organizations on appropriate workplace responses to domestic violence and sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 409) Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to direct the Secretary to make grants to entities, including domestic violence and sexual assault organizations, research organizations, and academic institutions, to: (1) support specified research and evaluation of education, prevention, and intervention programs on violent behavior against women; and (2) address gaps in research and knowledge about violence against women, including violence against women in underserved communities. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to report to Congress on: (1) Federal and State sentences for homicides or assaults in which the victim was a spouse, former spouse, or intimate partner of the offender; (2) the effect of illicit drugs and alcohol on domestic violence and the sentences imposed for offenses involving them in which domestic violence occurred; (3) the extent to which acts of domestic violence committed against the offender, including coercion, may have contributed to the commission of an offense; (4) an analysis delineated by race, gender, type of offense, and any other categories that would be useful for understanding the problem of domestic violence; and (5) recommendations with respect to all such offenses, including any basis for a downward adjustment in any applicable Federal sentencing guidelines determination. Directs the Secretary to make grants to nonprofit entities, including sexual assault organizations, research organizations, and academic institutions, in order to gather qualitative and quantitative data on the experiences of minors and adults who become pregnant as a result of sexual assault within State health care, judicial, and social services systems. Requires the Attorney General to study and report to the Congress on the status of the law with respect to rape and sexual assault offenses and the effectiveness of the implementation of laws in addressing such crimes and protecting their victims. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Extension of Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations to the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund through FY 2002. (Sec. 501) Reduces discretionary spending limits for FY 2001 and 2002 in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) by specified offsetting amounts.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1998
Immigration Reform and Improvements Act of 1998 - Abolishes the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the office of Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish within the Department of Justice the Bureau for Immigration Enforcement. States that the Bureau shall perform the following immigration-related functions: (1) prevention of illegal entry; (2) inspection of ports of entry; (3) apprehension and detention, including programs of parole or supervised release; (4) exclusion, deportation, and release; and (5) investigations. States that Bureau activities shall be conducted through the following units: (1) uniformed enforcement unit; (2) investigations unit; (3) intelligence unit; (4) assets forfeiture unit; (5) probation unit; and (6) trial attorney unit. Provides for enforcement field offices. (Sec. 3) Provides for appointment in the Department of State of: (1) an Assistant Secretary of State for Immigration Affairs; (2) an Assistant Secretary of State for Refugee Admissions and Asylum Affairs; (3) an Assistant Secretary of State for Citizenship and Passport Services; and (4) an Under Secretary of State for Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Affairs who shall direct such Assistant Secretaries. (Sec. 4) States that the Secretary of Labor shall be responsible for enforcement of immigration-related employment verification. (Sec. 5) Establishes as an independent agency the Agency for Immigration Review which shall be made up of a trial division, appellate board, and other divisions or offices as necessary. (Sec. 7) Provides for transfer and allocation of appropriations and personnel.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1998
Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 - Provides for the permanent resident status adjustment of certain Liberian nationals who were granted, or are eligible to apply for, temporary protected status as of a specified date.
Germany · German Bundestag · 20 May 1998
Anzahl der Ermittlungsverfahren, U-Haft, Verurteilungen, verletzte bzw. getötete Personen
Germany · German Bundestag · 20 May 1998
Kürzung oder Streichung der Entwicklungshilfeleistungen an unkooperative Länder, Zahl der abgelehnten Asylbewerber, die von ihren Heimatländern nicht aufgenommen werden
European Union · Court of Justice of the European Union · 19 May 1998
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1998
Border Protection and Infrastructure Act of 1998 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for committing (or attempting to commit) a crime of violence during and in relation to: (1) eluding customs, immigration, or agriculture inspection or failing to stop at the command of an officer of customs, immigration, or animal and plant and health inspection services; or (2) an intentional violation of specified arrival, reporting, entry, or clearance requirements (provides for imposition of a death sentence if death results). Specifies that if two or more persons conspire to commit such an offense, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be punishable as a principal, except that the death sentence may not be imposed. (Sec. 3) Increases the penalty for entry of goods by means of false statements. (Sec. 4) Prohibits the master, operator, or person in charge of a vessel of, or subject to the jurisdiction of, the United States from failing to obey an order to heave to that vessel upon being ordered to do so by an authorized Federal law enforcement officer. Prohibits any person on board from knowingly or willfully: (1) failing to comply with an order of such an officer in connection with the boarding of the vessel; (2) impeding or obstructing a boarding, arrest, or other law enforcement action authorized by Federal law; or (3) providing false information to such an officer during a boarding regarding the vessel's destination, origin, ownership, registration, nationality, cargo, or crew. Prohibits the pilot, operator, or person in charge of an aircraft which has crossed the U.S. border, or an aircraft subject to U.S. jurisdiction operating outside the United States, from knowingly failing to obey an order to land by such an officer who is enforcing U.S. laws relating to controlled substances or money laundering. Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to prescribe regulations governing the means by, and circumstances under which, such an officer may communicate an order to land. Authorizes a foreign nation to consent or waive objection to such enforcement of U.S. law by the United States by international agreement or, on a case-by-case basis, by radio, telephone, or similar oral or electronic means. Sets penalties for intentional violations. Authorizes seizure and forfeiture to the United States of an aircraft or vessel used in violations. (Sec. 5) Establishes civil penalties for failure to comply with vessel boarding. (Sec. 6) Directs the Attorney General to increase the number of positions for full-time, active-duty border patrol agents within the Immigration and Naturalization Service to achieve a level of 20,000 positions by FY 2003. (Sec. 7) Prohibits a U.S. Border Patrol agent, within ten miles of the U.S. international border, from ceasing pursuit of an alien suspecting of unlawfully entering the United States, or of an individual suspected of unlawfully importing a narcotic into the United States, until State or local law enforcement authorities are in pursuit of the alien or individual and have the alien or individual in their visual range. (Sec. 8) Authorizes: (1) the Border Patrol to interdict the importation of narcotics; and (2) the Attorney General to install multi-layered barriers and roads in the U.S. border vicinity to deter drug trafficking in high drug trafficking areas. Authorizes appropriations.
European Union · Court of Justice of the European Union · 7 May 1998
Germany · German Bundestag · 30 April 1998
Durchschnittliche Bearbeitungszeit und Wartezeit von Visaanträgen zur Familienzusammenführung an den deutschen Botschaften in den 15 Hauptherkunftsländern, Zahl der Anträge seit 1993