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501 records in US in 1999
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include any advance pricing agreement and any related background information within the definition of "return information" and to require an annual report with to respect to such agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1999
Energy Efficient Technology Tax Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a credit for defined energy efficient property (including defined vehicles) used in business. Revises the reforestation credit. Extends, by two years, the credit for qualified electric vehicles. Revises the credit for electricity produced from certain renewable sources. Establishes a credit for certain nonbusiness energy efficient property (including defined residences and vehicles).
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1999
Skilled Workforce Enhancement Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide small employers with a highly skilled trades training credit.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1999
Timber Tax Simplification Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the application of capital gain treatment to outright sales of timber whether or not the owner retains economic interest.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of the Interior Title II: Related Agencies Title III: General Provisions Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for FY 2000. Title I: Department of the Interior - Makes appropriations for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for: (1) land and resource management; (2) wildland fire management; (3) remedial action of hazardous waste substances; (4) construction; (5) payments in lieu of taxes to local governments; (6) land acquisition; (7) Oregon and California grant lands; (8) range improvements; (9) service charges, deposits, and forfeitures with respect to public lands; and (10) miscellaneous trust funds. Appropriates funds for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for: (1) resource management; (2) construction; (3) land acquisition; (4) expenses related to carrying out the Endangered Species Act of 1973; (5) the National Wildlife Refuge Fund; (6) expenses related to carrying out the African Elephant Conservation Act, the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994; (7) expenses related to carrying out the North American Wetlands Conservation Act; and (8) the Wildlife Conservation and Appreciation Fund. Makes appropriations for the National Park Service (NPS) for: (1) the National Park System; (2) national recreation and preservation activities; (3) expenses related to carrying out the Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996; (4) construction; and (5) land acquisition and State assistance from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Rescinds specified contract authority to obligate funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for FY 2000. Makes appropriations for: (1) the U.S. Geological Survey for surveys, investigations, and research; (2) the Minerals Management Service for royalty and offshore minerals management and oil spill research; (3) the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement for regulation and technology and the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund; (4) the Bureau of Indian Affairs for operation of Indian programs, construction, miscellaneous payments to Indians, and Indian guaranteed loans; (5) assistance to U.S. territories and for carrying out the Compacts of Free Association with respect to Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau; (6) departmental management and the Offices of the Solicitor and the Inspector General; (7) trust programs for Indians; (8) a pilot program for consolidation of fractional interests in Indian lands by direct expenditure or cooperative agreement; and (9) natural resource damage assessment. Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of specified funds. (Sec. 107) Prohibits the use of funds provided in this title for specified offshore leasing and related activities. (Sec. 114) Bars the NPS from developing a reduced entrance fee program to accommodate non-local travel through a unit. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide for and regulate local non-recreational passage through National Park System units, allowing each unit to develop guidelines and permits for activity appropriate to such unit. (Sec. 117) Authorizes the renewal of grazing permits and leases which expire or are transferred in any fiscal year until the Secretary completes renewal processing. (Sec. 120) Exempts all properties administered by the NPS at Fort Baker, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and other agreements associated with such properties, from all taxes and special assessments, except sales tax by the State of California and its political subdivisions. (Sec. 122) Prohibits the use of funds provided in any Act for the pre-design, design, or engineering for the removal of the Elwha or Glines Canyon Dams or for the actual removal of such dams until they are acquired by the Federal Government. Battle of Midway National Memorial Study Act - Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the NPS, to study and report to specified congressional committees on the suitability and feasibility of establishing Midway Atoll as a national memorial to the Battle of Midway. (Sec. 124) Authorizes persons utilizing Federal lands within the boundary of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (as designated by the Secretary on April 5, 1990) as of March 31, 1997, for grazing purposes pursuant to NPS permits to renew such permits for the lesser of 20 years or the lifetime of the permittee. (Sec. 125) Allows the Secretary to redistribute any Tribal Priority Allocation funds to alleviate tribal funding inequities by transferring funds on the basis of identified, unmet needs. Bars any tribe from receiving a reduction in such funds of more than ten percent in FY 2000. (Sec. 126) Makes funds provided in this Act unavailable for transferring land into trust status for the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe in Clark County, Washington, until the tribe and county reach a legally enforceable agreement that addresses the financial impact of new development on the county, school and fire districts, and other local governments and the impact on zoning and development. Incorporates provisions similar to those contained in the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (Public Law 105-83) concerning: (1) employees of BLM's Helium Operations; and (2) Huron Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. Title II: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service for: (1) forest and rangeland research; (2) State and private forestry; (3) the National Forest System; (4) wildland fire management; (5) construction and reconstruction; (6) land acquisition; (7) range rehabilitation and improvement; and (8) forest and rangeland research. Defers a certain amount of funds made available for obligation in prior years for Department of Energy (DOE) clean coal technology projects until FY 2001. Makes appropriations for DOE for: (1) fossil energy research and development activities; (2) naval petroleum and oil shale reserve activities; (3) energy conservation; (4) economic regulation activities of the Office of Hearings and Appeals; (5) the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; and (6) the Energy Information Administration. Makes appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services for the Indian Health Service and Indian health facilities. Makes appropriations for: (1) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation; (2) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development; (3) the Smithsonian Institution, including amounts for repair and restoration of buildings owned or occupied by the Smithsonian; (4) construction and improvements at the National Zoological Park; (5) construction; (6) the National Gallery of Art, including an amount for repair and restoration of facilities owned or occupied by the National Gallery; (7) operations, maintenance, and construction expenses of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; (8) carrying out the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Act of 1968; (9) the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA); (10) the National Endowment for the Humanities; (11) the Institute of Museum and Library Services; (12) the Commission of Fine Arts; (13) national capital arts and cultural affairs; (14) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (15) the National Capital Planning Commission; (16) the Holocaust Memorial Council; and (17) the Presidio trust. Sets forth provisions regarding uses of, and limitations on, funds under this title. Title III: General Provisions - Sets forth limitations on the use of funds under this Act, including Buy American requirements. Incorporates provisions similar to those contained in the Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (Public Law 105-83) concerning: (1) the sale of timber from giant sequoias; (2) the underground lunchroom at Carlsbad Caverns National Park; (3) funding for the Americorps program; (4) the bridge between Jersey City, New Jersey, and Ellis Island; (5) patents for mining or mill site claims; (6) competition for watershed restoration project contracts in the Pacific Northwest; (7) designation of Biosphere Reserves; and (8) restrictions on NEA grants. (Sec. 317) Bars the use of funds made available in any Act to designate any portion of Canaveral National Seashore in Brevard County, Florida, as a clothing-optional area or area in which public nudity is permitted if such designation would be contrary to county ordinance. (Sec. 326) Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct technology transfer and development, training, dissemination of information, and applied research in the management, processing, and utilization of the hardwood forest resource. Permits the Secretary of Agriculture to operate and utilize assets of the Wood Education and Resource Center in West Virginia as part of a newly formed Institute of Hardwood Technology Transfer and Applied Research. Requires Institute revenues to be deposited in a special Treasury fund known as the Hardwood Technology Transfer and Applied Research Fund. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 327) Sets forth requirements for the sale of timber in Region 10 of the Forest Service, including those regarding the volume of western red cedar timber available for processors. (Sec. 328) Bars the use of funds available to the Secretaries of Agriculture or the Interior for introducing grizzly bears into Idaho or Montana without the approval of the Governors of both States. (Sec. 331) Amends the Service Contract Act to exempt from service contract labor standards any concession contract with Federal land management agencies the principal purpose of which is the provision of recreational services to the general public. Provides that such exemptions shall not affect the applicability of the Davis-Bacon Act to construction contracts associated with such contracts. (Sec. 332) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a pilot program to charge and collect at least the fair market value for special forest products (vegetation or other life forms such as fungi that grows on National Forest System lands) harvested on such lands. (Sec. 334) Expands Forest Service authority to enter into stewardship and end result contracts to authorize an additional nine contracts in Region One. (Sec. 335) Amends Federal law to exempt units of local government and persons residing within such units that lie in the White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire, from Demonstration Program Fees imposed for access to the Forest. (Sec. 336) Prohibits the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture from limiting the number or acreage of millsites based on the ratio between the number or acreage of millsites and the number or acreage of associated lode or placer claims for any fiscal year. (Sec. 337) Authorizes increases in recreation residence fees, with a specified ceiling. (Sec. 338) Bars the use of monies appropriated for the purchase of land by the Forest Service in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area unless the Forest Service complies with a specified acquisition protocol. (Sec. 340) Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior, before June 1, 2001, from issuing a prospecting permit for hardrock mineral exploration on Mark Twain National Forest land in the Current River-Jack's Fork River-Eleven Point Watershed, with a specified exception for land on which mining activities are currently taking place. Bars the use of Department of the Interior funds, before such date, to segregate or withdraw lands in the Forest from operation of public land laws and certain activities under such laws and mining laws. Requires specified Federal officials to study and report to specified congressional committees on exploratory drilling operations on such land. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on the impact of the cessation of lead mining in the Forest, the State of Missouri, and surrounding States on the public and private sectors, the strategic availability of lead in the United States, and the economies of the United States and such States. (Sec. 342) Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to extend a certain prohibition on the issuance of a final rulemaking with respect to the valuation of crude oil for royalty purposes until June 30, 2001, or until there is a negotiated agreement on the rule.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1999
Fair Care for the Uninsured Act of 1999 - Title I: Refundable Credit for Health Insurance Coverage - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual a tax credit in an amount equal to the amount paid for qualified health insurance, subject to stated limitations. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments to the provider of an individual's qualified health insurance equal to such individual's qualified health insurance credit advance amount (the Secretary's estimate of the amount of credit allowable) with respect to such provider. Title II: Study of Safety-Net Health Insurance Programs for the Medically Uninsurable - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a study on the current state of all existing State safety-net health insurance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1999
Alternative Minimum Tax Repeal Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the alternative minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for the District of Columbia for FY 2000, including amounts for: (1) the Federal payment to the District of Columbia Corrections Trustee Operations; (2) the Federal payment to the District of Columbia courts; (3) the Federal payment to the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia; (4) the Federal payment for District of Columbia Resident Tuition Support; and (5) the Federal payment to the Metropolitan Police Department. Appropriates specified sums out of the District's general fund (and other funds, in some cases) for the current fiscal year for: (1) governmental direction and support; (2) economic development and regulation; (3) public safety and justice; (4) the public education system; (5) human support services; (6) public works; (7) receivership programs; (8) workforce investments; (9) a reserve to be established by the Chief Financial Officer of the District and the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority (Authority); (10) the Authority itself; (11) repayment of certain loans and interest; (12) repayment of General Fund Recovery Debt; (13) payment of interest on short-term borrowing; (14) lease payments in accordance with the Certificates of Participation involving the land site underlying the building located at One Judiciary Square; and (15) optical and dental insurance payments. Directs the Chief Financial Officer to: (1) finance projects totaling $20 million in local funds (Productivity Bank) that result in cost savings or additional revenues by a amount equal to such financing; (2) make reductions totaling $20 million in local funds to be allocated to projects funded through the Productivity Bank that produce such cost savings or additional revenues; and (3) make reductions of specified amounts for general supply schedule savings and for management reform savings, in local funds to one or more of the appropriation headings in this Act (if the Mayor proposes and the Council approves the management reform savings). Appropriates specified sums for: (1) the Water and Sewer Authority and the Washington Aqueduct; (2) the Lottery and Charitable Games Enterprise Fund; (3) the Sports and Entertainment Commission; (4) the D.C. Health and Hospitals Public Benefit Corporation; (5) the D.C. Retirement Board; (6) the Correctional Industries Fund; (7) the Washington Convention Center Enterprise Fund; and (8) capital outlay (including rescissions). Sets forth authorizations as well as limitations and prohibitions on the uses of appropriations under this Act, and directives to the Mayor, the Council, and the Board of Education identical with or similar to those in the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 1999. (Sec. 129) Prohibits the expenditure of funds appropriated under this Act for abortions except where the mother's life would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or in cases of rape or incest. (Sec. 130) Bars the use of funds made available by this Act to implement or enforce: (1) the District of Columbia Health Care Benefits Expansion Act of 1992 (also known as the District Domestic Partner Act); or (2) any system of registration of unmarried, cohabiting couples for purposes of extending them benefits on the same basis as such benefits are extended to legally married couples. (Sec. 146) Prohibits the use of funds contained in this Act after April 1, 2000, to transfer or confine inmates classified above the medium security level, as defined by the Federal Bureau of Prisons classification instrument, to the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center located in Youngstown, Ohio. (Sec. 149) Authorizes the Mayor to use specified funds to provide offsets against local taxes for commercial revitalization in empowerment zones and low and moderate income areas.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of the Treasury Title II: Postal Service Title III: Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President Title IV: Independent Agencies Title V: General Provisions Title VI: General Provisions Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for the Treasury Department, the U.S. Postal Service, the Executive Office of the President, and certain independent agencies. Title I: Department of the Treasury - Treasury Department Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for the Department of the Treasury for: (1) departmental offices; (2) department-wide systems and capital investments programs for development and acquisition of automatic data processing equipment, software, and services; (3) the Office of Inspector General; (4) the Inspector General for Tax Administration; (5) repair and restoration of the Treasury building and annex; (6) the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; (7) violent crime reduction programs; (8) the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, including amounts for maintenance and facility improvements; (9) the Financial Management Service; (10) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; (11) the U.S. Customs Service, including amounts for operations and maintenance of marine vessels and aircraft and collection of the Harbor Maintenance Fee; (12) the Bureau of the Public Debt; (13) the Internal Revenue Service, including amounts for tax law enforcement, earned income tax credit compliance and error reduction initiatives, and information systems and telecommunications support; and (14) the Secret Service, including an amount for construction and improvement of facilities. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 116) Authorizes the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, from October 1, 1999, through January 1, 2003, to offer voluntary separation incentives to specified employees to carry out the plan to reorganize the Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. (Sec. 117) Permits the Commissioner of the Financial Management Service, from October 1, 1999, through January 31, 2000, to offer such incentives to specified employees to carry out the closure of the Chicago Financial Center in a manner deemed efficient, equitable to employees, and cost-effective. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, prior to obligating resources for voluntary separation incentive payments, to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a strategic plan outlining the intended use of such payments and a proposed organizational chart for the agency once such payments have been completed. Provides for approval of such plan by the OMB Director. Permits such payments only in accordance with the strategic plan. Reduces the total number of funded employee positions in the agency by one position for each vacancy created by the separation of any employee who has received such a payment unless OMB believes that the agency plan demonstrates that the positions would better be used to reallocate occupations or reshape the workforce and produce a more cost-effective result. (Sec. 118) Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that moneys due from or payable by the United States to any state against which a judgment is pending with respect to damages sought for certain terrorist acts shall be subject to attachment and execution to the same extent as if the United States were a private person. Authorizes the President, upon determining that a waiver is necessary in the national security interest, to waive certain requirements for execution or attachment of property with respect to which certain financial transactions are regulated under the Trading with the Enemy Act, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in connection with a judicial order directing attachment or execution against the principal office of a foreign mission to the United States used for diplomatic purposes or any funds held by such mission necessary to satisfy actual office operating expenses. Makes such a waiver inapplicable to: (1) the principal office of a foreign mission used for any nondiplomatic purpose by either the foreign state or the United States or to the proceeds of such a purpose; or (2) the proceeds of a sale or transfer if any asset of the office is sold or transferred for value to a third party. Applies the amendments made by this section to any claim for which a foreign state is not immune from the jurisdiction of the U.S. courts in cases where damages are sought for certain terrorist activity, including claims arising before this Act's enactment date. Title II: Postal Service - Postal Service Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for payments to the Postal Service Fund for revenue foregone on free and reduced rate mail. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title III: Executive Office of the President and Funds Appropriated to the President - Executive Office Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for: (1) compensation of the President and the White House office; (2) operating, maintenance, and reimbursable expenses of the Executive Residence at the White House; (3) White House repair and restoration; (4) special Assistance to the President and the official residence of the Vice President; (5) the Council of Economic Advisers; (6) the Office of Policy Development; (7) the National Security Council; (8) the Office of Administration; (9) OMB; (10) the Office of National Drug Control Policy; (11) the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center; and (12) Federal drug control programs, including amounts for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and for a national anti-drug campaign for youth. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title IV: Independent Agencies - Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for the: (1) Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled; (2) Federal Election Commission; (3) Federal Labor Relations Authority; and (4) General Services Administration (GSA), including amounts for the Federal Buildings Fund, Government-wide policy and operations, Office of Inspector General, and allowances and office staff for former Presidents. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 409) Designates the Federal building located at 220 East Rosser Avenue in Bismarck, North Dakota, as the William L. Guy Federal Building, Post Office and United States Courthouse. Makes appropriations for: (1) the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation; (2) the Merit Systems Protection Board; (3) the National Archives and Records Administration, including amounts for repairs and restoration of archives; (4) the National Historical Publications and Records Commission; (5) the Office of Government Ethics; (6) the Office of Personnel Management, including an amount for the Office of Inspector General; (7) Government contributions for health and life insurance benefits for annuitants; (8) the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (9) the Office of Special Counsel; and (10) the U.S. Tax Court. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Rescinds a specified amount of funds made available for the National Historical Publications And Records Commission grants program. Establishes a revolving fund in the Treasury to be available for expenses and equipment necessary to provide for storage and related services for all temporary and pre-archival Federal records to be stored or stored at Federal National and Regional Records Centers by Federal agencies. Appropriates funds for the fund's initial capitalization. Credits the fund with user charges received from other Federal Government accounts as payment for providing personnel, storage, materials, supplies, equipment, and services. Requires the National Archives and Records Administration to provide quarterly reports on the fund to specified congressional committees. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds made available under this Act. (Sec. 506) Sets forth Buy American provisions. (Sec. 511) Requires OMB to prepare and submit an inventory of existing Federal grant programs to specified congressional committees. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated for Federal departments, agencies, and corporations. (Sec. 621) Bars the use of funds made available for the Customs Service in this Act to allow the importation of any good produced or manufactured by forced or indentured child labor. (Sec. 628) Requires the OMB Director to report to Congress: (1) estimates of annual costs and benefits of Federal rules and paperwork; (2) impacts of Federal regulation on State, local, and tribal government, small business, wages, and economic growth; and (3) recommendations for reform. Requires the Director to issue guidelines to agencies to standardize measures of costs and benefits and the format of accounting statements. (Sec. 634) Bars the use of funds appropriated by this Act to enter into or renew a contract which includes a provision providing prescription drug coverage, except where the contract also includes a provision for contraceptive coverage. Makes exceptions to such prohibition for religious health plans.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1999 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities. Declares that a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares that this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's domestic partner. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from: (1) collecting statistics on sexual orientation from covered entities; and (2) compelling covered entities to collect such statistics. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) an order or consent decree for a violation of this Act that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except regarding employment in a position the duties of which pertain solely to activities of the organization that generate unrelated business income subject to taxation under specified Internal Revenue Code provisions); (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Prohibits the imposition of affirmative action for a violation of this Act. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for all remedies (except punitive damages, with compensatory damages available to the extent specified in certain existing provisions of law) to the same extent as under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Requires posting notices for employees, applicants, and members.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Health Care Access and Equity Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow for the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of individuals not covered by an employer-subsidized plan; (2) expand the availability of medical savings accounts; (3) permit the carryover of unused benefits from cafeteria plans, flexible spending arrangements, and health flexible spending accounts; and (4) permit contributions towards a Medical Savings Account through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to undertake capital projects for the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. Terminates the authority of the Secretary to implement such projects for such Programs in in FY 2005 and 2007, respectively. Limits to $100 million the total costs of such projects. Authorizes: (1) the Secretary to accept contributed funds from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, or political subdivisions or organizations thereof, pursuant to agreements that provide for the contributions to be used for capital project costs;(2) the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Western Area Power Administration, to utilize for such projects power revenues collected pursuant to the Colorado River Storage Project Act; and (3) the Secretary to utilize such power revenues for the annual base funding contributions to the programs by the Bureau for a specified period. Requires the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the utilization of such power revenues. Authorizes the retention of unexpended appropriated funds for projects under this Act for use in future fiscal years. States that nothing in this Act shall restrict the Secretary from funding activities or capital projects in accordance with the Federal Government's Indian trust responsibility.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
American Values Tax Savings Plan for the 21st Century - Title I: Marriage Penalty Relief - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the standard deduction for married individuals shall be twice the deduction for unmarried individuals. Eliminates the marriage penalty in individual income tax rates. Title II: Phaseout of Estate and Gift Taxes - Provides for the phaseout of the estate and gift taxes. Title III: Phaseout of Alternative Minimum Tax for All Taxpayers - Provides for the phaseout of the alternative minimum tax. Title IV: Reduction in Individual Capital Gain Tax Rates - Reduces individual capital gain tax rates. Title V: Increased Incentives for Retirement Savings - Increases and indexes the IRA contribution limit. Increases the income limitation applicable to conversions. Title VI: Incentives for Health Insurance Coverage - Provides for the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of the self-employed. Permits the carryover of unused benefits from cafeteria and flexible spending arrangements. Title VII: Incentives for Education - Excludes from gross income education distributions from qualified State tuition plans. Expands such plans to include eligible educational institutions. Title VIII: Repeal of Telephone Excise Tax - Provides for the phaseout of the telephone excise tax. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal Communications Commission E-rate discount program for schools and libraries should be terminated. Title IX: Extension of Expiring Provisions - Provides extensions for the: (1) credit for increasing research activities; (2) work opportunity credit; and (3) subpart F exemption for active income financing. Title X: Pay-Go Reform - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to set forth pay-as-you-go provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
National Discovery Trails Act of 1999 - Amends the National Trails System Act to provide for the establishment, as components of the National Trails System, of national discovery trails which shall be extended, continuous interstate trails located so as to provide for outdoor recreation and travel and to connect representative examples of America's trails and communities. Requires the appropriate Secretary for each national discovery trail to administer the trail in cooperation with a competent trailwide nonprofit organization. Prohibits a trail from being considered feasible and desirable for designation as a national discovery trail unless it: (1) links to one or more areas within the boundaries of a metropolitan area and joins with other trails, tying the National Trails System to significant recreation and resources areas; (2) is supported by a competent trailwide volunteer-based organization and has extensive local and trailwide support by the public, user groups, and affected State and local governments; and (3) extends and passes through more than one State and, at a minimum, is a continuous, walkable route. Requires the responsible Secretary, within three complete fiscal years after enactment of legislation designating a national discovery trail, to submit to specified congressional committees a comprehensive plan: (1) for the protection, management, development, and use of the Federal portions of the trail; and (2) for technical assistance to States, local governments, and private landowners, as requested, for non-Federal portions of the trail. Designates as a national discovery trail the 6,000-mile American Discovery Trail which shall extend from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware to Point Reyes National Seashore in California, traveling northern and southern routes from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Denver, Colorado.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1999 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities. Declares that a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares that this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's domestic partner. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from: (1) collecting statistics on sexual orientation from covered entities; and (2) compelling covered entities to collect such statistics. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) an order or consent decree for a violation of this Act that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except regarding employment in a position the duties of which pertain solely to activities of the organization that generate unrelated business income subject to taxation under specified Internal Revenue Code provisions); (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Prohibits the imposition of affirmative action for a violation of this Act. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for all remedies (except punitive damages, with compensatory damages available to the extent specified in certain existing provisions of law) to the same extent as under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Requires posting notices for employees, applicants, and members.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Settlement Trusts Remedial Tax Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the tax treatment of Settlement Trusts established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Exempts from income taxation any such Settlement Trust electing coverage by this Act. Declares that for an electing trust: (1) no amount shall be includible in the gross income of a Settlement Trust beneficiary by reason of a contribution to the Settlement Trust during such taxable year; and (2) the ordinary requirements for taxation of trusts and beneficiaries shall not apply. Requires an electing trust to distribute at least 55 percent of its adjusted taxable income each taxable year. Imposes a tax on a trust, in the amount of the failure, if the distribution is insufficient. Includes in the beneficiary's gross income, as ordinary income, any distribution from an electing trust (only when the actual distribution is received). Provides that distributions from the trust will be taxable as ordinary income even if the distribution represents a return of capital. Requires tax withholding on trust distributions over a certain amount.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prescribe that the look-back method shall not apply to any construction contract and to any other contract required to use the percentage of completion method.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1999
Death Tax Inflation Adjustment Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for annual inflation adjustments to the unified credit against the estate and gift taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1999
Education Express Act - Title I: Direct Check - Directs each State Governor to notify the Secretary of Education regarding its election to receive its portion of funding for various education programs (applicable funding) under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) according to: (1) a Direct Check option, through a State allotment based on its relative funding under part B (State and Local Activities) of title II (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program) of ESEA; or (2) a Federal statute option, according to the various ESEA provisions for the applicable funding programs or activities. (Sec. 101) Applies such options to all funds appropriated for the Department of Education for FY 2000 through 2004 to carry out such programs or activities under various ESEA provisions. (Sec. 102) Sets forth requirements for allotment and use of Direct Check funds. Requires States to use at least 98 percent of Direct Check allotments to award assistance to local educational agencies (LEAS) for authorized educational improvement activities, according to a formula developed by the Governor that targets the funds to the lowest achieving school districts according to most recent State assessments. Allows States to use not more than two percent of such allotments for administrative expenses. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the Secretary to make awards to States selecting the Federal statute option, according to the specified ESEA provisions for the various applicable funding programs and activities, from the applicable funding that remains after making the Direct Check allotments. Title II: Challenge Fund - Establishes a Challenge Fund. Directs the Secretary to reserve a portion of Fund appropriations for assistance to outlying areas or Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. (Sec. 201) Authorizes the Secretary to award amounts from such Fund allotments to State Governors for use by LEAS. Requires such allotments to be made to each State on the basis of its relative funding under ESEA title II part B. Requires a ten percent increase in such Fund allotment for States selecting the Direct Check option (paid for by ratable reductions in allotments for States that do not select such option). Requires States to use at least 98 percent of Challenge Fund allotments to award assistance to local educational agencies (LEAS) for authorized educational improvement activities. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Teacher Quality Fund - Establishes a Teacher Quality Fund. Directs the Secretary to reserve a portion of such Fund appropriations for assistance to outlying areas or Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. (Sec. 301) Authorizes the Secretary to award amounts from such Fund allotments to State Governors for use by LEAS. Requires such allotments to be made to each State on the basis of its relative funding under ESEA title II part B. Requires a ten percent increase in such Fund allotment for States selecting the Direct Check option (paid for by ratable reductions in allotments for States that do not select such option). Requires States to use at least 85 percent of Teacher Quality Fund allotments to award assistance to local educational agencies (LEAS) for authorized teacher quality improvement activities. Allows States to use not more than 13 percent of such allotments for statewide efforts to improve elementary and secondary school teacher quality. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Academic Opportunity Fund - Establishes an Academic Opportunity Fund. Directs the Secretary to reserve a portion of such Fund appropriations for assistance to outlying areas or Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. (Sec. 401) Authorizes the Secretary to award funds from such Fund allotments to State Governors for use by LEAS. Requires such allotments to be made to each State on the basis of its relative funding under ESEA title II part B. Requires a ten percent increase in such Fund allotment for any States that: (1) agrees to devote 25 percent or more of the allotted funds to meet the educational needs of children with disabilities in a manner that supplements and does not supplant existing Federal, State, and local funding for such children; (2) demonstrates that it has improved the educational performance of limited English proficient students, students who at one time or another have dropped out of school, and students who are eligible for a free school lunch; or (3) adopts or shows improved performance on the State-level National Assessment of Educational Progress (paid for by ratable reductions in allotments for States that do not qualify for such increase). Requires State Governors to use at least 98 percent of Academic Opportunity Fund allotments to: (1) implement statewide education reforms such as implementing standards and assessments; or (2) provide bonus payments to elementary schools, secondary schools, or LEAS that adopt reforms or achieve goals determined important by the Governor, including rewarding schools that encourage more students to take honors courses or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), or rewarding LEAS that improve discipline policies or teacher training. Allows States to use not more than 13 percent of such allotments for statewide efforts to improve elementary and secondary school teacher quality. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth requirements for State five-year educational reform plans and annual progress reports. (Sec. 502) Requires LEAS receiving assistance under title I or II of this Act to: (1) use such funds to design and implement programs to improve student learning; (2) set yearly targets for how to achieve the goals in the State plan and describe plans for corrective action if the targets are not met; and (3) use not more than 25 percent of the total amount of funds it receives under titles I and II for a fiscal year to carry out any one of specified authorized activities. Includes among authorized activities any activity focused on improved student learning, new books, additional technology, high standards and assessments, teacher hiring and quality improvements, class size reduction, alternative schools, school-to-work programs or partnerships with institutions of higher education, school construction, special education, vouchers, charter schools or other school choice initiatives, character education, dropout prevention, tutoring and remedial help for struggling students, or any activity determined by the Governor or LEA to improve the educational achievement of all children. (Sec. 503) Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) supplementation, rather than supplanting, of other funds; and (2) civil rights. Directs the Commissioner of Education Statistics to: (1) develop key definitions for terms and uniform and comparable reporting methods related to core indicators of State education performance; (2) report to Congress and the American people regarding such core indicators; and (3) provide technical assistance to States in developing accountability systems relating to the academic performance goals that States establish under this Act. Authorizes the Commissioner to make awards, at the Commissioner's discretion, through the National Cooperative Educational Statistics System to assist States in developing such measures. Directs the Secretary to work with the Commissioner to provide any necessary personnel support to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to carry out such activities. Authorizes appropriations to NCES for such activities.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1999
Amends titles XI and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) disregard Medicaid payments for certain Medicare (SSA title XVIII) cost-sharing and for veterans in applying provisions for fiscal year Medicaid payments to Puerto Rico and certain other territories; and (2) remove the limitation on the Federal medical assistance percentage for such cost-sharing and for veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1999
Deficit Accountability Act of 1999 - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to provide that pay for Members of Congress may not be increased by any adjustment scheduled to take effect in a year immediately following a fiscal year in which a deficit in the Federal budget exists. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to determine and report to Congress on whether the Federal budget was in deficit for such fiscal year. Declares that failure to make such a determination in timely fashion shall be treated as a determination that the Federal budget was in deficit for the fiscal year involved.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1999
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Corrections Act - Amends Federal law which established the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to describe as lands contiguous to Lakeshore lands (and therefore authorized to be purchased by the Secretary for inclusion in the Lakeshore) lands which touch Lakeshore lands or are separated only by a public or private right-of-way. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire Lakeshore lands from units of State and local governments by the payment of delinquent taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1999
Increases from 50 to 100 percent the amount of gain excluded from the sale of certain small business stock. Reduces from five to three years the holding period applicable to such a sale. Makes such exclusion available to corporations. Makes the stock of larger businesses eligible. Repeals the minimum tax preference for the exclusion for incentive stock options.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1999
Access to Contract Equity Act - States that, with respect to a contract goal by the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the award of five percent of their procurement contracts to small disadvantaged businesses and certain minority institutions, no suspension of price modifications (allowing an item's contract price to exceed fair market value) shall be issued in an industry category if the President determines that contracts for a price exceeding fair market value are necessary to remedy demonstrated discrimination in such category. Requires such determination to be published in the Federal Register, and allows any person affected by the application of such determination to seek appropriate judicial review. Amends provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 relating to the Mentor-Protege Pilot Program to: (1) make the program term three years, or five years in unusual circumstances as determined by the Secretary of Defense; (2) authorize (currently, requires) the Secretary to reimburse a mentor firm for the full cost of certain payments and assistance made under the program; (3) allow the Secretary to provide such reimbursement using a separate contract; (4) make determinations made in the annual performance reviews of a mentor firm's agreement a major factor in determining reimbursement amounts; and (5) limit to $1 million per fiscal year the total amount reimbursed for assistance to a protege firm, except when the Secretary determines that unusual circumstances justify reimbursement of a higher amount.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1999
Alternative Minimum Tax Reform Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a corporation to use, as specified, long-term unused credits against the minimum tax. Allows a ten-year carryback, for purposes of the alternative tax net operating loss deduction, in the case of a corporation that has a net operating loss for three or more consecutive years.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
Academic Achievement for All Act (Straight A's Act) - Allows States flexibility in combining and using use specified Federal elementary and secondary education formula program funds for State education priorities and programs, in exchange for being held accountable for meeting, in a five- year period, certain performance goals which they propose. (Sec. 3) Allows a State to opt to enter into such a performance agreement with the Secretary of Education, under which provisions of law relating to specified eligible programs shall not apply to the State, with certain exceptions. Includes under the terms of such agreements requirements relating to: (1) use of such funds to improve student achievement; (2) an accountability system; (3) performance goals and measures, and student achievement data; (4) fiscal responsibilities; (5) civil rights; (6) private school student and staff participation; (7) State financial participation; and (8) annual reports. (Sec. 4) Lists such eligible programs, under various provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), the Department of Education Appropriations Act of 1999, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, and the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. (Sec. 5) Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) within-State distribution of funds; (2) local participation; and (3) a set-aside for State administrative expenditures. (Sec. 8) Requires performance reviews at the end of the five-year period. Requires reductions of State administrative funds for States that have made little or no progress. Allows States that have met at least 80 percent of their performance goals to apply for renewal of performance agreements for an additional five-year period. (Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary annually to set aside sufficient funds from the Fund for the Improvement of Education under ESEA to grant achievement gap reduction rewards to States. Requires a performance reward to equal at least five percent of funds allocated to the State during the first year of the performance agreement for programs included in the agreement. Makes a State eligible to receive a reward if, over the five-year term of the performance agreement, it reduces by at least 25 percent the difference between the percentage of highest and lowest performing groups of students that meet the State's definition of proficient, with such reduction occurring in at least: (1) two content areas, one of which must be mathematics or reading; and (2) one grade level.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
Academic Achievement for All Act (Straight A's Act) - Allows States flexibility in combining and using use specified Federal elementary and secondary education formula program funds for State education priorities and programs, in exchange for being held accountable for meeting, in a five- year period, certain performance goals which they propose. (Sec. 3) Allows a State to opt to enter into such a performance agreement with the Secretary of Education, under which provisions of law relating to specified eligible programs shall not apply to the State, with certain exceptions. Includes under the terms of such agreements requirements relating to: (1) use of such funds to improve student achievement; (2) an accountability system; (3) performance goals and measures, and student achievement data; (4) fiscal responsibilities; (5) civil rights; (6) private school student and staff participation; (7) State financial participation; and (8) annual reports. (Sec. 4) Lists such eligible programs, under various provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), the Department of Education Appropriations Act of 1999, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, and the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. (Sec. 5) Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) within-State distribution of funds; (2) local participation; and (3) a set-aside for State administrative expenditures. (Sec. 8) Requires performance reviews at the end of the five-year period. Requires reductions of State administrative funds for States that have made little or no progress. Allows States that have met at least 80 percent of their performance goals to apply for renewal of performance agreements for an additional five-year period. (Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary annually to set aside sufficient funds from the Fund for the Improvement of Education under ESEA to grant achievement gap reduction rewards to States. Requires a performance reward to equal at least five percent of funds allocated to the State during the first year of the performance agreement for programs included in the agreement. Makes a State eligible to receive a reward if, over the five-year term of the performance agreement, it reduces by at least 25 percent the difference between the percentage of highest and lowest performing groups of students that meet the State's definition of proficient, with such reduction occurring in at least: (1) two content areas, one of which must be mathematics or reading; and (2) one grade level.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
Budget Enforcement Act of 1999 - Title I: A Single Budget for the United States Government - Amends Federal law to make an automatic continuing resolution effective immediately if any appropriation Act has not become law by the beginning of a fiscal period. Appropriates an amount equal to 95 percent of budget authority for each program regularly provided for under the appropriation bill in the most recent fiscal period. (Sec. 103) Directs Congress to enact, and the President to sign, a binding budget law in the form of a joint resolution by May 15 of the calendar year in which the beginning of a new fiscal period commences. Requires the law to set, for the budget year and five subsequent years: (1) budget authority and outlays for the major functional categories, except for disbursements of the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability (OASDI) Insurance program under title II of the Social Security Act; (2) annual limits for budget authority and outlays for discretionary and mandatory programs, activities, and accounts, excepting social security disbursements and interest; (3) appropriate levels for receipts and surpluses or deficits, excluding those of OASDI; (4) nonsocial security budget totals; (5) separate annual estimates for disbursements, receipts, and surpluses or deficits for social security; and (6) unified budget totals for budget authority and outlays, receipts, and surpluses or deficits. Authorizes Members of the House of Representatives or the Senate to demand a separate vote on whether to change any expenditure limit if the budget changes such a limit. (Sec. 104) Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to remove exceptions to the requirement that the budget resolution be adopted before budget-related legislation is considered. Provides that consideration in the House or the Senate of any legislation making available budget, entitlement, direct spending, contract, or direct or guaranteed lending authority in the fiscal period concerned in the absence of an enacted joint budget resolution shall only be in order upon a two-thirds vote to waive the requirement that the budget resolution be adopted first. (Sec. 105) Makes it in order to offer an amendment to a bill providing discretionary budget authority or budget outlays that would: (1) only reduce such authority or outlays; and (2) reduce the appropriate caps in the most recently enacted budget resolution for such authority or outlays by an amount less than or equal to the amount of the reduction in the amendment. (Sec. 106) Changes references to the "concurrent resolution on the budget" to the "joint resolution on the budget" in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, Rules of the House of Representatives, Standing Rules of the Senate, and the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). (Sec. 107) Sets forth a timetable for completion of certain budget actions by the President, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). (Sec. 108) Directs the President to submit a special message with the OMB Analysis of Actual Spending Levels and Projections for the Upcoming Year that includes proposed legislative changes to: (1) offset the outlay excess; or (2) revise the outlay caps contained in this Act. Sets forth congressional procedures for the consideration of legislation to address excess outlays. (Sec. 109) Requires presidential budgets for FY 1999 through 2003 to be consistent with the spending levels established in this Act or to recommend changes to such levels. Makes it out of order in the House or the Senate to consider any concurrent budget resolution unless it is consistent with the levels established in this Act. (Sec. 110) Requires OMB to submit a report containing account numbers and spending levels for specific entitlement categories to the President and Congress. Applies direct spending caps, effective upon submission of such report, to all entitlement authority except for undistributed offsetting receipts and net interest outlays. Sets forth entitlement categories subject to caps. (Sec. 111) Requires determinations of direct spending caps (as well as any breaches of such caps and actions necessary to remedy such breaches) to be based on certain economic assumptions set forth in the joint explanatory statement of managers accompanying the most recently enacted joint resolution on the budget and subject to periodic reestimation based on changed economic conditions or changes in eligible population. (Sec. 112) Provides for automatic adjustments to caps for entitlements and other mandatory spending to reflect changes in specified economic and other conditions. Title II: Enforcement Provisions - Directs OMB to: (1) compile a statement of actual and projected deficits, revenues, and direct spending for a fiscal year, following the end of that year, and for the current fiscal year, identifying such spending by categories of entitlements and other mandatory spending; and (2) in any year in which actual or projected deficits, revenues, or spending in violation of caps by more than one-tenth of one percent of the applicable direct spending for the year concerned occurs, issue a report to the President and Congress, estimating necessary spending reductions. (Sec. 202) Provides for enforcement of the direct spending caps on categories of spending established under title I of this Act. Applies specified enforcement rules and procedures for any fiscal year in which direct spending exceeds the applicable direct spending cap. (Sec. 203) Sets forth: (1) general rules for the triggering of sequestration to reduce spending for programs subject to direct spending caps; (2) special rules for direct spending programs with certain characteristics; and (3) rules for insurance, loan, and State grant programs. Requires a within session sequester under certain conditions. (Sec. 204) Exempts certain budget accounts, activities within accounts, or income from sequestration. (Sec. 205) Sets forth special rules for sequestration orders for: (1) the child support enforcement program under the Social Security Act; (2) the Commodity Credit Corporation; (3) the earned income tax credit; (4) regular and extended unemployment compensation; (5) the Federal Employees Health Benefits Fund; (6) the Federal Housing Finance Board; (7) Federal pay; (8) Medicare; (9) the Postal Service Fund; (10) Department of Energy power marketing administration funds or the Tennessee Valley Authority fund; and (11) programs which provide a businesslike service in exchange for a fee. (Sec. 206) Directs CBO and OMB to report to the President and Congress the budget baselines for the budget year and the next nine fiscal years. Specifies requirements for the budget baseline. (Sec. 207) Requires amounts to be withheld from allocation to the appropriate congressional committees (within the discretionary caps for each fiscal year) and reserved for natural disasters and other emergency purposes. Provides that such amounts shall be at least one percent of total budget authority and outlays available within those caps for the fiscal year concerned. Bars adjustments to the discretionary spending limits set forth under the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act unless the amount appropriated for discretionary accounts designated as emergency requirements exceeds the amount reserved under this Act. Sets forth conditions under which reserved amounts shall be made available for allocation to appropriate committees. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House or the Senate to consider legislation containing an emergency designation if it also provides an appropriation or direct spending for any other item or contains other matter. Permits such legislation to contain rescissions or spending reductions. (Sec. 208) Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require the House Appropriations Committee to report at least once each Congress (currently, from time to time) on recommendations for terminating or modifying provisions of law which provide permanent budget authority. Requires standing committees to review at least once every ten years (currently, from time to time) continuing programs within their jurisdiction for which appropriations are not made annually to ascertain whether such programs should be modified to provide for annual appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
New Millennium Classrooms Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) expand the tax deduction for computer donations by corporations to tax-exempt schools to include donations to public libraries; (2) increase from two to three years the age of computers that can be contributed for such deduction; and (3) allow a business tax credit of 30 percent of the value of computers donated to tax-exempt schools and public libraries. Increases the amount of such credit to 50 percent for contributions to schools or public libraries in empowerment zones, enterprise communities, and Indian reservations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
Health Care Benefits Financial Protection Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a limited credit for an eligible employer for costs incurred in maintaining an employee group health plan.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1999
Sets forth the rule (open) for the consideration of H.R. 2084 (Department of Transportation and related agencies appropriations).
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1999
Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1999 - Subtitle (sic) A: Health Insurance Bill of Rights - Chapter 1: Access to Care - Requires any group health plan, or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, providing emergency services benefits to cover emergency services furnished: (1) without the need for any prior authorization determination; (2) whether or not the health care provider furnishing such services is a participating health care provider; and (3) without regard to any other term or condition of such coverage (other than exclusion or coordination of benefits, or an affiliation or waiting period, permitted under specified provisions of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), or the Internal Revenue Code). Requires such coverage in a manner so that, if the emergency services are provided by a nonparticipating health care provider, the participant, beneficiary, or enrollee is not liable for amounts exceeding the liability that would be incurred if the services were provided by a participating provider with prior authorization. Prescribes the same coverage for maintenance care or post-stabilization care (subject to certain guidelines) by nonparticipating health care providers. (Sec. 102) Requires a plan or coverage that provides benefits only through participating providers to offer a participant the option to purchase point-of-service coverage for benefits provided by a nonparticipating provider, unless the plan offers the participant a choice of health insurance coverage and one or more coverage options that do not provide benefits only through participating health care providers. (Sec. 103) Requires any plan and issuer to permit each participant, beneficiary, and enrollee to receive: (1) primary care from any participating primary care provider available to accept such individual; and (2) (unless the plan or issuer clearly declares choice limitations) medically necessary or appropriate specialty care, pursuant to appropriate referral procedures, from any qualified participating provider available to accept such individual for such care. (Sec. 104) Requires any plan or issuer that requires or provides for designation of a participating primary care provider to permit: (1) a female participant, beneficiary, or enrollee to designate a participating physician who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology as the individual's primary care provider; and (2) designation of a pediatrician as a child's primary provider. Prohibits the plan or issuer, in the absence of such a designation, from requiring authorization or a referral by the individual's primary care provider or otherwise for coverage of routine gynecological care (such as preventive women's health examinations) and pregnancy-related services provided by a participating specialist in obstetrics and gynecology to the extent such care is otherwise covered. Permits a plan or issuer to treat the ordering of other gynecological care by such a participating health professional as the primary care provider's authorization of such care. Requires the plan or issuer to refer to an available and accessible specialist any participant, beneficiary, or enrollee with a condition or disease of sufficient seriousness and complexity to require treatment by a specialist, if benefits for such treatment are covered. Requires a plan or issuer to refer an individual to a nonparticipating specialist only: (1) if a participating specialist is not available and accessible; and (2) at no additional cost to the individual. Requires a plan or issuer to have a procedure by which an individual with an ongoing special condition (life-threatening, degenerative, or disabling) may be referred to a specialist who shall be responsible for and capable of providing and coordinating the individual's primary and specialty care, without referral from the individual's primary care provider. Requires standing referrals to a specialist for any condition requiring ongoing specialist care. (Sec. 105) Prescribes requirements for continuity of care for participants, beneficiaries, or enrollees in the event of a termination of a health care provider or of the contract between a plan and an issuer. (Sec. 106) Prescribes requirements for participation in approved clinical trials of individuals with life-threatening or serious illnesses for which no standard treatment is effective. Prohibits denial of participation in such trials, or discrimination against participants. Limits plan or issuer payments to routine patient costs. (Sec. 107) Requires any plan or issuer that provides prescription drug benefits limited to drugs included in a formulary to: (1) ensure participation of participating physicians and pharmacists in the development of the formulary; (2) disclose to providers, and upon request to participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees, the nature of the formulary restrictions; and (3) consistent with the standards for a utilization review program, provide for exceptions from the formulary limitation when a non-formulary alternative is medically indicated. Prohibits a plan or issuer from denying coverage of such a drug or device on the basis that the use is investigational, if certain labeling requirements are met. (Sec. 108) Requires each plan and issuer to have (in relation to the coverage) a sufficient number, distribution, and variety of qualified participating providers to ensure that all covered health care services, including specialty services, will be available and accessible in a timely manner to all participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees. Permits inclusion among such providers of federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, migrant health centers, and other essential community providers located in the service area. Requires inclusion of such providers if necessary to meet such number, distribution, and variety requirements. (Sec. 109) Prescribes nondiscrimination requirements. Chapter 2: Quality Assurance - Directs each plan and issuer to establish an ongoing, internal quality assurance and continuous quality improvement program meeting specified requirements. (Sec. 112) Requires each plan and issuer to: (1) collect uniform quality data, including a minimum uniform data set specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (2) have a written process for the selection of participating health care professionals, including minimum professional requirements; and (3) establish and maintain, as part of any internal quality assurance and continuous quality improvement program including prescription drug benefits, a drug utilization program which encourages appropriate drug use and takes appropriate action to reduce the incidence of improper drug use and adverse drug reactions and interactions. (Sec. 115) Requires each plan and issuer to conduct (or arrange for qualified outside agents to conduct) benefit utilization review activities only in accordance with a utilization review program that meets certain requirements. Prohibits a program from permitting or providing contingent compensation arrangements with its employees, agents, or contractors in a manner that: (1) provides incentives, direct or indirect, for such persons to make inappropriate review decisions; or (2) is based, directly or indirectly, on the quantity or type of adverse determinations rendered. Requires a utilization review program to make determinations and notifications concerning: (1) prior authorization services within three business days after receiving any necessary information; (2) authorization for continued or extended health care services within one business day after receipt of such information; and (3) retrospective review of services previously provided, within 30 days of such receipt. (Sec. 116) Directs the President to establish an advisory board to provide information to Congress and the administration on issues relating to quality monitoring and improvement in the health care provided under group health plans and health insurance coverage. Chapter 3: Patient Information - Specifies benefits, access, emergency coverage, prior authorization, grievance and appeals, and other pertinent information which plans and issuers shall provide to participants and beneficiaries at the time of initial coverage, annually, within a reasonable period before or after the date of significant changes, and upon request. (Sec. 122) Requires plans and issuers to establish procedures to: (1) safeguard the privacy of any individually identifiable enrollee information; (2) maintain records and information in an accurate and timely manner; and (3) assure individuals timely access to such records and information. (Sec. 123) Provides for grants to States for creation and operation of a Health Insurance Ombudsman. Requires any State receiving such a grant to contract for such an Ombudsman with a not-for-profit organization that operates independent of group health plans and health insurance issuers. Requires the Secretary to provide through such a contract for an Ombudsman in any State that does not provide for one. Makes such an Ombudsman responsible to: (1) assist consumers in choosing among health insurance coverage or among coverage options offered within group health plans; and (2) provide counseling and assistance to enrollees dissatisfied with their treatment by issuers and plans, and with respect to grievances and appeals of coverage or plan determinations. Chapter 4: Grievances and Appeals Procedures - Requires each plan and issuer to establish a system for the presentation and resolution of oral and written grievances brought by participants, beneficiaries, or enrollees, or health care providers or other individuals acting on behalf of an individual and with the individual's consent. Requires the system to include grievances regarding access to and availability of services, quality of care, choice and accessibility of providers, network adequacy, and compliance with the requirements of this subtitle. (Sec. 132) Requires each plan and issuer to establish an internal appeals process, and provide for an external appeals process, which meet certain requirements. Specifies the appeal rights of participants, beneficiaries, and their representatives, as well as the kinds of decisions which are appealable. Chapter 5: Protecting the Doctor-Patient Relationship - Prohibits any contract or agreement between a plan or issuer and a health care provider from: (1) prohibiting or restricting the provider from engaging in medical communications with the provider's patient; or (2) containing any provision purporting to transfer to the health care provider by indemnification or otherwise any liability relating to activities, actions, or omissions of the plan, issuer, or agent (as opposed to the provider). Declares null and void any such contract or agreement provisions. (Sec. 142) Prohibits any plan or issuer from operating any physician incentive plan that does not meet certain requirements under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 143) Requires any plan or issuer to establish reasonable procedures relating to the participation of health care professionals, including notice of participation rules, written notice of adverse participation decisions, and a process for appealing adverse decisions. (Sec. 144) Prohibits a plan or an issuer from retaliating against a participant, beneficiary, enrollee, or health care provider based on use of, or participation in, a utilization review or a grievance process. Prohibits a plan or an issuer from retaliating or discriminating against a protected health care professional because the professional in good faith: (1) discloses information relating to the care, services, or conditions affecting one or more participants, beneficiaries, or enrollees to an appropriate public regulatory agency, private accreditation body, or management personnel of the plan or issuer; or (2) initiates, cooperates, or otherwise participates in an investigation or proceeding by such an agency with respect to such care, services, or conditions. Defines good faith action. Chapter 6: Promoting Good Medical Practice - Prohibits a plan or issuer from arbitrarily interfering with or altering the decision of the treating physician regarding the manner or setting in which particular covered services are delivered (including the number of days in a hospital) if they are medically necessary or appropriate for treatment or diagnosis. Allows a plan or issuer to limit the delivery of services to one or more providers within a network. (Sec. 152) Requires a plan or issuer that provides medical and surgical benefits to provide inpatient coverage following a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or lymph node dissection for the treatment of breast cancer for a period of time as is determined by the attending physician, in his or her professional judgment consistent with medical standards, to be medically appropriate. Prohibits a plan or issuer from: (1) denying to a woman eligibility to enroll or renew coverage solely for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of this title; (2) providing monetary payments or rebates to encourage women to accept less than the minimum protections available under this title; (3) penalizing or otherwise reducing or limiting reimbursement because an attending provider gave care to a participant or beneficiary in accordance with this title; (4) providing incentives (monetary or otherwise) to induce an attending provider to provide care to a participant or beneficiary in a manner inconsistent with this title; or (5) restricting benefits (other than imposing deductibles, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing) for any portion of a period within a required hospital length of stay in a manner less favorable than the benefits provided for any preceding portion of such stay. Chapter 7: Definitions - Sets forth definitions. Subtitle B: Application of Patient Protection Standards to Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Coverage Under Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require each plan and issuer to comply with the patient protection requirements of this Act. (Sec. 202) Requires each health insurance issuer to comply with such requirements with respect to individual health insurance coverage. Subtitle C: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Amends ERISA to require each plan and issuer to comply with the patient protection requirements of this Act. (Sec. 302) Provides that nothing in ERISA shall be construed to invalidate, impair, or supersede any cause of action under State law to recover damages resulting from personal injury or wrongful death against any person (except employers and other plan sponsors): (1) in connection with the provision of insurance, administrative services, or medical services by that person to or for a group health plan; or (2) that arises out of the arrangement by that person for the provision of insurance, administrative services, or medical services by other persons. Allows such an action against an employer or other plan sponsor (or against an employee of such an employer or sponsor acting within the scope of employment) only if it is based on the employer's or sponsor's exercise of discretionary authority to decide a claim for covered benefits, and such exercise resulted in personal injury or wrongful death. (Sec. 303) Prohibits participants and beneficiaries from bringing an action under specified provisions of subtitle A of this Act. Allows actions under other specified provisions, but prohibits class actions and limits relief to benefits, items, or services denied plus attorney's fees and costs. Subtitle D: Application to Group Health Plans under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a group health plan to comply with the requirements of this Act. Subtitle E: Effective Dates; Coordination in Implementation - Sets forth effective dates for provisions of this Act. (Sec. 502) Amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 to provide for coordination in the implementation of this Act. (Sec. 503) Mandates an annual estimate of the impact of enactment of this title (sic) on the income and balances of the trust funds under specified provisions of the Social Security Act and requires, if the estimate is that this title (sic) has a negative impact, transfer from general Federal revenues, sufficient funds to ensure that the income and balances are not reduced. Subtitle F: Revenue-Related Provisions - Amends provisions of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act relating to Medicare as a secondary payer to require plans (and employers and employee organizations that maintain or participate in plans) subject to those provisions to provide certain information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Sec. 602) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reimpose the environmental tax from December 31, 1998, through January 1, 2010 and to remove provisions allowing for the termination of that tax, in specified circumstances, before 2010. Amends provisions relating to the tax on crude oil received at a U.S. refinery and on petroleum products entered into the United States to apply the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate to dates between September 15, 1999, and October 1, 2009. (Sec. 603) Modifies foreign tax credit carryback and carryover periods. (Sec. 604) Modifies rules relating to the exemption of certain ten or more employer plans from welfare benefit fund provisions. (Sec. 605) Makes the installment method not apply to accrual method taxpayers. Modifies requirements regarding pledges of installment obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a political subdivision of a State from imposing a tax on income earned within such political subdivision by nonresidents of the political subdivision unless the effective rate of such tax imposed on such nonresidents who are residents of such State is not less than such rate imposed on such nonresidents who are not residents of such State.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Compensation Title II: Memorial Affairs Subtitle A: American Battle Monuments Commission Subtitle B: National Cemeteries Title III: Housing Title IV: Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Title V: Other Matters Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 1999 - Title I: Compensation - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 1999, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children. Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. (Sec. 102) Includes bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma within the list of diseases presumed to be service-connected, in the case of exposure to ionizing radiation, and therefore compensable for purposes of veterans' disability compensation and medical care. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the payment of DIC to the surviving spouse of a veteran who died while totally disabled from a service-connected disability, who was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999, and who had been diagnosed as having one of the diseases specified as being service-connected and therefore compensable. (Sec. 104) States that the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a veteran shall not bar the furnishing of the following benefits to such person if the remarriage has been terminated by death or divorce unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that the divorce was secured through fraud or collusion: (1) DIC; (2) medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans; (3) educational assistance; and (4) housing loans. Title II: Memorial Affairs - Subtitle A: American Battle Monuments Commission - Directs the American Battle Monuments Commission to solicit and accept contributions for establishing the World War II memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs (authorized under prior law). Establishes in the Treasury a fund to hold and expend such contributions. Authorizes the Commission to: (1) borrow up to $65 million from the Treasury to ensure that memorial groundbreaking, construction, and dedication are completed on a timely basis; and (2) accept voluntary services in furtherance of fund-raising activities (authorizing reimbursement of volunteer incidental expenses). Extends until December 31, 2005 (currently May 25, 2000) the authority to construct the memorial. (Sec. 202) Revises current Commission authority to receive State, local, and private amounts for establishing the memorial to: (1) authorize the Commission to solicit ( currently, receive) such contributions; and (2) require the deposit of such amounts in the fund created under this title. Requires the Commission to establish written guidelines for the acceptance of funds and in-kind contributions. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Commission to adopt, obtain, use, register, and license trademarks, copyrights, and patents in connection with intellectual property and related items. Subtitle B: National Cemeteries - Directs the Secretary to establish a national cemetery in each of four areas of the United States determined to be in most need of such a cemetery to serve the needs of veterans and their families. Obligates FY 2000 funds for such projects. Requires an initial and annual reports to Congress. (Sec. 212) Directs the Secretary to contract with one or more qualified organizations to conduct an independent study of national cemeteries, including repairs needed, additional cemeteries required, and improvement of burial benefits. Requires reports from the organization to the Secretary, and from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees. Title III: Housing - Extends permanently (currently ends on September 30, 2003) the eligibility of certain former members of the Selected Reserve for veterans' housing loans. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary to conduct, directly or by grant or contract, programs to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. Authorizes the Secretary to monitor the expenditure of funds under such programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004. Title IV: Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims - Authorizes the Court of Veterans Appeals (Court) to prescribe rules and regulations. (Sec. 402) Authorizes a retired judge of the Court to be recalled for further service if such judge, at the time of retirement, had provided written notice of such judge's availability for further service. Allows the Court chief judge to recall such a judge if substantial service is expected to be performed for the recall period. Prohibits a recalled judge from serving for more than 90 days in a calendar year without the judge's consent or for more than 180 days during a calendar year in any event. Requires a chief judge to remove from the recall-eligible list a judge who: (1) is recalled but declines; or (2) becomes permanently disabled and unable to perform judicial services. (Sec. 403) Requires 183 days or more served as a Court judge to be credited toward years of service and less than such period to be disregarded. (Sec. 404) Provides retired pay computation for judges who were recall-eligible but lost such status and for judges who chose not to provide a notice of availability for recall. Allows for a cost-of-living adjustment to the retired pay of a Court judge only up to an amount that would make the retired pay equal to the pay received by a current Court judge. Prohibits the payment of military retired pay for periods served as a Court judge. (Sec. 405) Makes a surviving spouse of a Court judge eligible for a survivor annuity after being married for at least one year (currently, two years) before such judge's death. Allows a Court judge to elect to participate in a survivor annuity within six months after marriage if such judge has retired. Reduces the percentage of pay reduction required of active judges as contributions toward retirement annuities. Prohibits interest payments on retirement pay reductions in the case of Court judges for any period during which such judges: (1) were separated from judicial service or service as a Member of Congress or congressional employee; and (2) were not receiving retired pay or annuities based on such service. Allows a surviving annuity to be paid to the survivors of a judge who dies after having rendered at least 18 months (currently, five years) of creditable civilian service. Allows a survivor annuity without a creditable service requirement in the case of a judge who is assassinated. Repeals a current requirement that a surviving spouse be at least 50 years of age before receiving such annuity. (Sec. 406) States that a recall-eligible retired Court judge who represents a client in a claim for veterans' benefits shall be considered to have declined recall service and be removed from recall-eligible status. (Sec. 407) Allows only one eligible associate judge of the Court to retire under early retirement authority in each of calendar years 1999 through 2003. Provides early retirement requirements. Requires the judge to: (1) notify the President and the Court's chief judge of the intent to retire; and (2) retire during the fiscal year in which notification is provided but not earlier than 90 days following such notification. Makes recall-eligible retired judges and judges who were removed from such eligibility due to disability eligible for annual adjustments in judges' retired pay as provided by law. Title V: Other Matters - Extends permanently: (1) the authority of the Secretary to issue and guarantee principal and interest on certificates or other securities evidencing an interest in a pool of mortgage loans made by the Secretary; (2) procedures applicable to liquidation sales on homes whose loans were defaulted by veterans; and (3) the authority of the Secretary to utilize information from the Secretaries of Health and Human Services or the Treasury for veterans' income verification purposes. (Sec. 502) Directs the Secretary to carry out a quality assurance program in the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, either through a single division or separate quality assurance entities. Requires: (1) the Under Secretary for Benefits to perform and oversee quality reviews of such division or entities; (2) an adequate number of quality assurance personnel within the Administration; and (3) an annual report from the Secretary to Congress on quality assurance activities. (Sec. 503) Extends through December 31, 2004, the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. (Sec. 504) Congratulates and commends the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States on their 100th anniversary. (Sec. 505) Outlines authorized purposes for funds appropriated to the Department for the following accounts: (1) Compensation and Pension; (2) Medical Care; (3) Medical Administration and Miscellaneous Operating Expenses; (4) General Operating Expenses;(5) Construction, Major Projects; and (6) Construction, Minor Projects. Requires that, for the purpose of any law appropriating funds to the Department for the cost of direct or guaranteed loans, the cost of any such loan shall be as defined under title V of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
Authorizes duty performed by a member of the reserves on an honor guard detail for the funeral of a veteran, and training for such duty, to be considered a period of drill or training in addition to training otherwise required. Provides one day credit for each day of such duty for purposes of eligibility for military retirement. States that a reserve member who is on active duty under a call or order for more than 180 days and who is retained on active duty solely to participate in such honor guard detail shall not be counted toward the active-duty end strength limitations for such military department for that fiscal year. Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to accept voluntary services to participate in such details. Includes within the authorized uses of funds appropriated for State National Guard activities the support of State law requirements relating to National Guard participation in funerals of veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
Spaceport Investment Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide the same treatment for spaceports as is provided for airports under the exempt facility bond rules.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
Families First Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow for penalty-free withdrawals from individual retirement plans if used to pay adoption expenses; and (2) permanently extend and increase the dollar and income limitations for employer adoption assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that in the case of a private foundation the distributable amount shall be reduced (but not below zero) by any amount paid or incurred (or set aside) by such private foundation for the investigatory costs and direct costs of removal or taking remedial action with respect to a hazardous substance released at a facility which was owned or operated by such private foundation. Sets forth limitations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act - Applies this Act to retirement coverage errors that occur before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act. Makes this Act inapplicable to erroneous retirement coverage determinations that were in effect for less than three years of service after December 31, 1986. Title I: Description of Retirement Coverage Errors to Which This Act Applies and Measures for Their Rectification - Subtitle A: Employees and Annuitants Who Should Have Been FERS Covered, but Who Were Erroneously CSRS Covered or CSRS-Offset Covered Instead, and Survivors of Such Employees and Annuitants - Permits any Federal employee or former employee, who should be (or should have been) Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) covered, but who is erroneously CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System) covered or CSRS-Offset covered instead, to elect to: (1) be FERS covered instead; or (2) remain or instead become CSRS-Offset covered. Permits an employee affected by such an error that has been corrected to elect to be CSRS-Offset covered instead. Authorizes, if an individual elects to be CSRS-Offset covered, all employee contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund (TSF) made during the period of FERS coverage, and any earnings, to remain in the TSF. Makes ineligible for elections under this paragraph individuals who: (1) received a payment ordered by a court or provided as a settlement of claim for losses resulting from a retirement coverage error unless such payment is waived or repaid; or (2) received a refund of retirement deductions or distribution under specified Federal civil service provisions. (Sec. 102) Permits annuitants (and survivors of employees) who should have been FERS covered but were erroneously CSRS covered or CSRS-Offset covered to elect CSRS-Offset or FERS coverage. Provides for a reduced annuity for annuitants or survivors who elect CSRS-Offset coverage. Sets forth requirements parallel to those for employees with respect to previously-received settlement payments. Provides for CSRS-Offset coverage for annuitants or survivors who do not make elections and for whom corrective action was not taken before any time limitation prescribed by this Act. Subtitle B: Employee Who Should Have Been FERS Covered, CSRS-Offset Covered, or CSRS Covered, but Who Was Erroneously Social Security-Only Covered Instead - Requires employees who should be (or should have been) FERS, CSRS-Offset, or CSRS covered but are (or were) erroneously Social Security-Only covered to be covered under the correct retirement coverage effective as of the date of the coverage error. Provides that if the error has been corrected, the previous corrective action shall remain in effect. Subtitle C: Employee Who Should or Could Have Been Social Security-Only Covered but Who Was Erroneously CSRS-Offset Covered or CSRS Covered Instead - Requires employees who should have been Social Security-Only covered but were erroneously CSRS covered to be CSRS-Offset covered, subject to a right of election. Permits such individuals to elect CSRS-Offset or Social-Security-Only coverage. Requires individuals who do not make an election to remain CSRS-Offset covered. Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to promulgate regulations authorizing individuals to elect CSRS-Offset or Social Security-Only coverage if an error was previously corrected. Subtitle D: Employee Who Was Erroneously FERS Covered - Authorizes FERS-ineligible employees who should have been Social Security-Only, CSRS, or CSRS-Offset covered and were erroneously FERS covered to elect to remain FERS covered or be covered under the coverage that would have applied in the absence of the error. Requires individuals who do not make an election to remain FERS covered. Permits contributions to the TSF made during the period of erroneous FERS coverage and all earnings to remain in the TSF in the case of employees who elect coverage other than FERS. Requires OPM to promulgate regulations authorizing individuals covered by this subtitle to make elections if an error was previously corrected. (Sec. 132) Sets forth provisions regarding individuals who were prevented from electing FERS coverage as a result of being erroneously FERS covered. (Sec. 133) Makes this subtitle effective as of January 1, 1987. Subtitle E: Employee Who Should Have Been CSRS-Offset Covered, but Who Was Erroneously CSRS Covered Instead - Requires employees who should be (or should have been) CSRS-Offset covered but are (or were) erroneously CSRS covered to be covered under the correct coverage effective as of the date of the error. Subtitle F: Employee Who Should Have Been CSRS Covered, but Who Was Erroneously CSRS-Offset Covered Instead - Requires employees who should be (or should have been) CSRS covered but are (or were) erroneously CSRS-Offset covered to be covered under the correct coverage effective as of the date of the error. Title II: General Provisions - Directs Government agencies to take appropriate measures to promptly identify and notify individuals affected by a retirement coverage error of their rights under this Act. (Sec. 203) Sets forth requirements with respect to service credit deposits in cases where: (1) a FERS covered employee was erroneously CSRS or CSRS-Offset covered and made a service credit deposit under CSRS and there was a subsequent retroactive change to FERS coverage; or (2) an employee owed a service credit deposit, there is a subsequent retroactive change to CSRS or CSRS-Offset coverage, or the service becomes creditable. (Sec. 205) Sets forth provisions regarding TSF treatment for individuals described by Subtitles A and B of title I of this Act. (Sec. 207) Bars an agency from placing an individual under CSRS coverage unless: (1) the individual has been employed with such coverage within the preceding 365 days; or (2) OPM has agreed that the agency's coverage determination is correct. (Sec. 208) Authorizes the OPM Director to: (1) extend deadlines for making elections under certain circumstances; (2) reimburse expenses incurred by an individual with respect to settlement of a claim for losses resulting from a coverage error; (3) compensate an individual for monetary losses that are a direct and proximate result of such an error, excluding claimed losses relating to foregone contributions and earnings under the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and other investment opportunities; and (4) waive payments otherwise required by this Act. Title III: General Provisions - Provides for conformity with this Act of the Foreign Service and Central Intelligence Agency retirement systems. Title IV: Tax Provisions - Provides that no Federal retirement plan shall fail to be treated as a qualified plan under the Internal Revenue Code by reason of any action taken under this Act. Excludes from individual gross income any amount attributable to a direct transfer under this Act between funds or any Government contribution to any fund or account. Title V: Miscellaneous Retirement Provisions - Includes as creditable service of a Federal employee or Member of Congress for purposes of FERS provisions a period of service (other than any service already creditable under FERS, any military service, and any service performed in the employ of a Federal Reserve Bank) that was creditable under the Bank Plan (the benefit structure in which employees of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System appointed on or after January 1, 1984, participate), if the employee waives credit for such service under the Bank Plan and makes a payment to the TSF equal to the amount that would have been deducted from pay had the employee been subject to FERS during such period of service (together with interest on such amount computed). Excludes from participation in FERS any employee or Member who has separated from civilian service after having been subject to the benefit structure for employees of the Board appointed before January 1, 1984, and having at least five years of civilian service (other than any service performed in the employ of a Federal Reserve Bank) creditable under such benefit structure, except for such persons who subsequently enter a position subject to FERS provisions. Makes provisions regarding creditability and certain former Board employees applicable only to individuals who separate from service subject to FERS on or after the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 502) Treats as a separation from Government employment, for purposes of the TSP, any transfer from a position that is subject to FERS, CSRS, or any other retirement system under which individuals may contribute to the TSF through withholdings from pay, to a position that is not subject to any of them. Applies the amendments made by this section to transfers occurring before, on, or after this Act's enactment date. Considers, for transfers occurring before this Act's enactment, the date of transfer to be this Act's enactment date.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2000 - Title I: Export and Investment Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for: (1) direct loans, loan guarantees, tied-aid grants, insurance, and administrative expenses under Export-Import Bank programs; (2) Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) direct and guaranteed loans and credit and insurance programs, including administrative expenses; and (3) the Trade and Development Agency. Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for: (1) expenses of the President in carrying out certain programs under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (2) the Agency for International Development (AID) for specified development assistance (allowing availability of amounts for the Inter-American Foundation (pending the outcome of certain civil and criminal investigations) and of limited amounts for the African Development Foundation); (3) specified projects aimed at reunification of Cyprus; (4) democracy and humanitarian activities in Burma; (5) specified assistance for Indonesia; (6) specified assistance for the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Charles Darwin Foundation to support research, conservation, training and other activities to protect the Province of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador; (7) specified assistance for conflict resolution programs involving teenagers of different ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds from the Middle East and other regions of conflict; (8) international disaster assistance; (9) micro and small enterprise development programs; (10) guaranteed loans for the urban and environmental credit program; (11) private and voluntary organizations; (12) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (13) operating expenses of AID and the AID Office of Inspector General; (14) Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance (earmarking amounts for Israel, Egypt, and Jordan, and to support victims of and programs related to the Holocaust); (15) assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States (earmarking amounts for Kosova, Albania, Romania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, subject to specified conditions); (16) assistance for the new independent states of the former Soviet Union (subject to specified conditions, and earmarking amounts for Mongolia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia); (17) the Peace Corps (but with a prohibition on the use of such funds for abortions); (18) international narcotics control and law enforcement; (19) migration and refugee assistance; (20) the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund; (21) nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining, and related programs and activities (specifying conditions on funds for the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO); (22) the Department of the Treasury technical assistance program; and (23) debt restructuring of concessional loans, guarantees, and credits made to eligible Latin American, Caribbean, and sub-Saharan African countries. Bars the use of development assistance funds for: (1) coercive abortions or involuntary sterilizations; and (2) U.S. private and voluntary organizations which obtain less than 20 percent of annual funding from sources other than the U.S. Government. Prohibits funds to: (1) Russia unless the President certifies to the Committees on Appropriations that it has terminated arrangements to provide Iran with technology to develop a nuclear program; (2) Russia unless the Secretary of State certifies to such committees that Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in Kosova have not established a separate zone of operational control and are fully integrated under North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) unified command;(3) Cambodia until the Secretary of State reports to such Committees that specified democratic conditions have been met; and (4) the Government of Azerbaijan until the President reports to Congress that it has ceased all blockades against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Bars ESF assistance to the KEDO.. Title III: Military Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for: (1) expanded international military education and training (IMET) to Guatemala; (2) foreign military financing grants and direct loans (earmarking amounts for Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia (including drawdowns of defense articles and services); and (3) international peacekeeping operations (subject to certain conditions). Prohibits foreign military financing for Sudan, Liberia, and Guatemala. Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for the U.S. contribution to: (1) the International Development Association; (2) the Global Environment Facility of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank); (3) the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency; (4) the Inter-American Development Bank; (5) the Asian Development Bank; (6) the Asian Development Fund; (7) the African Development Bank; and (8) the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for international programs and organizations. Sets certain restrictions on international organization funding, including prohibiting the use of funds made available to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for activities in China. Prohibits the use of funds for the KEDO or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth limits on the use of appropriations, including that no more than 15 percent of such appropriations shall be obligated during the last month of availability. (Sec. 502) Prohibits the use of funds for bilateral funding of international financial institutions. (Sec. 503) Sets forth limits on the use of appropriations, including no more than specified maximums for official residence expenses, entertainment expenses, and representation allowances for AID, and for entertainment and representation allowances for the Inter-American Foundation and the Trade and Development Agency. Limits the use of funds for entertainment expenses of the Peace Corps, and of entertainment and representation allowances under the Foreign Military Financing Program. (Sec. 506) Prohibits the use of funds for: (1) the export of nuclear equipment, fuel, or technology (except for nuclear safety purposes); (2) direct assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, or Syria; (3) assistance to any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree; (4) certain transfers between appropriations accounts without prior presidential consultation with Congress; (5) assistance to any country in default in excess of a year on payments on a U.S. loan (except for any narcotics-related assistance for Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru); and (6) assistance (except in certain circumstances) for production of any commodity for export by a foreign country, if the commodity is likely to be in surplus on world markets when the resulting productive capacity is expected to become operative, and if the assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar commodity. (Sec. 514) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified international financial institutions to oppose any assistance for the production or extraction of any commodity or mineral for export if it is in surplus on world markets and such assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar commodity. (Sec. 516) Declares that funds appropriated for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs, that are returned or not made available for international organizations and programs, shall remain available for obligation until FY 2001. (Sec. 517) Prohibits U.S. sale of Stinger missiles in the Persian Gulf region, with certain exceptions. (Sec. 518) Prohibits the use of development assistance funds for abortions or involuntary sterilizations as methods of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions, or provide any financial incentive to undergo sterilization. (Sec. 519) Declares that nongovernmental and multilateral organizations shall not be subjected to requirements more restrictive than requirements applicable to foreign governments in determining eligibility for population planning assistance. (Sec. 520) Directs the Attorney General to report to the Committees on Appropriations on the circumstances under which individuals involved in the December 2, 1980, murders or cover-up of the murders of four American churchwomen in El Salvador obtained residence in the United States. (Sec. 521) Prohibits the use of funds for Colombia, India, Haiti, Liberia, Pakistan, Serbia, Sudan, or the Democratic Republic of Congo, except through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 523) Makes funds available to AID for family planning, health, child survival, environment, and basic education and AIDS research and control in developing countries. (Sec. 524) Bars funding for indirect assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, Iran, Syria, North Korea, or China unless the President certifies that the withholding of such funds is contrary to the U.S. national security interest. (Sec. 525) Designates the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) (defined as Serbia, but not Montenegro or Kosova) as a terrorist state. Requires all provisions of law that impose sanctions against a country whose government is engaged in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights to be fully enforced against the FRY. Urges the President to seek multilateral cooperation to: (1) deny dangerous technologies to the FRY; (2) induce the Government of the FRY to respect internationally recognized human rights; and (3) induce such government to allow appropriate international humanitarian and human rights organizations to have access to the FRY. (Sec. 526) Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to notify the Committees on Appropriations before providing excess DOD articles to certain NATO and major non-NATO countries. (Sec. 528) Prohibits bilateral assistance funds to any country which the President determines grants sanctuary from prosecution to any individual or group which has committed an act of international terrorism or otherwise supports such activities. Authorizes a waiver of this prohibition by the President for national security and humanitarian reasons, requiring notification to the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 529) Authorizes the commercial leasing of defense articles (instead of government-to-government sale) to Israel, Egypt, NATO, and major non-NATO allies if the President determines that there are compelling foreign policy or national security reasons. (Sec. 530) Requires all AID contracts and subcontracts to include a clause requiring that U.S. insurance companies have a fair opportunity to bid for insurance when insurance is necessary or appropriate. (Sec. 531) Authorizes the payment of a $10,000 cash award (distinguished development service award) to a career or non-career AID employee who through extraordinary efforts makes a significant contribution to assisting developing countries to meet the basic needs of their people. (Sec. 532) Authorizes nongovernmental organizations which are AID grantees or contractors to place funds made available to them under this Act in interest bearing accounts in order to enhance their participation in economic activities under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, including endowments and debt-for-development and debt-for-nature exchanges. (Sec. 533) Directs the Administrator of AID to require foreign countries that receive foreign assistance which results in the generation of local currencies to deposit such currencies in a separate account to be used to finance foreign assistance activities. (Sec. 534) Prohibits payments to any international financial institution while the U.S. Executive Director to the institution is compensated at a rate in excess of that for a specified position under the Executive Schedule. (Sec. 535) Bars assistance to any country that is not in compliance with the United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iraq unless the President certifies to the Congress that such assistance: (1) is in the U.S. national interest; (2) will directly benefit the needy people in that country; or (3) will be humanitarian assistance for foreign nationals who have fled Iraq and Kuwait. (Sec. 537) Declares that provisions under this or any other Act authorizing appropriations for foreign operations or export financing shall not be construed to prohibit activities authorized by the Peace Corps Act, the Inter-American Foundation Act, or the African Development Foundation Act. Requires an agency to report to the Committees on Appropriations whenever it is conducting or proposing activities in a country for which such assistance is prohibited. Declares that limits on the availability of funds for international organizations and programs shall not be construed as applying to the International Fund for Agricultural Development. (Sec. 538) Prohibits the use of funds to provide: (1) any financial incentive to a business for purposes of inducing it to relocate outside the United States if it will reduce the number of employees in the United States; (2) assistance for establishing or developing in a foreign country an export processing zone or other designated area in which a country's tax, tariff, labor, environment, and safety laws do not apply to activities in the area, unless the President certifies that such assistance is not likely to cause a loss of U.S. jobs; or (3) assistance for any project that contributes to the violation of internationally recognized workers rights in the recipient country. (Sec. 539) Directs OPIC to establish a $200 million Maritime Fund to support international maritime projects. (Sec. 540) Declares that funds appropriated under this Act for Afghanistan, Lebanon, and for victims of war, displaced children, displaced Burmese, humanitarian assistance for Romania, and humanitarian assistance for the peoples of Kosova may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law. Authorizes the use of foreign assistance funds to support tropical forestry and biodiversity conservation programs, and (subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations) energy programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Authorizes AID to employ personal services contractors to administer programs for the West Bank and Gaza. (Sec. 541) Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to: (1) immediate public renunciation by Arab League countries of the boycott of Israel (reinstated in 1997) and of American firms having commercial ties with Israel; and (2) steps the President should take to encourage such renunciation. (Sec. 542) Authorizes the use of ESF funds to strengthen the administration of justice in countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and in other regions. (Sec. 543) Declares that restrictions on assistance to foreign countries contained in this Act or any other Act (except those relating to international terrorism or human rights violations) shall not be construed to restrict assistance: (1) in support of certain programs of nongovernmental organizations; or (2) under specified provisions of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. (Sec. 544) Authorizes the reprogramming of earmarked appropriations for other programs within the same account, provided certain requirements are met. (Sec. 546) Prohibits the use of funds for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States that were not authorized before the enactment of this Act. Makes specified funds available to private and voluntary organizations to deal with world hunger problems abroad. (Sec. 547) Declares that assistance under this Act should make full use of American resources, including commodities, products, and services, to the maximum extent possible. Declares the sense of Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all agricultural commodities, equipment, and products purchased with funds made available in this Act should be American-made. Requires Federal agency heads, in providing financial assistance to or entering into any contract with any entity using funds made available in this Act, to notify such entity of this intention. (Sec. 548) Prohibits the use of funds to pay any assessments, arrearages, or dues of any U.N. member. (Sec. 550) Prohibits the provision of funds to a private voluntary organization that fails to provide any document, file, or record necessary to the auditing requirements of AID. (Sec. 551) Prohibits the provision of funds to any foreign government that provides lethal military equipment to a country that the Secretary of State has determined has a terrorist government, unless the President determines that the furnishing of such assistance is in the U.S. national interest. (Sec. 552) Withholds assistance to a foreign country in an amount equal to 110 percent of the total unpaid parking fines and penalties owed by the country to the District of Columbia. (Sec. 553) Prohibits the obligation of any appropriations for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the West Bank and Gaza unless the President has exercised certain authorities to suspend prohibitions on assistance to the PLO. (Sec. 554) Permits the President to provide up to a specified amount of commodities and services to the UN War Crimes Tribunal if doing so will contribute to a just resolution of charges regarding genocide or other violations of international law in the former Yugoslavia. (Sec. 555) Authorizes disposal on a grant basis in foreign countries of demining equipment used in support of the clearance of land mines and unexploded ordnance for humanitarian purposes. (Sec. 556) Prohibits the obligation of appropriations to create in Jerusalem a new U.S. agency office for the purpose of conducting U.S. business with the Palestinian Authority over Gaza and Jericho (or any successor Palestinian governing entity) provided for in the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles. (Sec. 557) Prohibits the obligation of certain funds appropriated for Informational Program activities to pay for: (1) alcoholic beverages; (2) food (other than food provided at a military installation) not provided in conjunction with Informational Program trips where students do not stay at a military installation; or (3) entertainment expenses for recreational activities. (Sec. 558) Authorizes the President to reduce amounts owed to the United States by eligible countries as a result of: (1) housing guarantees made pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (2) credits extended or guarantees issued under the Arms Export Control Act; or (3) any obligation for a Latin American country to pay for purchases of U.S. agricultural commodities guaranteed by the Commodity Credit Corporation. Permits exercise of such authority only: (1) to implement multilateral official debt relief and referendum agreements known as the Paris Club Agreed Minutes; and (2) with respect to countries with heavy debt burdens that are eligible to borrow from the International Development Association (but not from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) (IDA-only countries). Prescribes additional conditions for the exercise of such authority. (Sec. 559) Authorizes the President to engage in certain debt buybacks or sales. Authorizes sale, reduction, or cancellation of certain loans to foreign governments, upon receipt of payment from an eligible purchaser that plans to use such loans only for the purposes of engaging in debt-for-equity swaps, debt-for-development swaps, or debt-for-nature swaps. Limits such authority to funds appropriated by this Act under the heading of debt restructuring. (Sec. 560) Makes funds available for assistance to the central Government of Haiti only if the President reports to specified congressional committees that such Government: (1) has completed privatization of three major public utilities; (2) has signed or is implementing the bilateral Repatriation Agreement with the United States and is cooperating with the United States in halting illegal emigration from Haiti; (3) is conducting thorough investigations of extrajudicial and political killings and has made substantial progress in bringing to justice the persons responsible for such killings in Haiti; (4) has taken action to remove from the Haitian National Police, national palace and residential guard, ministerial guard, and any other public security entity individuals who have committed human rights violations; and (5) has ratified or is implementing the maritime counter-narcotics agreements signed in October 1997. Makes such prohibition inapplicable to funds made available to support elections in Haiti and the Ministry of Justice for the training of judges, prosecutors, judicial mentoring, legal assistance, and case management if the President reports to Congress that specified conditions have been met. Sets forth additional specified exceptions to such prohibitions. (Sec. 561) Requires a specified annual report of the Secretary of State containing the voting record of each foreign member country of the UN to include a side-by-side comparison of each country's overall support for the United States at the UN and the amount of U.S. assistance provided to it in FY 1998. (Sec. 562) Makes the Government of Haiti eligible to purchase U.S. defense articles and services for the civilian-led Haitian National Police and Coast Guard. (Sec. 563) Prohibits the use of funds for the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State believes they have committed gross violations of human rights, unless the Secretary reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such country is taking steps to bring the responsible persons to justice. (Sec. 564) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of international financial institutions to oppose loans to the Government of Cambodia (except to support basic human needs) unless it has: (1) held free and fair elections in which all political candidates were permitted freedom of speech, assembly and equal access to the media, and the central Election Commission was composed of representatives from all parties; and (2) established a panel and begun prosecution of Khmer Rouge leaders including Ta Mok, Khieu Sampan, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Ke Pauk, and Duch (Kang Khev Leu). (Sec. 565) Requires that any agreement between the United States and the Government of Indonesia for the sale of lethal weapons shall state that such items will not be used in East Timor. (Sec. 566) Prohibits the United States from paying any voluntary contribution to the UN, including the UN Development Program, unless the President certifies to Congress 15 days in advance of such payment that the UN is not engaged in any effort to implement or impose any taxation on U.S. persons in order to raise revenue for itself or any of its specialized agencies. (Sec. 567) Provides for bilateral and multilateral assistance sanctions (with humanitarian, democratization, and certain infrastructure project exceptions) against countries harboring war criminals indicted with respect to the former Yugoslavia. Prohibits the provision of bilateral assistance for programs, projects, or activities: (1) in which publicly indicted war criminals are known to have any financial interest; or (2) in communities that are not in compliance with specified sections of the Dayton Agreement relating to war crimes and the Tribunal. (Sec. 568) Authorizes for FY 1999 and 2000 the use of DOD funds for crating, packing, handling, and transportation of excess defense articles to countries that are eligible to participate in the Partnership for Peace and that are eligible for assistance under the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989. (Sec. 569) Makes funds available for FY 2000 for defense article stockpiles in foreign countries, including the Republic of Korea and Thailand. (Sec. 570) Prohibits the use of funds for the Government of the Russian Federation unless the President certifies to specified congressional committees that the Federation has not enacted laws or promulgated executive orders that discriminate against religious minorities in violation of international agreements on human rights and religious freedoms to which it is a party. (Sec. 571) Subjects the availability of funds in this Act to support programs or activities promoting country participation in the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 572) Prohibits funds appropriated under this Act from being provided to the Central Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Sec. 574) Bars funds for a Government of the new Independent States of the former Soviet Union: (1) unless it is making progress in implementing economic reforms based on market principles, private ownership, respect for commercial contracts, and equitable treatment of foreign private investment; (2) if it transfers U.S. assistance to any entity for the purpose of expropriating or seizing ownership or control of assets, investments, or ventures; (3) if it directs any action in violation of the territorial integrity or national sovereignty of any other new independent state; or (4) to enhance its military capability. (Sec. 575) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to declare that the prohibition on the use of funds under such Act to provide law enforcement training to foreign governments within the United States or abroad shall not apply with respect to assistance provided to customs personnel for customs law enforcement. (Sec. 576) Authorizes voluntary separation incentive payments to AID employees to eliminate AID positions and functions contained in a mandatory strategic plan outlining such payments. (Sec. 577) Prohibits the obligation of funds appropriated under this Act for the Palestinian Authority. Provides a waiver for such prohibition if the President certifies to Congress that it is in the national interest. (Sec. 578) Imposes certain economic and political sanctions against Serbia unless the President makes a certain certification with respect to Serbia to specified congressional committees. Exempts the governments of Montenegro and Kosova from such sanctions. (Sec. 579) Urges the export of U.S. clean coal technology.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Spaceport Investment Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide the same treatment for spaceports as is provided for airports under the exempt facility bond rules.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction to a taxpayer who has a qualified timber gain in an amount equal to the qualified percentage of such gain.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Health Insurance Affordability and Equity Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow as a tax credit an amount equal to 60 percent of the amount paid (not to exceed the sum of the monthly limitations for eligible months) for qualified health insurance coverage for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, and dependents. Define "eligible month" as any month which begins at least one year after the most recent month that the individual was eligible to participate in any group health plan of an employer which provided qualified health insurance or participated in any group health plan of any other entity which provided such insurance. Allows as a deduction an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the amount paid for qualified health insurance coverage for a taxpayer, his spouse, and dependents. Increases, incrementally, the percentage from 60 percent in calendar year 2000 to 100 percent for calendar years 2004 and thereafter. Excludes coverage under which less than 50 percent of the cost of coverage is borne by the taxpayer.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Interest Allocation Reform Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise interest allocation rules under Part I (Source Rules and General Rules Relating to Foreign Income) of Subchapter N (Tax Based on Income From Sources Within or Without the United States).
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to transfer ten percent of a State's apportionment of certain highway funds for a fiscal year to the State's apportionment for highway safety programs to be used for alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures, especially for individuals under age 21, if a State has not enacted or is not enforcing a law requiring the revocation or suspension of the driver's license of any such individual who is convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Requires that such suspension or revocation to be until the individual's 21st birthday. Prohibits the transfer of a State's apportionment if the State allows an individual convicted while driving under the influence of alcohol to drive, during the period of revocation or suspension of the individual's driver's license in accordance with this Act, only for the purposes of going to and from such individual's place of employment or to and from a college or other institution of higher education or a trade school.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude contributions of capital gain real property made for conservation purposes from the application of the special 30 percent limitation and from the application of the five-year carryover limitation. Repeals specified property location restrictions on the estate tax exclusion for property subject to a qualified conservation easement.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Tax Relief for Parents Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the dependent care credit, to: (1) increase the dollar limit on the creditable amount; (2) increase the applicable percentage; and (3) allow the credit for a stay-at-home parent with a child under the age of four.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Abusive Tax Shelter Shutdown Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to disallow, in determining income tax liability, noneconomic tax attributes.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit certain small businesses to use cash accounting. Declares that a taxpayer (including a C corporation or a partnership which has a C corporation as a partner) shall not be required to use an accrual method of accounting for any taxable year by reason of using merchandise or inventory, if the taxpayer's (or any predecessor's) average annual gross receipts for the three-year-period ending with such prior taxable year does not exceed $5 million.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income (under the qualified scholarship provisions) certain amounts provided by an employer to the child of an employee.