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Resolution· SRESS.Res. 291 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Expresses the sense of the Senate that a specified amount of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Justice for FY 2000 should be reprogrammed for the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist State and local efforts to clean up methamphetamine laboratories.
Bill· HRH.R. 4274 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Digital Divide Access to Technology Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that computers and Internet access provided by an employer to employees shall be treated as a "de minimis fringe" benefit (and thus excluded from gross income) provided specified requirements are met.
Bill· HRH.R. 4267 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Internet Tax Reform and Reduction Act of 2000 - Amends Federal law to: (1) place a permanent moratorium on State and local taxes on Internet access; and (2) extend moratoriums applicable to multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic taxes, and taxes on sales of digitized goods and products. Sets forth specified Internet-and telecommunication-related factors that shall not be sufficient to create a jurisdictional tax nexus respecting a seller and purchaser who are not present in the same State. Expresses the sense of the Congress respecting: (1) development of a Uniform Sales and Use Tax Act; and (2) elimination of the excessive telecommunications tax burden. Establishes an Advisory Commission on Uniform Sales and Use Tax.
Bill· HRH.R. 4325 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Religious Order Workers Parity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to include religious orders within the definition of church plan.
Bill· HRH.R. 4313 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Non-Commissioned Officer and Petty Officer Pay Table Equity Act of 2000 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 to increase as of October 1, 2000, the amounts of basic pay authorized for enlisted personnel in grades E-5 through E-7.
Bill· HRH.R. 4338 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Elk Valley Land Restoration Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to take into trust for the benefit of the Elk Valley Band of Indians of the Elk Valley Rancheria of California any real property located in Del Norte County, California, if: (1) such property is conveyed or otherwise transferred to the Secretary by or for the Tribe's benefit; and (2) at the time of such conveyance or transfer, there are no adverse legal claims to such property, including outstanding liens, mortgages, or taxes owed. Provides that any such property taken into trust shall be considered part of the Tribe's initial reservation.
Bill· HRH.R. 4337 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to limit the documentation or electronic information an importer of record must file with the U.S. Customs Service to that alone necessary to enable the Customs Service to determine whether the merchandise may be released from customs custody. Specifies such information. (Sec. 1) Revises the condition for delivery from customs custody of imported merchandise to repeal the requirement that such merchandise has been inspected, appraised, or examined and is reported by the Customs Service to have been truly and correctly invoiced and found to comply with the requirements of U.S. law. Permits delivery from custody if: (1) the merchandise has been determined through inspection, examination, or other method to pose no threat to the public health, safety, or welfare; and (2) the merchandise description and origin are correctly stated. Revises the definition of electronic entry to conform to such revised requirement. (Sec. 2) Requires a National Customs Automation Program participant qualifying for remote location filing to be capable of providing, on an entry-by-entry basis, for an electronic import activity summary statement of required information (or, as currently, for an electronic entry summary). (Sec. 3) Revises the filing requirement for entry of imported merchandise to allow filing of declared value, classification, and applicable duty rate as part of an entry summary, or, in the alternative, an import activity summary statement. Declares that information filed as part of an import activity summary statement shall be sufficient for such purposes if the monthly activity is totaled by tariff number, country of origin, and any relevant special duty program indicators. Requires any variances of such information from the information contained in the underlying documents, electronically transmitted information, or written or oral statements for individual shipments, in the absence of fraud, to be considered clerical errors. Allows import activity summary statement information to be electronic. Declares that importer activity summary statement information: (1) may be provided in the aggregate by tariff numbers, country of origin, and any relevant special duty program indicators; and (2) need not be related to specific entries or shipments. (Sec. 4) Changes from discretionary to mandatory the Secretary of the Treasury's authority to prescribe an alternative mid-point interest accounting methodology with respect to the assessment of interest due to an underpayment of duties, fees, or interest. (Sec. 5) Revises requirements for the filing of a reconciliation with regard to entry of merchandise elements. Declares that a party shall not be required to indicate on an individual import entry, entry summary, or import activity summary statement basis whether a reconciliation will be filed, except to the extent that the party wishes to allocate information specifically to an import entry, entry summary, or importer activity summary statement. (Sec. 6) Revises the exception of clerical errors or mistakes of fact from the prohibition of fraud, gross negligence, or negligence. Declares that, absent fraud, variances between any document or electronically transmitted information, or written or oral statements, with respect to individual shipments and the aggregate information properly filed as part of an entry summary, an import activity summary statement, or a reconciliation shall be considered to be clerical errors. Provides that, with regard to violations that are material incorrect statements and omissions, to the extent that the effect of incorrect information presented or information omitted by a person in an entry, entry summary, import activity summary statement, or reconciliation is reduced by other information in or relating to the same or other such documents during the relevant period, the violation shall be material only to the extent of the net error or omission. Limits the Customs Service to collecting only the net underpayment to the extent that any deprivation of duties, taxes, or fees owed the United States as a result of a violation of the prohibition against fraud, gross negligence, or negligence is offset by overpayments of duties, taxes, or fees during the relevant period. (Sec. 7) Requires that, for purposes of determining the transaction value of imported merchandise, and whether the circumstances of the sale of the imported merchandise indicate that the relationship between the buyer and seller did not influence the price actually paid or payable, there shall be taken into account other sales during a representative timeframe in the normal course of trade in merchandise of the same class or kind. (Sec. 8) Prohibits a drawback (refund) of customs duties on imported merchandise for Customs Service destruction of an article manufactured or produced in the United States with the use of such merchandise, unless the completed article is destroyed by the Customs Service within five years after importation of the merchandise involved. Qualifies for a drawback only an article completely destroyed so that no valuable waste or scrap results. Provides that, if waste or scrap resulting from the destruction of merchandise or articles has commercial value, then drawback is allowable based on the quantity of merchandise or articles destroyed, reduced by an amount equal to the quantity of the destroyed merchandise or articles that the value of the waste or scrap would replace. (Sec. 9) Extends the exemption of instruments of international traffic from application of the customs laws to all types of containers and shipping devices such as lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, racks, boxes, materials for stuffing containers, and other similar items. Excludes such items also from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. (Sec. 10) Amends the General Notes of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to authorize the classification, at the importer's option, of importations of any part or component for complete or finished dies or machinery tools and equipment under the specific heading or subheading for the complete or finished article with which it is to be used, installed, or assembled, if the importer files, in a specified manner, an election that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Customs Service a preexisting binding agreement for the purchase by the importer of the complete article for which the part or component is being imported.
Bill· HRH.R. 4335 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit hazardous duty pay of members of the Armed Forces from being taken into account in computing the earned income credit.
Bill· HRH.R. 4307 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Reading Deficit Elimination Act - Title I: Reducing the Reading Deficit - Reduces the total amount of Federal discretionary spending appropriated for a fiscal year by an amount that bears the same relation to 0.5 percent of the total amount of such spending for the preceding fiscal year as the total number of children enrolled in kindergarten through fourth grade in public elementary schools in States submitting requests for funds under this title bears to the total number of such children in all States. Reallots such Reading Enhancement and Achievement Disbursement (READ) funds to States to reduce the national reading deficit through the use of programs of reading instruction based on scientifically-based reading research, which includes a sequence of instruction in phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, reading fluency, spelling, writing, and reading comprehension strategies. (Sec. 103) Requires States to allocate 95 percent of such allotments to local educational agencies (LEAs) on the basis of relative numbers of such children, for use for teacher training, instructional materials, student assessment, teacher bonuses, and tuition assistance grants to parents or guardians to purchase tutoring. Repeals this title on the date that the National Assessment of Educational Progress publishes a notice certifying that the national reading deficit is less than five percent of the total number of children enrolled in grades kindergarten through fourth grade in the United States. Title II: Improving Literacy Through Family Literacy Projects; Reauthorization of Inexpensive Book Distribution Program - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to revise and reauthorize Even Start Family Literacy Programs (Even Start) (part B of title I provisions for Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards). (Sec. 201) Extends through FY 2004 the authorization of appropriations for such Even Start programs, and increases the amounts authorized. (Sec. 202) Requires State plans to assure that State educational agencies (SEAs) will encourage local educational agencies (LEAs) and individual schools participating in a program assisted under ESEA title I part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies) to use part A funds to offer family literacy services, if the LEA or school determines that a substantial number of students served under part A have parents who do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or who have low levels of literacy. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary of Education to: (1) reserve an increased portion of part B Even Start funds for migrant programs, outlying areas, and Indian tribes, under specified conditions; (2) award a competitive demonstration grant of sufficient amount and duration for a potentially high-quality family literacy program in a prison that houses women and their preschool age children; (3) ensure coordination of family literacy programs under Even Start with similar programs operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA); and (4) reserve specified portions of Even Start excess funds for scientifically-based research on family literacy by the National Institute for Literacy. Authorizes States to use a portion of Even Start funds to provide technical assistance and training to subgrantees (partnerships of LEAs and eligible organizations) to improve the quality of their family literacy services, giving priority to low-quality programs. Requires all such instructional staff, whose salaries are paid, in whole or in part, with Federal Even Start funds, within four years after enactment of this Act to: (1) have an associate's, bachelor's, or graduate degree in a field related to early childhood education, elementary school education, or adult education; or (2) meet State-established qualifications for such types of education provided as part of an Even Start or other family literacy program. Requires all new instructional staff, beginning on the enactment of this Act, to meet one of those two requirements. Requires, within such four-year period, that: (1) all paraprofessionals whose salaries are paid with any Federal Even Start funds have at least a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent; and (2) the individual responsible for administrating each local Even Start program be trained in operating a family literacy program. Requires Even Start programs to: (1) use research-based techniques for helping children learn to read, as well as for helping adults where appropriate research is available; and (2) encourage participating families to attend regularly and remain in the program a sufficient time to meet their program goals. Allows an Even Start program, despite specified age limitations, to permit children eight years of age or older to participate, under certain conditions. Requires an SEA, in awarding subgrants to continue an Even Start program after the first year, to review the progress of each eligible entity in meeting program goals described in the State plan (as well as, under current law, evaluating the program based on State-developed program quality indicators). Eliminates the eight-year limitation on a subgrantee's receiving Even Start funds. Sets the same limits on the Federal share of renewed subgrants as on Even Start grants. Directs the National Institute for Literacy to use certain reserved Even Start funds for scientifically-based research to determine: (1) the most effective ways of improving literacy skills of adults with reading difficulties; and (2) how family literacy services can best provide parents with knowledge and skills to support their children's literacy development. Requires the Secretary, and any Even Start grantee or subgrantee, to treat religious organizations the same as other nongovernmental organizations for purposes of participating in eligible partnerships receiving or applying for such assistance, under specified conditions and limitations. Prohibits Even Start services from being provided through vouchers or certificates. (Sec. 204) Requires State applications for Even Start grants to describe how the State will encourage programs and projects assisted under Even Start to offer family literacy services, if the program or project serves a substantial number of migratory children with parents who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent or who have low levels of literacy. (Sec. 205) Defines family literacy services under ESEA as services provided to participants on a voluntary basis that are of sufficient intensity in terms of hours, and of sufficient duration, to make sustainable changes in a family, and that integrate: (1) interactive literacy activities between parents and their children; (2) training for parents regarding how to be the primary teacher for their children and full partners in the education of their children; (3) parent literacy training that leads to economic self-sufficiency; and (4) an age-appropriate education to prepare children for success in school and life experiences. (Sec. 206) Amends the Education Amendments Act of 1978 to require BIA-operated family literacy programs, under the early childhood education program for Indian children or other programs, to be coordinated with Even Start family literacy programs under ESEA. Subtitle II: Inexpensive Book Distribution Program - Reauthorizes and revises the Inexpensive Book Distribution Program, with respect to which the Secretary of Education contracts with Reading is Fundamental (RIF). Requires RIF to support and promote programs which include distribution of books to young and school-aged children that motivate them to read. (Sec. 211) Requires RIF also to provide training to subcontractors. Extends through FY 2004 the authorization of appropriations for such Program. Requires assisted local reading motivation programs to: (1) use Program assistance to provide books, training for volunteers, motivational activities, and other essential literary resources; and (2) give highest priority to serving the youngest and neediest children. Allows subcontractors operating such programs in low-income communities with substantial numbers or percentages of children with special needs to use funds from other Federal sources to pay up to one-half of the non-Federal share of funds used for acquiring and distributing books. Authorizes RIF, under specified conditions, to waive certain requirements for subcontractors and to enter into multi-year subcontracts.
Bill· HRH.R. 4342 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code revise the excise tax on tires to impose on truck tires of the type used on highway vehicles, if wholly or in part made of rubber, sold by the manufacturer, producer, or importer a tax equal to 8 cents for each 10 pounds of the tire load capacity in excess of 3500 pounds.
Bill· HRH.R. 4309 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Makes supplemental appropriations for FY 2000 for the Corporation for National and Community Service Office of Inspector General for reviews and audits of the State Commissions on National and Community Service.
Bill· HRH.R. 4322 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from certain ticket taxes helicopter transport of persons and cargo in order to conduct removal and environmental restoration activities related to unexploded ordnance.
Bill· HRH.R. 4279 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Computer Depreciation Reform Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the expensing of computers used in business.
Bill· HRH.R. 4314 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Anthracite Region Redevelopment Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit of 25 percent of the outstanding bond face amount for holders of qualified anthracite region development bonds (bonds having a 30-year term limit and issued by an approved entity for the restoration and redevelopment of abandoned mine land in the anthracite region, which covers certain portions of Pennsylvania). Limits to $1.2 billion the maximum aggregate face value of such bonds. Allows bond funds to be deposited into an approved segregated program fund for such purposes. Allows such bonds to be held by regulated investment companies, with the tax credit passing to company shareholders. Terminates the credit for any bond issued after the ten-year period following issuance of the first qualified bond. Requires the reporting of credits received. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to act within 30 days after any request for bond approval under this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 4336 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Child Care for America's Families Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the dependent care credit; and (2) permit a limited credit to a stay-at-home parent with a child under the age of one.
Bill· HRH.R. 4328 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Reservists Tax Relief Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the deduction, as a trade or business expense, of certain expenses of members of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces incurred while away from home in connection with such service.
Bill· HRH.R. 4324 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reduce the estate and gift tax rates; and (2) increase the estate and gift tax exclusion to $2.5 million.
Bill· HRH.R. 4294 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the 90 percent limitation applicable with respect to the definition of the term "alternative tax net operating loss deduction" inapplicable for estates in bankruptcy.
Bill· HRH.R. 4265 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Cancer and Terminal Illness Patient Health Care Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to waive the employee portion of Social Security taxes on individuals diagnosed with a terminal disease or cancer (including cancer in remission).
Bill· HRH.R. 4316 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the exclusion from gross income of United States savings bond income if used to pay qualified long-term care expenses.
Bill· HRH.R. 4308 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
Fair Regulation of Homeowners Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include customer connection fees (including fees to connect a customer's line to or extend a main water or sewer line) as an excludable corporate income item within the definition of "contribution in aid of construction."
Bill· HRH.R. 4272 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2000
National Science Education Enhancement Act - Provides that nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize any Federal department, agency, officer, or employee to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution or school system. Title I: Amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 - Revises the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) with respect to teacher professional development activities to include support for mentoring activities for science, mathematics, engineering, and technology teachers. (Sec. 101) Includes information on model science, mathematics, engineering, and technology teacher mentoring programs among the information which the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education (Clearinghouse) is required to disseminate. Requires States, in their plans in applications for teacher professional development grants, to describe how they will: (1) administer a mentoring system to ensure consistent implementation of mentoring programs for science, mathematics, engineering, and technology teachers; (2) provide a structure for local mentoring program evaluation; (3) provide technical assistance to local mentoring programs; (4) ensure compliance by local mentoring programs with State teacher training requirements; and (5) provide incentives for local educational agencies (LEAs) to take mentoring into consideration in assessing instructional staff hiring needs. Requires local activities under the teacher professional development program to include mentoring programs for novice teachers of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Requires States to include, in their accountability reports under the teacher professional development program, the impact of State and local mentoring programs on teaching quality and teacher retention rates. (Sec. 102) Revises ESEA provisions for the allocation and use of funds for the Clearinghouse. Requires such funds to be used to: (1) solicit and gather qualitative and evaluative materials and programs, review their evaluation, rank their effectiveness, and distribute results of reviews, as well as excerpts of materials and links to Internet sites and information on on-line communities of users to teachers; and (2) establish an Internet site offering a search mechanism to assist site visitors in identifying information on science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education instructional materials and programs, including electronic links to information on classroom demonstrations and experiments, teachers who have used materials or participated in programs, vendors, curricula, and textbooks. Directs the Clearinghouse to give particular attention to the effective use of materials and technology in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education. Directs the National Academy of Sciences to study and report on the Clearinghouse. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make competitive grants, from specified ESEA funds, for summer professional development institutes for teachers. Provides for such grants to be awarded to State agencies for higher education, working in conjunction with the State educational agency (if such agencies are separate). Requires the grantees to: (1) make subgrants to or cooperative agreements with various entities working in conjunction with an LEA or consortium of LEAs; and (2) give priority to applicants assuring use of a curriculum recognized by the working group established under specified provisions of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950. Sets forth requirements relating to such institutes and their activities and curricula. Requires peer review of grant applications under a process established by the Director of the National Science Foundation. Requires participants in such institutes to earn credit toward State continuing education requirements for teachers or a post-baccalaureate degree program at an institution of higher education. Revises provisions for allocation of certain appropriated amounts. Reserves specified funds for the summer institute program. (Sec. 104) Includes providing technology training software and instructional materials to teachers among local uses of ESEA school technology resource grants. (Sec. 105) Requires grant applicants, under the ESEA 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, to assure that they will use at least five percent of the grant amount to provide after-school day care services that focus on science activities. (Sec. 106) Includes after-school day care services that focus on science activities for children in kindergarten through sixth grade among uses of grants under the ESEA 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. Title II: Other Provisions - Revises the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to treat technology training, tutoring teachers in the uses of classroom technology, as community service by college students under the work-study program. Increases funding for such program and reserves the amount of such increase to compensate students employed in technology training or tutoring teachers in the uses of classroom technology. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to study: (1) the feasibility and effectiveness of various incentives, including tax credits, for businesses to provide personnel with regular compensation for time spent as volunteers engaged in the technological training of teachers and facilities for such training; (2) alternative methods of providing financial support, through income tax credits, loan forgiveness, or otherwise, to individuals seeking training or retraining in mathematics, science, and technology education; (3) the effectiveness of higher education institutions in training teachers who can use technology and integrate it into lesson plans, curricula, and distance learning; (4) methods to coordinate working alliances at various levels of government between the business and academic community; and (5) other means of improving the efficiency of the technological training of teachers. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress on such study, including proposals for a comprehensive approach to providing technologically competent teachers to the Nation's schools.
Law· SS. 2412 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
National Transportation Safety Board Amendments Act of 2000 - Amends Federal transportation law to authorize the National Transportation Safety Board to: (1) negotiate and enter into agreements with individuals and private entities and departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government, State and local governments, and governments of foreign countries for the provision of facilities, accident-related services, or training in accident investigation techniques; and (2) require (as under current law) that such entities provide appropriate consideration for the reasonable costs of any facilities, services, or (new law) training provided by the Board. Requires any amounts received as such consideration to be credited to the Board's appropriations as offsetting collections. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Board, for an employee whose basic pay equals or exceeds the minimum rate for GS-10 of the General Schedule, to establish an overtime hourly rate of time-and-a-half (which shall be considered premium pay), up to a specified annual limit, with respect to work performed at the scene of an accident (including travel to or from the scene) and other work critical to an accident investigation. (Sec. 5) Extends to cockpit video recordings or written depictions of visual information the same disclosure limitations and requirements (including those applicable to discovery and use of such recordings or written depictions in judicial proceedings) that apply to cockpit voice recordings or transcripts of them. Extends such disclosure limitations and requirements to surface vehicle voice or video recorder recordings or transcripts of oral communications by or among drivers, train employees, or other operating employees responsible for the movement and direction of the vehicle or vessel, or between such operating employees and company communication centers, related to an accident investigated by the Board. (Sec. 6) Revises the Board's current investigative priority over other Federal agencies to require the Board to relinquish such priority to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the Attorney General determines that circumstances reasonably indicate that the accident may have been caused by an intentional criminal act. Requires the Board to take necessary actions to ensure that evidence is preserved if a Federal law enforcement agency suspects and notifies the Board that an accident the Board is investigating may have been caused by an intentional criminal act. (Sec. 7) Revises the duties and powers of the Board with respect to accidents involving public aircraft. (Sec. 8) Requires the Board and the U.S. Coast Guard to revise their Memorandum of Understanding governing major marine accidents to: (1) to redefine or clarify the standards used to determine when the Board will lead an investigation; and (2) develop new standards to determine when a major marine accident involves significant safety issues relating to Coast Guard safety functions. (Sec. 9) Directs the Chairman of the Board to establish annual fiscal year budgets for non-accident-related travel expenditures for Board members, and report annually to specified congressional committees on the non-accident-related travel of each Board member, with separate accounting for foreign and domestic travel. (Sec. 10) Requires the Board Chairman to designate an officer or employee of the Board as the Chief Financial Officer, who shall perform specified duties. (Sec. 11) Directs the Board to develop and implement comprehensive internal audit controls for its financial programs based on the findings and recommendations of the private sector audit firm contract entered into by the Board in March, 2000. Requires the improved internal audit controls, at a minimum, to address Board asset management systems, including systems for accounting management, debt collection, travel, and property and inventory management and control. (Sec. 12) Grants the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation authority to review only the Board's financial management and business operations. (Sec. 13) Authorizes appropriations for the Board through FY 2003. Increases from $1 million to $2 million the Board's emergency fund for accident investigations.
Bill· SS. 2403 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
Targeted Marriage Tax Penalty Relief Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow, on joint returns, a limited credit. Provides for a decreased phaseout percentage of the earned income credit (thereby increasing the benefits of such credit) for individuals with qualifying children.
Bill· HRH.R. 4258 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2000 - Title I: Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise provisions for student loan forgiveness for teachers under the Federal Family Loan Program. Provides for such forgiveness for borrowers employed as full-time teachers in public elementary or secondary schools. Directs the Secretary of Education to repay, for each year of four years of such teaching service, up to one-fourth of the aggregate loan obligation outstanding at the beginning of the first year of service, so that the entire obligation is repaid at the end of such four years. Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide that such student loan forgiveness shall not be included in an individual's gross income for income tax purposes. Title II: Tax Credits for Teaching - Amends IRC to provide a tax credit of $1,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers. Reduces the amount of such credit in cases of student loan forgiveness for teachers.
Bill· HRH.R. 4247 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 to the Secretary of Transportation for the Maritime Administration. Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to declare that certain restrictions concerning a vessel built in a foreign country shall not apply to a drybulk or breakbulk vessel over 7,500 deadweight tons that has been delivered from a foreign shipyard or contracted for construction in a foreign shipyard within either one year of the enactment of this Act or no later than the effective date of the OECD Shipbuilding Trade Agreement Act, whichever is earlier. Deems U.S.-built any vessel timely contracted for or delivered and documented under U.S. law, if certain conditions are met. Amends the National Maritime Heritage Act to extend, by five years, the date by which certain vessels must be disposed.
Bill· HRH.R. 4245 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
Armed Services Educational Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income Federal student loan payments made on behalf of members of the Armed Forces and the National Health Service Corps.
Bill· HRH.R. 4260 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
Farm Income Fairness Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from net earnings from self-employment: (1) certain farm rental income; and (2) payments under the environmental conservation acreage reserve program.
Bill· HRH.R. 4256 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the termination, beginning January 1, 2001, of subpart C ( Taxation of Foreign Sales Corporations) of Part III (Income from Sources Without the United States) of Chapter N (Tax Based on Income From Income From Sources Within or Without the United States).
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 474 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2000
Waives points of order against the consideration of the conference report on H. Con. Res. 290 (congressional budget).
Bill· SS. 2395 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2000
Southeast Europe Trade Preference Act - Authorizes the President to proclaim duty-free treatment for all eligible articles from any beneficiary country designated, subject to specified conditions, from among the following: (1) Albania; (2) Bosnia and Herzegovina; (3) Bulgaria; (4) Croatia; (5) the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; (6) Romania; (7) Slovenia; (8) Kosovo; and (9) Montenegro. (Sec. 5) Prohibits the President from designating any country a beneficiary country if it: (1) has nationalized, expropriated, or otherwise seized ownership or control of property owned by a U.S. citizen or by a corporation, partnership, or association 50 percent or more beneficially owned by U.S. citizens; or (2) has taken certain steps with respect to existing contracts or agreements with, or any patent, trademark, or other intellectual property of, such a person, or imposed or enforced taxes or other exactions, restrictive maintenance, or operational conditions, or other measures with respect to property so owned, the effect of which is to nationalize, expropriate, or otherwise seize ownership or control of such property. Waives such prohibition if the President determines to Congress that: (1) compensation has been or is being made to such owner; (2) good-faith negotiations to provide such compensation are in progress, or the country is otherwise taking steps to discharge its obligations under international law; or (3) a dispute over compensation for such a seizure has been submitted to arbitration under the Convention for the Settlement of Investment Disputes. Specifies other grounds for disqualifying a country for beneficiary designation, including: (1) failure to recognize or enforce arbitral awards in favor of U.S. owners; (2) preferential treatment to the products of a developed country other than the United States, with significant adverse effect on U.S. commerce; (3) broadcast of copyrighted material belonging to U.S. copyright owners by a government-owned entity without the owners' express consent; (4) absence of a treaty or other agreement regarding the extradition of U.S. citizens; (5) failure to take steps to afford workers in the country certain internationally recognized worker rights; or (6) membership in the European Union. Allows the President, in the U.S. national economic or security interest, to designate a beneficiary country even though one or more of such prohibitions apply (except in the case of membership in the European Union). Specifies factors for the President to consider in designating a beneficiary country. Permits beneficiary designation for Kosovo and Montenegro notwithstanding certain Federal law. Sets conditions for the beneficiary designation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. (Sec. 6) Specifies conditions for the duty-free treatment of articles which are the growth, product, or manufacture of a beneficiary country. Provides for exceptions to and suspension of such treatment, as well as emergency relief with respect to perishable products. (Sec. 7) Permits an increase in the duty-free tourist allowance with respect to beneficiary countries. (Sec. 8) Requires the U.S. International Trade Commission to report to Congress and the President on the economic impact of this Act on U.S. industries and consumers. (Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary of Labor to review, analyze, and report to Congress on this Act's impact on U.S. labor, as well as developments in labor conditions in the beneficiary countries.
Bill· SS. 2401 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2000
New Economy Tax Simplification Act (NETSA) - Amends Federal law providing jurisdictional standards for the imposition of State and local business activity, sales, and use taxes on interstate commerce to prohibit a State from imposing any such tax on income derived from interstate commerce unless such person has a substantial physical presence in such State. States that a substantial physical presence does not exist if the only business activities within such State include, among other things: (1) the presence or use of intangible personal property in such State; (2) the use of the Internet or an Internet service provider within such State to maintain, take, or process orders; and (3) affiliation with a person within such State or the use of an unaffiliated representative or independent contractor in such State. Provides that the substantial physical presence of any person shall not be attributed to any other person absent the establishment of a relationship that: (1) results from the consent by both persons that one person act on the other's behalf and subject to their control; and (2) relates to the activities of the person within the State. Prohibits a State from assessing any business activity tax which was imposed prior to this Act, if the imposition of such tax is prohibited, above. Terminates a person's obligation to pay State-imposed business activity, sales, or use tax if such person no longer has a substantial physical presence in that State.
Bill· SS. 2388 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2000
Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 - Authorizes FY 2001 appropriations for the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation for operations, training activities, and the costs of guaranteed loans under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936. Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to exempt from certain U.S.-build requirements any drybulk or breakbulk vessel over 7,500 deadweight tons that has been built in and delivered from a foreign shipyard, or contracted for construction in a foreign shipyard, before the earlier of: (1) one year after the enactment of this Act; or (2) the effective date of the OECD Shipbuilding Trade Agreement Act. Requires such a vessel to: (1) have any additional shipyard work necessary to receive a Coast Guard certificate of inspection performed in a U.S. shipyard; (2) not be documented in another country before being documented under U.S. law; (3) comply with inspection standards imposed on ocean common carriers; and (4) be delivered on or before the third anniversary of the date of the construction contract. Amends the National Maritime Heritage Act of 1994 to postpone from September 30, 2001, until September 30, 2006, the deadline for disposal of vessels National Defense Reserve Fleet after July 1, 1994, that are not assigned to the Ready Reserve Force component of that fleet, and not specifically authorized or required by statute for any other use.
Bill· HRH.R. 4233 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2000
Deducts a specified amount from the financial assistance authorized for Egypt for FY 2001 under the Foreign Military Financing Program account under the Arms Export Control Act in order to deduct one-half of the cost of investigating the crash of Egypt Air Flight 990.
Bill· HRH.R. 4240 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2000
IDEA Funding Clarification Act - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to require that States receive certain amounts as formula grants under IDEA part B provisions for Assistance for Education of All Children with Disabilities. (The formula for determining such required grant amount for a State in a fiscal year is the same formula as that under current law for determining the maximum amount which a State may receive.)
Bill· HRH.R. 4234 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2000
Prescription Drug Assistance Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit of up to $500 for individuals age 65 and older for: (1) any drug prescribed for such individual or his or her spouse; and (2) coverage of such individual or spouse under either a Medicare (title XXVIII of the Social Security Act) supplemental policy providing coverage for prescription drugs or a Medicare+Choice plan providing such coverage.
Bill· HRH.R. 4230 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2000
Date Certain Tax Code Replacement Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2004; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2004. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Establishes the National Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification to review: (1) the present structure and provisions of the Code; (2) whether the tax systems of other countries could provide more efficient and fair methods of funding government revenue requirements; (3) whether the income tax should be replaced with a tax imposed in a different manner or on a different base; and (4) whether the Code can be simplified, absent wholesale restructuring or replacement. Requires a Commission report to Congress on review results, with recommendations for Code reform and simplification. Terminates the Commission 90 days after such report. Authorizes appropriations (with interim funding). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be approved by Congress in its final form before July 4, 2004, and, if not, Congress should be required to vote to reauthorize the Code.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 471 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2000
Sets forth the rule (modified closed) for the consideration of H.J. Res. 94 (constitutional amendment proposing tax limitations).
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 301 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2000
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should show leadership by enacting, in concert with the international community, transaction taxes on short-term, cross- border foreign exchange transactions to deter speculation and that the adoption of such Tobin- style taxes should be done in coordination with a large number of nations, in a fully transparent and accountable manner, with the revenue dedicated to urgent global needs; (2) the United States should build support for and advocate this position at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as within other regional and international organizations; and (3) this should not be done in isolation of other initiatives for reform of global finance and the United States should continue to explore other options with the international community.
Bill· HRH.R. 4224 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2000
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to establish rules for disclosure to respondents, and reports to the Federal Election Commission, relating to polling by telephone or electronic device in connection with future elections for Federal office where more than 1,200 households are surveyed. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide a limited tax credit for half the individual political and newsletter contributions (up to $100, or $200 for a joint return) paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year; and (2) repeal the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, and related financing provisions. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts any amounts that remain two years after enactment of this Act in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund or the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account. Amends FECA to: (1) require a majority of Senate and House of Representatives candidate funds to come from individuals residing in the State in which the election is held; (2) prohibit "bundling" of contributions to candidates for Federal office by political action committees and lobbyists; (3) modify limitations on contributions for House candidates who spend or contribute with respect to an election in excess of amounts authorized by this Act under certain conditions; (4) add specified reporting requirements for such amendments; (5) revise the definition of "expressly advocating"; and (6) reduce from $5,000 to $2,000 the maximum aggregate contributions by multicandidate political committees (PACs) to any Federal election candidate and his authorized political committees.
Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 95 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2000
Constitutional Amendment - Requires Congress to tax all persons progressively in proportion to their income.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 467 (106th)failed
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2000
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the tax and user fee increases proposed by the Clinton-Gore administration in their fiscal year 2001 budget should be adopted.
Bill· SS. 2382 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2000
Technical Assistance, Trade Promotion, and Anti-Corruption Act of 2000 - Title I: Promoting Trade and Protecting United States Jobs - Subtitle A: Private Sector Development - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to designate a private, nonprofit organization as eligible to receive Enterprise Funds with respect to any country for promoting: (1) development of the private sectors of eligible countries, including small businesses, the agricultural sector, and joint ventures with United States and host country participants; and (2) policies and practices conducive to private sector development in such countries on the same basis as Enterprise Funds are provided for Poland and Hungary under the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989. Subtitle B: Protection of United States Jobs and Exports - Prohibits: (1) U.S. bilateral assistance (including direct and guaranteed loans and credit and insurance programs by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)) to finance any loan to establish or expand production of any commodity for export by any country other than the United States, if such commodity is likely to be in surplus on world markets and such assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of the same, similar, or competing commodity; and (2) U.S. development assistance for any testing or breeding feasibility study, variety improvement or introduction, consultancy, publication, conference, or training in connection with the growth or production in a foreign country of an agricultural commodity grown or produced in the United States, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 112) Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified international financial institutions to use the U.S. vote to oppose any assistance by them 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 the same, similar, or competing commodity. (Sec. 113) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit U.S. assistance (other than direct and guaranteed loans and credit and insurance programs by OPIC) to provide: (1) financial incentive to a business enterprise located in the United States to relocate outside the United States if such incentive is likely to reduce the number of employees of such enterprise because U.S. production is being replaced by it outside the United States; (2) assistance to establish or develop in a foreign country any export processing zone in which the tax, tariff, labor, environment, and safety laws of such country do not apply to activities within the zone, unless the President determines and certifies that such assistance is not likely to cause a loss of jobs within the United States; or (3) assistance for any project that contributes to the violation of internationally recognized workers rights within a recipient country or zone, except that such assistance shall not be precluded for the informal sector of such country, micro and small-scale enterprise, and smallholder agriculture. (Sec. 114) Declares that assistance under this Act should make full use of American resources, including commodities, products, and services, to the maximum extent possible. Expresses 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. Subtitle C: Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement - Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 - Sets forth provisions respecting presidential and congressional authorities and procedures for the imposition of new, and termination of existing, unilateral agricultural and medical sanctions. (Sec. 125) Requires prohibitions on certain U.S. assistance to a country supporting international terrorism to remain in effect until the Secretary of State determines that such country has repeatedly provided support for such terrorism. Title II: Economic Assistance - Subtitle A: Assistance Authorities - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise certain principles in the provision of U.S. bilateral development assistance to a foreign country to state that the successful transition of a developing country is dependent upon the economic reform and development of its institutions of democratic governance and its adherence to the rule of law. (Sec. 202) Increases from 25 million to $50 million the amount of foreign assistance funds that the President is authorized to use for emergency contingencies during any fiscal year. (Sec. 203) Provides for a waiver of restrictions on foreign assistance for narcotics-related assistance to foreign countries. (Sec. 204) Establishes a working capital fund for the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) which shall be available without fiscal year limitation for expenses of personal and nonpersonal services, equipment, and supplies for international cooperative administrative support services, and rebates from the use of U.S. Government credit cards. (Sec. 205) Provides that an organization shall be eligible for population planning assistance in a fiscal year if the AID Administrator determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that it has not used such assistance for abortions or involuntary sterilizations. (Sec. 206) Authorizes appropriations for development assistance to foreign countries. Earmarks specified amounts from such appropriations for: (1) certain activities of the Global Environment Center of the AID; (2) certain water and coastal resources activities; and (3) assistance to East Timor. (Sec. 208) Amends the Horn of Africa Recovery and Food Security Act to make Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance available for certain activities to aid the poor majority in the Horn of Africa. (Sec. 209) Declares that the total amount of development assistance made available for FY 2001 for sub-Saharan Africa shall bear the same proportion to the total amount of development assistance made available for that fiscal year as the total amount of development assistance for such region made available for FY 2000 bears to the total amount of development assistance made available for FY 2000. (Sec. 210) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make U.S. foreign assistance funds available for nonmilitary education programs and for anticorruption programs. Subtitle B: International Disaster Assistance - Authorizes the President to provide, through international disaster assistance, for the reconstruction of foreign countries affected by natural disasters. (Sec. 212) Requires the Administrator of AID, in processing applications for the transportation of humanitarian assistance abroad, to afford priority to applications for the transportation of disaster relief assistance. Subtitle C: Sudan Peace Act - Sudan Peace Act - Declares that Congress: (1) condemns violations of human rights on all sides of the conflict in Sudan (including the Government of Sudan), the ongoing slave trade there, and the Government's increasing use and organization of "murahalliin" or "mujahadeen", Popular Defense Forces (PDF), and regular Sudanese Army units into raiding and slaving parties in Bahr al Ghazal, the Nuba Mountains, Upper Nile, and Blue Nile regions; and (2) recognizes that the use of raiding and slaving parties is a tool for creating food shortages as a systematic means to destroy the societies, culture, and economies of the Dinka and Nuba peoples in a policy of low-intensity ethnic cleansing. (Sec. 225) Expresses the sense of Congress that it: (1) declares its support for the efforts by U.S. executive branch officials and the President's Special Envoy for Sudan to lead in a reinvigoration of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-sponsored peace process; (2) calls on IGAD member states, the European Union, the Organization of African Unity, Egypt, and other key states to support such process; (3) urges Kenya's leadership in the implementation of the process; and (4) declares that any such diplomatic efforts toward resolution of the conflict in Sudan are best made through a peace process based on the Declaration of Principles reached in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 20, 1994, and that the President should not create any process which could be viewed as a parallel or competing diplomatic track. (Sec. 226) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President, acting through the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, should take specified actions to increase pressure on the combatants involved in the war in Sudan. (Sec. 227) Directs the President to report to Congress on: (1) the specified sources (including any U.S. sources) and current status of Sudan's financing and construction of oil exploitation infrastructure and pipelines; (2) such financing's relation to sanctions contained in the Executive Order of November 4, 1997; (3) the extent of aerial bombardment by the Government of Sudan forces in areas outside its control; (4) the number, duration, and locations of air strips or other humanitarian relief facilities to which access is denied by any party to the conflict; and (5) the status of the IGAD-sponsored peace process or any other ongoing effort to end the conflict, including specific and verifiable steps taken by the parties to the conflict, the members of the IGAD Partners Forum, and the members of IGAD toward a comprehensive solution to the war. (Sec. 228) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should organize and maintain a formal consultative process with the European Union, the United Nations Security Council, and other relevant parties on coordinating an effort within the UN to revise the terms of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) to end the Government of Sudan's veto power over OLS plans for air transport relief flights. (Sec. 229) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should continue to increase the use of non-OLS agencies in the distribution of relief supplies in southern Sudan. (Sec. 230) Directs the President to develop and report to Congress on a contingency plan to provide, outside UN auspices, the greatest amount of U.S. Government and privately donated relief to all affected areas in Sudan, including the Nuba Mountains, Upper Nile, and Blue Nile, in the event the Government of Sudan imposes a ban on OLS air transport relief flights. (Sec. 231) Supports the President's ongoing efforts to diversify and increase the effectiveness of U.S. assistance to populations in areas of Sudan outside the control of the Government of Sudan, especially the long-term focus shown in the Sudan Transition Assistance for Rehabilitation (STAR) program with its emphasis on promoting democracy, self-reliance, and actively supporting people-to-people reconciliation efforts. Authorizes appropriations. Grants the President authority to undertake any appropriate programs using Federal agencies, contractual arrangements, or direct support of indigenous groups, agencies, or organizations in areas outside the control of the Government of Sudan (including northern, southern, and eastern regions) in an effort to provide emergency relief, economic self-sufficiency, build civil authority, provide education, enhance rule of law and the development of the judiciary, support people-to-people reconciliation efforts, or implementation of any programs in support of any viable peace agreement. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should immediately and to the fullest extent possible utilize the Office of Transition Initiatives at the Agency for International Development to pursue such programs in the Sudan; and (2) priority should be given in current and future development or transition programs undertaken by the U.S. Government to rebuilding and supporting the Rumbek Secondary School in the Sudan. (Sec. 232) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should assess the humanitarian needs in the Nuba Mountains, Red Sea Hills, and Blue Nile regions of Sudan, and respond appropriately to those needs. (Sec. 233) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees detailing possible options or plans of the U.S. Government for the provision of nonlethal assistance to participants of the National Democratic Alliance. Subtitle D: Assistance to Countries With Large Populations Having HIV/AIDS - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise requirements for assistance for health programs in developing countries to declare that Congress recognizes: (1) the growing international dilemma of children with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and (2) that mother-to-child transmission prevention strategies can serve as a major force for change in developing regions, and that it is therefore a major objective of the foreign assistance program to control the acquired immune deficiency syndrom (AIDS) epidemic. Provides that Congress expects the agency primarily responsible for administering this Act to make the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS a priority in the foreign assistance program for developing countries. Authorizes appropriations (earmarking amounts for training and training facilities in sub-Saharan Africa and U.S. contributions to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative). (Sec. 245) Directs the President to enter into negotiations with foreign government officials and other interested parties to establish an international vaccine purchase fund that would: (1) accept contributions from governments to purchase and distribute in developing countries vaccines for malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and any infectious disease which causes the deaths of over one million people worldwide each year; and (2) be a significant market incentive for private sector vaccine research. (Sec. 246) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into negotiations with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) or the International Development Association (IDA), and with their member nations and other interested parties, for the creation of two trust funds which would accept contributions from governments, the private sector, and nongovernmental entities to: (1) address the AIDS epidemic in countries eligible to borrow from the IDA; and (2) provide support for or the establishment of programs which provide primary and secondary education for orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 248) Directs the President to coordinate the development of multidonor strategy to provide for the support and education of AIDS orphans and the families, communities, and institutions most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the United States to ensure that classroom training under the African Crisis Response Initiative includes military-based education on the prevention of the spread of AIDS. Subtitle E: International Tuberculosis Control - International Tuberculosis Control Act of 2000 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise requirements for assistance for health programs in developing countries to declare that Congress recognizes: (1) the growing international problem of tuberculosis; and (2) that the means exist to control and treat it, and that it is therefore a major objective of the foreign assistance program to control the disease. (Sec. 253) Declares that Congress expects the agency primarily responsible for administering this Act to: (1) coordinate with the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, and other organizations toward the development and implementation of a comprehensive tuberculosis control program; and (2) set as a goal the detection of at least 70 percent of the cases of infectious tuberculosis, and the cure of at least 85 percent of the cases detected, in those countries in which the agency has established development programs, by December 31, 2010. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Global Opportunities for Biotechnology in Agriculture - Advancing the Global Opportunities for Biotechnology in Agriculture Act of 2000 - Authorizes the appropriation of certain foreign assistance funds to the President for programs and projects designed, through the establishment of technical exchange programs for foreign officials and U.S. biotechnology experts, to educate government officials in developing countries regarding the use of biotechnology in the agricultural sector and the regulatory procedures used by the United States with respect to agricultural products using biotechnology. Declares that such programs shall encourage acceptance by such countries of products approved under the U.S. regulatory system or, in the case of countries which choose to establish a national regulatory system based on science, to encourage adoption of domestic approval processes based on objective scientific principles. (Sec. 265) Directs the President to establish an interagency process for all relevant executive branch agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, the Office of the U.S. Trade of Representative, the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), the Department of Commerce, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, to coordinate efforts and to generate support for the acceptance of agricultural biotechnology. Urges U.S. policies to stress the prominence of science as the foundation for regulatory decision-making and work aggressively in international fora such as the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, including its CODEX Alimentarius, and the United Nations, to advocate for science-based decision-making. Urges AID and the Department of Agriculture to ensure that all food and grain products that meet U.S. health and safety requirements are acceptable to foreign countries under relevant food aid programs. (Sec. 266) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should work with U.S. embassies abroad to develop bilateral support from foreign governments for the approval of science-based trading regimes in multilateral forums and organizations. Title III: Peace Corps of the United States - Amends the Peace Corps Act to redesignate the Peace Corps as the Peace Corps of the United States. Title IV: Strengthening Anticorruption Measures and Accountability - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreement Act to authorize appropriations through FY 2003 for U.S. contributions to the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Trust Fund of the World Bank. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of each multilateral development bank to exert U.S. influence to strengthen each bank's procedures and management controls to ensure that funds disbursed by it to borrowing countries are used as intended and in a manner that complies with the conditions of the bank's loan to such country. (Sec. 403) Directs the Comptroller General to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on the sufficiency of audits of the financial operations of each multilateral development bank conducted by persons or entities outside of such bank. (Sec. 404) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the President's discretionary authority to transfer certain funds to certain international financial institutions for the purpose of bilateral funding. Title V: Serbia Democratization Act - Serbia Democratization Act of 2000 - Subtitle A: Support for the Democratic Forces - Authorizes the President to furnish assistance and other support to promote and strengthen institutions of democratic government and the growth of an independent civil society in Serbia, including ethnic tolerance and respect for internationally recognized human rights. Authorizes appropriations. Urges the President to take all necessary steps to ensure that such assistance shall not be provided to the Government of Yugoslavia or the Government of Serbia. (Sec. 512) Authorizes the President to provide assistance to the Government of Montenegro, unless the President determines, and reports to the appropriate congressional committees, that the leadership of such government is not committed to, or is not taking steps to promote, democratic principles, the rule of law, or respect for internationally recognized human rights. (Sec. 513) Directs the Broadcasting Board of Governors to further the open communication of information and ideas through the increased use of radio and television broadcasting (Voice of America and Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, Incorporated) to Yugoslavia in both the Serbo-Croatian and Albanian languages. Subtitle B: Assistance to the Victims of Oppression - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Government of Yugoslavia and the Government of Serbia bear responsibility to the victims of the conflict in Kosovo, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and for property damage in Kosovo; (2) under President Milosevic's direction neither government has provided the resources to assist innocent, civilian victims of oppression in Kosovo; and (3) because neither government has fulfilled the responsibilities of a sovereign government toward the Kosovar people, the international community offers the only course for humanitarian assistance to victims of oppression in Kosovo. (Sec. 523) Authorizes the President to furnish assistance (including economic support funds) under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 for: (1) relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction in Kosovo; and (2) refugees and persons displaced by the conflict there. Prohibits assistance to any organization that has been designated as a terrorist organization. Subtitle C: "Outer Wall" Sanctions - Imposes certain economic and non-economic ("Outer Wall") sanctions against Yugoslavia until the President determines, and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees, that the Government of Yugoslavia has made significant progress in meeting certain conditions, including: (1) agreement on a lasting settlement in Kosovo; (2) compliance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina; (3) implementation of internal democratic reform; (4) settlement of all succession issues with the other republics that emerged from the break-up of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; and (5) cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, including the transfer to the Hague of all individuals in Yugoslavia indicted by the Tribunal. (Sec. 531) Sets forth such sanctions, including instructing: (1) the U.S. executive directors of the international financial institutions to oppose, and vote against, any extension of any financial assistance of any kind to the Government of Yugoslavia; (2) the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to oppose and block any consensus to allow the participation of Yugoslavia in the OSCE; (3) the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) to oppose any resolution in the UN Security Council to admit Yugoslavia to the UN, including any proposal to allow it to assume the membership of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the UN General Assembly; (4) the U.S. Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council to oppose the extension to Yugoslavia of membership in the Partnership for Peace program or any other affiliated NATO organization; and (5) the U.S. Representatives to the Southeast European Cooperation Initiative (SECI) to actively oppose the extension of SECI membership to Yugoslavia. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President: (1) should not restore full diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia until the President has determined, and reported to the appropriate congressional committees, that Yugoslavia has met the aforementioned conditions; and (2) should encourage all other European countries to diminish their level of diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia. (Sec. 532) Expresses the sense of Congress that if any international financial institution approves a loan or other financial assistance to the Government of Yugoslavia over the opposition of the United States, then the Secretary of the Treasury should withhold from payment the U.S. share of any increase in the paid-in capital of such institution in an amount equal to the amount of such loan or other assistance. Subtitle D: Other Measures Against Yugoslavia - Blocks all property of the Government of Serbia or the Government of Yugoslavia (including commercial, industrial, or public utility or entities) that is in the United States. (Sec. 542) Directs the President to use the authorities under the Immigration and Nationality Act to suspend the entry into the United States of any alien who: (1) holds a position in the senior leadership of the Government of Yugoslavia or the Government of Serbia; or (2) is a spouse, minor child, or agent of such person. (Sec. 543) Prohibits the export of computers, computer software, or goods or technology intended to manufacture or service computers to or for use by the Government of Yugoslavia or by the Government of Serbia (including the military, the police, the prison system, and the national security agencies of such republics). Declares that nothing in this section shall prevent the issuance of licenses to ensure the safety of civil aviation and safe operation of U.S.-origin commercial passenger aircraft and to ensure the safety of ocean-going maritime traffic in international waters. (Sec. 544) Prohibits: (1) any Government agency (including the Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation) from extending any loan, credit guarantee, insurance, financing, or other similar financial assistance to the Government of Yugoslavia or the Government of Serbia; and (2) any funds being made available for activities of the Trade and Development Agency in or for Serbia. Urges all other countries, particularly European countries, to suspend any of their programs that provide similar financial assistance to the Government of Yugoslavia or the Government of Serbia, including rescheduling either government's debt under more favorable conditions. Prohibits any U.S. national from making or approving any loan or other extension of credit (unless it is for housing, education, or humanitarian benefit to assist the victims of repression in Kosovo), directly or indirectly, to the Government of Yugoslavia or to the Government of Serbia. (Sec. 545) Prohibits the U.S. Government (including any Federal agency or entity) from providing assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or the Arms Export Control Act (including the provision of Foreign Military Financing or international military education and training (IMET)) or providing any defense articles or defense services under such Acts, to the armed forces of the Government of Yugoslavia or of the Government of Serbia. (Sec. 546) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should continue to seek to coordinate with other countries, particularly European countries, a comprehensive, multilateral strategy to further the purposes of this Act, including, as appropriate, encouraging other countries to take similar measures contained in this title. (Sec. 547) Exempts from the sanctions imposed in this Act both Kosovo and Montenegro (unless the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the leadership of the Government of Montenegro is not committed to, or is not taking steps to promote, democratic principles, the rule of law, or respect for internationally recognized human rights). Provides for a waiver and termination of sanctions imposed against Yugoslavia. Subtitle E: Miscellaneous Provisions - Declares it is U.S. policy to support the investigation of President Slobodan Milosevic by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and grave breaches of the Geneva Convention. (Sec. 552) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should call on NATO allies in negotiating the future of Kosovo to establish guarantees for the rights of the ethnic Hungarian community of Vojvodina. (Sec. 553) Declares it is U.S. policy to insist that the Government of Yugoslavia has the responsibility to engage in good faith negotiations with the Governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Slovenia for resolution of outstanding property issues and disposition of specified properties located in the United States. Expresses the sense of Congress that if the Government of Yugoslavia refuses to negotiate in good faith, the President should take steps to return such properties to such governments. (Sec. 554) Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to Yugoslavia if he determines, and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees, that the Government of Yugoslavia is committed to democratic principles and the rule of law and respects internationally recognized human rights. Title VI: Microenterprise Assistance - Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to set forth congressional findings and policy, including that: (1) the development of microenterprise (including micro- and small enterprises) is a vital factor in the growth of developing countries and in the development of free, open, and equitable international economic systems; (2) it is in the best interest of the United States to assist the development of microenterprises and of enterprises of the poor in developing countries; and (3) the support of microenterprise can be served by programs that provide credit, savings, training, technical assistance, and business development services. (Sec. 604) Authorizes the President to provide grants and other assistance for programs to increase the availability of credit and other services to microenterprises (including micro- and small enterprises) lacking full access to capital training, technical assistance, and business development services through: (1) grants to microfinance institutions; (2) loans and guarantees to credit institutions (with a limit of $30 million per borrower); (3) grants to microenterprise institutions for training, technical assistance, and business development services; and (4) policy and regulatory programs at the country level. (Sec. 606) Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) to establish: (1) a monitoring system that provides, among other things, for performance goals for microenterprise development grant assistance; (2) eligibility criteria for determining which entities shall carry out activities receiving credit assistance; and (3) a U.S. Microfinance Loan Facility to prevent the bankruptcy of microfinance institutions caused by natural disasters, war or civil conflict, national financial crisis, or other short-term financial movements that threaten the long-term development of such institutions. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 607) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the most cost-effective methods and measurements for increasing the access of poor people overseas to credit, other financial services, and related training. (Sec. 608) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the administrator of AID and the Secretary of State should seek to support and strengthen the effectiveness of microfinance activities in United Nations (UN) agencies, such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the UN Development Program, which have provided key leadership in developing the microenterprise sector; and (2) the Secretary of the Treasury should instruct each U.S. Executive Director of the multilateral development banks to advocate the development of a coherent and coordinated strategy to support the microenterprise sector, including an increase of multilateral resource flows for building microenterprise retail and wholesale intermediaries. Title VII: Defense and Security Assistance - Subtitle A: Military and Related Assistance - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for foreign military financing grants and direct loans. (Sec. 711) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase the aggregate value of the emergency drawdown of defense articles from the stocks of the Department of Defense (DOD), defense services of DOD, and international military education and training (IMET) to foreign countries in any fiscal year. Authorizes the drawdown of such articles, services, and training for counterterrorism and nonproliferation purposes. (Sec. 712) Authorizes the President to provide for the transportation of excess defense articles without charge to a country for the costs of such transportation if, among other things, the total weight of such transfer does not exceed 50,000 pounds (currently, 25,000 pounds). Subtitle B: International Military Education and Training - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for IMET assistance to foreign countries. Sets forth certain additional requirements with respect to the provision of such assistance. Subtitle C: Nonproliferation and Export Control Assistance - Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to foreign countries in order to enhance their ability to halt the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and advanced conventional weaponry. (Sec. 731) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 (earmarking amounts for training and education of personnel from friendly countries in the United States, science and technology centers in the independent states of the former Soviet Union, and static cargo x-ray facility in Malta). Subtitle D: Antiterrorism Assistance - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for antiterrorism assistance to foreign countries. Subtitle E: Integrated Security Assistance Planning - Requires the Secretary of State to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on a National Security Assistance Strategy for the United States. (Sec. 752) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for security assistance surveys used in preparing the Strategy. (Sec. 761) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for foreign military financing grants for the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. Earmarks specified amounts of IMET assistance funds for such countries, including Greece and turkey. (Sec. 763) Earmarks specified amounts for FY 2001 for foreign military financing grants for Israel and Egypt. Earmarks specified amounts for such grants (including IMET assistance) for: (1) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; (2) Philippines; (3) Georgia; (4) Malta; (5) Slovenia; (6) Slovakia; (7) Romania; and (8) Bulgaria. (Sec. 765) Earmarks certain funds for FY 2001 to assist GUUAM countries (group of countries that signed a protocol on quadrilateral cooperation on November 25, 1997) and Armenia to: (1) strengthen national control of their borders (including to prevent the trafficking of illegal narcotics and the proliferation of technology and materials related to weapons of mass destruction, and to contain and inhibit transnational organized criminal activities); and (2) promote the independence and territorial sovereignty of such countries. Subtitle F: Other Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the use of defense articles and defense services made available through the provision of U.S. military assistance to foreign countries for antiterrorism and nonproliferation purposes. (Sec. 772) Amends the Arms Export Control Act to authorize the President to reduce the price for the sale of DOD and Coast Guard defense articles to eligible foreign countries if certain conditions are met. (Sec. 773) Repeals certain congressional reporting and certification requirements with respect to cooperative projects with North American Treaty Organization countries. (Sec. 774) Exempts a prohibition on U.S. assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan from certain congressional oversight provisions under the National Security Act of 1947. (Sec. 775) Sets forth the maximum value of additions to stockpiles in foreign countries for FY 2001. Makes amounts available for such stockpiles in the Republic of Korea. (Sec. 776) Authorizes the President to transfer to Israel certain obsolete or surplus defense articles in return for concessions to be negotiated by the Secretary of Defense. (Sec. 777) Prohibits US sale of Stinger missiles in the Persian Gulf, with certain exceptions. (Sec. 778) Amends Federal law to increase: (1) the bond required to be filed with the Secretary of the Treasury in cases where certain required export information may be filed with the Secretary by a carrier in connection with the exportation or transportation of cargo after the departure of such carrier from the port or place of exportation or transportation; and (2) the penalty for a carrier's failure to file such information within the prescribed period. Subjects a person who knowingly fails to file, or knowingly files false or misleading, export information through the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) or the Automated Export System (AES) to a fine not to exceed $10,000, or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. Increases the civil penalty with respect to the violation of the other reporting requirements under this Act. (Sec. 779) Authorizes for FY 2001 the use of DOD funds for crating, packing, handling, and transporting excess defense articles to Mongolia. (Sec. 780) Directs the President to certify annually to the appropriate congressional committees that any Russian person engaged in a commercial operation involving Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) equipment or technology with a U.S. person pursuant to an arms export license issued within the 36 months preceding the certification is not suspected of contributing to the acquisition, design, development, or production of MTCR-class ballistic missiles in Iran at any time since January 1, 2000. Authorizes the President to terminate such license if it is determined that the foreign person has engaged in the transfer of any MTCR equipment or technology. (Sec. 781) Makes specified amounts of economic support fund (ESF) and foreign military financing funds available only to Israel for FY 2001 through 2008. Subtitle G: Transfers of Naval Vessels - Authorizes the President to transfer certain naval vessels to: (1) Australia; (2) Brazil; (3) Chile; (4) Egypt; (5) Greece; and (6) Turkey. (Sec. 792) Sets forth requirements with respect to: (1) the inapplicability of aggregate annual limitation on the value of transferred excess defense articles; (2) who should be charged the costs related to such transfers; (3) conditions related to the transfer of naval vessels on a combined lease-sale basis; and (4) the funding of costs related to such transfers. Subtitle H: Definition - Defines "appropriate committees of Congress". Title VIII: Special Authorities and Other Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to set forth additional authority under the Arms Export Control Act for the prohibition on assistance 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 furnishing such assistance is in the U.S. national interest. (Sec. 802) Authorizes the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance to foreign countries to provide program and management oversight for activities that are funded by such assistance in countries in which such agency does not have a field mission or office. (Sec. 803) Sets forth revised requirements with respect to the availability of foreign assistance funds for the winding up of programs that have been terminated. (Sec. 804) Authorizes the President to furnish foreign assistance to support or strengthen the administration of justice in countries in Latin American and the Caribbean. Repeals the prohibition against the participation of DOD personnel and members of the U.S. armed forces in the provision of training with respect to the administration of justice in such countries. (Sec. 805) Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to require the annual reporting of environmental impact of multilateral development bank assistance proposals (currently made semi-annually). (Sec. 806) Expresses the sense of the Senate on environmental contamination and health effects emanating from former U.S. military facilities in the Philippines. (Sec. 807) Repeals obsolete provisions of specified Federal laws.
Bill· SS. 2381 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2000
Straight Talk on Social Security Act - Amends the Social Security Act to require social security account statements to contain: (1) a comparison of the annual social security tax inflows to the amount paid in benefits annually and a statement of whether the ratio will result in a cash flow deficit and what year such deficit will commence as well as the first year in which funds in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Funds will cease to be sufficient to cover the deficit and the percentage of benefits due at that time that could be paid from annual tax inflows; and (2) an explanation of the average rate of return that a taxpayer can expect to receive on old-age insurance benefits as compared to the total amount of social security taxes a taxpayer expects to pay.
Law· HRH.R. 4205 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 - Division A: Department of Defense Authorizations - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) the Defense Inspector General; (3) the Defense Health Program; and (4) the chemical demilitarization program. Subtitle B: Multi-Year Contract Authorizations - Authorizes the use of multiyear procurement contracts for the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the UH/60-CH/60 helicopter, and the DDG-51 (destroyer). Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for the armed forces for research, development, test, and evaluation. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for operation and maintenance (O&M) for the armed forces and specified activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (DOD). (Sec. 302) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for: (1) working capital and revolving funds; and (2) the Armed Forces Retirement Home. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the transfer of up to $150 million from the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund to specified military O&M accounts for FY 2001. Subtitle B: Environmental Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to reimburse the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a specified amount for certain removal costs connected with the former Nansemond Ordnance Depot Site in Suffolk, Virginia. (Sec. 312) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned (Secretary concerned) to pay certain fines and penalties imposed by the EPA or a State in connection with environmental violations at specified sites. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to issue regulations requiring payment by civil air carriers for certain air and landing support provided at Johnston Atoll. (Sec. 322) Authorizes the Secretary, upon request from a department Secretary or defense agency director, to transfer excess titanium sponge from the National Defense Stockpile for use in manufacturing defense equipment. (Sec. 323) Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to extend through FY 2003 a pilot program for the acceptance and use of landing fees charged for the use of military airfields by civil aircraft. Extends a required implementation report date. (Sec. 324) Repeals a provision requiring a nonappropriated fund instrumentality to be considered as the most economical method of distribution of covered alcoholic beverages for resale on a military installation if the use of a private distributor would subject such beverages to direct or indirect State taxation. Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths for active-duty forces as of the end of FY 2001. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 2001 for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel on active duty in support of the reserves. (Sec. 413) Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 2001 for military technicians. (Sec. 414) Increases the number of certain officers and enlisted personnel authorized to serve on active duty in support of the reserves. (Sec. 415) Exempts from the active-duty end strength limitation those members of the reserve: (1) or National Guard serving on active duty to prepare for and perform military funeral honor functions; and (2) on active duty for 181 days or more to perform special work in support of the armed forces and combatant commands. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy - Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to retain Medical Service Corps officers beyond the normal required retirement age. Withdraws the authority to so retain veterinary officers. (Sec. 503) Provides for the release to the military department concerned of the names of officers considered for promotion to a grade below brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half) upon transmittal to the President of the report of such selection board. Subtitle B: Reserve Component Personnel Policy - Exempts certain reserve and general flag officers serving in joint duty assignments from the active duty list for promotion purposes. (Sec. 512) Authorizes the Secretary concerned, upon a determination that it is in the national security interest, to increase the number of certain officers and enlisted personnel serving on active duty or full-time National Guard duty. (Sec. 514) Exempts medical and dental officers from reserve end strength limitations. (Sec. 515) Includes under certain promotion authority an individual on the Reserve Active Status List who is ordered to active duty for a period of three years or less. Subtitle C: Education and Training - Repeals a provision which allows the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Program to be funded from certain excess National Guard Challenge Program funding. Removes an annual funding limit with respect to the latter program. Subtitle D: Medal of Honor Recipients - Waives certain time limitations with respect to the award of the Medal of Honor to: (1) Ed W. Freeman of Boise, Idaho, for acts of valor during the Vietnam conflict; and (2) Andrew J. Smith (posthumously) for acts of valor during the Civil War. Subtitle E: Joint Management - Revises provisions concerning the joint officer specialty program to: (1) provide for the designation of officers with the joint specialty officer identifier; (2) allow an officer to be designated with such an identifier after completing two full tours of duty in joint duty assignments; (3) allow the Secretary concerned to waive designation requirements for a particular officer for unusual circumstances, or for a critical need (the latter only in the case of a general or flag officer); (4) provide for joint specialty officer designations for general and flag officer positions; and (5) require accreditation by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) for any educational institution designated as a joint professional military education institution. Revises policy objectives and qualifications for joint duty officers. (Sec. 543) Repeals a provision requiring officers graduating from a joint professional military education school to be assigned to a joint duty assignment for that officer's next duty assignment. Reduces from three to two months the duration of the principal course of instruction offered at the Armed Forces Staff College. (Sec. 544) Requires the length of a joint duty assignment to mirror the standard tour length that the Secretary establishes for each installation or location at which joint duty assignments are authorized. Allows waivers from such required tour length only on a case-by-case basis. Repeals provisions providing for the initial joint duty assignment of officers with critical occupational specialties. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to request the joint activity to which an officer is assigned to curtail such officer's assignment. Repeals provisions concerning average joint duty tour lengths. Revises the criteria under which full tour credit will be recognized for promotion purposes. (Sec. 545) Makes the JCS (currently the Secretary) responsible for monitoring the personal issues (careers) of officers with the joint specialty designation as well as other officers who have served in joint duty assignments. (Sec. 546) Revises generally information required in an annual report from the Secretary to Congress concerning joint specialty duty assignments and experience. (Sec. 548) Repeals minimum joint duty completion requirements in the case of an officer selected by a promotion board for appointment to the grade of brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half) while serving in a joint duty assignment. Subtitle F: Selection Board Appeals - Provides exclusive remedies available to a person challenging the action or recommendation of a selection board. Bars any such person from entitlement to judicial relief unless he or she has first been considered by a special board or refused such consideration by the Secretary concerned. Provides for appropriate correction of military records or restoration of appropriate status, rights, and entitlements if consideration by a special board results in a decision favorable to the individual. Makes this section inapplicable to the Coast Guard when not operating as a service in the Navy. Subtitle G: Other Matters - Exempts members of the Army, Navy, or Air Force Retiree Council from limits on the authorized number of recalled retirees. (Sec. 562) Mandates a three-year tenure requirement for the following positions (currently designated only as critical acquisition positions): program or deputy program manager for a significant nonmajor defense acquisition program; program executive officer, general or flag officer or civilian equivalent thereto; or senior contracting official. Title VI: Compensation and Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays - Authorizes the Secretary concerned to delegate the authority to waive operational flying duty requirements for purposes of entitlement to incentive pay. (Sec. 602) Authorizes special pay (in lieu of any other special pay) for reserve medical and dental officers performing annual training, active duty for training, and active duty for special work. (Sec. 603) Provides compensation rates for reserve and National Guard personnel performing funeral honors duty. (Sec. 604) Extends through FY 2002 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2000 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve armed forces. Subtitle B: Travel and Transportation Allowances - Authorizes the advance payment of allowances for temporary lodging expenses. (Sec. 612) Provides for the payment of a prorated amount for the transportation of baggage and household effects when less than the authorized weight limit is shipped. (Sec. 613) Authorizes the advance payment of per diem for temporary lodging expenses. (Sec. 614) Authorizes a member entitled to the transportation of a motor vehicle to instead be paid a prorated share of the savings achieved by the member in not sending the vehicle to the new duty station. Authorizes the storage of such motor vehicle in lieu of shipping. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Makes eligible for appointment to a military service academy the children of a member of the reserves who either: (1) have earned at least 2,880 military retirement credit points; or (2) are, or who died while they were, eligible for military retired pay, but had not yet reached age 60. (Sec. 632) Authorizes a personal money allowance of $2,000 annually for senior enlisted members of the armed forces. (Sec. 633) Increases the initial and annual uniform allowance. (Sec. 634) Authorizes the Secretary (and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when not operating under the Navy) to prescribe the quantity and kind of clothing to be worn by enlisted personnel. (Currently, the President has such authority.) Title VII: Health Care Provisions - Entitles Medal of Honor recipients to medical and dental care in the same manner and to the same extent as those entitled to military retired or retainer pay. Title VIII: Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters - Subtitle A: Amendments to General Contracting Authorities, Procedures, and Limitations - Eliminates: (1) the requirement that a contractor furnish written assurances that technical data furnished complies with contractual requirements; and (2) certain subcontract notification requirements. (Sec. 805) Redesignates major defense acquisition programs as major systems for purposes of applying operational test and evaluation requirements. Authorizes defense contractors to participate in certain phases of such test and evaluation, including analytical and logistic support. Requires certain steps to ensure the impartiality and integrity of contractor employees involved in such process. (Sec. 808) Allows the Secretary of Defense to utilize indefinite-delivery contracts for gloves, boots, humanitarian and operational rations, and toxicological agent protective clothing, upon request of a State or U.S. territory, Puerto Rico, an Indian tribe, the District of Columbia, or a qualified, nonprofit agency for the blind or severely handicapped. Subtitle B: Other Matters - Prohibits the suspension of defense procurement contract preferences for small disadvantaged businesses and historically black and other minority educational institutions if the President determines that contracts for a price exceeding fair market value cost are necessary to remedy demonstrated discrimination in that industry category. (Sec. 812) Revises the definition of "conventional ammunition" under the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to include ammunition managed by DOD's Single Manager for Conventional Ammunition. (Sec. 813) Provides a further exception to the technical data rights for items developed exclusively at private expense when operation, maintenance, or installation services are to be provided other than by the contractor or subcontractor. (Sec. 814) Authorizes the Secretary to waive the application of survivability tests to the MH-47E and MH-60K helicopter modification programs before full material release of such helicopters for operational use. Requires a report with any such waiver. (Sec. 815) Repeals the requirement that the Secretary certify to Congress that the future-years defense program fully funds support costs associated with the multiyear contracting program. Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management - Subtitle A: Department of Defense Organization - Redesignates Marine Corps Deputy and Assistant Chiefs of Staff as Deputy Commandants. Subtitle B: Other Matters - Consolidates the Naval Academy General Gift Fund and the Naval Academy Museum Fund into the United States Naval Academy Gift and Museum Fund. Repeals the Naval Academy Museum Fund and the Naval Historical Center Fund. (Sec. 912) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to dispose of the current cash value of previously accepted gifts to the Naval Academy Gift Fund by transfer to an entity designated by the donor. (Sec. 913) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a pilot program for the payment of retraining and relocation expenses to facilitate the reemployment of DOD employees who are being involuntarily separated due to a reduction-in-force or transfer of military functions. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a non-Federal employer to pay the costs (for up to 12 months) of retraining such individuals for employment with that employer. Prohibits: (1) the total amount of retraining payments for each individual from exceeding $10,000; and (2) payment for training or relocations commenced after September 30, 2003. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Provides for the offset of overpayments made to DOD contract carriers for transportation services. (Sec. 1002) Changes an annual date for submission of a report concerning the scoring of defense budget outlays. (Sec. 1003) Codifies provisions concerning O&M reimbursements for certain reserve intelligence or counterintelligence support. Subtitle B: Humanitarian and Civic Assistance - Includes underserved areas for the provision of defense humanitarian and civic assistance. (Sec. 1012) Increases from $5 million to $10 million the annual limit on costs of equipment, services, and supplies provided in connection with the clearance of land mines in foreign countries. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Reporting Requirements and Repeals - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to repeal a B-2 bomber reporting requirement. (Sec. 1016) Requires an annual report concerning National Guard and reserve equipment to include information concerning Coast Guard Reserve equipment. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Requires a military will or codicil, executed in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary (or Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when not operating under the Navy), to be recognized as a valid testamentary instrument. Outlines general requirements for such wills and codicils, including self-proof through testator acknowledgment and witnesses. Prohibits anything in this section from invalidating other testamentary instruments. (Sec. 1022) Repeals a provision which allows the Secretary to enter into cooperative military airlift agreements with allied countries only under authority of current provisions concerning such agreements. (Sec. 1023) Repeals a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 which prohibits FY 2000 Cooperative Threat Reduction funds from being used for a chemical weapons destruction facility in Russia. Division B: Military Construction Authorizations - Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 - Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to construct or acquire family housing units, carry out architectural planning and design activities, and improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after: (1) 2000 for military construction, land acquisition, and family housing functions of the Army; and (2) 2001 for completion of certain previously-authorized military construction projects. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. (Sec. 2105) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to increase the amount authorized for a project at Fort Hood, Texas. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the first paragraph of the previous title. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations similar to those provided for the Army under the first paragraph of Title XXI. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. (Sec. 2402) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out certain energy conservation projects. (Sec. 2403) Authorizes appropriations to DOD for fiscal years after: (1) 2000 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of DOD; and (2) 2001 for completion of a previously-authorized project. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 2000 for such Program. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 2000 for the Guard and reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in titles XXI through XXVI of this Act on October 1, 2003, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 2004, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Increases from $200,000 to $500,000 the minor real property transaction threshold before certain congressional notification and reporting is required from the Secretary concerned. (Sec. 2802) Includes a military readiness center within the definition of an armory. (Sec. 2803) Extends through February 10, 2006, the authority of the Secretary concerned to enter into contracts for the construction or acquisition of military family housing facilities. (Sec. 2804) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to provide utilities or services on a reimbursable basis as part of a project for the acquisition or construction of military family housing units located on a military installation. (Sec. 2805) Amends provisions concerning the leasing of military family housing at the United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida, to: (1) remove an annual $60,000 limit on individual housing lease costs; (2) allow such leases to extend for up to five years; and (3) allow the Secretary of the Army to adjust the maximum annual limit on such leases by the amount of the annual basic allowance for housing increase in the Miami area. (Sec. 2806) Removes certain limitations on housing space based on pay grade and allows the Secretary concerned to ensure that room patterns and floor areas are generally comparable to patterns and areas of similar housing units in that locality. (Sec. 2807) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to modify the authority for a land conveyance at the Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California.
Bill· HRH.R. 4210 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Preparedness Against Terrorism Act of 2000 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Act) to include acts of terrorism or other catastrophic events within its definition of "major disaster" for purposes of authorized disaster relief. (Sec. 4) Requires the President (currently authorizes the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA Director)) to be responsible for carrying out Federal emergency preparedness plans and programs. Includes as a covered hazard a domestic terrorist attack involving a weapon of mass destruction or cybertechnology. (Sec. 6) Requires the FEMA Director to ensure that Federal response plans and programs are adequate to respond to the consequences of terrorism directed against a target in the United States, including both weapons of mass destruction and cybertechnology. Includes the development of equipment, clothing, and facilities within authorized preparedness measures. (Sec. 7) Repeals provisions of the Act which: (1) allow State preparedness funds to be used to prepare for hazards and for providing emergency assistance in response to hazards; and (2) require the FEMA Director to establish emergency preparedness security regulations. (Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2003 to carry out emergency preparedness plans and programs. (Sec. 9) Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the Office of Terrorism Preparedness, to be headed by a Director who shall: (1) establish Federal policies, objectives, and priorities for enhancing State and local emergency preparedness and response capabilities, including with regard to early detection and warning of and response to domestic terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction or cybertechnology; and (2) publish a Domestic Terrorism Preparedness Plan and an annual strategy for carrying out such Plan. Requires the Plan and its annual strategy to be transmitted to the President and Congress. Requires the Director to develop for each fiscal year a consolidated budget proposal to implement the Plan, and to submit such proposal to the President and Congress. Requires budget submissions from each Federal department or agency with responsibilities under the Plan. Requires the Director to review and certify such budget submissions, or to notify the Director of the Office of Management and Budget of inadequate submissions. Directs the Secretary to review, and either certify or deny certification with respect to, each training and exercise program being conducted by a Federal department or agency to enhance the capabilities of State and local emergency preparedness and response personnel with respect to terrorist attacks. Requires recertification every three years. Requires consultation with the Director, to determine consistency with the Plan, from each Federal department or agency wishing to establish a new program or office to enhance such capabilities. Requires the Director to establish voluntary minimum standards for preparedness programs in order to provide guidance in the development and implementation of such programs. Authorizes the Director to make grants to a State or local governmental entity to offset the costs of participation in any certified training or exercise program. Authorizes the Director to attend meetings of the National Security Council pertaining to domestic terrorist attack preparedness matters, subject to the direction of the President. Requires cooperation with the Director from each Federal department and agency with responsibilities under the Plan. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2005.
Bill· HRH.R. 4208 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Recruiting, Retention, and Reservist Promotion Act of 2000 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 to require an authorized per diem allowance for members who are deployed 251 days or more out of the preceding 365 days to take effect on the first day of the month after enactment of this Act (currently, October 1, 2001.) Makes eligible for such allowance members of the Coast Guard when not operating as a service of the Navy. Directs the Secretary of Defense to study and report to Congress on the extent to which such allowance is being paid to regular and reserve personnel, its effect on morale and retention rates, and the feasibility of establishing a reduced eligibility threshold for members of National Guard and reserve units serving on active duty of more than 30 days. Authorizes the Secretary, after such study, to reduce the threshold below 251 days (requiring congressional notification of any such change). Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the possibility of tax credits or small business loan incentives for businesses that employ National Guard and reserve personnel. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the feasibility and desirability of expanding the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps of each military department, the Civil Air Patrol, the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and the Young Marines.
Bill· HRH.R. 4202 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Internet Services Promotion Act of 2000 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from imposing on any provider of Internet access service any contribution for the support of universal service or any access charge based on a measure of the time that telecommunications services are used in the provision of Internet access service. Prohibits FCC regulatory fees from being imposed on such providers. Amends the Internet Tax Freedom Act to extend through October 21, 2006, a moratorium on the imposition of taxes upon such providers.
Bill· HRH.R. 4199 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Date Certain Tax Code Replacement Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2004; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2004. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Establishes the National Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification to review: (1) the present structure and provisions of the Code; (2) whether the tax systems of other countries could provide more efficient and fair methods of funding government revenue requirements; (3) whether the income tax should be replaced with a tax imposed in a different manner or on a different base; and (4) whether the Code can be simplified, absent wholesale restructuring or replacement. Requires a Commission report to Congress on review results, with recommendations for Code reform and simplification. Terminates the Commission 90 days after such report. Authorizes appropriations (with interim funding). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be approved by Congress in its final form before July 4, 2004.
Bill· HRH.R. 4214 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2000
Armed Forces Educational Relief Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income certain payments on student loans of members of the Armed Forces.
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