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101 records in US in 1999
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Real Estate Flexibility Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize an individual to reduce the basis (with specified limits) and exclude a portion of debt assumption in lieu of gain recognition in the case of an unrelated party-disposition of U.S. depreciable real property.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Cooperative Housing Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the definition of "cooperative housing corporation" (for purposes of the tax deduction allowed to a tenant- stockholder for certain payments to such corporation).
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from an employee's gross income certain housing incentives provided by the employer to purchase and reside in housing located in qualified urban housing fringe areas. Defines "qualified urban housing fringe."
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Access Aid Act of 1999 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to establish under ESEA title X (Programs of National Significance) a new part L, Access Aid Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to establish an Access Aid demonstration program to assist nonprofit organizations (organizations) working with local school districts to establish programs (programs) that identify and mentor college-eligible students and their families. Requires program counseling services to: (1) focus on college selection, admissions, and funding; (2) involve the students' parents or legal guardians and be conducted on an individual and confidential basis; and (3) enable students to evaluate and select a college based on the student's interest level and qualifications, not on cost. Allows programs to provide participating students small grants to underwrite the costs of college visits or to purchase books and equipment required by, but not included in, the student budget of the college. Allows emergency grants to be used when a student's demonstrated need is not fully funded by the postsecondary institution. Requires organizations to provide outreach support to each participating school's guidance or career counseling staff and provide workshops relating to college admissions, college funding, and financial aid form completion to the general population of each participating school or other interested schools. Requires an organization to provide, at each project site, at least workshops in participating and surrounding school districts. Requires the students selected for program assistance to be nominated by the staffs of the participating high schools. Bases selection primarily on their being college-eligible, first- generation, low-income students. Makes ineligible for program assistance students served by TRIO or GEAR UP programs. Requires students in each State to be selected for program assistance. Requires individual services to begin not later than the end of the tenth grade and continue until completion of college. Requires an applicant organization, in order to qualify for a part L grant, to: (1) be a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization, not affiliated with a public or private educational institution, and not a seller of any kind of financial product; (2) demonstrate experience in the college admissions and college funding arenas, familiarity with Federal outreach programs, prior experience with the public secondary school sector, and a demand by schools and school districts for its program; and (3) provide plans for orderly shift of the funding component from the public to the private sector, for public awareness of the program, the participants, and the outcomes, for counseling services for participants from entry into the program until completion of college, for quantifiable evaluation, and for program implementation. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits the United States from engaging in any business, professional, commercial, financial, or industrial enterprise except as specified in the Constitution. Prohibits the constitution or laws of any State, or the laws of the United States, from being subject to the terms of any foreign or domestic agreement which would abrogate this amendment. Requires any activities of the U.S. Government which violate the intent and purposes of this amendment to, within a period of three years from the date of the ratification of this amendment, be liquidated and the properties and facilities affected to be sold. Repeals, three years after the ratification of this amendment the sixteenth article of amendments to the Constitution of the United States and thereafter Congress shall not levy taxes on personal incomes, estates, and or gifts.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Extends the law making continuing appropriations for FY 2000 through November 18, 1999. Extends, until November 18, 1999, a certain provision of law that allows fewer than three members of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States to constitute a quorum.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1999
Extends the law making continuing appropriations for FY 2000 through November 24, 1999. Extends, until November 24, 1999, a certain provision of law that allows fewer than three members of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States to constitute a quorum.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
High-Speed Rail Investment Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited tax credit to holders of a qualified Amtrak bond. Sets forth definitions, State matching requirements, and other rules.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Policyholder Disaster Protection Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the creation of disaster protection funds by property and casualty insurance companies for the payment of policyholders' claims arising from certain catastrophic events. Imposes a penalty tax on certain drawdowns from such funds.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Authorizes a qualified S corporation to make a one-time corporate conversion under special tax treatment which shall: (1) in the case of a transfer to partnership form result in no shareholder gain or loss recognition on transferred money or property; and (2) treat other money or property transfers as payment for such corporation's stock. Requires the partnership to maintain a five- year continuity of business in order to avoid a conversion recapture tax.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Natural Disaster Insurance Solvency Act of 1999 - Establishes the Natural Disaster Insurance Solvency Fund (NDISF) as a non-Federal agency to hold, invest, and distribute private insurance solvency reserve amounts for rare catastrophic events. Directs the NDISF to establish and maintain a Catastrophe Emergency Solvency Reserve Account as a tax-exempt custodial account to hold all contributions of solvency reserve amounts. Mandates NDISF audits by the Comptroller General. Grants the NDISF off-budget status.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Cleaner Buses for Cleaner Cities Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit the provision of grants or other financial assistance under Federal highway or mass transportation provisions or under the Urban Mass Transportation Act to any State or local government or other entity if such government or entity has acquired, in the prior fiscal year, a diesel-fueled bus to be used in any ozone, particulate, or carbon monoxide nonattainment area. Makes such prohibition inapplicable to grants for safety.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Doctors' Bill of Rights Act of 1999 - Outlines specified obligations of carriers, fiscal intermediaries, the Medicare Integrity Program under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) with regard to physician rights within the context of the following matters and examples: (1) education (additional HHS educational outreach for physicians for Medicare coverage areas with the most frequent billing errors); (2) information (restoration of the toll-free telephone hotline at HCFA to permit physicians to call for information and questions on Medicare); (3) overpayments (HHS authorized repayment of overpayments within three months without penalty or interest); and (4) suspected fraud or wrongdoing (HHS Office of Inspector General must follow specified guidelines regarding arrest). Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits HCFA from implementing any new evaluation and management (E&M) guidelines under Medicare unless it has: (1) provided for an assessment of the proposed guidelines by physicians; (2) established a plan that contains specific goals for improving participation of physicians; (3) carried out a minimum of four described pilot projects in at least four different HCFA regions to test such guidelines; and (4) found that specified objectives for E&M guidelines will be met in the implementation of such guidelines. Requires each pilot project to study the effect of E&M guidelines on physician practices and patient and physician satisfaction.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Reducing the Effects of Abuse and Domestic Violence on Youth or READY Act - Title I: Children Who Witness Domestic Violence - Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (for purposes of this title, the Secretary) to award grants to eligible entities to conduct programs to encourage the use of domestic violence intervention models using multi-system partnerships to address the needs of children who witness domestic violence. Sets forth provisions regarding grant term and amount, eligible entities, application requirements, and technical assistance. Requires an entity that receives a grant to use amounts provided to conduct a program to design or replicate, and implement, domestic violence intervention models that use multi-system partners to respond to the needs of children who witness domestic violence. Specifies elements of such program, including involvement of collaborative partnerships with local entities carrying out domestic violence programs that provide shelter or related assistance, and provision of direct counseling and advocacy for adult victims of domestic violence and their children who witness domestic violence. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the FVPSA to direct the Secretary to appoint one or more employee of the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out such Act, each of whom shall have had prior expertise in the field of family violence prevention and services (current law provides for one such employee with such expertise). Title II: Violence Against Women Prevention In Schools - Directs the Secretary of Education (for purposes of this title, the Secretary) to provide grants to State, local, or tribal school systems to develop, modify, and implement State, local, or tribal school system policies and programs for elementary schools, middle schools, and secondary schools which address domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Sets forth eligibility and application requirements. Lists permissible uses of grant funds, such as the development and implementation of educational programs or prevention strategies for students and personnel in elementary, middle, and secondary schools addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Requires that policies and programs developed and implemented address issues of victim safety and confidentiality that are consistent with applicable State and Federal laws. Directs the Secretary to: (1) disseminate any existing Department of Education policy guidance regarding preventing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; (2) study existing policies and programs as well as new policies and programs funded by this title and report to Congress recommendations for implementation of successful policies for referring students to services when they may be witnessing or experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and (3) publish the availability of grants through announcement in professional publications for State, local, or tribal school systems and through notice in the Federal Register. Sets forth requirements for a State, local, or tribal school system in carrying out an educational program under a grant, including consulting and collaborating with experts on violence against women and girls. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Safe Havens for Children - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to public or private nonprofit nongovernmental entities to establish and operate supervised visitation centers. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Child Abuse Accountability - Child Abuse Accountability Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to permit the assignment, and provide for the tax treatment, of any pension benefit payable to a participant pursuant to a qualified child abuse order. Exempts qualified child abuse orders from preemption by ERISA. Title V: Family Safety - Family Safety Act - Amends the Parental Kidnaping Prevention Act of 1980 (PKPA) to include among its purposes: (1) the promotion of cooperation between State and tribal courts to protect parents and children from domestic violence or sexual assault; (2) the promotion of realistic and protective standards for interstate relocation when parents dispute custody; and (3) the avoidance of jurisdictional conflicts between State courts in matters of child custody and visitation consistent with not endangering or inappropriately punishing parents who are victims of domestic violence, or children who are victims of sexual assault. (Sec. 503) Amends the Federal criminal code to provide as a defense to prosecution of either a criminal custodial interference or parental abduction charge, or criminal contempt of court relating to an underlying child custody or visitation determination, that the defendant was fleeing an incident or pattern of domestic violence or sexual assault of the child, or would otherwise have a defense under the PKPA. Directs the Attorney General to issue guidelines to assist U.S. Attorneys and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine whether to initiate or terminate an action due to the potential availability of such defense. (Sec. 504) Amends the Federal judicial code to: (1) provide that no State shall be required to enforce any order obtained in a proceeding which would violate the constitution of the enforcing State if the proceeding were conducted in the enforcing State; and (2) declare that the intent of full faith and credit doctrine in child custody determinations is to preempt inconsistent State law. Declares that a protection order regarding custody and visitation of a minor child that is consistent with this Act shall be given full faith and credit by the courts of any State where the party who sought the order seeks enforcement. Modifies State court jurisdiction guidelines governing: (1) relocation of the child due to domestic violence or sexual assault; and (2) court authority to decline to exercise jurisdiction on behalf of parents engaged in specified conduct. Title VI: Sense of Congress - Expresses the sense of Congress that, for purposes of determining child custody, it is not in the best interest of children to: (1) force parents to share custody over the objection of one or both parents where there is a history of domestic violence; or (2) make "friendly parent" provisions a factor when there is abuse of one parent against another or a child.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat amounts paid for foods for special dietary use, dietary supplements, and medical foods as medical expenses for purposes of the medical expense deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include as a private activity bond any bond issued to acquire a water utility or facility through governmental exercise of eminent domain. Sets forth exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1999
Waives provisions of rule XIII of the House of Representatives that require a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House with respect to resolutions reported by such Committee on or before the legislative day of November 17, 1999, to provide for the consideration or disposition of either of the following measures, including any amendment, conference report, or any amendment from conference in disagreement thereon: (1) a bill or joint resolution making continuing appropriations for FY 2000; or (2) legislation making general appropriations for such fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1999
Literacy Involves Families Together Act - 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. 2) Extends through FY 2004 the authorization of appropriations for such Even Start programs, and increases the amounts authorized. (Sec. 3) 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 they serve 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. 4) 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. Limits the Federal share of program costs to 35 percent after the eighth year of Even Start program assistance. 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, provided that such State use of funds for a fiscal year does not result in a decrease from the level of activities and services provided to program participants in the preceding year. Requires Even Start programs to use research-based techniques for helping children learn to read, as well as for helping adults where appropriate research is available. Allows an Even Start program, despite specified age limitations, to permit children eight years of age or older to participate if such program collaborates with a part A program and part A funds are used to pay the cost of providing part B Even Start services to such children. 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 such research to be carried out through an entity, including a Federal agency, with expertise in doing longitudinal studies of children's literacy skills development, and that has developed effective interventions to help children with reading difficulties. (Sec. 5) 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 who have parents who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent or who have low levels of literacy. (Sec. 6) 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 all of the following activities: (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. 7) 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.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1999
Comprehensive Budget Process Reform Act of 1999 - Makes this Act effective for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 2000. Title I: Budget With Force of Law - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to revise required contents of the annual budget resolution. Requires such resolution to set forth, for the current fiscal year and for at least each of the four ensuing fiscal years: (1) subtotals of new budget authority and outlays for nondefense and defense discretionary spending, direct spending (excluding interest), and interest; and (2) subtotals of new budget authority and outlays for emergencies, for fiscal years to which the amendments made by title II of this Act apply. (Current law requires the resolution to set forth levels of new budget authority and outlays for each major functional category.) Removes a provision which requires the resolution to exclude the outlays and revenue totals of the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program in surplus and deficit totals required under congressional budget process provisions. Revises matters which may be included in the budget resolution. Authorizes the resolution to change the statutory limit on the public debt if the amendment is submitted by the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives or the Senate Finance Committee to the appropriate Budget Committee. Requires the report accompanying the resolution to include: (1) new budget authority and outlays for each major functional category based on allocations of total levels; (2) a measure, as a percentage of gross domestic product, of total outlays, total Federal revenues, the surplus or deficit, and new outlays for nondefense discretionary, defense, and direct spending; and (3) a justification for not subjecting any program or activity for which an allocation is made to annual discretionary appropriations if the resolution includes any committee allocation (other than the Appropriations Committees) exceeding current law levels. Amends Federal provisions concerning elements of the President's required budget submission to the Congress. Requires such submission to include, for the affected fiscal year and at least each of the nine ensuing fiscal years: (1) totals of new budget authority and outlays; (2) total Federal revenues and the amount by which the aggregate level of revenues should be increased or decreased by reported bills and resolutions; (3) the budget surplus or deficit; (4) subtotals of new budget authority and outlays for nondefense and defense discretionary spending, direct spending, and interest; (5) the public debt; and (6) subtotals of new budget authority and outlays for emergencies for fiscal years to which title II of this Act applies. Amends the CBA to provide a point of order against consideration of any budget resolution or related amendment or conference report that contains matter not specified in content requirements. (Sec. 104) Removes a provision that provides for an adjustment of the allocation of discretionary spending in the House if the budget resolution is not adopted by April 15. Removes an exception which allows general appropriations bills in the House, after May 15, to be considered before the budget resolution has been agreed to. Eliminates a provision which exempts, after April 15, certain reported legislation which does not increase the deficit from a requirement that the budget resolution be adopted before consideration of budget-related legislation. Requires a three-fifths majority in the Senate to waive or suspend provisions requiring the budget resolution to be adopted before budget-related legislation is considered. Provides for expedited procedures upon presidential veto of the budget resolution. Authorizes the House or Senate majority leader to introduce a concurrent or joint budget resolution upon such veto. Discharges the Budget Committees from further consideration of the resolution if such resolution is not reported within five days of referral. Deems any agreed-to concurrent resolution to be the budget resolution for the applicable fiscal years. (Sec. 105) Changes CBA references to the concurrent resolution to the joint resolution. Title II: Reserve Fund for Emergencies - Repeals provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) regarding: (1) discretionary spending limits and emergency appropriations; and (2) direct spending and emergency legislation. (Sec. 206) Amends the CBA to provide for adjustments in allocations for the amount of new budget authority or outlays and outlays flowing from budget authority after reporting of a joint budget resolution that provides budget authority for an emergency. Prohibits such adjustments from exceeding the amount reserved for emergencies established by this Act. Requires the amount set forth in the reserve fund for emergencies for budget authority and outlays for a fiscal year to equal: (1) the average of the enacted levels of budget authority for emergencies in the five fiscal years preceding the current year; and (2) the average of the levels of outlays for emergencies in the five fiscal years preceding the current year flowing from such budget authority, but only in the fiscal year for which such authority first becomes available for obligation. Requires committees, when reporting legislation that provides budget authority for any emergency, to identify all provisions that provide such authority and the resulting outlays in the accompanying report or joint explanatory statement of managers. (Sec. 207) Includes up-to-date tabulations of amounts remaining in the reserve fund for emergencies in summary budget scorekeeping reports provided by the Budget Committees. (Sec. 208) Makes it out of order to consider an amendment to a budget resolution which changes the amount of budget authority and outlays set forth for the emergency reserve fund. Permits limitations on the contents of the budget resolution and the point of order against changing the budget authority and outlays for the emergency reserve fund to be waived or suspended only by a three-fifths majority in the Senate. (Sec. 209) Makes the amendments of this title effective only after the enactment of legislation changing or extending for any fiscal year any of the budgetary procedures set forth in Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act provisions regarding discretionary spending limits and pay-as-you-go requirements. Title III: Enforcement of Budgetary Decisions - Subtitle A: Application of Points of Order to Unreported Legislation - Applies a certain point of order against the consideration of unreported legislation in the House before the adoption of the budget resolution. Subtitle B: Compliance with Budget Resolution - Amends rule XIII of the Rules of the House to require committee reports to include a budget compliance statement prepared by the chairman of the Budget Committee. Subtitle C: Justification for Budget Act Waivers - Amends rule XIII of the Rules of the House to provide a point of order against consideration of any resolution from the Committee on Rules to consider any reported legislation which waives specified provisions of the CBA unless the report contains certain information on the provision proposed for waiver. Subtitle D: CBO Scoring of Conference Reports - Amends the CBA to provide for Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis and scoring of conference reports. Requires such analysis to include, for reported legislation and conference reports, a determination of whether the measure provides direct spending. Title IV: Accountability for Federal Spending - Subtitle A: Limitations on Direct Spending - Provides a point of order in the House and the Senate against consideration of legislation that provides direct spending for a new program unless such spending is limited to a period of ten or fewer fiscal years. Removes provisions regarding points of order and legislation providing new entitlement authority. Amends rule XXI of the Rules of the House to make it out of order to consider any legislation that authorizes the appropriation of new budget authority for a new program unless such authorization is specifically provided for ten or fewer fiscal years. (Sec. 412) Amends rule XVIII of the Rules of the House to provide that, in the Committee of the Whole, an amendment to subject a new program providing direct spending to discretionary appropriations if offered by the chairman of the Budget or Appropriations Committees may be precluded from consideration only by the specific terms of a special House order. Declares that the purpose of the following amendments is to hold the discretionary spending limits and allocations made to the Appropriations Committee harmless for legislation that offsets a new discretionary program with a designated reduction in direct spending. Amends the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act to require, if a provision of direct spending legislation is enacted that decreases direct spending for any fiscal year and is designated as an offset and specifically identifies an authorization of discretionary appropriations for a new program, the reductions in new budget authority and outlays resulting from such provision to be designated as an offset in specified CBO pay-as-you-go estimates. Excludes such offsets from such estimates. Requires, if an Act other than an appropriation Act includes provisions reducing direct spending and identifies those provisions as offsets, the adjustments to be an increase in the discretionary spending limits for budget authority and outlays in each fiscal year equal to such authority and outlay reductions, respectively, achieved by the specified offsets. Prohibits the adjustments for the budget year in which the offsetting provisions take effect from exceeding the amount of discretionary new budget authority provided for the new program in an Act making discretionary appropriations and the resulting outlays. Provides for: (1) adjustments to discretionary spending limits, allocations, and budgetary allocations resulting from programs for which offsets were designated and resulting outlays; and (2) reductions of committee allocations of new budget authority and outlays with respect to reported legislation containing provisions that decrease direct spending and are designated as offsets. Subtitle B: Enhanced Congressional Oversight Responsibilities - Amends rule X of the Rules of the House to require House committees, in developing oversight plans, to provide a specific timetable for review of laws, programs, or agencies within their jurisdiction. Removes a provision of such rule pertaining to procedures for consideration of legislation providing new entitlement authority which exceeds the appropriate allocation of budget authority. Requires the House Appropriations Committee to report at least once each Congress (currently, from time to time) on recommendations for terminating or modifying provisions of law which provide permanent budget authority. (Sec. 422) Amends the CBA to require the joint explanatory statement accompanying a conference report on a joint budget resolution that includes an allocation to a committee (other than the Appropriations Committee) of levels exceeding current law levels to set forth a justification for not subjecting any program to annual discretionary appropriations. Makes conforming amendments to provisions regarding the presidential budget submission and to House rules regarding committee consideration of legislation. (Sec. 424) Requires the Budget Committees, during the 106th Congress, to report results of a study on budget reform proposals. Subtitle C: Strengthened Accountability - Requires certain reports on legislation providing new budget authority or increases or decreases in revenues or tax expenditures to include CBO projections of how such legislation will affect levels of budget authority, outlays, revenue, or tax expenditures for the affected fiscal year and the ensuing nine (currently, four) fiscal years. Provides for ten-year (currently, four) CBO cost estimates of reported legislation as well. Amends rule XIII of the Rules of the House to require committee reports to contain cost estimates for each of 11 fiscal years. (Sec. 432) Repeals rule XXIII (relating to the establishment of the statutory limit on the public debt) of the Rules of the House. Title V: Budgeting for Unfunded Liabilities and Other Long-Term Obligations - Subtitle A: Budgetary Treatment of Federal Insurance Programs - Amends the CBA to establish a new title known as the Federal Insurance Budgeting Act of 1999. Requires the President's budget, beginning with FY 2006, to be based on the risk-assumed cost of Federal insurance programs. Defines "risk-assumed cost" as the net present value of the estimated cash flows to and from the Government resulting from an insurance commitment or modification. Requires the program accounts for such programs to pay: (1) the risk-assumed cost borne by the taxpayer to the financing account; and (2) actual insurance program administrative costs. Requires the financing accounts to: (1) receive premiums and other income; (2) pay all claims for insurance and receive all recoveries; and (3) transfer to the program account at least annually amounts necessary to pay administrative costs. Provides that a negative risk-assumed cost shall be transferred from the financing to the program account and from the program account to the general fund. Requires all payments by or receipts of the financing accounts to be treated in the budget as a means of financing. Permits insurance commitments to be made for FY 2006 and thereafter only to the extent that new budget authority to cover the risk-assumed cost is provided in advance in an appropriations Act. Prohibits modification of an outstanding commitment in a manner that increases the risk-assumed cost unless budget authority for the additional cost has been provided in advance. Makes such requirements inapplicable to insurance programs that constitute entitlements. Provides for re-estimations of risk-assumed cost in each subsequent year. Requires agencies with responsibility for Federal insurance programs to develop models to estimate risk-assumed cost by year through the budget horizon and to submit such models, all relevant data, justifications for critical assumptions, and annual projected risk-assumed costs to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with budget requests each year starting with the request for FY 2002. Directs OMB and CBO, after a comment period for interested persons, to revise the models, data, and major assumptions they would use to estimate the risk-assumed cost of Federal insurance programs. Requires the President's budget submissions and budgets and CBO's reports on the economic and budget outlook for FY 2003 through 2005 to estimate, for display purposes only, the risk-assumed cost of existing or proposed Federal insurance programs. Requires OMB, CBO, and the General Accounting Office to report to the Budget Committees on the advisability and appropriate implementation of this subtitle. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2005 to OMB and each agency responsible for administering a Federal program to carry out this subtitle. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to borrow from, receive from, lend to, or pay the insurance financing accounts appropriate amounts. Establishes a financing account for each Federal insurance program on September 30, 2005. Appropriates to such accounts the amount of the risk-assumed cost of outstanding Federal insurance commitments as of the close of September 30, 2005. Terminates this subtitle on the last day of FY 2007. Subtitle B: Reports on Long-Term Budgetary Trends - Requires the President's budget submission to include: (1) an analysis based upon current law and one based upon the policy assumptions underlying the submission for every fifth year of the period of the 75 fiscal years beginning with the affected fiscal year of the estimated levels of total new budget authority, outlays, estimated revenues, surpluses, and deficits and, for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and all other direct spending, estimated levels of total new budget authority and outlays; and (2) a specification of underlying assumptions and a sensitivity analysis of factors that have a significant effect on the projections made in each analysis and a comparison of the effects of the two analyses on the economy. Establishes a conforming requirement for CBO's annual report to the Budget Committees on fiscal policy. Title VI: Baselines, Byrd Rule, and Lock-Box - Subtitle A: The Baseline - Revises required elements of the President's budget submission to include percentage changes between the current year and the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted for: (1) estimated expenditures and appropriations which are necessary to support the Government, with an exception for detailed budget estimates; (2) laws in effect when the budget is submitted and proposals in the budget to increase revenues as well as for each of the nine ensuing fiscal years; and (3) certain proposed appropriations and expenditures for legislation that would establish or expand Government activities or functions, with an exception for detailed budget estimates. Includes within the submission: (1) a comparison of levels of estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for each function and subfunction in the current fiscal year and the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted, along with the proposed increase or decrease of spending in percentage terms for each function and subfunction; and (2) a table on sources of growth in total direct spending under current law and as proposed in the submission for the budget year and the ensuing nine fiscal years. (Sec. 612) Amends the CBA to require the report accompanying the budget resolution to include a comparison of levels for the current fiscal year with proposed spending and revenue levels for subsequent fiscal years along with the proposed increase or decrease of spending in percentage terms for each function. (Sec. 613) Includes similar requirements in certain CBO reports. (Sec. 614) Requires the OMB and CBO Directors, in making budgetary projections for years for which there are no discretionary spending limits, to assume discretionary spending levels at the levels for the last fiscal year for which such levels were in effect. Subtitle B: The Byrd Rule - Removes the applicability of certain procedures with respect to extraneous matter in reconciliation legislation to conference reports. Subtitle C: Spending Accountability Lock-box - Spending Accountability Lock-box Act of 1999 - Directs the chairmen of the Budget Committees to each maintain a Spending Accountability Lock-box Ledger, to be divided into entries corresponding to the subcommittees of the Appropriations Committees. Requires each entry to consist of three components: (1) the House Lock-box Balance; (2) the Senate Lock-box Balance; and (3) the Joint House-Senate Lock-box Balance. Authorizes Members of the House or the Senate, when offering an amendment to an appropriation bill to reduce new budget authority in any account, to state the portion of such reduction to be: (1) credited to the House or Senate Lock-box Balance; (2) used to offset an increase in new budget authority in any other account; or (3) allowed to remain within the Appropriations Committees' subcommittee suballocation. Credits the amount of the reduction to either Lock-box Balance, as applicable, if the amendment is agreed to and no such statement is made. Requires the Budget Committee chairmen, upon the engrossment of any appropriation bill by the House and upon the engrossment of Senate amendments to that bill, to credit to the applicable entry balance of that House amounts of new budget authority and outlays equal to the net amounts of reductions in new budget authority and in outlays resulting from amendments agreed to by that House to that bill. Specifies the amounts to be credited to the Joint House-Senate Lock-box Balance. Requires a running tally to be available to Members of the House, during the consideration of any appropriations bill by the House, of the amendments adopted reflecting increases and decreases of budget authority in such bill as reported. (Sec. 633) Provides for the downward adjustment, by the amounts credited to the applicable Joint House-Senate Lock-box Balance, of: (1) allocations for the House and Senate upon the engrossment of Senate amendments to any appropriation bill; and (2) suballocations, whenever a such a downward adjustment is made to an allocation. (Sec. 634) Requires the CBO Director to include an up-to-date tabulation of the amounts contained in the Spending Accountability Lock-box Ledger and each entry in periodic reports. (Sec. 635) Requires the downward adjustment of discretionary spending limits set forth in the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act by amounts set forth in the final regular appropriation bill for the fiscal year or joint resolution making continuing appropriations through the end of such fiscal year. Subtitle D: Automatic Continuing Resolution - Amends Federal law to make appropriations, if any regular appropriation bill for a fiscal year does not become law prior to the beginning of such year or a continuing appropriations resolution is not in effect, to continue any program, project, or activity for which funds were provided in the preceding year: (1) in the corresponding regular appropriations Act for that year; or (2) in a continuing appropriations resolution for such year if the regular bill did not become law. Makes such appropriations available: (1) at a rate of operations not to exceed the rate provided for the project in the preceding fiscal year; and (2) beginning with the first day of a lapse in appropriations and ending on the earlier of the date the regular appropriation bill, or continuing resolution, becomes law or the last day of the fiscal year. Excludes from the rate of operations amounts for which adjustments were made under the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act with respect to emergency appropriations or allowances for the International Monetary Fund or international arrearages. Subjects such appropriations to any conditions imposed in the preceding fiscal year or pursuant to current law. Provides that nothing in this section shall be construed to affect Government obligations mandated by other law, including obligations with respect to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Title VII: Budgeting in an Era of Surpluses - Revises provisions regarding sequestrations to require a sequestration to offset an amount equal to any excess of decreases in receipts and increases in direct spending over increases in receipts and decreases in direct spending for legislation enacted prior to October 1, 2002, minus the estimated on-budget surplus. Revises sequestration calculation provisions to require the sequestration amount to be the sum of all OMB estimates for the budget year of direct spending and receipts legislation for legislation enacted prior to FY 2003, the estimated amount of savings in direct spending programs applicable to the budget year resulting from the prior year's sequestration, and all OMB estimates for the current year not reflected in the final sequestration report minus the OMB estimate of the on-budget surplus as set forth in the OMB sequestration update report. Defines the "on-budget surplus" as the amount by which receipts exceed outlays for all Government spending and receipt accounts that are designated as on-budget. Excludes from such term outlays and receipts of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Funds or other off-budget entities. Makes certain provisions regarding a special reconciliation process applicable to the House as well as the Senate. Title VIII: Social Security Surplus Protection Act of 1999 - Social Security Surplus Protection Act of 1999 - Amends the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act to provide for a sequestration to eliminate any on-budget deficit (excluding any surplus in the social security trust funds). Provides that such deficit shall not be subject to adjustment for any purpose.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1999
Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000 to provide that any person who received custodial care provided by and financed under the military health care system's case management program during FY 1999 shall continue to be eligible for such care during the period beginning on July 1, 1999, and ending on September 30, 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the tax treatment of derivative transactions entered into by a corporation with respect to its stock. Provides for nonrecognition of derivative gain, loss, or deduction items (as defined by this Act). Excepts certain forward contracts from such treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1999
Repeals the Internal Revenue Code's nonrefundable income tax credit for employment-related dependent care expenses, replacing it with a corresponding refundable 50 percent credit, reduced (but not below 20 percent) as the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds $30,000 (adjusted for inflation). Includes within the scope of the new credit up to $2,400 ($4,800 in the case of two or more qualifying individuals) of respite care expenses incurred in the care of: (1) a dependent of the taxpayer who is under the age of 13 years old; (2) a dependent who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care; or (3) a spouse who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1999
Extends the law making continuing appropriations for FY 2000 through November 17, 1999. Increases the maximum amount of funds available for projects for decennial census programs under such law. Extends, until November 17, 1999, a certain provision of law that allows fewer than three members of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States to constitute a quorum.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Health Care Fairness Act of 1999 - Title I: Improving Minority Health Through the National Institutes of Health - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) the Center for Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities, to be headed by a Director who shall: (1) chair a trans-NIH task force (task force) that will establish a comprehensive plan and budget estimates for minority health that should be conducted or supported by NIH and recommend an appropriate agenda for such research; (2) establish a minority health research information system to track minority-related research, training, and construction; (3) act as the primary Federal official for monitoring all minority health research conducted or supported by NIH; and (4) identify areas of insufficient minority health research at NIH and its institutes and centers, and provide funds to such entities for the awarding of peer-review grants for innovative projects that address high priority areas of minority health research. Provides a fiscal year limit on grant funds. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an advisory council for providing advice to the Director for carrying out responsibilities under this Act. Requires the Director and task force to: (1) establish a comprehensive plan and budget for conducting and supporting all minority health research activities of NIH agencies; (2) ensure that such plan and budget establish minority health research priorities; (3) ensure that budget amounts are properly expended; and (4) review the plan and budget at least annually. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004. Directs the Secretary to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, designated biomedical research institutions and other public and nonprofit health or educational entities to assist such entities in supporting programs of excellence in biomedical research education for under-represented minority individuals. Outlines entity requirements and grant conditions, including a grant term limit of five years. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004. Directs the Secretary to contract with qualified health professionals who agree to engage in minority health research or research into the nature of health disparities that affect racial, ethnic, and indigenous populations, in return for the Federal repayment of up to $35,000 for each year of such research of the principal and interest of educational loans of such health professionals. Requires the Secretary to ensure the active participation of appropriately qualified minority health professionals, including extensive outreach and recruitment efforts. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004. Requires the Director to report annually to Congress and the Secretary on progress and expenditures made with regard to minority health research. Requires the Secretary to provide administrative and support services to the Director and ensure that such support takes maximum advantage of existing administrative structures at NIH agencies. Requires the use of appropriate scientific expertise and technical assistance. Requires the Secretary to: (1) conduct an evaluation of minority health research programs at NIH institutes; and (2) report to specified congressional committees on evaluation results. Title II: Medical Education - Authorizes the Secretary to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to public and private nonprofit entities to carry out research and demonstration projects which develop curricula to reduce disparity in health care outcomes, including cultural competency in graduate and undergraduate health professions education. Outlines eligibility requirements and grant conditions, including a maximum of 20 grants and a term limit of three years. Directs the Secretary to award up to 20 grants, contracts, or agreements to eligible entities to establish demonstration projects which develop curricula to reduce minority disparity in health care and health care outcomes (health care disparity) as part of continuing medical education. Limits such grants, contracts, or agreements to a three-year term. Requires monitoring of awardees. Requires a report from the Secretary to Congress on the effectiveness of such programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2003. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary to convene a national conference on continuing health professions education as a method for reducing health care disparity, including continuing medical education on cultural competency. Requires the publication of conference findings. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to establish a committee to advise the Secretary on matters related to development, implementation, and evaluation of graduate and continuing education curricula for health care professionals to decrease the health care disparity. Terminates the committee four years after appointment of its first member. (Sec. 204) Requires the Director of the Office of Minority Health within HHS to establish within the Resource Center of such Office, or through the awarding of a contract provide for the establishment of, an information clearinghouse for curricula to reduce racial and ethnic health care disparity. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Minority Health Research by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research - Directs the Administrator of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research to: (1) conduct and support research for improving the quality and outcomes of health care services for minority populations and the causes of such health care disparities; (2) identify, test, and evaluate strategies for eliminating such disparities; and (3) endeavor to increase the number of minority health care researchers and health services research capacity of institutions that train minority health care researchers. Authorizes the use of demonstration projects as part of such research. Requires the Administrator to support the development of measures that assess the experience of minority populations with health care systems. Requires a report from the Secretary to the appropriate congressional committees describing quality measurement for minority populations which will identify critical unmet needs and activities to address those needs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004. Title IV: Data Collection Relating to Race or Ethnicity - Directs the Secretary to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study of HHS data collection systems and practices relating to the collection of data on race or ethnicity, including other Federal data collection systems with which HHS interacts. Requires a report from the Academy to specified congressional committees on study results and recommendations. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Public Awareness - Directs the Secretary to conduct a national media campaign for informing the public about racial and ethnic health care disparities. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act Amendments of 1999 - Makes a provision of the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 which terminates on December 31, 1999, all reporting requirements on a list prepared by the Clerk of the House of Representatives for the first session of the 103d Congress inapplicable to certain reporting requirements under specified Federal provisions and Acts, including: (1) all laws relating to the budget of the U.S. Government; (2) the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985; (3) a decennial census report required of the President; (4) requirements concerning the disposition of excess Federal personal property under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act; and (5) certain fiscal policy and budget authority proposal reports under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Child Support Enforcement Options Act of 1999 - Amends title III (Unemployment Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to permit the State agency charged with administration of State unemployment compensation law to disclose wage information, upon request, to any individual or person enforcing child support obligations (as well as to officers or employees of any State or local child support enforcement agency, as under current law). Authorizes the State agency charged with administration of State unemployment compensation law to impose fees to cover its administrative costs for such disclosure. Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) promote the enforcement of child support obligations through activities conducted by either a private attorney or a public entity in order to ensure the fullest use of available enforcement resources not requiring Federal financial support; and (2) provide private attorneys or public enforcement agencies registered with the Secretary access to enforcement remedies and resources. Includes among such remedies and resources: (1) the collection of overdue child support from Federal and State income tax refunds; (2) passport restrictions; (3) consumer credit bureau reporting; and (4) financial institution data matches. Sets forth implementation procedures. Requires a State to prescribe by statute a procedure for the expeditious payment of child support received on behalf of the entitled individual by a State instrumentality or local government (or its authorized entity) at the address (including a financial institution for electronic transfer or direct deposit of funds) and in care of the individual or entity last legally specified for receipt of such payment, without regard to whether the child support obligation is being enforced under an approved State plan, and without the necessity of obtaining a judicial or administrative order.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to designate additional qualifying United States insular areas as empowerment zones. Limits to $1 million the amount of tax-exempt enterprise zone facility bonds.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Artists' Contribution to American Heritage Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a fair market value (determined at time of contribution) deduction for charitable contributions of literary, musical, artistic, scholarly compositions, or the copyright created by a qualifying donor. Exempts certain non-personal letters and memorandum from such treatment. Limits such increased deduction to the donor's artistic adjusted income (as defined by this Act)..
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999 - Requires: (1) Governors of each State receiving monies from the Conservation and Reinvestment Act Fund (established under this Act) to report on June 15 of each year to the Secretaries of the Interior or of Agriculture, as appropriate, accounting for the money received for the previous fiscal year, including the funded projects and activities; and (2) the Secretary of the Interior to report annually to Congress on monies the Departments of the Interior and of Agriculture have spent out of the Fund, including a summary of such Governors' reports. (Sec. 5) Establishes the Conservation and Reinvestment Act Fund (CRAF). Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit into CRAF certain Outer Continental Shelf revenues, undisbursed amounts under title I of this Act, and certain interest earned on CRAF investments. Transfers all amounts deposited into the CRAF as follows: (1) to the Secretary of the Interior for payment of $1 billion to States for impact assistance and coastal conservation, $125 million for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978, $100 million for the National Historic Preservation Act, and $50 million to develop and implement Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Agreements; (2) to the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture for payment of $200 million for Federal and Indian land restoration; (3) to the Secretary of Agriculture $100 million to carry out the conservation easement program under this Act; (4) to the Land and Water Conservation Fund in the amount of $900 million; and (5) to the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund (FAWRF) established under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act in the amount of $350 million. Provides that any shortfalls less than $2.825 billion in a fiscal year, after FY 2000, proportionally reduce such sums for that fiscal year. (Sec. 6) Limits the amount available for administrative expenses to two percent. Provides that nothing in this Act shall affect the prohibition contained in the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (as amended by this Act) that bars the use of funds transferred to the FAWRF by this Act for administrative or execution of program expenses. (Sec. 7) Declares that receipts and disbursements of funds shall be off-budget. (Sec. 9) Prohibits a State or local government from receiving funds under this Act during any fiscal year: (1) when its expenditures of non-Federal funds for recurrent expenditures for programs for which such funding is provided will be less than its expenditures were for such programs during the preceding fiscal year; or (2) for a program unless the Secretary of the Interior is satisfied that such a grant will be used to supplement and, to the extent practicable, increase the level of State, local, or other non-Federal funds available for such program. Exempts a State or local government from such prohibition if the Secretary determines that a reduction in expenditures is attributable to a non-selective reduction in the expenditures in the programs of all executive branch agencies of such entity. Treats all funds received by a State or local government under this Act as Federal funds for purposes of compliance with provisions in effect under other law requiring that non-Federal funds be used to provide a portion of the funding for any program or project. (Sec. 10) Prohibits: (1) the taking of private property in whole or in part, without just compensation; and (2) Federal agencies, using funds appropriated by this Act, from applying any regulation on any lands until the lands or water or an interest therein is acquired, unless authorized to do so by another Act of Congress. (Sec. 11) Requires the Secretary of the Interior to design a standardized sign and, where appropriate, require its installation at sites receiving funds under this Act. Title I: Impact Assistance and Coastal Conservation - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to allocate such transferred CRAF payments to coastal States for impact assistance and coastal conservation only if such States have: (1) a Secretary-approved Coastal State Conservation and Impact Assistance Plan; (2) agreed to provide specified reports; and (3) certain necessary fiscal control and fund accounting procedures. (Sec. 101) Sets forth the formula for allocating such funds to coastal States and coastal political subdivisions. (Sec. 102) Requires the development and submission of a Coastal State Conservation and Impact Assistance Plan by each coastal State seeking to receive grants under this title (and in the case of a producing State, the Governor) to incorporate the plans of the coastal political subdivisions into the Statewide plan for transmittal to the Secretary of the Interior for approval or disapproval before the disbursement of CRAF funds. Specifies authorized uses of the CRAF funds. Title II: Land and Water Conservation Fund Revitalization - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to provide that all CRAF funds transferred to the Land and Water Conservation Fund shall be covered into the Fund. (Sec. 203) Makes $900 million available each fiscal year after FY 2001 for expenditure without further appropriation, to be allocated as follows: (1) 50 percent for Federal purposes; and (2) 50 percent for State grants. (Sec. 205) Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of the Federal portion of such funds for any land or water interest acquisition except those specified and approved by Congress in the appropriate appropriations Act. Prescribes: (1) a procedure for preparing and transmitting to Congress of a list of proposed Federal acquisitions; and (2) notification to specified officials of affected areas with respect to such proposed acquisitions. (Sec. 206) Revises the formula used to allocate amounts made available for State purposes from the Fund each fiscal year. Makes all federally recognized Indian tribes, or in the case of Alaska, Native Corporations eligible to receive shares of such apportionment in accordance with a competitive grant program established by the Secretary of the Interior. Requires each State, with an exception, to make available as grants to local governments at least 50 percent of its annual apportionment or an equivalent amount made available from other sources. (Sec. 207) Revises the requirement that a State have a comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan as a prerequisite to consideration by the Secretary of the Interior of financial assistance for acquisition or development projects. Allows each State to define its own priorities and criteria for selection of outdoor conservation and recreation acquisition and development projects eligible for grants under this Act if the priorities and criteria defined are consistent with the purposes of this Act, the State provides for public involvement in this process, and publishes an accurate and current State Action Agenda for Community Conservation and Recreation, within five years after enactment of this Act, indicating the needs it has identified and the priorities and criteria it has established. Allows an existing Comprehensive State Plan to remain in effect until the appropriate State adopts a State Action Agenda. (Sec. 209) Requires the Secretary to approve, subject to certain conditions, the conversion of property (other than for public outdoor recreation use) acquired or developed with assistance under the Act only if the State demonstrates no prudent or feasible alternative exists. Exempts from such requirement those properties that no longer meet the criteria within the State Plan or Agenda as an outdoor conservation and recreation facility due to changes in demographics, or that must be abandoned because of environmental contamination which endangers public health and safety. (Sec. 210) Provides that nothing in this title shall affect any State or Federal water law or an interstate compact governing water, alter any allocations of water rights, or create any new water rights. Title III: Wildlife Conservation and Restoration - Amends the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (FAWRA) to require CRAF funds transferred for FAWRA purposes to be deposited in a new subaccount in the FAWRF, to be made available without further appropriation, for apportionment in each fiscal year for State wildlife conservation and restoration programs. (Sec. 304) Sets forth requirements for: (1) apportionment of such subaccount funds; (2) applications for approval of, and development grants for, State wildlife conservation and restoration programs; and (3) coordination. Prohibits such funds from being used for expenses incurred in the administration and execution of programs. Limits to ten percent the use of such funds for wildlife-associated recreation. (Sec. 305) Allows the subaccount funds to be used for a wildlife conservation education program. Exempts education efforts, projects, or programs that promote or encourage opposition to the regulated taking of wildlife. (Sec. 306) Prohibits a State from receiving FAWRA matching funds if it diverts any funds from wildlife conservation purposes. Title IV: Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program Amendments - Amends the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 to make transferred CRAF funds available to the Secretary of the Interior, without further appropriation, to assist local governments in improving their park and recreation systems. Sets forth limits on the use of such funds. (Sec. 404) Provides for the development of new recreation areas and facilities (including the acquisition of lands for such development) under the urban park and recreation recovery program. (Sec. 406) Revises requirements for: (1) Federal assistance grant eligibility; (2) matching grants to local governments for rehabilitation, development, acquisition, and innovation purposes; (3) local park and recreation recovery action programs; (4) State action incentives; and (5) conversion of recreation property for any other purposes other than public recreation purposes. (Sec. 411) Repeals sunset provisions and congressional reporting requirements with respect to: (1) the impact of the urban park and recreation recovery program; and (2) the annual achievements of the innovation grant program. Title V: Historic Preservation Fund - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to provide that amounts transferred from the CRAF each fiscal year shall be deposited into the Historic Preservation Fund to be available without further appropriation to carry out the Act. (Sec. 501) Requires at least one half of the funds obligated or expended each fiscal year under this Act to be used for preservation projects on historic properties (giving priority to the preservation of endangered historic properties). (Sec. 502) Authorizes a State to provide financial assistance to the management entity for any national heritage area or national heritage corridor to support cooperative historic preservation planning and development. Title VI: Federal and Indian Lands Restoration - Makes CRAF funds transferred to the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture available to be used as a dedicated source of funding for a coordinated program on Federal and Indian lands to restore degraded lands, protect resources that are threatened with degradation, and protect public health and safety. Allocates: (1) 60 percent to the Secretary of the Interior for lands within the National Park System, National Wildlife Refuge System, and public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management; (2) 30 percent to the Secretary of Agriculture for lands within the National Forest System; and (3) ten percent to the Secretary of the Interior for competitive grants to qualified Indian tribes (giving priority to projects based upon the protection of significant resources, the severity of damages or threats to resources, and the protection of public health). (Sec. 603) Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) each establish priority lists for the use of funds (giving priority to projects based upon the protection of significant resources, the severity of damages or threats to resources, and the protection of public health or safety); and (2) jointly establish a coordinated program for tracking the progress of activities carried out with amounts made available by this title and determining the extent to which demonstrable results are being achieved. Title VII: Conservation Easements and Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery - Subtitle A: Conservation Easements - Provides that CRAF funds transferred to the Secretary under title V of this Act in a fiscal year shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriations, to carry out this subtitle. (Sec. 704) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish and carry out a Conservation Easement Program for making grants to State or local governments, Indian tribes, and certain private organizations to provide the Federal share of up to 50 percent of the total cost of purchasing permanent conservation easements in lands with prime, unique, or other productive uses. Subtitle B: Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery - Makes CRAF funds transferred from the CRAF for this title in a fiscal year available to the Secretary of the Interior without further appropriations, in that fiscal year, to provide financial assistance to persons for development and implementation of Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Agreements entered into under this title. Requires the Secretary to give priority to the development and implementation of Agreements that: (1) implement actions identified under recovery plans approved by the Secretary; (2) have the greatest potential for contributing to the recovery of an endangered or threatened species; and (3) require use of the assistance on land owned by a small landowner or on a family farm by its owner or operator. (Sec. 713) Prohibits the Secretary from providing financial assistance for any action that is required by a permit or an incidental take statement issued under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 or that is otherwise required under Federal law. (Sec. 714) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into such Agreements and sets forth Agreement requirements, including: (1) requiring activities not otherwise mandated by law that contribute to species recovery; and (2) specifying species recovery goals. Requires the Secretary to review Agreements in compliance, periodically monitor the implementation of each Agreement, and disburse financial assistance to implement the Agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of State (the Secretary), as part of the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, to include information to address the status of trafficking in persons, including: (1) a list of foreign countries that are countries of origin, transit, or destination for a significant number of victims of "severe forms of trafficking" (defined as sex trafficking in which either a commercial sex act or any act or event contributing to such act is effected or induced by force, coercion, fraud, or deception, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained age 18, and the purchase, sale, recruitment, harboring, transportation, transfer, or receipt of a person for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, or slavery, or slavery-like practices which is effected by force, coercion, fraud, or deception); (2) a description of the nature and extent of severe forms of trafficking in persons in each country (descriptive information); (3) an assessment of the efforts by such governments to combat severe forms of trafficking (assessment information); and (4) descriptive information and, where appropriate, assessment information, on a country-by-country basis. (Sec 5) Requires the President to establish an Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, chaired by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to establish within the Department of State an Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, which shall assist the Task Force and be administered by a Director. Directs the Task Force to: (1) coordinate the implementation of this Act; (2) measure and evaluate progress of the United States and other countries in trafficking prevention, protection of and provision of assistance to trafficking victims, and prosecution and enforcement against traffickers; (3) expand interagency procedures to collect and organize data (and respect the confidentiality of trafficking victims); (4) engage in efforts to facilitate cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination; (5) examine the role of the international "sex tourism" industry in the trafficking of women and children and in the sexual exploitation of women and children around the world; and (6) make recommendations on appropriate measures to combat this industry. (Sec. 6) Directs the President: (1) acting through the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) and the heads of other appropriate agencies, to establish and carry out initiatives to enhance economic opportunity for potential victims of trafficking as a method to deter trafficking; (2) acting through the Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and State, and through the Attorney General, to establish and carry out programs to increase public awareness, particularly among potential victims, of the dangers of trafficking and the protections that are available for victims; and (3) to consult with appropriate nongovernmental organizations with respect to the establishment and conduct of initiatives under this section. (Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary and the Administrator to establish and carry out programs and initiatives in foreign countries to assist in the safe integration, reintegration, or resettlement of victims of trafficking and their children and to take appropriate steps to enhance cooperative efforts among foreign countries, including countries of origin of victims, to assist in such integration, reintegration, or resettlement. Directs the Attorney General, the Secretaries of HHS and Labor, and the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation, subject to the availability of appropriations, to expand existing services to provide assistance to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons within the United States, without regard to such victims' immigration status. Makes such victims eligible, without regard to their immigration status, for any benefits that are otherwise available under the Crime Victims Fund. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian tribes, units of local government, and nongovernmental victims' service organizations to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs for trafficking victims, subject to specified conditions. Provides trafficking victims a civil right of action for violations of Federal criminal code (the code) provisions (established by section 12 of this Act) regarding trafficking into slavery-like conditions or sex trafficking of children by force, fraud, or coercion. Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary to promulgate regulations for law enforcement personnel, immigration officials, and State Department officials to provide that: (1) victims of severe forms of trafficking, while in Federal custody, shall be housed in appropriate shelter, receive prompt medical care, food, and other assistance, and be provided protection if a victim's safety is at risk; (2) such victims shall not be jailed, fined, or otherwise penalized due to having been trafficked, and shall have access to legal assistance, information about their rights, and translation services; (3) Federal law enforcement officials shall act to ensure an alien's continued presence in the United States if, after an assessment, it is determined that such alien is a victim of trafficking or a material witness; and (4) appropriate personnel of the Departments of State and Justice shall be trained in identifying such victims and providing for their protection. Amends the code to make funds derived from the sale of assets seized from and forfeited by trafficking available for victims assistance programs under this Act. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow the Attorney General to: (1) grant non-immigrant visas to certain victims of severe forms of trafficking who are in the United States and who would face a significant possibility of retribution or other harm if they were removed from the United States; and (2) adjust to lawful permanent resident status the status of victims who have been in the United States continuously for three years since admission, who have remained of good moral character, who have not unreasonably refused to assist in trafficking investigations or prosecutions, and who would face a significant possibility of retribution or other harm if removed from the United States. (Sec. 8) Establishes minimum standards applicable to countries that have a significant trafficking problem. Urges such countries to prohibit severe forms of trafficking in persons, to punish such acts, and to make serious and sustained efforts to eliminate such trafficking. (Sec. 9) Authorizes the Secretary and the Director of AID to provide assistance to foreign countries for programs and activities designed to meet the minimum international standards for the elimination of trafficking. (Sec. 10) Declares that it is U.S. policy to withhold non-humanitarian foreign assistance to countries which do not meet the minimum standards. Requires the Secretary to report annually to specified congressional committees regarding the status of severe forms of trafficking in persons, including a list of any countries that do not meet applicable minimum standards. Permits interim reports. Requires the President, for FY 2002 and subsequent fiscal years, for each country that fails to meet the standards, to make one of the following determinations: (1) to withhold U.S. non-humanitarian assistance; (2) to not provide funding for participation of employees of such country's governments in educational and cultural exchange programs; (3) to instruct the U.S. executive director of each multilateral development bank and the International Monetary Fund to vote against non-humanitarian assistance to such country; (4) that such country has come into compliance with the minimum standards; or (5) that the provision of non-humanitarian assistance to a country not meeting minimum standards is in the U.S. national interest. (Sec. 11) Authorizes: (1) the Secretary to compile and publish a list of foreign persons who play a significant role in a severe form of trafficking in persons, directly or indirectly in the United States, who materially support such persons, or who are owned or controlled by such persons; and (2) the President to impose sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, including the freezing of assets located in the United States. Directs the President, upon exercising such authority, to report to specified congressional committees: (1) identifying publicly the foreign persons that the President determines are appropriate for sanctions; and (2) detailing publicly the sanctions imposed. Permits non-disclosure of persons on the list for intelligence and law enforcement reasons, and requires that Congress be notified of such exclusions on an annual basis. Excludes significant traffickers, and those who knowingly assist them, from entry into the United States. (Sec. 12) Amends the code to: (1) double the current maximum penalties for peonage, enticement into slavery, and sale into involuntary servitude to 20 years imprisonment; and (2) add the possibility of life imprisonment for such violations resulting in death or involving kidnaping, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill. Prohibits, and sets penalties for: (1) trafficking into involuntary servitude, peonage, or slavery-like conditions; (2) sex trafficking of children by force, fraud, or coercion; and (3) unlawfully possessing or destroying the identification or immigration documents of another in the course of a trafficking violation or in an attempt to impair a trafficking investigation or restrict a victim's movement. Requires that convicted traffickers provide full restitution to their victims. Directs courts to order the forfeiture to the United States of any of the trafficker's property that was used for or derived from violations of these laws. Makes victims of these crimes eligible for the Federal witness protection program. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review, and if appropriate amend, the sentencing guidelines to ensure that they are sufficiently stringent with respect to such trafficking offenses. Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act to add the new trafficking offenses to the list of covered activities. (Sec. 13) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for: (1) the Interagency Task Force; (2) the Secretary of HHS; (3) the Secretary; (4) the Attorney General; (5) the President (for foreign victim assistance and assistance to foreign countries to meet the minimum standards); and (6) the Secretary of Labor.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Internet Tax Elimination Act - Amends the Internet Tax Freedom Act to make permanent the prohibition on State and local taxation of Internet access and electronic commerce. Includes within such prohibition sales or use tax on electronic commerce-purchased domestic or foreign goods. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should seek a global consensus supporting a permanent ban on electronic commerce tariffs.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Waives requirements for the remainder of the first session of the 106th Congress with respect to the printing (on parchment or otherwise) of the enrollment of any bill or joint resolution making general appropriations or continuing appropriations for FY 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Sets forth the rule (closed) for the consideration of H.J. Res. 76 (waiving certain enrollment requirements for the remainder of the first session of the 106th Congress with respect to any bill or joint resolution making general appropriations or continuing appropriations for FY 2000).
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1999
Waives points of order against the consideration of the conference report on H.R. 1555 (authorizing appropriations for intelligence and intelligence-related activities).
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1999
Small Business Tax Reduction Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a variety of tax credits, deductions, and incentives for small businesses, including: (1) the full deduction of health insurance costs for the self-employed; (2) a limited credit for employer-provided child care; (3) increased retirement and pension plan tax benefits; (4) an increase in the expensing limitation; (5) a limited new markets tax credit; (6) a limited credit for information technology training program expenses; (7) educational incentives; (8) extending the work opportunity and welfare-to-work credit; (9) an increased estate tax deduction for family-owned businesses; and (10) permitting the disclosure of taxpayer identity information to a State for the purpose of carrying out a combined Federal and State employment tax reporting program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1999
National Police Athletic League Youth Enrichment Act of 1999 - Directs the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice, for each of FY 2000 through 2004, to award a grant to the Police Athletic League (PAL) for the purposes of establishing PAL chapters to serve public housing projects and other distressed areas and expanding existing chapters to serve additional youths. Requires PAL, in order to be eligible to receive a grant, to submit to the Assistant Attorney General an application which shall include: (1) a long-term strategy to establish 250 additional chapters and a detailed summary of those areas in which new chapters will be established, or in which existing chapters will be expanded to serve additional youths, during the next fiscal year; (2) a plan to ensure that there are a total of not less than 570 chapters in operation before January 1, 2003; (3) a certification that there will be appropriate coordination with those communities where new chapters will be located; and (4) an explanation of the manner in which new chapters will operate without additional, direct Federal financial assistance once assistance under this Act is discontinued. Directs the Assistant Attorney General to review, and take action on, an application within 120 days after the date of submission. (Sec. 6) Directs that amounts made available under a grant awarded under this Act be used by the PAL to provide funding for the establishment of PAL chapters serving public housing projects and other distressed areas, or the expansion of existing PAL chapters. Requires that each new or expanded PAL chapter assisted carry out not less than four programs during non-school hours, of which: (1) not less than two programs shall provide mentoring assistance, academic assistance, recreational and athletic activities, or technology training; and (2) any remaining programs shall provide drug, alcohol, and gang prevention activities; health and nutrition counseling; cultural and social programs; conflict resolution training, anger management, and peer pressure training; job skill preparation activities; or Youth Police Athletic League Conferences or Youth Forums. (Sec. 7) Sets forth reporting requirements. (Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations. Sets aside specified percentages of grant sums for research and evaluation, technical assistance, and management and administration.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1999
National Police Athletic League Youth Enrichment Act of 1999 - Directs the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice, for each of FY 2000 through 2004, to award a grant to the Police Athletic League (PAL) for the purposes of establishing PAL chapters to serve public housing projects and other distressed areas and expanding existing chapters to serve additional youths. Requires PAL, in order to be eligible to receive a grant, to submit to the Assistant Attorney General an application which shall include: (1) a long-term strategy to establish 250 additional chapters and a detailed summary of those areas in which new chapters will be established, or in which existing chapters will be expanded to serve additional youths, during the next fiscal year; (2) a plan to ensure that there are a total of not less than 570 chapters in operation before January 1, 2003; (3) a certification that there will be appropriate coordination with those communities where new chapters will be located; and (4) an explanation of the manner in which new chapters will operate without additional, direct Federal financial assistance once assistance under this Act is discontinued. Directs the Assistant Attorney General to review, and take action on, an application within 120 days after the date of submission. (Sec. 6) Directs that amounts made available under a grant awarded under this Act be used by the PAL to provide funding for the establishment of PAL chapters serving public housing projects and other distressed areas, or the expansion of existing PAL chapters. Requires that each new or expanded PAL chapter assisted carry out not less than four programs during non-school hours, of which: (1) not less than two programs shall provide mentoring assistance, academic assistance, recreational and athletic activities, or technology training; and (2) any remaining programs shall provide drug, alcohol, and gang prevention activities; health and nutrition counseling; cultural and social programs; conflict resolution training, anger management, and peer pressure training; job skill preparation activities; or Youth Police Athletic League Conferences or Youth Forums. (Sec. 7) Sets forth reporting requirements. (Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations. Sets aside specified percentages of grant sums for research and evaluation, technical assistance, and management and administration.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1999
Provides for the consideration of H.R. 3196 (making appropriations for foreign operations export financing, and related programs for FY 2000).
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1999
Small Employer Pension Start-up Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a five-year contribution credit and a three-year start-up cost credit for qualifying small employer pension plans.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1999
Rural Revitalization Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish a rural revitalization tax credit; and (2) increase the election to expense certain depreciable business assets in the case of a qualified active low-income rural community business.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1999
Farmer Tax Relief Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an individual engaged in an eligible farming business a limited deduction for amounts paid into a Farm and Ranch Risk Management Account which is defined as a trust, meeting specified requirements, created for the exclusive benefit of such individual . Sets forth various tax incentives for farmers and small businesses, including: (1) an increased deduction for health insurance of the self-employed; (2) an increased estate and gift tax credit; and (3) the exemption of certain unincorporated farm income from the alternative minimum tax. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, and the Rural Development Act of 1972 to, respectively: (1) give priority to projects that encourage the creation of farmer-owned facilities that process value-added agricultural products; (2) permit the use of funds from the Fund for Rural America to provide technical assistance for any authorized rural development activity; and (3) permit extension programs to provide specified education and technical assistance to small- and medium-sized farmers.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1999
Health Care Access Improvement Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited tax credit to qualified primary health services providers who establish practices in health professional shortage areas.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the averaging of farming income for individuals engaged in the qualified business of servicing or selling agricultural products, including fertilizers, seeds, and equipment. Defines a qualified business as one which: (1) receives at least 75 percent of its gross receipts from a farming business; and (2) employed no more than 100 full- time employees during the preceding taxable year. Terminates such allowance after December 31, 2002.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1999
National Security Sealift Enhancement Act of 1999 - Title I: Capital Construction Fund - Amends Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and Tariff Act of 1930 provisions concerning Merchant Marine capital construction funds to, among other things: (1) permit withdrawals from such funds to reduce the principal amount of a qualified lease of a qualified vessel or container which is part of the complement of an eligible vessel; and (2) permit the deposit of a duty into such a fund in lieu of payment to the Secretary of the Treasury. Title II: Election to Expense United States Flag Vessels - Permits, under the IRC, a taxpayer to elect to treat the cost of any vessel that is a qualified U. S. flag vessel as an expense which is not chargeable to its capital account. Title III: Income Exclusion for Merchant Seamen - Permits the income of certain merchant seaman to be excluded from gross income under IRC provisions permitting such exclusion for U.S. citizens or residents living abroad. Title IV: Exemption from Alternative Minimum Tax - Provides that the tentative minimum tax shall be zero for certain corporations which derive substantially all of their assets from the operation of U.S. flag vessels. Title V: Conventions on United States-Flag Cruise Ships - Eliminates the requirements that a cruise ship be U.S. registered and that all points of call be in the U.S. or its possessions in order to qualify for the deduction allowed for the attendance of a convention on a cruise ship.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1999
National Security Sealift Enhancement Act of 1999 - Title I: Capital Construction Fund - Amends Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and Tariff Act of 1930 provisions concerning Merchant Marine capital construction funds to, among other things: (1) permit withdrawals from such funds to reduce the principal amount of a qualified lease of a qualified vessel or container which is part of the complement of an eligible vessel; and (2) permit the deposit of a duty into such a fund in lieu of payment to the Secretary of the Treasury. Title II: Election to Expense United States Flag Vessels - Permits, under the IRC, a taxpayer to elect to treat the cost of any vessel that is a qualified U. S. flag vessel as an expense which is not chargeable to its capital account. Title III: Income Exclusion for Merchant Seamen - Permits the income of certain merchant seaman to be excluded from gross income under IRC provisions permitting such exclusion for U.S. citizens or residents living abroad. Title IV: Exemption from Alternative Minimum Tax - Provides that the tentative minimum tax shall be zero for certain corporations which derive substantially all of their assets from the operation of U.S. flag vessels. Title V: Conventions on United States-Flag Cruise Ships - Eliminates the requirements that a cruise ship be U.S. registered and that all points of call be in the U.S. or its possessions in order to qualify for the deduction allowed for the attendance of a convention on a cruise ship.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1999
Literacy Involves Families Together Act - 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. 2) Extends through FY 2004 the authorization of appropriations for such Even Start programs, and increases the amounts authorized. (Sec. 3) 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 they serve 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. 4) 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. Limits the Federal share of program costs to 35 percent after the eighth year of Even Start program assistance. 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, provided that such State use of funds for a fiscal year does not result in a decrease from the level of activities and services provided to program participants in the preceding year. Requires Even Start programs to use research-based techniques for helping children learn to read, as well as for helping adults where appropriate research is available. Allows an Even Start program, despite specified age limitations, to permit children eight years of age or older to participate if such program collaborates with a part A program and part A funds are used to pay the cost of providing part B Even Start services to such children. 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 such research to be carried out through an entity, including a Federal agency, with expertise in doing longitudinal studies of children's literacy skills development, and that has developed effective interventions to help children with reading difficulties. (Sec. 5) 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 who have parents who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent or who have low levels of literacy. (Sec. 6) 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 all of the following activities: (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. 7) 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.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1999
Corporate Welfare Reform Commission Act of 1999 - Establishes the independent Corporate Welfare Reform Commission, which shall identify programs and tax laws that provide inequitable Federal programs and payments.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to exceptions to 10-percent additional tax on early distributions from qualified retirement plans, to allow penalty-free distributions from such plans (used within 90 days of distribution) for individuals residing in presidentially declared disaster areas. Makes the current casualty loss limitation of ten percent of adjusted gross income inapplicable to losses incurred in such areas after July 31, 1999. Reduces a taxpayer's gross income by the amount of such disaster loss deduction (thereby making the deduction available to both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers).
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1999
Social Security Solvency Act of 1999 - Title I: Individual Retirement Security Program - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to create a new Individual Retirement Security Program (Program) in which a covered individual and spouse, upon the attainment of a minimum deposit balance of $2,500 in the Interim Investment Fund (IIF) established by this Act in the Treasury and governed by the Board (Board) of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, may designate one or more personal retirement savings accounts to which the Secretary of the Treasury shall make deposits from the IIF with respect to the individual according to prescribed formulae. (Sec. 101) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to conduct a public education effort regarding the Program. Mandates that the Board divide the IIF into three accounts for investment in common stock and corporate bonds according to prescribed guidelines. Requires the Secretary to deposit into the IIF, from amounts otherwise available in the general fund of the Treasury, a total amount equal, in the aggregate, to 100 percent of the redirected social security taxes for such calendar year of each covered individual for such calendar year. (Sec. 102) Requires a reduction in Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance appropriations, according to a certain formula. Directs the Board of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund to publish in the Federal Register each year the reallocation percentage (calculated according to a specified formula) for amounts otherwise appropriated to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund from Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes imposed with regard to wages and self-support income for the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of each calendar year. (Sec. 103) Provides for adjustments to primary OASDI insurance amounts of such covered individuals with designated accounts in the IIF. (Sec. 104) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction in the case of an electing personal retirement savings account participant in an amount equal to 50 percent (up to $2,000) of the amount the individual contributed during the taxable year to a personal retirement savings account maintained for the individual's benefit, regardless of whether or not the taxpayer itemizes other deductions. Excludes from gross income any amount deposited in a personal retirement savings account. Includes distributions in gross income as if they were social security benefits. Allows an excise tax on excess contributions to a personal retirement savings account. Title II: Social Security Surplus Protection - Amends SSA title II to provide for transfers of budget surpluses to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund for FY 2001 through 2009. (Sec. 202) Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to mandate the sequestration of the estimated net surplus in the social security trust funds for the budget year, less the transfers made above to reduce the public debt and to provide for associated reports regarding such sequestration. Title III: Social Security Benefit Reforms - Amends SSA title II to provide for: (1) a gradual increase in retirement age and early retirement age; (2) adjustments to bend points in determining primary insurance amounts; (3) information relating to benefit limitations in social security account statements; (4) coverage of newly hired State and local employees; (5) an increase in widow's and widower's insurance benefits; (6) elimination of the limitation on the amount of outside income (earnings test) which a beneficiary may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits for individuals who have attained retirement age; (7) acceleration of increase in delayed retirement credit; and (8) authorization for reimbursement of Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund for certain costs of disability insurance benefits. (Sec. 309) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to study and report to the Congress on the most appropriate and feasible means of providing for elections under which individuals may opt for exclusion from OASDI coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1999
Extends the law making continuing appropriations for FY 2000 through November 10, 1999. Extends, until November 10, 1999, a certain provision of law that allows fewer than three members of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States to constitute a quorum.