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Bill· HRH.R. 2872 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1999
Pell Grant Act Expansion Act of 1999 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to increase the maximum Pell Grant award for academic year 2003-2004 from $5,800 to $7,000. Makes available to the Secretary of Education specified increasing maximum amounts for FY 2001 through 2003 for the payment of Pell Grants. Authorizes the Secretary, if such amount made available in a fiscal year is not sufficient to pay all Pell Grants in the amounts determined, to make necessary reductions in awards by either a fixed or variable percentage reduction or by a fixed dollar reduction.
Bill· HRH.R. 2868 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1999
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide a guaranteed annual forest receipts payment (of not less than the FY 1998 payment) to each eligible State, territory, or county. Sets forth payment determination provisions.
Bill· HRH.R. 2873 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1999
Education for Life Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand permitted withdrawals from education individual retirement accounts to include: (1) qualified elementary and secondary education expenses (including home schooling expenses); and (2) qualified job training expenses. Increases from: (1) $500 to $2,500 the maximum amount which may annually be contributed to such an account; and (2) 18 to 55 the age until which contributions may be made to a beneficiary's account. Permits a deduction (for both itemizers and nonitemizers) for such contributions.
Bill· HRH.R. 2880 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1999
Conservation Tax Incentives Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income 50 percent of any gain from the sale of land or an interest in land or water (determined without regard to any improvements) to an eligible entity if: (1) such land or interest in land or water was owned by the taxpayer or a member of the taxpayer's family at all times during the three-year period ending on the date of the sale; and (2) it is being acquired by an eligible entity which provides the taxpayer, at the time of acquisition, a written letter of intent which states that the purchaser's intent is that the acquisition will serve one or more of specified conservation purposes. Includes as "land or an interest in land or water" stock in any corporation, if the fair market value of the corporation's land or interests in land or water equals or exceeds 90 percent of the fair market value of all of its assets at all times during the three-year period ending on the date of the sale. Deems a purchaser an eligible entity if it is: (1) any Federal, State, or local governmental agency; or (2) any tax-exempt charitable organization that is organized and at all times operated principally for one or more specified conservation purposes, and meets certain other requirements.
Bill· SS. 1581 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Ute Economic Opportunity Act of 1999 - Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to direct the Secretary of Energy to administer Oil Share Reserve Number 2. Requires the Secretary to enter into: (1) a cooperative management and resource assessment agreement with the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation for the management, administration, and development of the Reserve; and (2) an oil and gas lease with such Tribe to explore, prospect, conserve, develop, use, operate, market, and sell the petroleum of such Reserve. Allows the Secretary to enter into agreements with such Tribe with respect to minerals other than petroleum and other commodities. Provides funding. Waives requirements of presidential and congressional approval and consultation prior to contracting for an oil shale reserve with respect to the agreement, assessment, or administration required under this Act.
Bill· SS. 1582 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Health Care Preservation Act of 1999 - Title I: Teaching Hospitals - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the following: (1) termination of multiyear reduction of indirect graduate medical education payments; and (2) exclusion of nursing and allied health education costs in calculating payments to Medicare+Choice organizations under Medicare part C. Title II: Rural Hospitals - Amends SSA title XVIII to: (1) revise the criteria for designation as a critical access hospital under provisions for the Medicare rural hospital flexibility program; (2) provide authority under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) provisions for payment of benefits for the establishment of a prospective payment system (PPS) for rural health clinic services; (3) require consideration of rural issues in establishing the fee schedule for ambulance services under Medicare part B; and (4) set the applicable percentage at 100 percent with respect to covered outpatient department (OPD) services furnished during a transition year in a rural hospital pursuant to the provisions below in title IV of this Act that provide for a multiyear transition to the PPS for hospital OPD services under Medicare part B. Title III: Safety Net Providers - Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to establish a new PPS for federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics under Medicaid. (Sec. 302) Amends SSA title XVIII to: (1) provide for the removal of payments attributable to disproportionate share (DSH) payments from calculation of adjusted average per capita cost in determining payments to Medicare+Choice organizations; (2) provide additional payments for managed care enrollees under Medicare part D (Miscellaneous) provisions for payment to hospitals for inpatient hospital services; and (3) place a limitation on the reduction of payments to DSH hospitals. Title IV: Other Hospital Provisions - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) delay of the financial limitation on rehabilitation services under Medicare part B provisions for the payment of benefits; and (2) multiyear transition to the PPS for hospital OPD services under Medicare part B. Title V: Skilled Nursing Facilities - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), for purposes of applying the formula under the PPS for determining the amount of payment for the costs of covered skilled nursing facility (SNF) services provided on or after a certain time period, to increase the adjusted Federal per diem rate under such PPS for services provided to any individual in a RUG III category by the applicable payment add-on determined in accordance with an outlined table. (Sec. 502) Excludes ambulance services furnished to an individual in conjunction with a renal dialysis service, and prosthetic and orthotic devices from the PPS for SNFs. (Sec. 503) Directs the Secretary to: (1) cover under extended care services provisions of Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) individuals with a condition classifiable within a specified diagnosis-related group; (2) study and report to Congress on extended care services provided in SNFs for which coverage is provided under the Medicare select program; (3) establish certain extended care services demonstration programs; (4) require the application of any deductibles and coinsurance under Medicare part A upon waiver of the three day hospitalization stay requirement and beginning with the first day of extended care services in a SNF; (5) reduce the amount of any deductible or coinsurance applied based on certain criteria; and (6) reduce amounts otherwise payable under Medicare part A for post-hospital extended care services under specified conditions. Provides that in the case of an individual eligible for Medicaid nursing facility service assistance, Medicaid shall apply as if this title had not been enacted. (Sec. 504) Authorizes the extension of certain Medicare community nursing organization demonstration projects under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. Title VI: Cost-Efficient Home Health Providers - Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA '97), as amended by the Tax and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998, to delay for an additional year the contingency reduction scheduled under BBA '97 with regard to payment for home health services. (Sec. 602) Amends SSA title XVIII to eliminate the 15-minute reporting requirement under the PPS for home health services with regard to the length of time of the service visit. (Sec. 603) Outlines provisions for recoupment by the Secretary of overpayments to home health agencies for certain home health services. (Sec. 604) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for an increase in the per visit cost limit with respect to payment for services furnished by home health agencies. Title VII: Medicare+Choice and Medigap Protections for Seniors and the Disabled - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) a two year (currently, one year) period during which an individual may be enrolled in a Medicare+Choice plan under Medicare part C and then terminate such enrollment for enrollment in a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy; (2) modification of coverage enrollment periods for such plans and policies with regard to individual notification of plan or policy termination; (3) guaranteed issuance of certain Medigap policies in cases of a substantial change in benefits under a Medicare+Choice plan, of certain Medigap policies to disabled Medicare+Choice disenrollees, and of the same Medigap benefit package for certain Medicare+Choice disenrollees; and (4) prohibition of attained-age rating of premiums for Medigap policies. Title VIII: Medicare Preservation through Fraud Prevention - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) site inspections for suppliers of durable medical equipment (DME), community mental health centers, and other provider groups as determined by the Secretary; (2) background checks on applicants for provider numbers; and (3) registration of billing agencies and individuals. (Sec. 803) Amends SSA title XI to provide for exclusion of applicable persons from participation in Federal health care programs if such a person submitted a fraudulent claim for reimbursement under Medicare. Provides for: (1) expanded access to the database maintained through the national health care fraud and abuse data collection program; and (2) a criminal penalty for misuse of database information. (Sec. 804) Amends SSA title XVIII to make Medicare carriers and fiscal intermediaries liable for claims submitted by excluded providers. (Sec. 805) Revises Medicare provisions on community mental health centers. (Sec. 806) Amends SSA title XI to: (1) limit the discharge of debts in bankruptcy proceedings in cases where a health care provider or a supplier engages in fraudulent activity; and (2) impose a criminal penalty for the selling or distribution of two or more Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary identification or provider numbers. (Sec. 808) Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for the treatment of certain SSA crimes as Federal health care offenses. (Sec. 809) Authorizes any criminal investigator of the HHS' Inspector General's (IG's) Office, upon designation, to execute a variety of specified duties, including obtaining and executing any warrant or other process issued under the authority of the United States, while engaged in activities within the lawful jurisdiction of the IG. Provides that the HHS IG may receive and expend funds that represent the equitable share from the forfeiture of property in investigations in which the HHS IG participated, and that are transferred to the HHS IG by the Departments of Justice or the Treasury or the U.S. Postal Service. Requires such equitable sharing funds to be deposited in a separate account and to remain available until expended. (Sec. 810) Outlines requirements for universal product numbers (UPN's, or bar codes) on claims forms for Medicare reimbursement of any UPN covered item. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2859 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 1999 - Entitles domestic partners of Federal employees to benefits available to spouses of Federal employees. Specifies certifications required for benefit eligibility, filing requirements regarding partnership dissolution, and confidentiality requirements. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the tax exemption for employer contributions to accident and health plans to domestic partners under this Act.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 291 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Waives all points of order against the consideration of the conference report on H.R. 2490 (Treasury Department, U.S. Postal Service, Executive Office of the President, and certain independent agencies appropriations).
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 289 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Sets forth the rule (open) for the consideration of H.R. 1655 (Department of Energy authorization).
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 290 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Sets forth the rule (open) for the consideration of H.R. 1551 (Federal Aviation Administration authorization).
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 288 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1999
Waives all points of order against the consideration of the conference report on S. 1059 (Department of Defense and Department of Energy defense activities authorization).
Bill· HRH.R. 2848 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1999
New Markets Initiative Act of 1999 - Title I: New Markets Venture Capital Program - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a New Markets Venture Capital Program, under which the SBA may: (1) enter into a participation agreement with each new market venture capital company (company) for encouraging venture capital investment in smaller enterprises located in urban and rural areas; (2) guarantee debentures issued by each company; and (3) make technical assistance grants to each company. Makes eligible as a participating company in the Program one which: (1) is a newly formed for-profit entity or newly formed for-profit subsidiary of an existing company; and (2) has a management team with experience in community development financing or venture capital financing. Outlines application requirements and SBA selection criteria, requiring the SBA to ensure that companies are chosen so that investments under the Program will be made nationwide. Outlines conditions to be met by each company before final approval, including: (1) a capital investment requirement of at least $5 million from investors who meet SBA-established criteria; and (2) binding commitments with non-SBA sources for Program marketing, management, and technical assistance. Authorizes the SBA to: (1) guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on debentures issued by companies, not to exceed 150 percent of the contributed capital; (2) make grants to each company to provide marketing, management, and technical assistance for the benefit of smaller enterprises financed by such company; (3) issue trust certificates representing ownership of all or a fractional part of SBA-guaranteed debentures under this Act; and (4) charge fees with respect to any guarantee or certificate issued. Authorizes any national bank, member bank of the Federal Reserve System, and any other bank which is insured to the extent permitted under applicable State law to invest in any company or in any entity established to invest solely in such companies. Limits such investment to five percent of such bank's capital and surplus. Requires each company to provide the SBA with any required information. Subjects each company to examinations made at the direction of the Investment Division of the SBA. Authorizes the SBA to obtain injunctions and other relief against companies violating requirements of this Act, which shall include a breach of fiduciary duty in unlawful acts and omissions by company officers, directors, employees, or agents. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2005 to carry out this title. (Sec. 103) Exempts a company from debtor status under Federal bankruptcy law. (Sec. 104) Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to authorize a Federal savings association to invest in company securities, with an investment limit of five percent of the association's capital and surplus. Title II: Small Business Loans - Amends the Small Business Act to: (1) increase to $150,000 (formerly $100,000) the authorized outstanding loan balance for small businesses receiving start-up loans from the SBA; (2) increase from $80,000 to $120,000 the total deferred participation share threshold of an SBA-guaranteed loan for which the loan fee cannot exceed two percent; and (3) reduce the annual loan fee with respect to guaranteed loans of less than $150,000. Title III: America's Private Investment Companies - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to license and regulate America's Private Investment Companies (APICs). Provides related administrative authority over APICs. Authorizes the Secretary to set and collect fees for loan guarantees and commitments made under this title. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2003 for the cost of such loan guarantees and for administrative expenses. (Sec. 304) Outlines APIC selection criteria, requiring such APICs to: (1) be a private, for-profit entity that qualifies as a community development entity (an entity that provides investment capital for low-income communities or persons); (2) have available a minimum of $25 million in equity capital; (3) have the necessary knowledge and experience to make investments for community development in distressed areas; and (4) prepare and submit an investment strategy and a statement of public purpose goals in connection with such investments. Outlines: (1) administrative procedures concerning the selection of qualified APICs by the Secretary; and (2) APIC powers, authorities, and investment and leverage limits. (Sec. 306) Authorizes the Secretary to make commitments to guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on debentures issued by APICs, to issue trust certificates representing ownership of all or a fractional part of such guaranteed debentures, and to guarantee such certificates. Outlines guarantee and certificate limits, terms and conditions. (Sec. 307) Authorizes an APIC to request the guarantee of a debenture that such APIC intends to issue. Provides additional APIC requirements for such requests when: (1) the proceeds of the debenture are to be used as an APIC initial expenditure for a project or activity to fund qualified low-income community investments; and (2) such expenditure would require an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and related laws. Authorizes the Secretary, in the latter case, to guarantee such debenture if the appropriate State or local governmental unit assumes such environmental review responsibilities. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations to carry out such a debenture guarantee only after consultation with the Council on Environmental Quality. Outlines procedures for the approval of a request for the guarantee of a debenture to be used for low-income community investment. (Sec. 308) Directs the Secretary to examine and monitor APIC operations and activities for compliance with sound management practices and satisfaction of program and procedural goals of this Act and related Acts. (Sec. 309) Authorize the Secretary to: (1) provide incentives, such as increased credit subsidies, as an award for high performance of an APIC in carrying out its investment strategy and statement of goals; and (2) provide penalties, including civil penalties and withdrawal of investment funds, for an APIC's failure to conform to such strategies and statements or noncompliance with requirements of this Act. Title IV: New Markets Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a new markets tax credit for taxpayers holding a qualified equitable investment, in the amount of six percent of the amount paid to the qualified community development entity for authorized investments under this Act. Provides a tax credit limit of $1.2 billion for each of calendar years 2000 through 2004, to be allocated among selected qualified community development entities. Provides for tax credit recapture in appropriate cases. Makes such credit part of the general business tax credit.
Law· HRH.R. 2841 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1999
Amends the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to authorize the Virgin Islands legislature to issue notes in anticipation of the collection of taxes or revenues as it may deem necessary and advisable for any public purpose authorized by it (thereby expanding the current list of authorized construction projects). Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the Governor of the Virgin Islands establishing mutually agreed financial accountability and performance standards for fiscal operations of the Government of the Virgin Islands. Requires such agreement to be ratified by both parties of the legislature and forwarded to Congress.
Bill· HRH.R. 2845 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1999
21st Century Teacher Training Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education, through the Office of Educational Technology, to award competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide intensive classroom-related computer training for teachers. Requires grantees to enter into contracts with institutions of higher education or other nonprofit educational providers under which the contractor will establish, operate, and provide the non-Federal share of the cost of such teacher training programs. Requires such teacher training programs to: (1) be conducted during the school year and during the summer months; (2) train teachers who teach grades kindergarten through college; (3) select teachers to become members of a teacher network whose members will conduct workshops for other teachers employed by the LEA; and (4) encourage teachers from all disciplines to participate. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a personal income tax credit of up to $1,000 for technology-related professional development expenses for eligible teachers. Provides such credit for qualified technology expenses which: (1) would be allowed as a deduction for being related to teaching activities (but prohibits a double benefit of both deduction and credit for the same expense); and (2) are for training in the use of technology in the classroom. Includes among such expenses the cost of any computer or technology equipment that is used at least 50 percent for teaching-related activities. Expands the deduction for computer donations to include donations to public libraries, as well as to schools. Establishes a business-related tax credit for donations of computers to schools and public libraries.
Bill· SS. 1574 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1999
Fairness in Medicare Home Health Access Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the reasonable cost of services furnished by home health agencies to: (1) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, under specified conditions, to pay the provider of such services additional, limited payments notwithstanding per beneficiary limits for outliers; and (2) increase the per visit cost limit. Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to eliminate the 15 percent home health services payment reduction in interim payments which would occur if the Secretary did not establish a prospective payment system (PPS) for such services as provided for in such Act. Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to the PPS for home health services to reduce the current 15 percent reduction in cost and per beneficiary limits to ten percent, establishing a special rule beginning in FY 2004 that restores the reduction back to its original 15 percent. Increases the per visit cost limit to 112 percent of the national median. Provides that in the case of home health services furnished to an individual who (at the time of furnishing) is under a home health agency plan of care, payment for an item of durable medical equipment shall be made to the agency separately from payment for other items and services furnished. Eliminates timekeeping requirements under the PPS for home health agencies. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary should establish a nationally uniform process that ensures that fiscal intermediaries and carriers under Medicare have the training and ability necessary to provide timely, accurate, and consistent coverage and payment information to each home health agency and to each individual eligible to have payment made under Medicare.
Bill· HRH.R. 2823 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1999
Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to direct the Secretary of Energy to administer Oil Share Reserve Number 2. Requires the Secretary to enter into: (1) a cooperative management and resource assessment agreement with the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation for the management, administration, and development of the Reserve; and (2) an oil and gas lease with such Tribe to explore, prospect, conserve, develop, use, operate, market, and sell the petroleum of such Reserve. Allows the Secretary to enter into agreements with such Tribe with respect to minerals other than petroleum and other commodities. Provides funding. Waives requirements of presidential and congressional approval and consultation prior to contracting for an oil shale reserve with respect to the agreement, assessment, or administration required under this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 2825 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1999
Federal Lands Improvement Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to dispose of all public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that, as of the enactment date of this Act, have been identified for disposal under the Federal land use planning process under the Federal Land Policy and Management of 1976. Requires the disposal of at least one- third of such lands before the end of the next three years, two-thirds before the end of the next five years, and all such lands within seven years. Prohibits the disposal of: (1) lands located in wilderness areas or wilderness study areas; and (2) parcels of land if the cost of disposal exceeds the amount that would be received for such parcels. Requires the disposal of such public lands in parcels of 160 acres or less. Requires one-third of the proceeds to be deposited in a separate account established by this Act, one-third to be paid to the county in which the lands are located, and one-third to be deposited in the Treasury's general fund and utilized for reducing the public debt. Requires the separate account to be available to the Secretary for paying, subject to specified limitations: (1) costs incurred by the BLM in arranging the disposals; (2) the cost of acquisition from a willing seller of environmentally sensitive land in States in which such public lands are located ; (3) the cost of carrying out any necessary revision or amendment of a current BLM land use plan that relates to such public lands; (4) the cost of projects or programs to restore or protect wetlands, riparian areas, or cultural, historic, prehistoric, or paleontological resources on public lands, including petroglyphs; and (5) the cost of projects, programs, or land acquisition to stabilize or restore water quality for water located or used on public lands. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress each fiscal year on the use of such proceeds.
Bill· HRH.R. 2826 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow penalty-free distributions, on account of the death or disability of the participant's spouse, from qualified retirement plans, including: (1) employee annuities purchased by charitable organizations or public schools; (2) custodial accounts for regulated investment company stock; and (3) Roth individual retirement accounts (Roth IRAs).
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 282 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1999
Waives points of order against the consideration of the conference report on H.R. 2587 (District of Columbia government appropriations).
Bill· SS. 1502 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Campaign Spending Control Act of 1999 - Title I: Senate Election Spending Limits - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to set forth Senate election campaign spending limits. Title II: Coordinated and Independent Expenditures - Amends FECA to revise the definition of "contribution." (Sec. 202) Treats certain coordinated contributions and expenditures as having been made by a single person. (Sec. 203) Revises the limit on coordinated expenditures made by political party committees to include under the limit independent expenditures advocating the election or defeat of a candidate. Makes applicable the following rules when the limit (as amended) is not in effect: (1) prohibits coordinated expenditures made by political party committees that exceed the current limit; (2) prohibits a political party committee from making both a coordinated expenditure in excess of $5,000 and an independent expenditure to the same candidate during an election cycle; (3) requires a political party committee, before making a coordinated expenditure in excess of $5,000 in connection with a general election campaign of a candidate, to certify to the Federal Election Commission (Commission) that the committee will not make independent expenditures (as defined in this Act) to such candidate; (4) prohibits a party committee that certifies that it will make coordinated expenditures to any candidate from, in the same election cycle, making a transfer of funds to, or receiving a transfer of funds from, any other party committee unless that committee has certified that it will only make coordinated expenditures to candidates; and (5) limits individual and multicandidate political committee contributions made to a political committee that does not certify that it will not make independent expenditures in connection with the general election campaign of any candidate, in the aggregate, exceeding $5,000. (Sec. 204) Limits certain independent expenditures advocating the election or defeat of a candidate during an election cycle. Increases, when the limit is not in effect, the applicable election expenditure limit for a candidate in response to certain independent expenditures made: (1) on behalf of an opponent of the candidate; or (2) in opposition to the candidate. (Sec. 205) Redefines "independent expenditure." (Sec. 206) Prohibits a Federal candidate or officeholder from establishing, maintaining, or controlling any political committee other than the candidate's principal campaign committee, with exceptions. Title III: Soft Money - Prohibits a national committee of a political party (including a national congressional campaign committee of a political party), an entity that is established, maintained, or controlled by a national committee or its agent, an entity acting on behalf of a national committee, and an officer or agent acting on behalf of any such committee or entity (but not including a State, district, or local committee of a political party) from soliciting or receiving contributions, donations or transfers of funds, or spending funds not subject to FECA (soft money). (Sec. 301) Requires a State, district, or local committee of a political party (including an entity established, maintained, or controlled by a State, district, or local committee and an officer or agent acting on behalf of any such committee or entity) to make Federal election year expenditures (with exceptions) from funds subject to FECA. Requires any amount spent by a national, State, district, or local committee, by an entity that is established, maintained, or controlled by a State, district, or local committee, or by an agent or officer of any such committee or entity to raise funds that are used to pay the cost of a specified activity to be made from funds subject to FECA. Prohibits a national, State, district, or local committee (including a national congressional campaign committee, an entity that is established, maintained, or controlled by any such national, State, district, or local committee or its agent, an agent acting on behalf of any such party committee, and an officer or agent acting on behalf of any such party committee or entity) from soliciting or donating funds to a tax-exempt organization. Prohibits an incumbent or candidate for Federal office or agent of a candidate or incumbent from soliciting, receiving, transferring, or spending funds not subject to FECA, or from soliciting, receiving, or transferring funds for a non-Federal election in excess of certain limits or from prohibited sources (with exceptions for State or local candidates in compliance with State law). (Sec. 302) Establishes aggregate and separate individual contribution limits to State Party Grassroots Funds and to all committees established by a State committee of a political party. Sets forth State Party Grassroots Fund and reporting provisions. Eliminates the exception for building funds relating to the definition of the term "contribution." Authorizes the filing of State reports by State committees. Requires the reporting of all disbursements made by authorized committees. Revises requirements for the reporting of the names and addresses of persons to whom certain expenditures are made to meet candidate or committee operating expenses, to require the reporting of the election to which the operating expenditure relates. (Sec. 304) Sets forth provisions for the reporting of soft money aggregate disbursements totaling in excess of $10,000, with respect to an election cycle, that are made by persons other than committees of political parties for certain election activities. Title IV: Enforcement - Authorizes the Commission to: (1) prescribe regulations for computer and fax reporting; (2) conduct random post election audits to ensure voluntary FECA compliance; (3) seek injunctions; and (4) expedite Commission procedures for certain complaints. (Sec. 402) Extends the period during which campaign audits of an authorized committee of a candidate may be begun. (Sec. 404) Increases the penalty for a knowing and willful violations. (Sec. 405) Prohibits contributions made by, or solicited, accepted, or received from, individuals not qualified to register to vote in Federal elections. (Sec. 406) Extends the prohibition on the use of the candidate's name by a political committee (except in the case of a national, State, or local party committee) to the use of the name of any candidate in any activity on behalf of such committee in such a context as to suggest that the committee is an authorized committee of the candidate or that the use of the candidate's name has been authorized by the candidate. Title V: Severability; Regulations; Effective Date - Sets forth provisions for: (1) severability; (2) regulations; and (3) the effective date.
Bill· SS. 1559 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Title I: Motor Carrier Safety - Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1999 - Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation, in prescribing regulations on minimum standards for testing and ensuring the fitness of an individual operating a commercial motor vehicle, to require that such individual has received training, including in-vehicle training, in the safe operation of a motor vehicle of the type the individual operates or will operate. (Sec. 102) Requires a State, in order to avoid withholding of its apportionment of Federal-aid highway funds, to comply with certain commercial driver's license requirements, including to: (1) record on a driver's commercial driver's license record each conviction for a moving traffic violation, including one committed in a non-commercial motor vehicle; (2) not issue a commercial driver's license to an individual within three years after the date the individual was convicted of any drug- or alcohol-related traffic violation, including one committed in a non-commercial motor vehicle; and (3) not issue a special license or permit to a commercial driver's license holder that permits the driver to drive a commercial motor vehicle during a period in which the individual is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle, or the individual's driver's license is revoked, suspended, or canceled. Requires the Secretary, if a State is not in substantial compliance with specified Federal commercial driver's license requirements, to transfer up to five percent of the State's apportionment of Federal-aid highway funds to amounts made available to such State for enforcement of Federal and State programs for improving motor carrier safety, including commercial motor vehicle safety and hazardous materials transportation safety. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary, in prescribing regulations for determining the safety fitness of an owner or operator of a commercial motor vehicle, to require that no owners or operators beginning commercial motor vehicle operations after enactment of this Act will be determined fit unless they have attended a program that educates them on at least safety, size and weight, and financial responsibility regulations administered by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to assess a fee to defray the cost of the program. (Sec. 104) Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to prohibit the redistribution to a State of its unused apportionment of funds for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs during a fiscal year, if the State that fails to reduce the number of fatalities in a year resulting from commercial motor vehicle crashes by at least five percent. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary, after notice and opportunity for comment, to issue regulations requiring the installation and use of on-board recorders or other technologies on commercial motor vehicles to manage driver hours of service. (Sec. 106) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on methods used to compensate drivers of commercial motor vehicles, and how they may affect safety and compliance with State and Federal motor carrier safety requirements (including hours of service regulations), including ways safety could be improved through changes in driver compensation. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 107) Requires the Secretary to expend a specified amount from certain Federal-aid highway funds each fiscal year to carry out public information and education programs to prevent crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. (Sec. 108) Requires the Secretary to amend a specified regulation to require the periodic updating of the Motor Carrier Identification Report, Form MCS-150, by each motor carrier conducting operations in interstate or foreign commerce. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 109) Amends Federal transportation law to subject to civil and criminal penalties, to the same extent as the motor carrier or driver committing such violation, any person who knowingly aids, abets, commands, or induces a violation of Federal regulations pertaining to qualifications, hours of service, safety, and equipment standards with respect to motor carriers (including migrant worker motor carriers). (Sec. 110) Redefines "imminent hazard" for which a commercial motor vehicle may be ordered out of service to mean any violation, or series of violations, of specified Federal commercial motor carrier safety regulations that could result in a highway crash if not discontinued within 24 hours. (Sec.111) Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program with one or more States to develop innovative methods (including use of photography and other imaging technologies) of improving compliance with traffic laws, including those pertaining to highway-rail grade crossings. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 112) Directs the Secretary to conduct research on heavy vehicle safety, including measures to improve braking and stability, measures to improve vehicle compatibility in crashes between heavier and lighter vehicles, and measures to improve the performance of motor vehicle drivers. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 113) Directs the Secretary to carry out a program, in cooperation with the States, to improve the collection and analysis of data on crashes involving commercial vehicles. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 114) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) grants to States for the development and enforcement of Federal and State regulations on commercial motor vehicle safety; and (2) the establishment and operation of motor carrier, commercial motor vehicle, and driver information systems and data analysis programs to support safety regulatory and enforcement activities. Title II: Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety - Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 1999 - Amends Federal rail transportation law to promote the establishment of emergency notification systems utilizing toll-free telephone numbers that the public can use to convey to railroad carriers (either directly or through public safety personnel) information about malfunctions of automated warning devices or other safety problems at highway-rail grade crossings. (Sec. 203) Amends railroad trespassing and vandalism provisions to require the Secretary to evaluate and review current local, State, and Federal laws regarding, among other things, violations of highway-rail grade crossing signals, and develop model prevention strategies and enforcement laws to be used for the consideration of State and local legislatures and governmental entities. Requires the Secretary to develop and make available to State and local governments model State legislation providing for civil or criminal penalties, or both, for violations of highway-rail grade crossing signals. (Sec. 204) Directs each railroad carrier to report to the Secretary, with periodic updates, certain information concerning each highway-rail crossing through which such carrier operates.
Bill· SS. 1519 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income (under the qualified scholarship provisions) certain amounts provided by an employer to the child of an employee.
Bill· SS. 1557 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations covering the practice of enrolled agents before the Internal Revenue Service.
Bill· SS. 1562 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Small Business Franchise Property Recovery Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish certain franchise operations as 15-year property under the accelerated cost recovery system.
Bill· SS. 1558 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Community Open Space Bonds Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide a tax credit to holders of Community Open Space bonds (as defined), the proceeds of which are used for qualified environmental infrastructure projects (as defined); and (2) establish in the Executive Branch and authorize appropriations for, a Community Open Space Bonds Board.
Bill· SS. 1544 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to undertake capital projects for the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. Terminates the authority of the Secretary to implement such projects for such Programs in in FY 2005 and 2007, respectively. Limits to $100 million the total costs of such projects. Authorizes: (1) the Secretary to accept contributed funds from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, or political subdivisions or organizations thereof, pursuant to agreements that provide for the contributions to be used for capital project costs;(2) the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Western Area Power Administration, to utilize for such projects power revenues collected pursuant to the Colorado River Storage Project Act; and (3) the Secretary to utilize such power revenues for the annual base funding contributions to the programs by the Bureau for a specified period. Requires the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the utilization of such power revenues. Authorizes the retention of unexpended appropriated funds for projects under this Act for use in future fiscal years. States that nothing in this Act shall restrict the Secretary from funding activities or capital projects in accordance with the Federal Government's Indian trust responsibility.
Bill· SS. 1525 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act - Establishes in the Treasury the Spokane Tribe of Indians Settlement Fund Account. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to deposit into the Account a sum equal to 39.4 percent of the lump sum paid to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, pursuant to the Confederated Tribes Act, adjusted for inflation, as payment and satisfaction of the Spokane Tribe's claim for use of its lands for generation of hydropower from 1940 through November 2, 1994, the enactment date of such Act. Requires the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration, on September 30 of the next six fiscal years, to pay into the Fund deposits equal to 20 percent of 39.4 of the sum authorized to be paid to the Confederated Tribes through the end of the fiscal year during which this Act is enacted, adjusted for inflation, to maintain the purchasing power the Spokane Tribe would have had if annual payments had been made to it on the date annual payments commenced and were subsequently made to the Confederated Tribes under such Act. Requires, on September 1 of each fiscal year, annual payments to be made by the Power Administration directly to the Spokane Tribe in an amount that is equal to 39.4 percent of the annual payment authorized to be paid to the Confederated Tribes under such Act. Requires the Secretary to transfer settlement funds to the Spokane Business Council within 60 days after receiving written notice of adoption of a resolution by the Council requesting the transfer. Requires that: (1) 25 percent of such funds be reserved by the Council and used for general discretionary purposes of general benefit to all members of the Spokane Tribe; and (2) 75 percent of such funds be used for the resource development program, credit program, scholarship program, and reserve, investment, and economic development programs. Declares that the approval of the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior for any payment, distribution, or use of the funds transferred or paid to the Spokane Tribe shall not be required and such Secretaries shall have no trust responsibility for the investment, supervision, administration, or expenditure of such funds. Requires that: (1) the Administrator deduct from the interest payable to the Secretary from net proceeds (as defined in the Federal Columbia River Transmission system Act) each year a specified percentage of the payment made to the Tribe for the prior fiscal year; and (2) each deduction be credited to the interest payments otherwise payable by the Administrator to the Secretary during the fiscal year and allocated pro rata to all interest payments on debt associated with the generation function of the Federal Columbia River Power System that are due during that fiscal year. Provides that payments made under this Act shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Spokane Tribe's claim to a fair share of the annual hydropower revenues generated by the Grand Coulee Dam project from 1940 through the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year during which this Act is enacted and represents the Tribe's proportional entitlement of hydropower revenues based on the lump sum payment for damages from 1940 through 1994 and the annual payments by the Power Administration to the Confederated Tribes. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1540 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt specified commercially developable sites from certain empowerment zone or enterprise community poverty population requirements (thus making such sites eligible for enterprise zone or enterprise community inclusion).
Bill· SS. 1524 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Motor Carrier Safety Specialist Certification Act - Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a training and certification program, to be administered by a tax exempt organization that specializes in developing and administering such procedures, for Federal, State, and local government and nongovernmental motor carrier safety specialists. Requires the Secretary, as part of maintaining a clearinghouse on motor carrier, commercial motor vehicle, and driver information, to accept and include information obtained from certified nongovernmental motor carrier safety specialists. Requires such information be made available to the public. Directs the Secretary to work with the Motor Carrier Safety Specialist Certification Board to establish and carry out a public education campaign to promote the use of safety performance information in the decision-making process for hiring motor carriers. Defines "motor carrier safety specialist" to mean an individual responsible for conducting regulatory compliance reviews and safety inspections of commercial motor carriers.
Bill· SS. 1526 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited credit to a taxpayer making a qualified low-income community investment (as defined).
Bill· SS. 1512 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Title I: Educational Opportunities - Establishes a demonstration program of grants to States for school choice vouchers for children from low-income families who are enrolled in low-performing public schools. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for such program, and for a national evaluation of such program by the Comptroller General. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of Education to make allotment grants to States for educational choice programs that provide scholarships. (Sec. 104) Bases State allotments on relative numbers of children in elementary and secondary public (including charter) schools. (Sec. 105) Makes a school eligible for assistance under this title if the State identifies it as among public elementary and secondary schools at or below the 25th percentile for academic performance of schools in that State, based on the State's criteria for such performance. (Sec. 106) Requires each grantee State to provide scholarships to the parents of eligible children. Sets the value of each scholarship at $2,000 per year. Provides that such scholarships shall not be considered income of the parents for Federal income tax purposes or for determining eligibility for any other Federal program. Requires that a child eligible for such a scholarship be: (1) enrolled in an eligible public elementary or secondary school; and (2) a member a family with income not more than 200 percent of the poverty line. Requires the grantee State to provide scholarships for eligible children through a lottery system administered for all eligible schools in the State by the State educational agency. Provides for continuing awards to scholarship recipients for each year of the program, except under specified individual circumstances. (Sec. 107) Allows funds under this title to be used: (1) for the payment of tuition and fees at the school selected by the parents of the child for whom the scholarship was provided, and for the reasonable costs of the child's transportation to the school, if the school is not the school to which the child would be assigned in the absence of a program under this title; (2) if the parents so choose, to obtain supplementary academic services for the child, at a cost of not more than $500, from any provider chosen by the parents, that the State determines is capable of providing such services and has an appropriate refund policy; and (3) for educational programs that help eligible children achieve high levels of academic excellence in the school attended by the eligible children for whom a scholarship was provided, if they attend a public school. (Sec. 108) Requires a grantee State to allow lawfully operating public and private elementary and secondary schools, including religious schools, serving the area involved to participate in the program. (Sec. 109) Provides that this title shall not affect funding under other State or local programs, or under other Federal programs, including specified programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Declares that scholarships under this title are to aid families, not institutions, and that a parent's expenditure of such scholarship funds at a school or for supplementary academic services shall not constitute Federal financial aid or assistance to that school or to the provider of supplementary academic services. Requires, as a condition of participating and receiving scholarship funds on under this title, that a school or provider of supplementary academic services comply with specified antidiscrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (Sec.110) Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a national evaluation of such program, including certain assessments and comparisons. (Sec. 111) Prohibits any provision or requirement of this title from being enforced through a private cause of action. Title II: Revenue Provisions - Offsets title I program costs by eliminating specified tax provisions relating to the ethanol, gas and oil, and sugar industries. (Sec. 201) Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to phase out certain tax deductions with respect to oil and gas expensing of drilling and development costs. Eliminates tax credits for ethanol producers. (Sec. 202) Repeals specified tax incentives for alcohol fuels, including ones relating to: (1) alcohol used as fuel; (2) qualified methanol and ethanol; (3) fuels containing alcohol; (4) taxable fuels mixed with alcohol; (5) reduced tax rate for aviation fuel in alcohol mixture, etc.; and (6) gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, and aviation fuel used to produce certain alcohol fuels. (Sec. 203) Eliminates the tax credit for enhanced oil recovery. (Sec. 204) Terminates unlimited passive loss tax deductions for oil and gas properties. (Sec. 205) Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to eliminate authority to use sugar as collateral for loans. Eliminates, with respect to the 2003 and subsequent crops of sugarcane and sugar beets, the sugar price support and production adjustment programs. Makes a processor of any such crop ineligible for a loan with respect to such crop under any Federal law. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from making any form of price support available for any of such crops by using Commodity Credit Corporation funds or other available funds. Terminates provisions relating to sugar marketing quotas and allotments under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, the Agricultural Act of 1949, the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, and other specified Federal law.
Bill· SS. 1518 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Caregivers Assistance and Resources Enhancement (CARE) Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise and rename section 24 (Child Tax Credit). Renames such section the Family Care Credit. Includes, in addition to the $500 per child credit, a $1,000 per member-of-a-household credit for household members requiring specified long-term care.
Resolution· SCONRESS.Con.Res. 52 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Urges the Administration to protect U.S. sovereignty by aggressively opposing the global "bit tax" on all data sent through the Internet, as proposed in the Human Development Report 1999 published by the United Nations Development Programme.
Bill· HRH.R. 2797 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Home Page Tax Repeal Act - Repeals a provision of the 1998 Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act which ratified that a portion of the fee charged for registration or renewal of an Internet second-level domain name be used for the preservation and enhancement of the Internet intellectual structure under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. States that such provision is not repealed to the extent of its application to amounts, collected pursuant to the authority of such provision, that have been obligated for expenditure before the date of the enactment of this Act. Treats each person who registered (or renewed the registration of) an Internet second-level domain name with Network Solutions, Inc. after September 13, 1995, and before April 1, 1998, and who paid a fee to Network Solutions, Inc. for such registration (or renewal) which has not been refunded, as having made a payment against the tax imposed by chapter 1 (Normal Taxes and Surtaxes) of the Internal Revenue Code for such person's first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1998, equal to 30 percent of the amount of such fee.
Bill· HRH.R. 2755 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorization of Human Capital Investment Contracts Title II: Tax Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts Title III: Securities Law Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts Title IV: Bankruptcy Law Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts Title V: Federal Student Assistance Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts Student Success Act of 1999 - Title I: Authorization of Human Capital Investment Contracts - Authorizes individuals to enter into human capital investment contracts (HCICs) for the purposes of obtaining funds for the payment of tuition and other related expenses of postsecondary education by agreeing to pay to the holder of the contract a specified percentage of the individual's future earned income. (Sec. 101) Makes any HCIC that complies with required terms and conditions under this Act a valid, binding, and enforceable contract notwithstanding any State law limiting or otherwise regulating assignments of future wages or other income. (Sec. 102) Sets forth terms and conditions of HCICs, including requirements relating to: (1) specification of the percentages of future earned income which the student will be obligated to pay and of the maximum amount of earned income for each year to which such specified percentage shall apply; (2) a schedule of reductions in such percentage if the student's earned income from full-time employment is less than amounts specified in the contract (and an allowable schedule of limited increases in such percentage if the student obtains a deferral); (3) prohibitions against a student's entering into HCICs where payments exceed 20 percent of future earned income; (4) specification of the maximum period of time during which the student will be obligated to pay a portion of the student's future earned income from full-time employment, up to 180 months, with extensions by the number of deferred months; (5) no obligation to commence payments while carrying at least a minimum academic workload or while eligible for deferrals; (6) deferrals during periods of unemployment (as well as allowing certain payments to extinguish obligation after a maximum period of unemployment); (7) deferrals for up to 48 months of graduate education; (8) accelerated repayment; and (9) required disclosures. Title II: Tax Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that: (1) an HCIC shall not be treated as a debt instrument for specified purposes; and (2) amounts received by the student for entering into an HCIC shall be includible in such student's gross income for certain tax purposes. (Sec. 201) Sets forth conditions for allowable depreciation deductions with respect to HCICs. Allows a tax deduction, in determining adjusted gross income, for an individual's obligated payments under an HCIC. Deems income derived from, or gain from the sale or other disposition of, an HCIC as qualifying income which would exempt a publicly traded partnership from treatment as a corporation. Title III: Securities Law Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts - Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to provide for pooling of HCICs into investment companies. Title IV: Bankruptcy Law Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts - Amends Federal bankruptcy law to except from discharge in bankruptcy any payment owed by the debtor as a result of a payment made to or for the benefit of the debtor under an HCIC, unless: (1) such payment owed by the debtor first became due more than seven years (exclusive of any applicable suspension of the debtor's payment period) before the date of the filing of the petition for bankruptcy; or (2) excepting such debt from discharge will impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor's dependents. Title V: Federal Student Assistance Treatment of Human Capital Investment Contracts - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to provide that no portion of any amounts received by a student for entering into an HCIC shall be included as income or assets in the computation of expected family contribution for any program funded in whole or in part under HEA.
Bill· HRH.R. 2782 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Seniors Prescription Insurance Coverage Equity (SPICE) Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (SPICE Drug Benefit Program) (SPICE program) (redesigning the current Medicare part D (Miscellaneous Provisions) as Medicare part E (Miscellaneous Provisions) to establish a voluntary SPICE program, administered by the SPICE Board which also operates a Seniors Prescription Insurance Coverage Equity Office established within the Department of Health and Human Services, under which all individuals entitled to Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) benefits and enrolled in Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) shall be provided access to coverage of outpatient prescription drugs that meet specified requirements. Grants such access via either enrollment in a Medicare+Choice (Medicare part C) plan, enrollment in a SPICE Medicare supplemental policy, or enrollment in a group health plan, all as defined by this Act. Provides for described financial assistance for covered beneficiaries for them to obtain enrollment coverage, with such assistance varying depending upon beneficiary income. Vests the Board with outreach and other specified duties, such as establishing procedures for enrollment and enhanced financial assistance with regard to eligible Medicare beneficiaries and the SPICE program, and conducting certain ongoing studies, as well as a study and report to Congress on permitting an alternative outpatient prescription drug benefit package under Medicare supplemental health insurance policies (Medigap) provisions. Outlines requirements for the offering of SPICE program coverage, which include prohibiting pre-existing condition exclusions with respect to coverage and allowing use of reasonable cost containment methods. Establishes in the Treasury the SPICE Trust Fund, consisting in part of amounts from the taxes imposed on tobacco and tobacco-related products and from the on-budget surplus, to be available only for expenditures to carry out the SPICE program. Makes appropriations and authorizes appropriations. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to include with Medigap policy comparison information for Medigap policies, information on the SPICE program for purposes of State grant application plans for State-wide health insurance, counseling, and assistance grants. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a variety of excise taxes on specified tobacco and tobacco-related products, as well as with regard to the manufacture or the importation of roll-your-own tobacco, and to make modifications to certain tobacco excise tax provisions, such as placing a restriction on importation of previously exported tobacco products.
Bill· HRH.R. 2771 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Medical Education Trust Fund Act of 1999 - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XXII (Medical Education Trust Fund) establishing in the Treasury the Medical Education Trust Fund, consisting of various specified accounts. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make annual payments from the Fund to eligible medical schools and teaching hospitals applying for assistance to: (1) maintain and develop quality educational programs in an increasingly competitive health care system; and (2) meet the indirect and direct costs of graduate medical education. Outlines requirements for Fund investments and determination of payments. Amends SSA titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) to provide for annual transfers to the Fund. Makes specified appropriations to the Fund. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax equal to 1.5 percent of premiums received under accident or health insurance policies (including applicable self-insured plans), and equal to 1.5 percent of the amount received for certain health-related administrative services, payable by the policy issuer and the service provider, respectively. Makes specified appropriations and transfers of such amounts collected to the Fund for allocation among the various specified accounts. Establishes the Medical Education Advisory Commission to study and report on Fund operations and other specified matters, including recommendations for demonstration projects. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to prescribe guidelines for the establishment and operation of such demonstration projects. Provides funding.
Bill· HRH.R. 2800 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to increase the State Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment adjustment allotments for Minnesota (from $16 to $33 million), New Mexico (from $5 to $9 million), and Wyoming (from zero to $0.1 million) for FY 2000 through 2002.
Bill· HRH.R. 2796 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Debt Reduction Lockbox Act of 1999 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide a point of order in the House or the Senate against consideration of any concurrent budget resolution or conference report or amendment pertaining thereto that would set forth an on-budget deficit for any fiscal year. Makes it out of order in the House or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report if the enactment of the reported bill or resolution, the adoption and enactment of an amendment, or the enactment of a bill or resolution in the form recommended in the conference report would cause or increase an on-budget deficit for any fiscal year. Includes the receipts, outlays, and surplus or deficit in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Funds within the content of the concurrent budget resolution. (Sec. 3) Requires any official Federal Government statement of the Federal or congressional budget surplus or deficit totals to exclude the outlays and receipts of the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program under the Social Security Act. Requires such outlays and receipts to be submitted in separate social security budget documents. (Sec. 4) Amends Federal public finance provisions to establish a Debt Reduction Lockbox within the Treasury to retire publicly held debt obligations of the U.S. Government. Appropriates funds to the Lockbox for FY 2000 through 2009. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) compute the projected budget surplus for the fiscal year using up-to-date economic and technical assumptions; (2) calculate the changes in the projected surplus as a result of differences in economic and technical assumptions contained in a Congressional Budget Office report entitled "The Economic and Budget Outlook: An Update;" and (3) compute any difference in projections as a result of such changes from the assumptions used in the report. Adjusts amounts provided for the Lockbox for FY 2001 through 2004 by an amount equal to the change in the budget surplus for that fiscal year as a result of the changes determined by OMB. Provides that amounts in the Lockbox shall be unavailable for appropriation, obligation, expenditure, or transfer, except as specified, and shall be exempt from reduction under orders issued under part C of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) and not taken into account for purposes of budget enforcement procedures under such part. Requires the President to include information about the Lockbox in the annual budget submission. (Sec. 5) Provides a point of order in the House and the Senate against consideration of: (1) any concurrent budget resolution (or related conference report or amendment) that would set forth an amount in the Lockbox for any fiscal year that is less than the amount set forth in this Act; or (2) legislation that would cause an on- budget surplus for any fiscal year that is less than the amount set forth in the most recent concurrent budget resolution for the Lockbox. Includes the amount of the Lockbox within the content of the concurrent budget resolution. Authorizes a waiver or suspension in the Senate of points of order under this Act only with a three-fifths majority. Requires the same majority to sustain an appeal on a ruling on such points of order. (Sec. 6) Amends the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to determine, before October 1 of each fiscal year, the debt reduction dividend for such fiscal year. Provides that such dividend is equal to the excess of $229 billion over total net interest expenditures by the Federal Government during the preceding fiscal year. Reserves for social security and Medicare reform for each fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 1999, amounts equal to 100 percent of such dividend for such fiscal year. Allocates 75 percent to social security reform and 25 percent to Medicare reform. Provides that any transfer of funds to the Old-Age and Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Funds or to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund equal to or less than the amount reserved under this section for each such fund that are included in social security or Medicare reform legislation, as applicable, shall not count as an outlay for purposes of a pay-as-you-go requirement under the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act and shall be exempt from sequestration. Defines: (1) "social security reform legislation" as legislation that the chief actuary of the Social Security Administration certifies extends the solvency of the Old-Age and Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Funds, taken together, for 75 years; and (2) "Medicare reform legislation" as legislation that the chief actuary of the Health Care Financing Administration certifies extends the solvency of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for 20 years.
Bill· HRH.R. 2787 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act, with respect to avoidance of the penalty for failure to maintain a certain expenditure level of historic effort, to treat as an expenditure under the TANF program any reduction in State tax revenues resulting from the provision of a State earned income tax credit to TANF recipients.
Bill· HRH.R. 2715 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to grant duty-free treatment to the personal effects of, and other equipment imported and used by, participants, their families and associated members, and officials involved in an international athletic event held in the United States, such as the Olympics, the Goodwill Games, the Special Olympics World Games, the World Cup Soccer Games, or any similar international athletic event as the Secretary of the Treasury may determine. Declares that such articles shall be: (1) free of applicable taxes and fees; but (2) not exempt from routine customs inspections.
Bill· HRH.R. 2805 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Relieves certain corporations from a tax liability (including interest and penalties) for the importation of recovered or recycled Halon-1211 in 1994 and 1995, upon certification of the destruction of a specified amount of it. Treats all excise tax paid by the corporations for such importation as an overpayment.
Bill· HRH.R. 2747 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt specified entertainment industry pension plan recipients from certain reductions in unemployment compensation payable which would otherwise be applicable because of the receipt of pension benefits.
Bill· HRH.R. 2735 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal specified occupational taxes relating to distilled spirits, wine, and beer. Revises recordkeeping requirements for wholesale and retail liquor dealers. Makes it unlawful for any liquor dealer (except one selling beer exclusively) to purchase distilled spirits from any person other than a specified wholesale liquor dealer.
Bill· HRH.R. 2749 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 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.
Bill· HRH.R. 2719 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Access to Excellence in Education for the 21st Century Act - Title I: Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards - Subtitle A: Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to extend through FY 2005 the authorization of appropriations under ESEA title I (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards) for: (1) local educational agency (LEA) grants under part A; (2) education of migratory children under part C; and (3) certain Federal activities under provisions for coordination of Federal, State, and local administration. (Sec. 104) Revises ESEA title I provisions for State and Federal reservations of funds for accountability and evaluation (currently reservation and allocation for school improvement). (Sec. 105) Revises ESEA title I part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies) requirements for: (1) State plans; (2) LEA plans; (3) eligible school attendance areas; (4) schoolwide programs; (5) targeted assistance schools; (6) school choice; (7) assessment and LEA and school improvement; (8) State assistance for school support and improvement; (9) parental involvement; (10) parent training and information centers (currently parental information and resource centers); and (11) participation of children enrolled in private schools. (Sec. 115) Revises requirements for professional development activities under part A. Adds teacher qualification requirements. Requires each LEA receiving assistance under part A to: (1) hire qualified instructional staff; (2) provide high-quality professional development that will improve teaching and learning in core content areas; and (3) use at least five percent of its allocation under part A for FY 2001 and 2002, and ten percent of that allocation for subsequent fiscal years, for that professional development. Requires each LEA to ensure, in programs supported with part A funds, that: (1) all new teachers either are certified in the field in which they will teach or have a bachelors degree and are enrolled in a program through which they will obtain such certification within three years; and (2) all paraprofessionals meet specified educational requirements and perform only certain duties. (Sec. 117) Authorizes an LEA to use part A funds to provide certain preschool services: (1) directly to eligible preschool children in all or part of its jurisdiction; (2) through any school participating in the LEA's part A program; or (3) through a contract with a local Head Start agency, a partnership operating an Even Start program, a State-funded preschool program, or a comparable public early-childhood development program. Allows such preschool programs to be operated and funded jointly with Even Start programs (under ESEA title I part B), Head Start programs, or State-funded preschool programs. Requires all preschool programs funded under part A to: (1) focus on developmental needs of participating children and use research-based approaches that build on competencies, particularly in language, literacy development, and reading; and (2) ensure that participating children, at a minimum, understand and use language and an increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, and develop an appreciation of books and phonemic, print, and numeracy awareness. (Sec. 118) Revises the formula for determining minimum and maximum amounts of basic grants to LEAs and to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Sec. 119) Requires each State receiving part A assistance to report annually to the Secretary of Education with respect to its progress in meeting specified program indicators for participating schools and LEAs, and to use such indicators to improve its program performance. Subtitle B: Education of Migratory Children - Amends ESEA title I part C (Education of Migratory Children) to repeal provisions for consortium arrangement grants. (Sec. 132) Revises provisions for shared student incentive grants to improve interstate coordination among programs for migratory children who attend school in more than one State. (Sec. 133) Revises part C provisions relating to: (1) parental involvement; (2) consolidated plans; (3) schoolwide programs; and (4) data collection. (Sec. 137) Establishes a National Parent Advisory Council to advise the Secretary on the implementation of part C programs and coordination with other programs serving migratory children and families. (Sec. 138) Sets forth part C requirements for regulations and negotiated rulemaking. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 139) Directs the Secretary to spend a specified minimum amount annually, from ESEA title I appropriations, to establish and maintain a technical assistance center to provide assistance to ESEA title I part C programs and to special programs for students whose families are engaged in migrant and seasonal farmwork under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Subtitle C: Federal Evaluations - Revises provisions for evaluations of ESEA title I programs. Sets forth requirements relating to a national assessment of such programs, studies and data collection, and an ongoing national longitudinal study of schools. Title II: Bilingual Education - Revises part A (Bilingual Education) of title VII (Bilingual Education, Language Enhancement, and Language Acquisition Programs) of ESEA. (Sec. 202) Adds to the declaration of U.S. policy with respect to bilingual education programs: (1) ensuring limited English proficient children also meet challenging State standards in the core content areas, including the ability to understand, speak, read and write English at the same level as native English speakers; (2) developing fully bilingual-biliterate skills; and (3) developing the English and native language skills of such children and youth. (Sec. 203) Authorizes appropriations for part A. (Sec. 204) Establishes accountability requirements for programs funded under part A subpart 1 (Bilingual Education Capacity and Demonstration Grants). Requires such programs to assess annually the English proficiency of all limited English proficient students they serve. Requires such students to be: (1) included in State assessments of academic performance; and (2) assessed, to the extent practicable, in the language and form most likely to yield accurate and reliable information on what those students know, and can do, in content areas other than English. Provides that tests written in Spanish shall be deemed practicable when administered to Spanish-speaking students with limited English proficiency if such tests are more likely than tests written in English to yield accurate and reliable information on what those students know and can do in content areas other than English. Requires such students who have been in U.S. schools (not including Puerto Rico) for five consecutive years or more to be tested in reading and language arts using tests written in English. Authorizes a State or school district, based upon the scores of a student on the tests, to determine that a student is sufficiently proficient to be tested in reading and language arts using tests written in English, prior to the completion of five years in U.S. schools. Prohibits removal of any student from a program of bilingual education or English as a second language based upon performance on the test. (Sec. 205) Provides for multilingual education by requiring promotion of proficiency both in English and in their native language for limited English proficient students served under various grant programs of financial assistance for bilingual education, including program development and implementation grants. Revises application and evaluation provisions to reflect such requirement. Includes among criteria for priority funding the establishment of programs for dual language proficiency in English and students' native languages. (Sec. 206) Provides for three-year grants for program development and enhancement. (Replaces current provisions for two-year grants for program enhancement projects with a required activity involving inservice training for educational personnel, as well as other specified authorized activities.) Requires such program development and enhancement grants to be used for: (1) developing and implementing comprehensive, preschool, elementary, or secondary education programs for children and youth with limited English proficiency, that are aligned with standards-based State and local school reform efforts and coordinated with other relevant programs and services to meet the full range of educational needs of such children and youth; (2) providing high-quality professional development to classroom teachers, administrators, and other school or community-based organization personnel to improve the instruction and assessment of limited English proficient students; and (3) annually assessing the English proficiency of all limited English proficient students served by the program. Sets forth authorized uses of such grants. (Sec. 207) Revises provisions for comprehensive school grants to establish certain required uses of funds and to revise additional authorized uses. Prohibits a grant recipient from: (1) using funds for planning purposes for more than 90 days; or (2) carrying out a program for more than two schools for each such grant it receives. (Sec. 208) Revises provisions for systemwide improvement grants to establish certain required uses of funds and to revise additional authorized uses. Makes any entity not receiving a satisfactory evaluation of a grant ineligible to apply for another such grant for at least three years. (Sec. 209) Revises requirements for documentation, content, and other aspects of applications for awards under subpart 1. Limits to a maximum of 25 percent that portion of a grant or total funding under subpart 1 which may be used for programs that do not use students' native language. Transfers and retains certain provisions authorizing grant recipients to intensify instruction for limited English proficient students by expanding education services. (Sec. 210) Revises evaluation components under subpart 1. Requires such evaluations to be annual. Directs the Secretary to establish certain performance measures. (Sec. 211) Revises provisions for research under subpart 2 (Research, Evaluation, and Dissemination). (Sec. 212) Revises subpart 2 provisions for the State grant program to add to required uses of funds SEA assistance to LEAs in developing data collection and accountability systems for limited English proficient students that are aligned with State reform efforts. (Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary to establish and support a National Clearinghouse on Education of Children and Youth with Limited English proficiency. (Replaces provisions for the National Clearinghouse on Bilingual Education.) (Sec. 214) Revises subpart 2 provisions for instructional materials development to authorize grants for development, publication, and dissemination of instructional materials: (1) in other low-incidence languages (as well as in Native American, Hawaiian, Pacific islanders and other natives of outlying areas, as in current grant provisions) in the United States for which instruction materials are not readily available; and (2) on standards and assessments, and instructional programs related to the education of children and youth with limited English proficiency, for dissemination to parents of such children and youth. (Sec. 215) Revises subpart 3 (Professional Development) to eliminate a reference to dissemination of information on appropriate instructional practices. (Sec. 216) Revises the subpart 3 training for all teachers program to direct its professional development services to those educational personnel with baccalaureate degrees to improve their provision of services to limited English proficient students or to become certified as a bilingual or English as a second language teacher. Authorizes such program grants to LEAs or to LEAs in consortium with SEAs, higher education institutions, or nonprofit organizations. Limits grant duration to three years (currently five). Sets forth specified required and authorized uses of funds. (Sec. 217) Revises provisions for grants for preservice professional development of bilingual education teachers and personnel. Authorizes such grants to higher education institutions. Requires recipients to coordinate their grant programs with other appropriate programs. Sets forth specified required and authorized uses of funds. (Sec. 218) Revises the bilingual education career ladder program to require grant recipient consortia to coordinate with other relevant programs and use all existing sources of student financial aid before using grant funds to pay tuition and stipends for participating students. Requires special consideration for grant applications of programs that provide training in English as a second language, including developing proficiency in the instructional use of English and, as appropriate, a second language in classroom contexts. (Sec. 219) Revises provisions for graduate fellowships in bilingual education program to eliminate post-doctoral fellowships. (Sec. 220) Revises requirements for applications for awards under subpart 3. (Sec. 221) Revises provisions for program evaluations under subpart 3. (Sec. 222) Establishes a new subpart 4, Model Programs for Parent Involvement Applications. Directs the Secretary to make competitive grants to LEAs for model programs to: (1) assist parents of limited English proficient students in making informed educational decisions for their children; and (2) assist such parents in meeting their own educational needs. Includes as eligible to apply for such grants consortia consisting of at least one LEA and one community-based organization, and other entities. Sets forth separate requirements for such grant programs that provide information to such parents in making decisions about their children's education and those that assist such parents with their own educational needs. Requires that total funds for such grants be divided equally between those two purposes. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 223) Sets forth new subpart 5 transition provisions for part A of title VII of ESEA. (Sec. 224) Adds certain findings with respect to the Emergency Immigrant Education Program (EIEP) under part C of title VII of ESEA. (Sec. 225) Revises provisions for State administrative costs under EIEP. (Sec. 226) Defines reclassification rate as the annual percentage of limited English proficient students who have met the State criteria for no longer being considered limited English proficient. (Sec. 227) Revises title VII provisions for regulations, parental notification, and use of paraprofessionals. (Sec. 229) Repeals ESEA title VII part A current provisions for: (1) program development and implementation grants; (2) intensified instruction; (3) funding priorities; and (4) coordination with other programs. Repeals the Foreign Language Assistance Program (the entire current part B of title VII of ESEA). Title III: High School Reform - Revises ESEA title X (Programs of National Significance) to establish a new part H, High School Reform. (Sec. 302) Authorizes the Secretary to make competitive grants to LEAs for high school reform activities. Limits each such grant to a maximum of three years. Prohibits assistance to any high school under more than one such grant. Sets forth required principles and components of educational reforms by grantees. Requires each grantee to: (1) provide for equitable participation of private school personnel in professional development activities it carries out with grant funds; and (2) make available to private schools, at their request, information about curricular materials developed using grant funds. Directs the Secretary to reserve some part H funds for: (1) incentive awards; (2) recognition, dissemination, networks, and peer review; and (3) evaluation. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Dropout Prevention and State Responsibilities - Revises ESEA title V part C Assistance to Address School Dropout Problems. (Replaces current part C provisions known as the School Dropout Assistance Act). (Sec. 402) Establishes: (1) a subpart 1 coordinated national strategy; and (2) a national school dropout prevention initiative. Sets forth the subpart 1 coordinated national strategy. Makes it a national priority, for the five-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, to lower the school dropout rate, and increase school completion, for middle school and secondary school students in accordance with Federal law. Requires all Federal agencies that carry out activities that serve students at risk of dropping out of school or that are intended to help address the school dropout problem to make school dropout prevention a top priority in the agencies' funding priorities during such five-year period. Directs the Secretary to collect systematic data on the participation of different racial and ethnic groups (including migrant and limited English proficient students) in all Federal programs. Requires, as part of the national school dropout prevention strategy, the Director of the Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion to develop, implement, and monitor an interagency plan to assess the coordination, use of resources, and availability of funding under Federal law that can be used to address school dropout prevention, or middle school or secondary school reentry. Requires the plan to address: (1) program coordination, targeting of existing Federal services, and cost-effectiveness of various programs and approaches; (2) ways in which State and local agencies can implement effective school dropout prevention programs using funds from a variety of Federal programs; and (3) all Federal programs with school dropout prevention or school reentry elements or objectives. Requires the Director to establish, through a competitive grant or contract, a national clearinghouse on effective school dropout prevention, intervention and reentry programs. Requires the clearinghouse to: (1) disseminate such data by an electronically accessible database, a Worldwide Web site, and a national journal; and (2) provide technical assistance regarding securing resources for programs. Requires the Director to carry out a national recognition program that recognizes schools that have made extraordinary progress in lowering school dropout rates, under which a public middle school or secondary school from each State will be recognized, using uniform national guidelines and school nominations submitted by SEAs. Authorizes monetary awards to recognized schools, for dissemination activities within the school district or nationally. Sets forth the subpart 2 National School Dropout Prevention Initiative. Directs the Secretary to make State allotments for such program based on relative amounts received under ESEA title I. Authorizes SEAs to use allotments to award grants to public middle schools or secondary schools that have school dropout rates which are in the highest one-third of all school dropout rates in the State, for only the startup and implementation costs of effective, sustainable, coordinated, and whole school dropout prevention programs. Includes among authorized program activities: (1) professional development; (2) obtaining curricular materials; (3) release time for professional staff; (4) planning and research; (5) remedial education; (6) reduction in pupil-to-teacher ratios; (7) efforts to meet State student achievement standards; and (8) counseling for at-risk students. Expresses the intent of Congress that such activities shall be continued with funding provided under part A of title I of ESEA. Sets forth determining factors and limits relating to grant amounts and duration. Requires the Director to increase the amount awarded to a school under the initiative grant program by ten percent if the school creates smaller learning communities within the school and the creation is certified by the SEA. Requires each school receiving such a grant to implement research based, sustainable, and widely replicated, strategies for school dropout prevention and reentry that address the needs of an entire school population rather than a subset of students. Allows such strategies to include: (1) specific strategies for targeted purposes; and (2) approaches such as breaking larger schools down into smaller learning communities, and other comprehensive reform approaches, developing clear linkages to career skills and employment, and addressing specific gatekeeper hurdles that often limit student retention and academic success. Requires the Director to: (1) annually establish and publish the principles, criteria, models, and other parameters regarding the types of effective, proven program models that are allowed to be used under the initiative program, based on existing research; (2) conduct a capacity building and design initiative in order to increase the types of proven strategies for dropout prevention on a schoolwide level (through a limited contract with a non-Federal entity); (3) support eligible entities to provide training, materials, development, and staff assistance to schools assisted under the initiative program. Sets forth initiative program requirements relating to: (1) selection of schools; (2) dissemination activities; (3) progress incentives; (4) school dropout rate calculation; (5) reporting and accountability; and (6) a prohibition on tracking. Authorizes appropriations for the ESEA part C: (1) subpart 1 coordinated national strategy; and (2) subpart 2 national school dropout prevention initiative. (Sec. 403) Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to establish in the Department of Education an Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion, to be administered by the Director. Requires the Director, through the Office, to: (1) help coordinate Federal, State, and local efforts to lower school dropout rates and increase program completion by middle school, secondary school, and college students; (2) recommend Federal policies, objectives, and priorities to lower school dropout rates and increase program completion; (3) oversee the implementation of subpart 2 of part C of title V of ESEA; (4) develop and implement the National School Dropout Prevention Strategy under ESEA; (5) submit to Congress and the Secretary annual national reports describing efforts and recommended actions regarding school dropout prevention and program completion; (6) recommend action to the Secretary and the President, as appropriate, regarding school dropout prevention and program completion; and (7) consult with and assist State and local governments regarding school dropout prevention and program completion. Includes under the scope of the Director's duties examination of all Federal and non-Federal efforts related to: (1) promotion of program completion for children attending middle school or secondary school; (2) programs to obtain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including general equivalency diploma (GED) programs), or college degree programs; and (3) reentry programs for individuals aged 12 to 24 who are out of school. (Sec. 404) Revises ESEA title XIV (General Provisions) to add a new part I, Dropout Prevention. Requires SEAs, in order to receive any assistance under ESEA, to comply with specified provisions regarding school dropouts, including requirements relating to: (1) uniform data collection; (2) attendance neutral funding policies; and (3) suspension and expulsion policies.
Law· HRH.R. 2752 (106th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Lincoln County Land Act of 1999 - Grants Lincoln County, Nevada, the exclusive right to purchase specified public land in the County for a ten-year period. Withdraws such land from all forms of entry and appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining laws, and from operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal laws during such period. Requires notification to the Secretary of the Interior by the County of which parcels the County intends to purchase no later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act. Provides for the following disposition of the gross proceeds of land sales under this Act in a fiscal year: (1) five percent shall be paid directly to Nevada for use in the State's general education program; (2) ten percent shall be returned to the County for use as determined through normal county budget procedures, with emphasis given to school support; and (3) the remainder shall be deposited in a special account in the Treasury and shall be available to the Secretary for reimbursement of costs incurred by the Bureau of Land Management in preparing sales under this Act or other authorized land sales or exchanges within the County, development of a multispecies habitat conservation plan in the County; and the purchase of conservation easements in Douglas County, Nevada.
Bill· HRH.R. 2725 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Rural Education Initiative Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to establish a new part J, Rural Education Initiative (REI), under title X Programs of National Significance. (Replaces the current part J, Urban and Rural Education Assistance and its provisions for demonstration grants for, and White House Conferences on, urban and rural education.) Makes an local educational agency (LEA) eligible for REI alternative use formula grants and competitive grants if: (1) the total number of students in average daily attendance at all of the schools served by the LEA is less than 600; and (2) all of the schools served by the LEA are located in a community with a Rural-Urban Continuum Code of 6, 7, 8, or 9, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to waive such eligibility requirements for competitive grants. Provides, under the alternative use formula grant program, that an eligible LEA may use applicable funding that it is eligible to receive from the State educational agency (SEA) for a fiscal year, to support local or statewide education reform efforts intended to improve the achievement of elementary school and secondary school students and the quality of instruction provided for the students. Defines applicable funding as funds received under: (1) specified provisions of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1999; (2) ESEA title II (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program); (3) ESEA title IV (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities); and (4) ESEA title VI (Innovative Education Program Strategies). Requires each SEA receiving applicable funding to disburse it to LEAs for alternative uses at the same times it disburses it to LEAs that do not intend to use it for alternative uses for that fiscal year. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible LEAs to support local or statewide education reform efforts intended to improve the achievement of elementary school and secondary school students and the quality of instruction provided for the students. Sets forth formulas for determining the amounts of such grants, based on numbers of children in average daily attendance at schools served by the LEAs, minus amounts received under applicable funding. Authorizes appropriations for the REI program. Sets forth accountability provisions. Requires LEAs that receive REI alternative use formula grants or competitive grants to administer tests to assess the academic achievement of students in their schools. Requires each SEA that receives applicable funding to: (1) determine, after the fifth year of an LEA's participation in either REI grant program, whether the LEA's students are performing better on such tests than after the first year of participation; (2) only permit LEAs that perform better to continue to participate for an additional five years; and (3) prohibit LEAs that did not perform better from participating for five years from the date of determination.
Bill· HRH.R. 2756 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
Fair Competition in Tax-Exempt Financing Act of 1999 - Amends Subpart A (Private Activity Bonds) of part IV (Tax Exemption Requirements for State and Local Bonds) of subchapter B (Computation of Taxable Income) of the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit the classification as a "private activity bond" of any bond from which more than the lesser of five percent of the proceeds or $1 million will be used to finance the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or expansion of a "disqualified facility." Defines such a facility.
Bill· HRH.R. 2738 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Food Stamp Program Title II: Food Stamp Information Through Tanf Program and Tax Credit Food Stamp Outreach and Research for Kids Act of 1999 - Title I: Food Stamp Program - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to (temporarily) carry out mandatory annual onsite inspections of State food stamp program agencies. (Sec. 103) Authorizes appropriations for a caseworker training demonstration program. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for Food and Nutrition Service studies to measure food stamp program impacts on nutrition policy formulation. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary to establish a program of grants to qualifying organizations for community partnerships and innovative outreach programs. (Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations for the Secretary to conduct online and telephone program participation demonstration programs. (Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary to facilitate partnerships with State, local, private, and public entities to provide information on nutrition programs; and maintain a toll-free information number. Makes an entity maintaining a toll-free number eligible for a specified Internal Revenue Code business tax credit. (Sec. 108) Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of State outreach programs Title II: Food Stamp Information Through TANF Program and Tax Credit - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a model application for receiving benefits under a State TANF program (Social Security Act block grants to States for temporary assistance to needy families). Requires the application to provide food stamp program eligibility information, for which the Secretary shall develop a model notice. Declares that State use of the application and notice shall be voluntary unless the Secretary determines that a State is not adequately providing food stamp information. (Sec. 202) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a business credit for establishment of the toll-free number under title I of this Act.