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Bill· HRH.R. 1941 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from an individual's gross income amounts received as reimbursement regarding the use of a passenger automobile for the benefit of a charitable organization. Relieves the organization of certain reporting requirements regarding the reimbursements.
Bill· HRH.R. 1914 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1997
Debt Buy-Down Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals with adjusted income tax liability to designate on their tax returns that a portion of such liability (not to exceed ten percent) be used to reduce the public debt. Establishes a Public Debt Reduction Trust Fund for the deposit of designated amounts. Makes amounts in such Trust Fund available only to pay at maturity, or to redeem or buy before maturity, any obligation of the Federal Government included in the public debt (other than an obligation of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, or the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund). Prohibits the reissuance of any obligation which is paid, redeemed, or bought with amounts from the Trust Fund. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide for the sequestration of amounts designated to the Trust Fund. Specifies accounts exempt from such sequestration. Includes aggregated amounts designated to the Trust Fund and amounts sequestered to reduce the public debt in sequestration preview and final reports.
Law· SS. 910 (105th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1997
Amends the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999. Requires the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct a program to develop and deploy a real-time seismic warning system. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Director of the National Science Foundation to use specified funds made available under such Act, to develop and make available to schools and local educational agencies for use by schools, at a minimal cost, earth science teaching materials that are designed to meet the needs of elementary and secondary school teachers and students. Requires the Director to conduct a project to improve the seismic hazard assessment of the seismic zone in East Tennessee that underlies the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the Watts Bar nuclear plant that is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 906 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1997
Puerto Rico Economic Activity Credit Improvement Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the requirements for corporations to be eligible for the Puerto Rico economic activity credit. Requires that, in determining the credit amount, the credit provisions be applied separately to each substantial line of business of the corporation. Removes provisions limiting, in taxable years beginning after 2001, the aggregate taxable income taken into account in determining the amount of the credit. Terminates the credit four years after Puerto Rico has, for three consecutive years, unemployment under and per capita income over specified percentages of the U.S. rates. (Sec. 3) Amends provisions relating to the Puerto Rico and other possession tax credit to modify, with respect to possessions other than Puerto Rico, corporate eligibility requirements. Requires that, in determining the credit amount, the credit provisions be applied separately to each substantial line of business of the corporation. Modifies additional restricted credit requirements. Sets forth the circumstances in which the credit is available with regard to Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Terminates the credit, for any possession other than Puerto Rico, four years after the possession has, for three consecutive years, unemployment under and per capita income over specified percentages of the U.S. rates and poverty under a specified level.
Bill· SS. 913 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1997
Home Health Care Prospective Payment Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to the reasonable cost of home health services, to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in establishing reasonable cost limits for cost reporting periods after FY 1997, from taking into account any changes in the home health market basket for cost reporting periods between July 1, 1994, and July 1, 1996 (thus providing for the recapture of savings from the temporary freeze on payments for home health services from 1994 to 1996 in updating home health costs limits for FY 1998 and subsequent fiscal years). Reduces the reasonable cost limits for home health services after October 1, 1997, from 112 percent to 105 percent of the median of the labor-related and nonlabor per visit costs for freestanding home health agencies. Provides for: (1) establishment of an interim prospective payment system (PPS) for home health services, with rates calculated according to a specified formula, beginning in FY 1998, with a permanent PPS beginning in FY 2000; (2) reimbursement of home health service costs on the basis of the geographic location where the service is furnished; (3) elimination of periodic interim payments for home health services upon implementation of a permanent PPS; (4) limitation of Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) coverage of home health services to the first 100 visits following a hospital stay; (5) the definition of coverage of intermittent and part-time nursing care; (6) exclusion of home health service costs from the calculation of Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) monthly premiums; (7) further definition of "homebound"; and (8) denial of claims for home health services in excess of normative standards for the frequency and duration of care.
Bill· SS. 911 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1997
Taking Back Our Neighborhoods Crime Fighting Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit to an individual who is an active participant of a neighborhood crime watch organization during the taxable year.
Bill· SS. 907 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1997
Amends the Revenue Act of 1987 to repeal the termination date of a specified transition rule and permanently exempt from taxation as corporations certain publicly traded partnerships (master limited partnerships).
Bill· SS. 903 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Division A: Consolidation of Foreign Affairs Agencies Title I: General Provisions Title II: United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Title III: United States Information Agency Title IV: United States International Development Cooperation Agency Title V: Agency for International Development Title VI: Transition Title VII: Functions, Conduct, and Structure of United States Foreign Policy for the 21st Century Division B: Foreign Relations Authorization Title X: General Provisions Title XI: Department of State and Related Agencies Title XII: Other International Organizations and Commissions Title XIII: United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs Title XIV: Peace Corps Title XV: United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Title XVI: Foreign Policy Division C: United Nations Reform Title XX: General Provisions Title XXI: Authorization of Appropriations Title XXII: Arrears Payments and Reform Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1997 - Division A: Consolidation of Foreign Affairs Agencies - Title I: General Provisions - Foreign Affairs Agencies Consolidation Act of 1997 - Specifies the purposes of this division, including: (1) to strengthen the coordination of U.S. foreign policy; (2) to consolidate the foreign affairs functions of the United States within the Department of State; and (3) to assist congressional efforts to balance the Federal budget and reduce the Federal debt. (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary of State to report periodically to the appropriate congressional committees on budgetary cost savings resulting from the reorganization. Title II: United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency - Abolishes the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) as of October 1, 1998 (or, if earlier, the date mandated in the reorganization plan required by this Act), and transfers all functions of the ACDA Director to the Secretary. (Sec. 213) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish in the Department of State an Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. Title III: United States Information Agency - Abolishes the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) (other than the Broadcasting Board of Governors) as of October 1, 1999 (or, if earlier, the date mandated in the reorganization plan required by this Act), and transfers all functions of the USIA Director to the Secretary. (Sec. 313) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish in the Department of State an Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy. (Sec. 314) Abolishes the Office of the Inspector General of the USIA, and transfers its functions to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State and the Foreign Service. (Sec. 322) Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to declare that the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall continue to exist within the executive branch of Government. (Sec. 327) Expresses the sense of the Congress that Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty (RFE-RL), Incorporated should cease to receive Federal support, and should be funded by the private sector, before December 31, 1999. Title IV: United States International Development Cooperation Agency - Abolishes the United States International Development Cooperation Agency (IDCA) (including the Institute for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, but excluding the Agency for International Development (AID) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)) as of October 1, 1998 (or, if earlier, the date mandated in the reorganization plan required by this Act), and transfers all functions of the Agency Director to the Secretary. Title V: Agency for International Development - Mandates reorganization of AID, according to a specified plan required by this Act, as of October 1, 1998 (or, if earlier, the date mandated in the plan), and transfers specified functions to the Department of State. (Sec. 522) Declares that the Administrator of AID shall serve under the direct authority of the Secretary. (Sec. 523) Directs the Secretary, under the direction of the President, to coordinate all U.S. assistance programs, projects, and activities, except export promotion (which shall be under the Secretary of Commerce) and international economic activities (which shall be under the Secretary of the Treasury). (Sec. 524) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget should apportion U.S. assistance funds appropriated to the President under the major functional budget category for international affairs to the Secretary in lieu of the apportionment of those funds to the head of any other Federal agency. Title VI: Transition - Directs the President to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a reorganization plan for: (1) the abolition, and transfer of functions, of ACDA, USIA, and IDCA; and (2) the consolidation, and transfer of specified functions, of AID. (Sec. 601) Sets forth transition administrative provisions regarding: (1) the Secretary's reorganization authorities; (2) the transfer and allocation of appropriations and personnel; and (3) specified incidental transfers of personnel, liabilities, records, and funds. (Sec. 617) Requires the President to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a final accounting of the finances and operations of the agencies abolished under this Act. Title VII: Functions, Conduct, and Structure of United States Foreign Policy for the 21st Century - Establishes the Commission on the Functions, Conduct, and Structure of United States Foreign Policy for the 21st Century to: (1) review the functions required of U.S. foreign policy to assure continued U.S. global leadership in the 21st century; (2) assess the current structures, procedures, and priorities of foreign policy decisionmaking and management, and, if necessary, to consider alternatives; and (3) evaluate the resources necessary to promote U.S. interests, values, and principles abroad. (Sec. 705) Requires the Commission to report its activities, findings, and recommendations to the Congress, the President, and the Secretary. (Sec. 710) Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) initiate a simultaneous review of the functions, conduct, and structure of U.S. foreign relations in the same manner and to the same extent as the Commission's review; and (2) report to the Congress findings and proposals for recommended reforms. (Sec. 711) Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on a national foreign relations strategy, describing the priorities and resources required to advance U.S. national interests, values, and principles. Division B: Foreign Relations Authorization - Title X (sic), General Provisions - Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 - Sets forth the short title and definitions for Division B. Title XI: Department of State and Related Agencies - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of State for FY 1998 and 1999 for: (1) administration of foreign affairs; (2) migration and refugee assistance; and (3) the Asia Foundation. (Sec. 1121) Repeals specified reporting requirements. (Sec. 1122) Amends the International Claims Settlement Act to grant jurisdiction to the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to adjudicate claims included in a category of claims against a foreign government upon referral by the Secretary. (Sec. 1123) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize the Secretary to procure personal services in prosecuting claims against a foreign government before an international tribunal. (Sec. 1124) Authorizes the Secretary to charge a fee for the use of the Department of State's diplomatic reception rooms. (Sec. 1125) Prohibits the judicial review of counterterrorism and narcotics-related rewards awarded by the Secretary. (Sec. 1126) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to direct the Inspector General of the Foreign Service to develop and provide employees under investigation with information detailing their rights to counsel and the policies and procedures of the Office of Inspector General. Requires a report to the appropriate congressional committees on the Office's policy guidelines with respect to public disclosure of information during an ongoing investigation. (Sec. 1127) Declares that it is U.S. policy to foster and support procurement of international telecommunications goods and services from private, commercial companies. Directs the Diplomatic Telecommunications Service Program Office (DTS-PO) to use full and open competition in the procurement of telecommunications services, and otherwise implement such policy. (Sec. 1141) Repeals the establishment of a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Burdensharing. (Sec. 1142) Amends Federal criminal law to subject to both criminal and civil penalties any person who serves in the position of chief of mission and who, within one year after termination from such position, engages in certain lobbying activities. (Sec. 1143) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize the Secretary, under the State Department health care program, to collect from a third party payer the reasonable costs incurred by the Department on behalf of covered beneficiaries for health care services to the same extent that such a beneficiary would be eligible to receive indemnification from the third party payer for such costs. (Sec. 1145) Limits the remedial authority of the Foreign Service Grievance Board. (Sec. 1146) Authorizes the Secretary to provide training through the Foreign Service Institute to U.S. company employees and their families engaged in business abroad. Authorizes the Secretary to charge a fee for use of the Department's National Foreign Affairs Training Center Facility. (Sec. 1147) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize a Federal agency to make grants to the Department, or otherwise reimburse or credit it with advance payment, for funds used in providing assistance to overseas educational facilities attended by children of agency employees. (Sec. 1148) Amends the International Child Abduction Remedies Act to authorize the U.S. Central Authority to make grants to, or contract with, any individual, corporation, or other Federal, State, or local agency, or U.S. private organization for the purpose of helping it remedy international child abductions (returning wrongfully removed children, as well as securing the exercise of visitation rights). (Sec. 1151) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize special agents of the Department and the Foreign Service, among other things, to conduct investigative leads or perform other law enforcement duties at the request of any law enforcement agency while assigned to a U.S. Mission outside of the United States. (Sec. 1161) Authorizes any U.S. citizen employee of the Department designated to adjudicate nationality abroad to issue reports of birth of U.S. citizens abroad, authenticate certain foreign documents, perform certain notarial acts, administer oaths, and perform certain naturalization functions. (Sec. 1164) Amends the Immigration and Naturalization Act to exclude from admission into the United States: (1) any member of former Soviet Union intelligence services, with specified exceptions; and (2) any alien who has supported the abduction of children. (Sec. 1165) Authorizes the Secretary to deny the issuance of a visa to any alien who has confiscated property owned by U.S. persons. Title XII: Other International Organizations and Commissions - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of State for FY 1998 and 1999 for: (1) international conferences and contingencies; and (2) certain international commissions. (Sec. 1212) Withholds from obligation an amount equivalent to 110 percent of the total unpaid fully adjudicated parking fines owed to the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, and New York by the government of a foreign country in a fiscal year until the Secretary certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such fines are fully paid. (Sec. 1213) Directs the United States to: (1) either limit to no more than $500,000 its annual dues for membership in the Interparliamentary Union; or (2) formally withdraw from it. Prohibits the use of Department funds for congressional participation in such organization. (Sec. 1214) Prohibits, without a prior estimated expense report to the Department's Director of the Office of International Conferences, the use of any funds under this Act to pay: (1) foreign travel expenses of an employee of the U.S. executive agencies (with certain exceptions) in attending any international conference or in engaging in any other foreign travel; or (2) the routine services that a U.S. diplomatic mission provides in support of travel by such employee. Title XIII: United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 to: (1) carry out specified international information activities and educational and cultural exchange programs; and (2) certain organizations under the National Endowment for Democracy Act. (Sec. 1311) Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to authorize the USIA to receive fees from educational advising and counseling, exchange visitor program services, advertising sold by the Voice of America, and receipts from international organizations and from the privatization of the Voice of America (VOA) Europe. (Sec. 1313) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to revise the Muskie Fellowship Program for graduate students from the independent states of the former Soviet Union, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to require selection of participants on the basis of academic and leadership potential in the additional fields of journalism and communications, education administration, public policy, and library and information science. (Sec. 1314) Amends Federal law to repeal the termination date for the USIA au pair program (thus extending indefinitely the authority for the program). (Sec. 1315) Earmarks a specified amount of funds for RFE-RL, Incorporated, for surrogate radio broadcasting (Radio Free Iran) to the Iranian people in the Farsi language. (Sec. 1316) Directs VOA to devote programming time each day to broadcasting information on the individual U.S. States. (Sec. 1317) Amends the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 to establish within the USIA, in order to improve the coordination and effectiveness of U.S. Government sponsored international exchanges and training, a senior-level interagency Working Group on United States Government Sponsored International Exchanges and Training. (Sec. 1319) Authorizes the Director of USIA to administer summer travel-work programs without regard to preplacement requirements. Title XIV: Peace Corps - Peace Corps Act Amendments of 1997 - Amends the Peace Corps Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for the Peace Corps. Prohibits the use of funds to pay for abortions. Title XV: United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 to carry out the purposes of the ACDA. (Sec. 1511) Amends the ACDA to declare that nothing in such Act shall be construed to authorize any Government action which would interfere with, restrict, or prohibit the acquisition, possession, or lawful use of firearms by an individual. Title XVI: Foreign Policy - Declares that all nondiplomatic accounts of the Government of Iraq in the United States that have been blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act shall vest in, and be liquidated by, the President. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the vesting of the accounts, to establish within the Treasury the Iraq Claims Fund for payment of private or U.S. Government claims. Requires the President to determine the validity and amounts of U.S. Government claims against the Government of Iraq. Authorizes the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to receive and determine the validity and amounts of private claims against Iraq. (Sec. 1602) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe should introduce a resolution abrogating the sovereign status of Belarus within the United Nations (UN) if Belarus concludes a treaty of unification with another country. (Sec. 1603) Earmarks specified funds for construction of a U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel. Bars the use of funds for: (1) the operation of a U.S. consulate in Jerusalem unless it is under the supervision of the U.S. Ambassador to Israel; and (2) the publication of any official government document which lists countries and their capitals unless it identifies Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. (Sec. 1604) Establishes within the Department of State a U.S. Special Envoy for Tibet. (Sec. 1605) Amends Federal criminal law to exempt from provisions prohibiting a U.S. citizen from transacting financial business with a country that supports international terrorism any financial transaction: (1) engaged in by U.S. officers or employees acting within their official capacities; (2) for the sole purpose of providing humanitarian assistance to a foreign country; (3) involving travel or other activity by any journalist or other member of the news media in a foreign country; or (4) with a specified country that is determined vital to the national security interests of the United States. (Sec. 1606) Prohibits the United States from expelling, extraditing, or otherwise effecting the involuntary return of any person to a country in which there are reasonable grounds to believe the person would be in danger of subjection to torture. (Sec. 1607) Directs the President to report periodically to the Congress on the situation of U.S. armed forces in Haiti. (Sec. 1608) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should discuss with the democratically-elected governments of the Western Hemisphere the prospect of forming a multilateral alliance to address problems relating to international drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. (Sec. 1609) Directs the President to assess, and report to the Congress, the effect on the U.S. economy and environment of any objectives, targets, policies, or measures proposed for the control, limitation, or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of the Developed Country Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (Sec. 1610) Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on criminal cases involving diplomatic immunity. (Sec. 1611) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Italian Republic must honor its Treaty obligations with regard to the confiscated property of Mr. Pier Talenti by negotiating a prompt resolution of his case. Urges the Department of State to continue to press the Italian Government to resolve the claim. Division C: United Nations Reform - Title XX (sic): General Provisions - United Nations Reform Act of 1997 - Prohibits the Secretary from delegating the authority in this division to make any certification. Title XXI: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations to the Department of State for FY 1998 and 1999 for the U.S. assessed contributions to the UN for international organizations. Declares that a specified amount of such funds may be made available only semi-annually and only after the Secretary certifies on a semi-annual basis that the UN has taken no action to increase its budget. Withholds 20 percent of such funds until a certification is made that the UN has satisfied certain conditions. Prohibits the disbursement of such funds until the Secretary certifies to the Congress that: (1) the United States has not contributed any funds to pay for any expenses related to the holding of a UN Global Conference; and (2) no portion of such funds will be used to fund any other organization other than the UN, including the Framework Convention on Global Climate Change and the International Seabed Authority. Sets forth other specified limitations. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 to offset adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. (Sec. 2102) Declares it to be U.S. policy to: (1) promote an end to Israel's inequity in the UN due to its denied acceptance into any of the UN's regional blocs; and (2) seek abolition of certain UN Palestinian groups. (Sec. 2103) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and !999 to the Department to carry out U.S. foreign affairs with respect to international peacekeeping activities. Directs the President to report to the Congress on the status of UN peacekeeping operations. (Sec. 2105) Directs the President to obtain reimbursement from the UN for expenses incurred by it in UN peacekeeping operations, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 2106) Directs the President to withhold the U.S. share of funds for any UN peace operation, unless it is determined, and appropriate congressional committees are notified, that funding such operation is important to the national security interests of the United States. (Sec. 2107) Declares that it shall be U.S. policy: (1) to ensure that major peacekeeping operations authorized by the UN Security Council are undertaken by a competent regional organization such as NATO or a multinational force, and not established as a peacekeeping operation under UN operational control which would be paid for by assessment of UN members; and (2) to consider, on a case-by-case basis, whether it is in the U.S. national interest to agree that smaller peacekeeping operations should be established under UN operational control paid for by UN member assessment. (Sec. 2108) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should make every effort to pay the U.S. assessed funding levels for the Organization of American States. Title XXII: Arrears Payment and Reform - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 through 2000 only for the payment of arrearages in assessed contributions to the UN for: (1) the U.S. share of assessments for the regular UN budget (excluding the budgets of UN specialized agencies); (2) the U.S. share of UN peace operations; (3) the U.S. share of UN specialized agencies; and (4) the U.S. share of other international organizations. Authorizes the disbursement of such funds only upon submission to the Congress of certain certifications concerning the reform of UN fiscal, budget, and personnel practices, assessments, and peacekeeping operations. (Sec. 2242) Prohibits the use of funds to pay any arrearage for: (1) the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, including any costs to merge it into the UN; (2) the costs associated with any UN organization from which the United States has withdrawn; or (3) the World Tourism Organization, or any other organization with respect to the Congress has rescinded funding.
Bill· SS. 901 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
Endangered Species Habitat Protection Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a deduction for the donation of property as a conservation easement. Provides for the valuation of the property. Requires that the value of a taxable estate be determined by deducting from the value of the gross estate an amount equal to the adjusted value of real property included in the gross estate which is subject to an endangered species conservation agreement. Provides for recapture in certain cases. Excludes from gross income 75 percent of any gain from the sale of any land to a conservation purchaser if certain requirements are met. Defines "conservation purchaser" as: (1) any agency of the United States or of any State or local government; and (2) any qualified organization.
Bill· SS. 898 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Removal of Tax Traps for the Unwary Title II: Conformity With Regulated Investment Company Rules Title III: Other Simplification Title IV: Effective Date Real Estate Investment Trust Tax Simplification Act of 1997 - Title I: Removal of Tax Traps for the Unwary - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose monetary penalties for the failure of a real estate investment trust (REIT) to comply with regulations regarding ascertaining the actual ownership of the outstanding shares, or certificates of beneficial interest, of the REIT. Requires treating a complying REIT as if it had met a requirement to not be closely held if it does not know, or exercising reasonable diligence would not have known, whether it was closely held. (Sec. 102) Revises the definition of "rents from real property" with regard to impermissible tenant service income and constructive ownership of stock. Title II: Conformity with Regulated Investment Company Rules - Provides for the treatment by shareholders of undistributed capital gains. Title III: Other Simplification - Revises requirements concerning the treatment of earnings and profits with regard to certain distributions. (Sec. 302) Modifies the grace period regarding foreclosure property. Allows one extension (currently, one or more extensions). Allows a REIT to revoke an election to treat property as foreclosure property. Changes requirements concerning termination of the grace period. (Sec. 303) Sets forth special foreclosure rules for health care properties. (Sec. 304) Revises: (1) the treatment of certain interest rate agreements; (2) the formula for determining the amount of excess noncash income; and (3) the circumstances in which a sale of property that is a real estate asset is not a prohibited transaction. (Sec. 307) Provides for the circumstances in which sale of secured property by a REIT will be treated as if the REIT had held the property for at least four years. (Sec. 308) Removes a requirement that, in order to be a qualified REIT subsidiary, the stock of a corporation must have been held by the REIT at all times the corporation was in existence. Title IV: Effective Date - Makes the amendments made by this Act applicable to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Bill· SS. 889 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Expanding Small Business Coverage Title II: Enhancing Fairness for Women and Families Title III: Increasing Portability for Participants Title IV: Strengthening Pension Security and Enforcement Title V: Reducing Regulatory Burdens Retirement Security for the 21st Century Act - Title I: Expanding Small Business Coverage - Amends Internal Revenue Code (IRC) deferred compensation provisions to prohibit treating as an elective deferral any matching contribution made on behalf of a self-employed individual. (Sec. 102) Exempts from prohibited transaction taxes certain transactions regarding a trust forming part of a stock bonus, pension, or profit-sharing plan involving loans to, payments for services rendered by, or acquisitions from or sales to an owner-employee. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to exempt such transactions from provisions: (1) limiting plan holding of employer securities and employer real property; (2) prohibiting certain fiduciary actions, benefits, and compensation; and (3) relating to certain plan transactions involving employer securities or employer real property. (Sec. 103) Allows an employer to establish payroll deductions for contributions to employee individual retirement plans without incurring ERISA liability. (Sec. 104) Amends the IRC to allow an eligible employer to establish and maintain a SAFE annuity (an individual retirement annuity) or a SAFE trust (a trust forming part of a defined benefit plan), both to be funded by the employer. Makes the employer contributions deductible without limitation and otherwise provides for the treatment of contributions and distributions. Mandates a penalty for early withdrawals. Requires simplified employer reports for SAFE annuities and simplified actuarial reports for SAFE trusts. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to exempt SAFE trusts from coverage requirements and SAFE annuities from certain employer reporting requirements. (Sec. 105) Amends the IRC to modify definitions applicable to special rules for top-heavy plans. Requires consideration of employer matching contributions in determining whether a defined contribution plan meets minimum contribution requirements. Title II: Enhancing Fairness for Women and Children - Removes a requirement that an individual's spouse's participation in certain pension plans reduce the individual's dollar limitations on retirement contribution deductions. (Sec. 202) Makes the salary percentage limitations on additions to defined contribution plans inapplicable to elective deferrals. (Sec. 203) Permits participants on maternity or paternity leave to make additional elective deferrals. Provides for the treatment and timing of the contributions and sets forth other definitions and rules. (Sec. 204) Amends the IRC and ERISA to set three- and five-year vesting periods for matching contributions under a qualified cash or deferred arrangement. Provides for the treatment of matching contributions. (Sec. 205) Amends Federal civil service retirement and Federal employees' retirement system provisions to entitle a former spouse of a deceased former employee to a deferred annuity in certain circumstances. (Sec. 206) Amends the IRC to provide for the circumstances in which a distribution or payment from an eligible deferred compensation plan must be treated as made pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order. Title III: Increasing Portability for Participants - Excludes from gross income any portion of an individual's eligible retirement plan rolled over or transferred into another eligible retirement plan. Sets forth related rules. (Sec. 302) Allows plans to accept rollover contributions. (Sec. 303) Amends the IRC and ERISA to set forth the circumstances in which a defined contribution plan will not be treated as failing to meet requirements merely because the transferee plan does not provide some or all the forms of distribution previously available under another defined contribution plan. (Sec. 304) Amends the IRC to allow amounts in a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to be distributed after: (1) severance from employment (currently, after separation from service); or (2) a plan termination (currently, a plan termination, a disposition of assets, or a disposition of a subsidiary). Title IV: Strengthening Pension Security and Enforcement - Amends the IRC and ERISA to modify the definition of "full-funding limitation" and set forth a special amortization rule. Amends the IRC to change deductibility requirements regarding an employer's contributions to an employees' trust annuity plan and compensation under a deferred-payment plan. (Sec. 402) Amends ERISA to modify requirements regarding missing participants. (Sec. 403) Amends ERISA and the IRC to exempt from a requirement that plans prohibit the assignment or alienation of benefits any offset of a benefit against an amount a participant is ordered or required to pay under certain criminal or civil judgements or settlements. (Sec. 404) Amends ERISA to increase the maximum civil penalty authorized for certain prohibited transactions. (Sec. 405) Modifies the definition of "eligible individual account plan" for provisions regarding the acquisition and holding of employer securities and employer real property by certain plans. (Sec. 406) Requires that pension benefit statements be furnished annually (once every three years for defined benefit plans) or on request. Allows written or electronic statements. Requires multiemployer plans to furnish a statement (written or electronic) on request. (Sec. 407) Allows (currently, requires) civil monetary penalties of up to (currently, equal to) specified amounts regarding certain breaches of fiduciary responsibility. Modifies the amounts and makes the liability joint and severable. (Sec. 408) Amends the IRC to modify requirements regarding the tax on nondeductible contributions. (Sec. 409) Prohibits plans from making loans to beneficiaries through any revolving credit arrangement. Title V: Reducing Regulatory Burdens - Makes certain nondiscrimination and participation requirements inapplicable to a governmental plan. (Sec. 502) Declares that a trust does not fail to be qualified if it made good faith efforts but failed to satisfy requirements and substantially corrected the failure. Allows, in some circumstances, the plan to be required to make a payment bearing a reasonable relationship to the severity of the plan's failure to satisfy requirements. Modifies requirements regarding the taxability of the beneficiary of a nonexempt trust. (Sec. 503) Amends ERISA to remove a requirement to file a summary plan description, a plan description, modifications and changes, and documents relating to the employee benefit plan. Authorizes a civil monetary penalty for failure to furnish such material on request. (Sec. 504) Mandates issuance of coordinated guidance to: (1) modify operational and time requirements to permit the use of new technologies; and (2) clarify the extent to which State paper transaction laws are preempted and the extent to which IRC requirements shall be interpreted to permit paperless transactions. (Sec. 505) Amends the IRC and ERISA to increase the dollar amount that, if exceeded, requires a participant's consent for immediate distribution. (Sec. 506) Amends the IRC to modify requirements regarding plan valuation timing. (Sec. 507) Amends ERISA to change requirements, in the case of a terminated single-employer plan, regarding the guarantee of benefits and the allocation of assets. (Sec. 508) Amends the IRC to modify the definition of "applicable dividend" for provisions relating to deductions for dividends paid on certain employer securities. (Sec. 509) Changes the definition of "includible compensation" for provisions relating to the taxability of beneficiaries under annuities purchased by section 501(c)(3) organizations or public schools. Mandates a change in the regulations regarding the exclusion allowance to reflect an amendment made by the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996.
Bill· HRH.R. 1896 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
Frequent Flyer Act of 1997 - Amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to require that travel awards accrued by reason of official travel by a Member, officer, or employee of the Senate or the House of Representatives (current law applies to only the Senate) be used only for official travel or travel by a Member of Congress or his or her family member between the Washington, D.C. area and the Member's State. Allows a Member of Congress to transfer such travel awards to a nonprofit tax-exempt organization. Expresses the sense of the Congress that commercial airlines should provide that travel awards are transferable in a manner consistent with this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 1892 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
Home Telecommuter Tax Policy Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat as a nontaxable fringe benefit employer payments (up to $60 monthly) for installation of an additional telephone line at an employee's residence if any use of such line is in performance of at-home work services for the employer. Excludes separate charges for personal calls.
Bill· HRH.R. 1891 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
Staffing Firm Worker Benefits Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to define "employer," in the case of a qualified staffing firm, as the employer of individuals performing services for a customer of the firm for purposes of provisions relating to: (1) collection of income tax at source on wages; (2) the Federal Insurance Contributions Act; and (3) the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. Defines a "qualified staffing firm" as any person engaged in providing staffing services to a customer under a service contract if, regarding a worker performing services for the customer covered by the contract, the firm has responsibility for payment of wages, handles withholding taxes and benefits, has authority to hire, reassign and dismiss, maintains employee records, and has responsibility for addressing the worker's complaints, claims, filings, or employment-related requests. (Sec. 3) Includes in the definition of "employee," for specified provisions relating to various employee benefits, any individual whose employer is a qualified staffing firm. Treats certain changes in the employment relationship between an individual and a qualified staffing firm (or its customer or former customer) as a termination of employment from the firm (or the customer). (Sec. 4) Treats a leased employee as an employee of the recipient of the employee's services and treats contributions or benefits provided by the recipient as provided by the recipient for purposes of provisions relating to qualified pension, profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans. Sets forth special rules applicable to the leasing organization's plans. (Sec. 5) Revises leased employee safe harbor requirements.
Law· HRH.R. 1871 (105th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense Chapter 1: Department of Defense - Military Chapter 2: Rescissions Chapter 3: General Provisions - This Title Title II: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from Natural Disasters Chapter 1: Department of Agriculture Chapter 2: Department of Commerce Chapter 3: Department of Defense - Civil Chapter 4: Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Chapter 5: Department of the Interior Chapter 6: Department of Health and Human Services Chapter 7: Congressional Operations Chapter 8: Department of Transportation Chapter 9: Department of the Treasury Chapter 10: Department of Veterans Affairs Chapter 11: Offsets and Rescissions Title III: General Provisions - This Act Title IV: Cost of Higher Education Review Title V: Depository Institution Disaster Relief Title VI: Technical Amendments With Respect To Education Title VII: Food Stamp Program Title VIII: 2000 Decennial Census 1997 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from Natural Disasters, and for Overseas Peacekeeping Efforts, Including Those in Bosnia - Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense - Chapter 1: Department of Defense - Military - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) - Military for: (1) military personnel, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force; (2) operation and maintenance (O&M), Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer Fund; (3) OPLAN 34A-35 prisoner-of-war (P.O.W.) payments to individuals; and (4) the Reserve Mobilization Income Insurance Fund. (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer specified funds to reimburse costs incurred for repairing damage caused by hurricanes, flooding, and other natural disasters during 1996 and 1997 to real property and facilities at Marine Corps facilities (including Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point, North Carolina; and the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California). (Sec. 102) Makes additional appropriations for: (1) direct patient care at military treatment facilities; (2) force protection and counter-terrorism activities; and (3) a grant to the American Red Cross for armed forces emergency services. (Sec. 105) Requires the President to submit to the Congress a report on the estimated cumulative cost of all U.S. activities relating to Bosnia after December 1, 1995, and a detailed accounting of the source of funds to meet such costs. (Sec. 106) Makes additional appropriations to cover incremental O&M costs from hurricane damage to family housing units at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Chapter 2: Rescissions - Rescinds specified funds provided in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1997 for: (1) military personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force; (2) O&M for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force as well as defense-wide O&M; (3) environmental restoration by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as defense-wide environmental restoration and environmental restoration of formerly used defense sites; (4) former Soviet Union threat reduction; (5) the National Defense Sealift Fund; (6) the Defense Health Program; and (7) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities. Rescinds funds made available in such Act and certain other defense appropriations Acts for: (1) various types of procurement, including aircraft, missile, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, shipbuilding and conversion, and ammunition, by various branches of the armed forces; (2) National Guard and reserve equipment; (3) armed forces research, development, test and evaluation; and (4) chemical agents and munitions destruction. (Sec. 201) Rescinds specified amounts of the funds appropriated in specified categories in: (1) the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1996, including the Base Realignment and Closure Account; (2) the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1997; and (3) the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1995. Chapter 3: General Provisions - This Title - Directs DOD to report to the congressional defense committees prior to transferring management, development, and acquisition authority over the National Missile Defense Program from the military services. Requires the Joint Requirements Oversight Council to submit recommendations to such committees on the future roles of the military services with respect to such program. (Sec. 302) Authorizes the incumbent to continue to serve as the Secretary of Defense designee on the Board of the Panama Canal Commission if he retires as an officer of DOD, until and unless the Secretary designates another person to serve in this position. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement, which meets certain requirements, for the lease of a specified building at the Lexington Blue Grass Station, Lexington, Kentucky, and any associated real property, for use by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the continuing obligation and expenditure of certain funds appropriated for Navy weapons procurement that were obligated and expended to settle claims on the MK-50 torpedo program. (Sec. 305) Prohibits the use of any DOD funds to pay the cost of operating a National Missile Defense Joint Program Office which includes more than 55 military and civilian personnel located in the National Capital Region. (Sec. 306) Requires the merger of certain National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Air Force funds for obligation only on Titan IV vehicles and related activities. Title II: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery From Natural Disasters - Chapter 1: Department of Agriculture - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of Agriculture for: (1) the Farm Service Agency's Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account for the additional cost of certain emergency insured and operating loans (including loan modifications); (2) the Emergency Conservation Program for expenses, including carcass removal; (3) the Tree Assistance Program for assistance to small orchardists to replace or rehabilitate disaster-damaged trees and vineyards; and (4) the Commodity Credit Corporation Fund, Disaster Reserve Assistance Program, to implement a livestock indemnity program. Makes such appropriations to: (1) the Natural Resources Conservation Service, for watershed and flood prevention operations to repair damages to the waterways and watersheds; (2) the Rural Housing Service, Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account, for the cost of specified loans and domestic farm labor grants for emergency expenses; and (3) the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Utilities Assistance Program, for the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants for emergency expenses. Bars the use of watershed and flood prevention funds for the salmon memorandum of understanding. Authorizes the use of certain community facility grants for the Rural Housing Assistance Program for expenses resulting from natural disasters. Makes additional funds available for the Food and Consumer Service's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. (Sec. 1001) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to collect and disseminate weekly statistically reliable information on bulk cheese prices. Chapter 2: Department of Commerce - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 to the Department of Commerce for: (1) the Economic Development Administration's economic development assistance programs for emergency infrastructure expenses; (2) the National Institute of Standards and Technology for new grants for industrial technology services under the Advanced Technology Program; and (3) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for disaster assistance related to recent flooding and red tide and for emergency construction expenses resulting from flooding and other natural disasters. Makes additional amounts available to implement the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Makes additional appropriations for the Commission on the Advancement of Federal Law Enforcement. (Sec. 2001) Earmarks a specified amount from the Counterterrorism Fund of the Department of Justice for allocation to the appropriate unit or units of government in Ogden, Utah, for necessary expenses to counter any potential terrorism threat related to the 2002 Winter Olympic games. (Sec. 2002) Amends the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program Act of 1988 to extend to the end of FY 1997 the authorization of the program for expanding small business participation in dredging. (Sec. 2003) Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to establish certain Good Samaritan exemptions from specified violations. (Sec. 2004) Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to reprogram a limited amount of funds provided for NOAA satellite observing systems for other NOAA programmatic and operational requirements, provided certain notification requirements are met. Chapter 3: Department of Defense - Civil - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997, with respect to emergency expenses due to flooding and other natural disasters, to DOD, Army Corps of Engineers - Civil for: (1) flood control, Mississippi River and tributaries, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee; (2) general O&M (with earmarked funds for an interagency management plan and other activities related to water allocation in the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa and Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basins, subject to certain restrictions); and (3) flood control and coastal emergencies. Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997, with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs, to the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation (BLM) for O&M. (Sec. 3001) Makes the U.S. members and the alternate members, appointed under the Susquehanna River Basin Compact and the Delaware River Basin Compact, officers of the Army Corps of Engineers, who hold presidential appointments as regular Army officers with Senate confirmation, and serve without additional compensation, and at the President's pleasure. (Sec. 3002) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to obligate a limited amount of funds for carrying out construction for safety purposes to modify the Willow Creek Dam, Sun River Project, Montana. (Sec. 3003) Defers specified consultation and conferencing requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for certain emergency flood control projects. Chapter 4: Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs - Authorizes the President to waive certain minimum funding requirements under provisions of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997 with respect to assistance for Ukraine if he reports to the Appropriations Committees that Ukraine: (1) has not made progress toward comprehensive economic reform; (2) is not taking steps to ensure that U.S. businesses and individuals are able to operate according to generally accepted business principles; or (3) is not taking steps to cease the illegal dumping of steel plate. Chapter 5: Department of the Interior - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 to the Department of the Interior for: (1) BLM flood damage repair and other activities for Oregon and California Grant Lands; (2) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service resource management, construction, and land acquisition; (3) National Park Service emergency expenses and construction; (4) the U.S. Geological Survey; and (5) the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Makes such appropriations for emergency expenses of the Forest Service and the Indian Health Service. (Sec. 5001) Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (part of the Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996) to revise the formula for distribution of amounts collected under the recreational fee demonstration program. (Sec. 5003) Amends the San Carlos Apache Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 1992 to extend its expiration date from June 30, 1997, through March 31, 1999, or, if before that date a Settlement Agreement between the San Carlos Apache Tribe and Phelps Dodge Corporation is submitted for approval to the Superior Court of Arizona in and for Maricopa County, through December 31, 1999. Extends the Tribe's Central Arizona Project water lease authority to Gila, Graham, and Greenlee Counties. Makes the Gila Valley and Franklin Irrigation Districts parties to the Settlement Agreement. Directs the United States, through the BLM, to operate and maintain the Black River facilities, and to contract for delivery of water at Eagle Creek to Phelps Dodge for a specified monthly fee in addition to a specified monthly power line right-of-way fee. Sets forth provisions for a final agreement between Phelps Dodge and the San Carlos Apache Tribe under which the Tribe will operate the facilities and receive payment for leased water. Ratifies the agreement between the Tribe, Phelps Dodge, and the Secretary of the Interior. (Sec. 5004) Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to modify requirements for the importation of polar bear parts from polar bears legally harvested in Canada before the date of enactment of the Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1994. Chapter 6: Department of Health and Human Services - Amends specified Federal law relating to appropriations to provide for additional amounts for: (1) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Health Resources and Services Administration's Health Education Assistance Loans Program; (2) the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for priority health research; and (3) the Department of Education, Education for the Disadvantaged programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Makes funds available for the National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education. (Sec. 6001) Extends through FY 1998 the availability, to recipients in presidentially-declared disaster areas declared during FY 1997, of certain funds awarded for State-administered programs of the Department of Education for FY 1995 (and for FY 1996, with respect to such programs under the Rehabilitation Act). (Sec. 6002) Authorizes the Secretary of Education, with respect to student aid awards for award years 1996-1997 and 1997-1998, to waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision applicable to the student financial aid programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to assist individuals and other program participants who suffered financial harm from natural disasters. (Sec. 6003) Prohibits the use of any funds to administer or implement in Denver, Colorado, a Medicare Competitive Pricing-Open Enrollment Demonstration program. (Sec. 6004) Provides for emergency use of certain child care funds. Authorizes eligible State Governors, for a limited time period, to use amounts received for the provision of child care assistance or services under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to provide emergency child care services to eligible individuals. Bases State eligibility on the President's determination, pursuant to specified provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, that a major disaster exists, or that an area within the State is determined to be eligible for disaster relief under other Federal law by reason of damage related to flooding in 1997. Bases individual eligibility on: (1) residence within such an area where a major disaster exists, or which is so eligible for disaster relief; and (2) involvement in unpaid work activities (including the cleaning, repair, restoration, and rebuilding of homes, businesses, and schools) resulting from such flood emergency. Sets forth limitations and priorities with respect to such assistance. (Sec. 6005) Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to extend certain redetermination provisions for the supplementary security income (SSI) program. Chapter 7: Congressional Operations - Makes supplemental appropriations for an additional amount for expenses of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, to carry out specified provisions of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1997. Provides an amount for payment to the children of Frank Tejeda, the late Representative from the State of Texas. Makes additional amounts available for salaries and expenses of the Botanic Garden for emergency repair and renovation of the conservatory. (Sec. 7001) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1968 to make a specified limitation on the minimum rate of gross compensation inapplicable to any member or civilian employee of the Capitol Police whose compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate. (Sec. 7002) Authorizes the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration, to provide additional facilities, services, equipment, and office space for use by a Senator in that Senator's State in connection with a presidentially-declared disaster or emergency. (Sec. 7003) Allows the transfer of a limited amount of funds for the expense allowance of the Secretary of the Senate. (Sec. 7004) Authorizes the Comptroller General to use available funds to enter into contracts for the acquisition of severable services for periods that begin in one fiscal year and end in another and to enter into specified multiyear contracts to the same extent as agencies under the authority of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act. Chapter 8: Department of Transportation - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Transportation for: (1) Coast Guard retired pay and for operating expenses directly related to support activities in the TWA Flight 800 crash investigation; (2) Federal Highway Administration, Federal-Aid Highways and for the Emergency Relief Program; and (3) the Federal Railroad Administration, to repair and rebuild freight rail lines of regional and short line railroads damaged by floods (with earmarks for West Virginia and the northern Plains States). Makes such appropriations to the National Transportation Safety Board for: (1) emergency expenses resulting from the crashes of TWA Flight 800, ValuJet 592, and Comair Flight 3272; and (2) assistance to families of victims of aviation accidents. (Sec. 8003) Authorizes additional appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY 1997 for grants to States for alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures. (Sec. 8004) Extends through FY 1997 the authorization of appropriations for the National Driver Register. Chapter 9: Department of the Treasury - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of the Treasury. Authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to use the law enforcement services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the State of Colorado and of the county and city of Denver for security arrangements for the Denver Summit of Eight. Makes supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Customs Service for the automated targeting system with respect to counterterrorism and drug law enforcement; and (2) the Postal Service Fund, for revenue foregone on free and reduced rate mail for specified purposes. (Sec. 9001) Authorizes the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to obligate specified appropriations for construction of the Montgomery, Alabama, courthouse. (Sec. 9002) Prohibits the use of funds by GSA to implement certain cooperative purchasing provisions of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 prior to the adjournment of the first session of the 105th Congress. (Sec. 9003) Prohibits the Bureau of Engraving and Printing from awarding a contract for the procurement of distinctive currency paper until the General Accounting Office has completed an analysis of the optimum circumstances for procuring such paper. Limits the term of the bridge contract with respect to such paper to 24 months and requires the Secretary of the Treasury to make certain certifications concerning the price and terms of the agreement. (Sec. 9004) Amends specified Federal civil service law to authorize and establish a leave transfer program in disasters and emergencies. Chapter 10: Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes additional amounts available for: (1) the Veterans Benefits Administration for compensation and pensions; and (2) the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for preserving existing housing investment, capacity building for community development and affordable housing, and for community development block grants for activities in communities affected by disasters in the upper Midwest. Authorizes appropriations for the construction of a parking garage at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Cleveland, Ohio. Earmarks amounts of assisted housing special purpose grants for acquiring parking and restoring a theater in Ashland, Kentucky. Requires the HUD Secretary to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Public Administration for an evaluation of HUD's management systems. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), from previous appropriations for the Center for Ecology Research and Training (CERT), to obligate the maximum amount of funds necessary to settle all outstanding CERT-related claims against the EPA pursuant to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. Authorizes EPA, from any unobligated balances then remaining, to make grants to Bay City, Michigan, for the purpose of EPA-approved environmental remediation and rehabilitation of publicly owned real property included in the boundaries of the CERT project. Authorizes the use of a specified amount of funds for grants to States and federally recognized tribes for multi-media or single media pollution prevention, control, and abatement for direct implementation by the Federal Government of programs required in absence of acceptable State or tribal programs. Makes additional funds available to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster relief. Conditions the availability of a portion of such funds on the submission by the FEMA Director of a legislative proposal to control disaster relief expenditures, including the elimination of funding for certain revenue producing facilities. Authorizes transfer of a specified amount of FEMA disaster relief funds to the Disaster Assistance Direct Loan Program for the cost of direct loans under certain provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, under specified conditions. (Sec. 10001) Directs the HUD Secretary to submit semi-annually to the Appropriations Committees a list of all contracts and task orders in excess of $250,000 entered into by HUD, the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), and the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight in the preceding six months. (Sec. 10002) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise certain time periods relating to notice requirements for terminating section 8 housing contracts. (Sec. 10003) Amends the Multifamily Housing Finance Improvement Act, under specified provisions of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, to revise limitations on the Secretary of HUD's mortgage insurance authority to allow commitments with respect to a limited number of additional units during FY 1997. (Sec. 10005) Amends the National Housing Act to authorize HUD mortgage insurance for condominiums in an amount up to 100 percent of appraised value where a mortgagor establishes that the home was destroyed or damaged as a result of a major disaster. Chapter 11: Offsets and Rescissions - Sets forth offsets with respect to the Fund for Rural America and the Food and Consumer Service's emergency food assistance program. Prohibits the use of Department of Agriculture funds under the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 to pay the personnel salaries and expenses above specified levels to carry out: (1) a combined program for export credit guarantees, supplier credit guarantees, and emerging democracies facilities guarantees; and (2) an export enhancement program. Rescinds specified funds available for: (1) the Department of Justice for the Working Capital Fund, the Assets Forfeiture Fund, and Immigration and Naturalization Service construction; (2) the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the Advanced Technology Program; (3) the Federal Communications Commission; (4) the Ounce of Prevention Council; (5) the Department of Energy for energy supply and research and development activities, power marketing administrations, clean coal technology, and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; (6) the Department of HHS for job opportunities and basic skills; (7) the Department of Transportation for grants-in-aid for airports, highway traffic safety grants, and other Highway Trust Fund monies; (8) GSA presidential transition expenses; (9) HUD assisted housing programs; and (10) NASA. Title III: General Provisions - This Act - Provides that no appropriation made in this Act shall remain available beyond the current fiscal year unless otherwise provided. (Sec. 30002) Sets forth Buy-American requirements. Title IV: Cost of Higher Education Review - Cost of Higher Education Review Act of 1997 - Establishes a National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education to study and make recommendations regarding: (1) the increase in tuition compared with other commodities and services; (2) innovative methods of reducing or stabilizing tuition; (3) the impact on tuition of specified trends in college and university costs, student financial aid, and government mandates and fiscal policies; (4) mechanisms for a more timely and widespread distribution of data on tuition trends and other costs of operating colleges and universities; and (5) the adequacy of existing Federal and State financial aid programs in meeting the costs of attending colleges and universities. (Sec. 40006) Authorizes appropriations for the Commission. Title V: Depository Institution Disaster Relief - Depository Institutions Disaster Relief Act of 1997 - Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to make exceptions, during specified limited periods, to the Truth in Lending Act for transactions, and to the Expedited Funds Availability Act for depository institution offices, within a major disaster area or an area eligible for disaster relief because of the recent flooding of the Red River of the North, the Minnesota River, and their tributaries. (Sec. 50003) Authorizes the appropriate Federal banking agency to permit, for a specified time period, certain insured depository institutions, in or involved with such area, to subtract from the institution's total assets, in calculating compliance with the leverage limit prescribed under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, an amount not exceeding the qualifying amount attributable to insurance proceeds. (Sec. 50004) Authorizes qualifying regulatory agencies to take specified actions with respect to depository institutions or other regulated entities whose principal place of business is within, or with respect to transactions or activities within such area. (Sec. 50005) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration should encourage depository institutions to meet the financial services needs of their communities and customers located in areas affected by the 1997 flooding of the Red River of the North, the Minnesota River, and their tributaries. Expresses the sense of the Congress that each Federal financial institutions regulatory agency should make exceptions to the appraisal standards prescribed by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 for transactions involving institutions located in disaster areas if the exceptions can be expected to alleviate hardships to the public resulting from such disasters. Title VI: Technical Amendments With Respect to Education - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make certain technical corrections relating to graduation rates data disclosures. (Sec. 60002) Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to extend from January 1, 1998, to January 1, 1999, the deadline for a final report by the Secretary of Education on a national assessment of programs assisted under ESEA title I, Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards. (Sec. 60003) Directs the Secretary to deem Kansas and New Mexico as having timely submitted certain written notices of intent to consider specified impact aid payments under ESEA in providing State aid to local educational agencies (LEAs) for school year 1997-1998. Authorizes the Secretary to require these States to submit appropriate additional information, which shall be considered part of such notice. (Sec. 60004) Provides that no eligible LEA shall receive less than 85 percent of the FY 1996 amount in a specified hold-harmless impact aid payment for each of FY 1997 through 2000. (Sec. 60005) Revises requirements for the Secretary's use of data in providing additional assistance for heavily impacted LEAs, to specify that the student and revenue data used be expenditure data. Repeals the requirement that the Secretary use the most recent data available adjusted to the fiscal year in question. Title VII: Food Stamp Program - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to grant States an option to issue food stamp benefits to certain individuals made ineligible by welfare reform. Title VIII: 2000 Decennial Census - Directs the Department of Commerce to provide to the Congress a comprehensive plan outlining its proposed methodologies for conducting the 2000 decennial census and available methods for conducting an actual enumeration of the population.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 97 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1997
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the current alternative minimum tax on profitable individuals and corporations should remain wholly intact.
Bill· SS. 883 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Retirement Savings Incentives Subtitle A: Restoration of IRA Deduction Subtitle B: Nondeductible Tax-Free IRAs Title II: Women's Retirement Security Title III: Expansion of Pension Coverage for Small Business Title IV: Portability Title V: Pension Security Subtitle A: Economically Targeted Investments Subtitle B: Other Provisions Title VI: Simplification of Plan Requirements Title VII: Date for Adoption of Plan Amendments Retirement Income, Security, and Savings Act of 1997 - Title I: Retirement Savings Incentives - Subtitle A: Restoration of IRA Deduction - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase individual retirement account (IRA) income limits applicable to active participants. Repeals active participation restrictions. (Sec. 102) Provides for IRA contribution inflation adjustments. Subtitle B: Nondeductible Tax-Free IRAs - Amends the Code to establish a nondeductible tax-free IRA Plus account. Sets forth related provisions. Title II: Women's Retirement Security - Amends the Code to make an individual's eligibility for deductible IRA contributions independent of spousal pension plan participation. (Sec. 202) Authorizes pension plan contributions with respect to periods of: (1) maternity and paternity leave; and (2) child-raising periods. Title III: Expansion of Pension Coverage for Small Business - Amends the Code to allow an eligible employer to establish an employer-funded SAFE annuity (an individual retirement annuity) or a SAFE trust (a trust forming part of a defined benefit plan). Sets forth related provisions. Makes related amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). (Sec. 302) Treats as not an elective deferral certain retirement and SIMPLE account matching contributions made on behalf of a self-employed individual. (Sec. 304) Provides for payroll deduction contributions to IRAs. Title IV: Portability - Amends the Code to allow specified pension plan rollovers, and related nondisqualification of receiving plans. (Sec. 405) Provides a hardship exception with respect to the 60-day exempt trust rollover provision. (Sec. 406) Amends the Code and ERISA to set forth the circumstances in which a defined contribution plan will not be treated as failing to meet requirements merely because the transferee plan does not provide some or all the forms of distribution previously available under another defined contribution plan. Title V: Pension Security - Subtitle A: Economically Targeted Investments - Expresses the sense of the Congress that economically targeted investments violate ERISA intent. (Sec. 502) Sets forth specified prohibitions on Department of Labor interpretations and activities with respect to employee benefit plan investment. (Sec. 503) Amends ERISA to prohibit any Federal agency or instrumentality from establishing or maintaining a clearinghouse or database relating to economically targeted investments. (Sec. 504) Requires termination of any Federal contracts that are in violation of this title. Subtitle B: Other Provisions - Amends the Code to provide for a phased-in increase to full employer funding of pension liabilities. Title VI: Simplification of Plan Requirements - Directs the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor to issue guidance with respect to the use of new technologies and paperless transactions. (Sec. 602) Makes certain nondiscrimination and participation requirements inapplicable to a government plan. (Sec. 603) Amends ERISA to eliminate specified plan description and related requirements. Title VII: Date for Adoption of Plan Amendments - Sets forth plan adoption dates.
Bill· SS. 869 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities, including an employing authority or office to which specified provisions of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 or the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 apply. Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares that: (1) this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's partner; and (2) a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from entering into a consent decree that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except regarding employment in a position the duties of which pertain solely to activities of the organization that generate unrelated business income subject to taxation under specified Internal Revenue Code provisions); (2) the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for all remedies (except punitive damages, with compensatory damages available to the extent specified in certain existing provisions of law) to the same extent as under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Requires posting notices for employees and applicants.
Law· SS. 871 (105th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Oklahoma City National Memorial Act of 1997 - Establishes: (1) the Oklahoma City National Memorial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as a National Park System unit; and (2) the Oklahoma City National Memorial Trust, as a wholly owned Government corporation, to administer the operation, maintenance, management, and interpretation of the Memorial. Requires the Trust, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, to develop a comprehensive program for management of lands, operations, and facilities within the Memorial. Authorizes appropriations. Requires amounts appropriated in any fiscal year to carry out this Act to be expended only on a matching basis in a ratio of at least one non-Federal dollar to every Federal dollar. Requires, before the construction of the Memorial, the Administrator of the General Services Administration to exchange, sell, lease, donate, or otherwise dispose of the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, or a portion thereof, to the Trust. Exempts such disposal from: (1) the Public Buildings Act of 1959; (2) the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949; and (3) any other Federal law establishing requirements or procedures for Federal property disposal. Directs the General Accounting Office, six years after the first meeting of the Trust's Board of Directors, to study and report to specified congressional committees on the Trust's activities.
Bill· SS. 872 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the nonrecognition of gain on sales of stock of a qualified refiner or processor to an eligible farmer's cooperative.
Bill· SS. 865 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Protecting Program Integrity Title II: Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Title III: Technical Clarifications and Corrections Title IV: Coordination of Benefits Medicare Antifraud Act of 1997 - Title I: Protecting Program Integrity - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from issuing or renewing the provider number of a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier unless the supplier provides information on ownership or control interests and a surety bond of at least $50,000; (2) require home health agencies to provide such a surety bond; and (3) authorize application of such disclosure and surety bond requirements to suppliers of ambulance services and clinics that furnish medical and other health services (other than physicians' services) under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). (Sec. 102) Amends SSA title XI to condition provider payment under the Medicare, Medicaid (SSA title XIX), and Maternal and Child Health Services (SSA title V) programs on the disclosure to the Secretary of certain applicable employer identification and social security numbers, including those of individuals with an ownership or control interest in the provider. Requires verification of such information, and correction if necessary, by the Social Security Administration. (Sec. 103) Requires non-physician practitioners to provide diagnostic codes for furnished items or services. Requires both physicians and non-physician practitioners to provide diagnostic information to another entity when ordering from it certain items or services if the Secretary requires such entity to provide such information in order to be paid. (Sec. 104) Replaces the reasonable charge methodology for the payment of Medicare benefits with a methodology that uses fee schedules developed by the Secretary. (Sec. 105) Requires the Secretary to describe by regulation the factors to be used in determining the cases or particular items in which application of special DME payment rules results in inherently unreasonable amounts. Applies such regulations to payment for surgical dressings. (Sec. 106) Amends SSA title XI to authorize the Secretary to exclude from the Medicare program an entity controlled by a family or household member of a sanctioned individual. (Sec. 107) Amends SSA title XVIII to make Medicare carriers, States, and fiscal intermediaries liable to the Secretary for any payment of claims submitted by excluded providers after the Secretary notifies the organization or agency of such exclusion. (Sec. 108) Amends SSA titles XVIII and XIX to authorize the Secretary or a State to refuse to enter into Medicare or Medicaid agreements with individuals or entities convicted of felonies. (Sec. 109) Amends part A (General Provisions) of SSA title XI to provide that Medicare- and Medicaid-related actions are not stayed by bankruptcy proceedings, and Medicare- and Medicaid-related debt is not dischargeable in bankruptcy. Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for the use of Medicare standards and procedures in bankruptcy proceedings. (Sec. 110) Amends the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 to: (1) authorize the availability of National Practitioner Data Bank information to the Inspectors General of the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), of Defense, and of Labor, of the Office of Personnel Management, and of the Railroad Retirement Board; and (2) exempt the HHS Inspector General from fees for such information. (Sec. 111) Amends SSA title XIX to extend the authority of State Medicaid Fraud Control Units to investigate and prosecute: (1) fraud in other Federal health care programs, upon the approval of the relevant Federal agency; and (2) patient abuse in non-Medicaid board and care facilities. (Sec. 112) Amends SSA title XVIII to change from biennial to annual the General Accounting Office report on the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund's Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account. Title II: Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse - Amends SSA title XI to permit the Secretary to impose civil monetary penalties for kickback violations, and for persons that contract with individuals excluded from participation in a Federal health care program, as well as for services ordered or prescribed by an excluded individual or entity. Title III: Technical Clarifications and Corrections - Makes technical amendments to SSA title XI. Title IV: Coordination of Benefits - Amends SSA title XVIII to repeal the termination dates of, thus extending permanently, certain Medicare secondary payer provisions with respect to the working disabled, individuals with end-stage renal disease, and the IRS-SSA- HCFA data match. (Sec. 402) Makes technical changes concerning minimum sizes of group health plans. (Sec. 403) Requires group health plans to provide the Secretary, and employers and employee organizations to provide plan administrators, certain information pertaining to employers, employees, and employee family members with current or former employment status. (Sec. 404) Makes certain technical revisions to time and filing limitations, the liability of third party administrators, and requirements for reimbursement for Medicare secondary payer payments.
Law· HRH.R. 1853 (105th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Vocational-Technical Education Assistance to the States Title II: Basic State Grants for Vocational-Technical Education Title III: Research and Development Title IV: General Provisions Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act Amendments of 1997 - Amends the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act to: (1) rename it the Carl D. Perkins Vocational- Technical Education Act (the Act); (2) revise it; and (3) extend the authorization of appropriations through FY 2002. Title I: Vocational-Technical Education Assistance to the States - Revises formulae for: (1) allotment of funds to States under the basic State grant program, including reservation of specified amounts by the Secretary of Education for Indian and Native Hawaiian programs and for the territories; and (2) allocation of such funds within a State. Requires allocation to the local level of at least 90 percent of a State's allotment, with not more than eight percent for State activities and not more than two percent for State administrative costs. Allows a State to reserve from its allotment (from amounts allocated to local areas) up to ten percent for grants to rural areas. (Sec. 103) Revises provisions for grants for Native Americans and Native Hawaiians. (Sec. 104) Revises requirements for grants for vocational-technical education programs at tribally controlled postsecondary vocational institutions. Authorizes appropriations. Part B (sic): State Organization and Planning Responsibilities - Revises State administrative requirements. (Sec. 112) Repeals the requirement for State councils on vocational education. (Sec. 113) Replaces current requirements for State plans with State application requirements, including general procedures for development of a five-year State plan. (Sec. 114) Revises requirements for State plan submission to emphasize submission of State applications including such plans. (Sec. 115) Requires States to develop benchmarks to measure the progress of individuals in vocational-technical education programs. Requires States and local eligible recipients that fail to meet such benchmarks to submit a program improvement plan for the succeeding program year. Authorizes the Secretary to impose sanctions on States which fail to meet such benchmarks. Requires State reports to the Secretary on their benchmark performance, with such information to be available to the general public. (Sec. 116) Repeals specified provisions relating to: (1) State and local standards and measures; (2) State assessment; (3) program evaluation and improvement; and (4) criteria for services and activities for individuals who are members of special populations. Title II: Basic State Grants for Vocational-Technical Education - Revises required and permissible uses of funds for State programs and State leadership activities. (Sec. 202) Eliminates the current State-administered programs to: (1) provide single parents, displaced homemakers, and single pregnant women with marketable skills; (2) promote the elimination of sex bias; and (2) provide vocational education to criminal offenders. Revises requirements for secondary, postsecondary and adult vocational-technical education programs. Revises the formula for distribution of funds to secondary school programs, basing it in part on the total population aged 15 to 19 and in part on the portion of such population living in poverty. Provides a waiver to develop an alternative formula under certain conditions for a more equitable distribution. Reduces the minimum grant amount for a local educational agency from $15,000 to $7,500. Extends the current mandatory waiver of the minimum grant requirement for rural and certain other schools to charter schools as well. Provides for distribution of funds to area vocational-technical schools and consortia. Directs the Secretary to collect data on how States are distributing funds to local educational agencies. Revises the formula for distribution of funds to postsecondary and adult vocational-technical education programs. Reduces the minimum grant amount for a local educational agency from $50,000 to $20,000. Requires grant recipients to use their funds, in part, to: (1) improve or expand the use of technology in vocational-technical instruction, including instructor training in state-of-the-art technology, which may include distance learning; and (2) provide professional development programs. (Sec. 203) Repeals current title II part C provisions for secondary, postsecondary, and adult vocational education programs (incorporating some of them among the revised requirements of this title). Title III: Research and Development - Replaces current research and development program requirements with a mandate for development of a single plan for evaluation and assessment, research, demonstrations, and dissemination of information with respect to vocational-technical education programs funded under the Act. Directs the Secretary to carry out a specified demonstration partnership project involving Napa Valley Community Resource Center, local public educational organizations, volunteer groups, and private sector business participants. Extends through FY 2002 the authorization of appropriations for such activities. (Sec. 301) Eliminates current title III provisions for tech-prep education, comprehensive career guidance and counseling programs, and other special programs. (Sec. 302) Repeals title IV national programs provisions for: (1) demonstration programs; (2) National Council on Vocational Education; and (3) bilingual vocational training. (Sec. 303) Transfers to the new title III current title IV part C provisions for data systems, the National Center for Education Statistics, assessment of international competitiveness, the Vocational Education Advisory Task Force, National Assessment of Educational Progress activities, the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, and the information base for vocational education data system. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 through 2002 for such activities. Title IV: General Provisions - Revises certain fiscal requirements relating to maintenance of effort, excluding from the computation of fiscal effort or aggregate expenditures for such purposes any capital expenditures, special one-time project costs, similar windfalls, and the cost of pilot programs. Requires funds under the Act to supplement but not supplant funds from non-Federal sources. (Sec. 401) Provides for program participation by private, religious, and home schools. Prohibits the use of funds to require any individual: (1) to choose a specific career path or course of study; or (2) to meet or obtain federally-funded or endorsed industry recognized skills, certificates, or standards. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to receive and use funds from Federal collection of cell tower fees to expand the use of technology in vocational-technical education. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations under the Act only to the extent necessary to administer and ensure compliance with specific requirements under the Act. Revises provisions relating to State administrative costs. Repeals the Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act. Eliminates certain provisions relating to: (1) regional meetings and negotiated rulemaking; (2) Federal monitoring; (3) consultation on and review of regulations; (4) General Accounting Office investigations relating to reports, plans, and regulations under the Act; and (5) student assistance and other Federal programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 1849 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Oklahoma City National Memorial Act of 1997 - Establishes the Oklahoma City National Memorial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as a National Park System unit; and (2) the Oklahoma City National Memorial Trust, as a wholly owned Government corporation, to administer the operation, maintenance, management, and interpretation of the Memorial. Requires the Trust, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, to develop a comprehensive program for management of lands, operations, and facilities within the Memorial. Authorizes appropriations. Requires amounts appropriated in any fiscal year to carry out this Act to be expended only on a matching basis in ratio of at least one non-Federal dollar to every Federal dollar. Requires, before the construction of the Memorial, the Administrator of the General Services Administration to exchange, sell, lease, donate, or otherwise dispose of the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, or a portion thereof, to the Trust. Excludes such disposal from: (1) the Public Buildings Act of 1959; (2) the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949; and (3) any other Federal law establishing requirements or procedures for Federal property disposal. Directs the General Accounting Office, six years after the first meeting of the Trust's Board of Directors, to study and report to specified congressional committees on the Trust's activities.
Bill· HRH.R. 1838 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorizations Title II: Personnel Management Title III: Financial and Property Management Title IV: Reports and Investigations Title V: Marine Safety and Environmental Protection Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 - Title I: Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard for: (1) operation and maintenance; (2) acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft; (3) research, development, testing, and evaluation; (4) retired pay, payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection and Survivor Benefit Plans, and payments for medical care of retired personnel and their dependents; and (5) environmental compliance and restoration at Coast Guard facilities. (Sec. 102) Authorizes Coast Guard end-of-year strength and military training student loads. Title II: Personnel Management - Amends Federal law relating to the Coast Guard to remove the dollar limit on severance pay for regular warrant officers. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Coast Guard Commandant to: (1) obtain research on personnel resource and training needs; and (2) employ special programs for recruiting minorities, including using grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. Terminates those authorities on a specified date. Title III: Financial and Property Management - Authorizes the Commandant to rent or lease commercial vehicles to transport the next of kin of eligible retired Coast Guard military personnel to attend funeral services of the service member at a national cemetery. (Sec. 302) Authorizes the use of up to $25,000 to provide economic adjustment assistance for the City of Novato, California, for the cost of revising the Hamilton Reuse Planning Authority's reuse plan as a result of the Coast Guard's request for housing at Hamilton Air Force Base (or to reimburse the Department of Defense for providing that assistance). (Sec. 303) Requires, when the Coast Guard supply fund is reduced to delete items stocked, that the existing capital of the fund be reduced by the value of the materials transferred to other Coast Guard accounts. (Sec. 304) Authorizes honorary recognition of individuals and organizations that significantly contribute to Coast Guard programs, missions, or operations, including State and local governments and commercial and nonprofit organizations. Allows payment for plaques, medals, and similar items. Title IV: Reports and Investigations - Removes provisions requiring that reports be made public. (Sec. 402) Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to remove a requirement of a biennial report to the Congress. Title V: Marine Safety and Environmental Protection - Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act and Federal law relating to vessels and seamen to define "navigable waters of the United States" to include all waters of the U.S. territorial sea as described in a specified Presidential Proclamation. Makes changes relating to U.S. navigable waters in provisions relating to the operation of vessels, uninspected vessel safety equipment, recreational vessels, uninspected commercial fishing industry vessels, and vessel pilots. Amends the Act of June 15, 1917 (relating to foreign relations, neutrality, foreign commerce, espionage, and enforcement of criminal laws) to define "navigable waters of the United States" to include all waters of the U.S. territorial sea as described in a specified Presidential Proclamation. (Sec. 502) Amends Federal law relating to vessels and seamen to revise the bases for suspension or revocation of a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document.
Bill· HRH.R. 1843 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Local Free Access Act - Amends provisions regarding Federal payments in lieu of taxes to exempt persons residing within the boundaries of local governments that receive such payments from National Forest System recreational user fees unless sufficient funds are appropriated in a fiscal year to provide full payments to eligible local governments.
Bill· HRH.R. 1858 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities, including an employing authority or office to which specified provisions of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 or the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 apply. Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares that: (1) this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's partner; and (2) a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from entering into a consent decree that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except regarding employment in a position the duties of which pertain solely to activities of the organization that generate unrelated business income subject to taxation under specified Internal Revenue Code provisions); (2) the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for all remedies (except punitive damages, with compensatory damages available to the extent specified in certain existing provisions of law) to the same extent as under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Requires posting notices for employees and applicants.
Bill· HRH.R. 1844 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deem as a deductible repair and not chargeable to the capital account required aircraft maintenance expenditures (as defined by this Act) performed under a government airworthiness maintenance program (as defined by this Act). Excludes expenditures with respect to major design changes or equipment not previously placed in service by the taxpayer.
Bill· HRH.R. 1845 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Family Farm and Small Business Estate Tax Relief Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the estate tax exclusion for qualifying family-owned businesses. Provides for a related inflation adjustment.
Bill· HRH.R. 1841 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross estate of an individual the value of the "qualified small business or family farm interest" (as defined by this Act) otherwise includible in the estate. Sets forth rules regarding ownership and personal holding company limitations.
Law· SS. 858 (105th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Intelligence Activities Title II: Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Title III: General Provisions Title IV: Central Intelligence Agency Title V: Department of Defense Intelligence Activities Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 - Title I: Intelligence Activities - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 for the conduct of intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the: (1) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); (2) Department of Defense; (3) Defense Intelligence Agency; (4) National Security Agency; (5) Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force; (6) Departments of State, the Treasury, and Energy; (7) Federal Bureau of Investigation; (8) Drug Enforcement Administration; (9) National Reconnaissance Office (NRO); and (10) National Imagery and Mapping Agency. (Sec. 102) Specifies that the amounts authorized to be appropriated and the authorized personnel ceilings as of September 30, 1998, for such activities are those specified in the classified Schedule of Authorizations which shall be made available to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees and the President. (Sec. 103) Allows the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to authorize employment of civilian personnel in excess of the number authorized for FY 1998 when necessary to the performance of important intelligence functions. Requires notification to the Senate and House Intelligence Committees (intelligence committees). (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for the Community Management Account of the DCI for FY 1998. Authorizes appropriations for such Account for classified purposes. Authorizes Account personnel levels. Title II: Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System - Authorizes appropriations for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund for FY 1998. Title III: General Provisions - Permits appropriations authorized by this Act for salary, pay, retirement, and other benefits for Federal employees to be increased by such additional amounts as may be necessary for increases in such compensation or benefits authorized by law. (Sec. 302) Specifies that the authorization of appropriations by this Act shall not be deemed to constitute authority for the conduct of any intelligence activity which is not otherwise authorized by the Constitution or laws of the United States. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the head of any element of the intelligence community (IC) to detail employees to serve in any position in the Intelligence Community Assignment Program. (Sec. 304) Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to extend through January 6, 2001, the authority of the President to stay the imposition of an economic, cultural, diplomatic, or other sanction or other action when the President determines and reports to the Congress that to impose such sanction without delay would seriously risk the compromise of an intelligence source or method or an ongoing criminal investigation. (Sec. 305) Requires the administrative location of the Office of the DCI to be within the CIA. (Sec. 306) Directs the President to inform employees of the executive branch and employees of contractors carrying out activities under classified contracts that the disclosure to the appropriate congressional committees or Members of Congress of classified information concerning an alleged violation of law, false statement to the Congress, or gross mismanagement, waste, abuse of authority, or danger to public health or safety is not prohibited by law or contrary to public policy. Requires a report on actions taken. (Sec. 307) Expresses the sense of the Congress that it is in the national interest to provide information regarding the murder or kidnapping abroad of U.S. citizens to the victims or their families. Makes the Secretary of State responsible for promptly providing such information. (Sec. 308) Requires the DCI to: (1) carry out a survey of current standards for the spelling of foreign names and places among IC elements; and (2) report survey results to the intelligence committees. Requires the DCI to issue guidelines for the uniform spelling of such names and places and the uniform use of geographic coordinates for such places. Title IV: Central Intelligence Agency - Amends the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 to authorize the CIA to enter into multiyear leases for up to 15 years, with exceptions concerning the availability of appropriations to cover rental payments under such leases. (Sec. 402) Empowers the CIA Inspector General (IG) with subpoena authority for the production of information, documents, and other data necessary for the performance of IG duties. Requires an annual report from the IG to the intelligence committees on the exercise of such authority. Title V: Department of Defense Intelligence Activities - Authorize the President of the Joint Military Intelligence College (currently, the Commandant of the Defense Intelligence School) to confer the degree of master of science in strategic intelligence (current law) and the degree of bachelor of science in intelligence upon graduates fulfilling such requirements. (Sec. 502) Amends the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to extend through FY 1999 the authority for the expenditure of funds for infrastructure and quality of life improvements to the Menwith Hall and Bad Aibling Army Stations. (Sec. 503) Prohibits, with injunctive power, the unauthorized use of the NRO's name, initials, or seal.
Bill· SS. 851 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense Chapter 1: Department of Defense - Military Chapter 2: Rescissions Chapter 3: General Provisions - This Title Title II: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from Natural Disasters Chapter 1: Department of Agriculture Chapter 2: Department of Commerce Chapter 3: Department of Defense - Civil Chapter 4: Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Chapter 5: Department of the Interior Chapter 6: Department of Health and Human Services Chapter 7: Congressional Operations Chapter 8: Department of Transportation Chapter 9: Department of the Treasury Chapter 10: Department of Veterans Affairs Chapter 11: Offsets and Rescissions Title III: General Provisions - This Act Title IV: Cost of Higher Education Review Title V: Depository Institution Disaster Relief Title VI: Technical Amendments With Respect to Education Title VII: Food Stamp Program Title I: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Defense - Chapter 1: Department of Defense - Military - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) - Military for: (1) military personnel, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force; (2) operation and maintenance (O&M), Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer Fund; (3) OPLAN 34A-35 prisoner-of-war (P.O.W.) payments to individuals; and (4) the Reserve Mobilization Income Insurance Fund. (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer specified funds to reimburse costs incurred for repairing damage caused by hurricanes, flooding, and other natural disasters during 1996 and 1997 to real property and facilities at Marine Corps facilities (including Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point, North Carolina; and the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California). (Sec. 102) Makes additional appropriations for: (1) direct patient care at military treatment facilities; (2) force protection and counter-terrorism activities; and (3) a grant to the American Red Cross for armed forces emergency services. (Sec. 105) Requires the President to submit to the Congress a report on the estimated cumulative cost of all U.S. activities relating to Bosnia after December 1, 1995, and a detailed accounting of the source of funds to meet such costs. (Sec. 106) Makes additional appropriations to cover incremental O&M costs from hurricane damage to family housing units at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Chapter 2: Rescissions - Rescinds specified funds provided in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1997 for: (1) military personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force; (2) O&M for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force as well as defense-wide O&M; (3) environmental restoration by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as defense-wide environmental restoration and environmental restoration of formerly used defense sites; (4) former Soviet Union threat reduction; (5) the National Defense Sealift Fund; (6) the Defense Health Program; and (7) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities. Rescinds funds made available in such Act and certain other defense appropriations Acts for: (1) various types of procurement, including aircraft, missile, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, shipbuilding and conversion, and ammunition, by various branches of the armed forces; (2) National Guard and reserve equipment; (3) armed forces research, development, test and evaluation; and (4) chemical agents and munitions destruction. (Sec. 201) Rescinds specified amounts of the funds appropriated in specified categories in: (1) the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1996, including the Base Realignment and Closure Account; (2) the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1997; and (3) the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1995. Chapter 3: General Provisions - This Title - Directs DOD to report to the congressional defense committees prior to transferring management, development, and acquisition authority over the National Missile Defense Program from the military services. Requires the Joint Requirements Oversight Council to submit recommendations to such committees on the future roles of the military services with respect to such program. (Sec. 302) Authorizes the incumbent to continue to serve as the Secretary of Defense designee on the Board of the Panama Canal Commission if he retires as an officer of DOD, until and unless the Secretary designates another person to serve in this position. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement, which meets certain requirements, for the lease of a specified building at the Lexington Blue Grass Station, Lexington, Kentucky, and any associated real property, for use by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the continuing obligation and expenditure of certain funds appropriated for Navy weapons procurement that were obligated and expended to settle claims on the MK-50 torpedo program. (Sec. 305) Prohibits the use of any DOD funds to pay the cost of operating a National Missile Defense Joint Program Office which includes more than 55 military and civilian personnel located in the National Capital Region. (Sec. 306) Requires the merger of certain National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Air Force funds for obligation only on Titan IV vehicles and related activities. Title II: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery From Natural Disasters - Chapter 1: Department of Agriculture - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of Agriculture for: (1) the Farm Service Agency's Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account for the additional cost of certain emergency insured and operating loans (including loan modifications); (2) the Emergency Conservation Program for expenses, including carcass removal; (3) the Tree Assistance Program for assistance to small orchardists to replace or rehabilitate disaster-damaged trees and vineyards; and (4) the Commodity Credit Corporation Fund, Disaster Reserve Assistance Program, to implement a livestock indemnity program. Makes such appropriations to: (1) the Natural Resources Conservation Service, for watershed and flood prevention operations to repair damages to the waterways and watersheds; (2) the Rural Housing Service, Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account, for the cost of specified loans and domestic farm labor grants for emergency expenses; and (3) the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Utilities Assistance Program, for the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants for emergency expenses. Bars the use of watershed and flood prevention funds for the salmon memorandum of understanding. Authorizes the use of certain community facility grants for the Rural Housing Assistance Program for expenses resulting from natural disasters. Makes additional funds available for the Food and Consumer Service's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. (Sec. 1001) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to collect and disseminate weekly statistically reliable information on bulk cheese prices. Chapter 2: Department of Commerce - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 to the Department of Commerce for: (1) the Economic Development Administration's economic development assistance programs for emergency infrastructure expenses; (2) the National Institute of Standards and Technology for new grants for industrial technology services under the Advanced Technology Program; and (3) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for disaster assistance related to recent flooding and red tide and for emergency construction expenses resulting from flooding and other natural disasters. Makes additional amounts available to implement the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Makes additional appropriations for the Commission on the Advancement of Federal Law Enforcement. (Sec. 2001) Earmarks a specified amount from the Counterterrorism Fund of the Department of Justice for allocation to the appropriate unit or units of government in Ogden, Utah, for necessary expenses to counter any potential terrorism threat related to the 2002 Winter Olympic games. (Sec. 2002) Amends the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program Act of 1988 to extend to the end of FY 1997 the authorization of the program for expanding small business participation in dredging. (Sec. 2003) Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to establish certain Good Samaritan exemptions from specified violations. (Sec. 2004) Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to reprogram a limited amount of funds provided for NOAA satellite observing systems for other NOAA programmatic and operational requirements, provided certain notification requirements are met. Chapter 3: Department of Defense - Civil - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997, with respect to emergency expenses due to flooding and other natural disasters, to DOD, Army Corps of Engineers - Civil for: (1) flood control, Mississippi River and tributaries, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee; (2) general O&M (with earmarked funds for an interagency management plan and other activities related to water allocation in the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa and Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basins, subject to certain restrictions); and (3) flood control and coastal emergencies. Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997, with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs, to the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation (BLM) for O&M. (Sec. 3001) Makes the U.S. members and the alternate members, appointed under the Susquehanna River Basin Compact and the Delaware River Basin Compact, officers of the Army Corps of Engineers, who hold presidential appointments as regular Army officers with Senate confirmation, and serve without additional compensation, and at the President's pleasure. (Sec. 3002) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to obligate a limited amount of funds for carrying out construction for safety purposes to modify the Willow Creek Dam, Sun River Project, Montana. (Sec. 3003) Defers specified consultation and conferencing requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for certain emergency flood control projects. Chapter 4: Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs - Authorizes the President to waive certain minimum funding requirements under provisions of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997 with respect to assistance for Ukraine if he reports to the Appropriations Committees that Ukraine: (1) has not made progress toward comprehensive economic reform; (2) is not taking steps to ensure that U.S. businesses and individuals are able to operate according to generally accepted business principles; or (3) is not taking steps to cease the illegal dumping of steel plate. Chapter 5: Department of the Interior - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 to the Department of the Interior for: (1) BLM flood damage repair and other activities for Oregon and California Grant Lands; (2) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service resource management, construction, and land acquisition; (3) National Park Service emergency expenses and construction; (4) the U.S. Geological Survey; and (5) the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Makes such appropriations for emergency expenses of the Forest Service and the Indian Health Service. (Sec. 5001) Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (part of the Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996) to revise the formula for distribution of amounts collected under the recreational fee demonstration program. (Sec. 5003) Amends the San Carlos Apache Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 1992 to extend its expiration date from June 30, 1997, through March 31, 1999, or, if before that date a Settlement Agreement between the San Carlos Apache Tribe and Phelps Dodge Corporation is submitted for approval to the Superior Court of Arizona in and for Maricopa County, through December 31,1999. Extends the Tribe's Central Arizona Project water lease authority to Gila, Graham, and Greenlee Counties. Makes the Gila Valley and Franklin Irrigation Districts parties to the Settlement Agreement. Directs the United States, through the BLM, to operate and maintain the Black River facilities, and to contract for delivery of water at Eagle Creek to Phelps Dodge for a specified monthly fee in addition to a specified monthly power line right-of-way fee. Sets forth provisions for a final agreement between Phelps Dodge and the San Carlos Apache Tribe under which the Tribe will operate the facilities and receive payment for leased water. Ratifies the agreement between the Tribe, Phelps Dodge, and the Secretary of the Interior. (Sec. 5004) Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to modify requirements for the importation of polar bear parts from polar bears legally harvested in Canada before the date of enactment of the Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1994. (Sec. 5005) Establishes the Commission on Section 2477 of the Revised Statutes to recommend changes to law to provide for expeditious resolutions of all outstanding claims of a right-of-way across Federal lands established pursuant to such section of the Revised Statutes. Sets forth provisions regarding approval and congressional consideration of such recommendations. Chapter 6: Department of Health and Human Services - Amends specified Federal law relating to appropriations to provide for additional amounts for: (1) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Health Resources and Services Administration's Health Education Assistance Loans Program; (2) the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for priority health research; and (3) the Department of Education, Education for the Disadvantaged programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Makes funds available for the National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education. (Sec. 6001) Extends through FY 1998 the availability, to recipients in presidentially-declared disaster areas declared during FY 1997, of certain funds awarded for State-administered programs of the Department of Education for FY 1995 (and for FY 1996, with respect to such programs under the Rehabilitation Act). (Sec. 6002) Authorizes the Secretary of Education, with respect to student aid awards for award years 1996-1997 and 1997-1998, to waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision applicable to the student financial aid programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to assist individuals and other program participants who suffered financial harm from natural disasters. (Sec. 6003) Prohibits the use of any funds to administer or implement in Denver, Colorado, a Medicare Competitive Pricing-Open Enrollment Demonstration program. (Sec. 6004) Provides for emergency use of certain child care funds. Authorizes eligible State Governors, for a limited time period, to use amounts received for the provision of child care assistance or services under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to provide emergency child care services to eligible individuals. Bases State eligibility on the President's determination, pursuant to specified provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, that a major disaster exists, or that an area within the State is determined to be eligible for disaster relief under other Federal law by reason of damage related to flooding in 1997. Bases individual eligibility on: (1) residence within such an area where a major disaster exists, or which is so eligible for disaster relief; and (2) involvement in unpaid work activities (including the cleaning, repair, restoration, and rebuilding of homes, businesses, and schools) resulting from such flood emergency. Sets forth limitations and priorities with respect to such assistance. (Sec. 6005) Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to extend certain redetermination provisions for the supplementary security income (SSI) program. Chapter 7: Congressional Operations - Makes supplemental appropriations for an additional amount for expenses of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, to carry out specified provisions of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1997. Provides an amount for payment to the children of Frank Tejeda, the late Representative from the State of Texas. Makes additional amounts available for salaries and expenses of the Botanic Garden for emergency repair and renovation of the conservatory. (Sec. 7001) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1968 to make a specified limitation on the minimum rate of gross compensation inapplicable to any member or civilian employee of the Capitol Police whose compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate. (Sec. 7002) Authorizes the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration, to provide additional facilities, services, equipment, and office space for use by a Senator in that Senator's State in connection with a presidentially-declared disaster or emergency. (Sec. 7003) Allows the transfer of a limited amount of funds for the expense allowance of the Secretary of the Senate. (Sec. 7004) Authorizes the Comptroller General to use available funds to enter into contracts for the acquisition of severable services for periods that begin in one fiscal year and end in another and to enter into specified multiyear contracts to the same extent as agencies under the authority of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act. Chapter 8: Department of Transportation - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Transportation for: (1) Coast Guard retired pay and for operating expenses directly related to support activities in the TWA Flight 800 crash investigation; (2) Federal Highway Administration, Federal-Aid Highways and for the Emergency Relief Program; and (3) the Federal Railroad Administration, to repair and rebuild freight rail lines of regional and short line railroads damaged by floods (with earmarks for West Virginia and the northern Plains States). Makes such appropriations to the National Transportation Safety Board for: (1) emergency expenses resulting from the crashes of TWA Flight 800, ValuJet 592, and Comair Flight 3272; and (2) assistance to families of victims of aviation accidents. (Sec. 8003) Authorizes additional appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY 1997 for grants to States for alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures. (Sec. 8004) Extends through FY 1997 the authorization of appropriations for the National Driver Register. Chapter 9: Department of the Treasury - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of the Treasury. Authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to use the law enforcement services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the State of Colorado and of the county and city of Denver for security arrangements for the Denver Summit of Eight. Makes supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Customs Service for the automated targeting system with respect to counterterrorism and drug law enforcement; and (2) the Postal Service Fund, for revenue foregone on free and reduced rate mail for specified purposes. (Sec. 9001) Authorizes the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to obligate specified appropriations for construction of the Montgomery, Alabama courthouse. (Sec. 9002) Prohibits the use of funds by GSA to implement certain cooperative purchasing provisions of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 prior to the adjournment of the first session of the 105th Congress. (Sec. 9003) Prohibits the Bureau of Engraving and Printing from awarding a contract for the procurement of distinctive currency paper until the General Accounting Office has completed an analysis of the optimum circumstances for procuring such paper. Limits the term of the bridge contract with respect to such paper to 24 months and requires the Secretary of the Treasury to make certain certifications concerning the price and terms of the agreement. (Sec. 9004) Amends specified Federal civil service law to authorize and establish a leave transfer program in disasters and emergencies. Chapter 10: Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes additional amounts available for: (1) the Veterans Benefits Administration for compensation and pensions; and (2) the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for preserving existing housing investment, capacity building for community development and affordable housing, and for community development block grants for activities in communities affected by disasters in the upper Midwest. Authorizes appropriations for the construction of a parking garage at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Cleveland, Ohio. Earmarks amounts of assisted housing special purpose grants for acquiring parking and restoring a theater in Ashland, Kentucky. Requires the HUD Secretary to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Public Administration for an evaluation of HUD's management systems. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), from previous appropriations for the Center for Ecology Research and Training (CERT), to obligate the maximum amount of funds necessary to settle all outstanding CERT-related claims against the EPA pursuant to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. Authorizes EPA, from any unobligated balances then remaining, to make grants to Bay City, Michigan, for the purpose of EPA-approved environmental remediation and rehabilitation of publicly owned real property included in the boundaries of the CERT project. Authorizes the use of a specified amount of funds for grants to States and federally recognized tribes for multi-media or single media pollution prevention, control, and abatement for direct implementation by the Federal Government of programs required in absence of acceptable State or tribal programs. Makes additional funds available to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster relief. Conditions the availability of a portion of such funds on the submission by the FEMA Director of a legislative proposal to control disaster relief expenditures, including the elimination of funding for certain revenue producing facilities. Authorizes transfer of a specified amount of FEMA disaster relief funds to the Disaster Assistance Direct Loan Program for the cost of direct loans under certain provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, under specified conditions. (Sec. 10001) Directs the HUD Secretary to submit semi-annually to the Appropriations Committees a list of all contracts and task orders in excess of $250,000 entered into by HUD, the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), and the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight in the preceding six months. (Sec. 10002) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise certain time periods relating to notice requirements for terminating section 8 housing contracts. (Sec. 10003) Amends the Multifamily Housing Finance Improvement Act, under specified provisions of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, to revise limitations on the Secretary of HUD's mortgage insurance authority to allow commitments with respect to a limited number of additional units during FY 1997. (Sec. 10005) Amends the National Housing Act to authorize HUD mortgage insurance for condominiums in an amount up to 100 percent of appraised value where a mortgagor establishes that the home was destroyed or damaged as a result of a major disaster. Chapter 11: Offsets and Rescissions - Sets forth offsets with respect to the Fund for Rural America and the Food and Consumer Service's emergency food assistance program. Prohibits the use of Department of Agriculture funds under the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 to pay the personnel salaries and expenses above specified levels to carry out: (1) a combined program for export credit guarantees, supplier credit guarantees, and emerging democracies facilities guarantees; and (2) an export enhancement program. Rescinds specified funds available for: (1) the Department of Justice for the Working Capital Fund, the Assets Forfeiture Fund, and Immigration and Naturalization Service construction; (2) the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the Advanced Technology Program; (3) the Federal Communications Commission; (4) the Ounce of Prevention Council; (5) the Department of Energy for energy supply and research and development activities, power marketing administrations, clean coal technology, and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; (6) the Department of HHS for job opportunities and basic skills; (7) the Department of Transportation for grants-in-aid for airports, highway traffic safety grants, and other Highway Trust Fund monies; (8) GSA presidential transition expenses; (9) HUD assisted housing programs; and (10) NASA. Title III: General Provisions - This Act - Provides that no appropriation made in this Act shall remain available beyond the current fiscal year unless otherwise provided. (Sec. 30002) Sets forth Buy-American requirements. Title IV: Cost of Higher Education Review - Cost of Higher Education Review Act of 1997 - Establishes a National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education to study and make recommendations regarding: (1) the increase in tuition compared with other commodities and services; (2) innovative methods of reducing or stabilizing tuition; (3) the impact on tuition of specified trends in college and university costs, student financial aid, and government mandates and fiscal policies; (4) mechanisms for a more timely and widespread distribution of data on tuition trends and other costs of operating colleges and universities; and (5) the adequacy of existing Federal and State financial aid programs in meeting the costs of attending colleges and universities. (Sec. 40006) Authorizes appropriations for the Commission. Title V: Depository Institution Disaster Relief - Depository Institutions Disaster Relief Act of 1997 - Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to make exceptions, during specified limited periods, to the Truth in Lending Act for transactions, and to the Expedited Funds Availability Act for depository institution offices, within a major disaster area or an area eligible for disaster relief because of the recent flooding of the Red River of the North, the Minnesota River, and their tributaries. (Sec. 50003) Authorizes the appropriate Federal banking agency to permit, for a specified time period, certain insured depository institutions, in or involved with such area, to subtract from the institution's total assets, in calculating compliance with the leverage limit prescribed under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, an amount not exceeding the qualifying amount attributable to insurance proceeds. (Sec. 50004) Authorizes qualifying regulatory agencies to take specified actions with respect to depository institutions or other regulated entities whose principal place of business is within, or with respect to transactions or activities within such area. (Sec. 50005) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration should encourage depository institutions to meet the financial services needs of their communities and customers located in areas affected by the 1997 flooding of the Red River of the North, the Minnesota River, and their tributaries. Expresses the sense of the Congress that each Federal financial institutions regulatory agency should make exceptions to the appraisal standards prescribed by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 for transactions involving institutions located in disaster areas if the exceptions can be expected to alleviate hardships to the public resulting from such disasters. Title VII: Technical Amendments With Respect to Education - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make certain technical corrections relating to graduation rates data disclosures. (Sec. 60002) Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to extend from January 1, 1998, to January 1, 1999, the deadline for a final report by the Secretary of Education on a national assessment of programs assisted under ESEA title I, Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards. (Sec. 60003) Directs the Secretary to deem Kansas and New Mexico as having timely submitted certain written notices of intent to consider specified impact aid payments under ESEA in providing State aid to local educational agencies (LEAs) for school year 1997-1998. Authorizes the Secretary to require these States to submit appropriate additional information, which shall be considered part of such notice. (Sec. 60004) Provides that no eligible LEA shall receive less than 85 percent of the FY 1996 amount in a specified hold-harmless impact aid payment for each of FY 1997 through 2000. (Sec. 60005) Revises requirements for the Secretary's use of data in providing additional assistance for heavily impacted LEAs, to specify that the student and revenue data used be expenditure data. Repeals the requirement that the Secretary use the most recent data available adjusted to the fiscal year in question. Title VII: Food Stamp Program - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to grant States an option to issue food stamp benefits to certain individuals made ineligible by welfare reform.
Bill· SS. 854 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1997
Long-Term Investment Incentive Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a sliding scale capital gains deduction on assets held between two years and eight years by noncorporate taxpayers.
Bill· SS. 853 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Multifamily Restructuring Subtitle A: Housing Provisions Subtitle B: Extension of Time for Payment of Tax Attributable to FHA Portfolio Restructuring Title II: Housing Enforcement Subtitle A: Single Family and Multifamily Housing Subtitle B: Multifamily Housing Subtitle C: FHA Single Family Housing Title III: Exemption of HUD and USDA Multifamily Loan Foreclosures and Related Actions from the Bankruptcy Stay Title IV: FHA Multifamily Housing Consolidation and Reform Subtitle A: FHA Multifamily Housing Subtitle B: Extensions of Existing Authority and Other Provisions Title V: Rehabilitation Grants Housing 2020: Multifamily Management Reform Act - Title I: Multifamily Restructuring - Housing Opportunity Act of 1997 - Subtitle A: Housing Provisions - Directs the Secretary (Secretary) of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a program of multifamily housing debt restructuring and subsidy reduction that takes into account the goals of: (1) maintaining existing affordable and safe housing; (2) minimizing adverse effects on tenants and neighborhoods; (3) supporting fair housing strategies; and (4) encouraging ownership and property management. Authorizes the Secretary (or specified designee) to take the following actions to make qualifying multifamily projects financially viable at market rates: (1) pay mortgage claims; (2) remove or modify project restrictions; (3) purchase reinsurance or otherwise transfer insurance interests; (4) take actions to induce owner or lender participation; (5)restructure mortgages; and (6) make insurance payments. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the renewal of section 8 contracts. Authorizes the Secretary to provide: (1) tenant-based assistance to certain assisted and very-low-income families affected by such restructuring; and (2) project-based assistance in areas with tight housing markets or with high concentrations of elderly or disabled families. Prohibits owner discrimination with respect to section 8 certificate or voucher holders. Directs the Secretary to facilitate the sale of multifamily projects to tenant and nonprofit organizations. (Sec. 111) Amends the Balanced Budget Downpayment Act, I to authorize renewal of expiring section 8 contracts in excess of certain fair market standards at specified rental levels. (Sec. 112) Provides for the reuse and rescission of recaptured budget authority resulting from project restructuring. Subtitle B: Extension of Time for Payment of Tax Attributable to FHA Multifamily Restructuring - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize specified tax payment extensions on debt reduction or gain from a sale attributable to section 8 housing restructuring. Title II: Housing Enforcement - Housing Enforcement Act of 1997 - Directs the Secretary to issue implementing regulations. Subtitle A: Single Family and Multifamily Housing - Amends the National Housing Act (Act) to exempt the Mortgage Review Board from certain bankruptcy stay provisions. (Sec. 211) Authorizes the Board to immediately suspend a mortgage under specified conditions. (Sec. 212) Extends (and increases) equity skimming penalties to 1- to-4 family residences. (Sec. 213) Amends Federal criminal law to include equity skimming as a money laundering offense. (Sec. 214) Authorizes the Secretary to recover mortgage insurance claims against a person convicted of equity skimming. (Sec. 215) Expands the scope of penalties for mortgagees, lenders, and other Federal Housing Administration (FHA) program participants. Subtitle B: Multifamily Housing - Amends the Act to extend certain multifamily mortgagor civil penalties (and the scope of such penalties) to general partners of a partnership mortgagor, or officers or directors of corporate mortgagors. (Sec. 221) Establishes civil money penalties for specified section 8 violations by owners or other liable parties. (Sec. 222) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 to extend the double damages remedy for recovery of assets to specified insured mortgage agreements under the Housing Act of 1959 and the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992. (Sec. 223) Amends the Social Security Act to eliminate the 1994 termination date for HUD access to certain State employment information. (Sec. 224) Authorizes the Secretary to prohibit renewal or extension of certain expiring section 8 contracts unless the owner agrees to comply with any additional HUD conditions. Subtitle C: FHA Single Family Housing - Amends the Act to terminate mortgagee origination approval authority. Title III: Exemption of HUD and USDA Multifamily Loan Foreclosures and Related Actions from the Bankruptcy Stay - Amends Federal law to exempt HUD or Department of Agriculture appointment of receivership or loan foreclosures and related actions from the bankruptcy stay. Title IV: FHA Multifamily Housing Consolidation and Reform - FHA Multifamily Housing Reform Act of 1997 - Subtitle A: FHA Multifamily Housing - Amends the Act to authorize the Secretary (or approved mortgagee) to insure first or second mortgages and engage in related credit enhancement for certain multifamily housing projects and health care facilities. (Sec. 404) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into risk-sharing agreements with qualified participating mortgage entities and housing finance agencies in order to provide projects and facilities with first mortgage loans. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) mortgage insurance and reinsurance; (2) risk apportionment and risk-sharing alternatives; (3) reimbursement capacity; (4) underwriting standards; and (5) non-Federal participation. (Sec. 406) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) premiums and fees; (2) contracts; (3) default and contract claims; (4) prepayment charges; (5)environmental review; (6) lead-based paint poisoning prevention; (7) subsidy layering; (8) labor standards; and (9) disclosure of records. Subtitle B: Extensions of Existing Authority and Other Provisions - Amends the Act to extend authorities for: (1) mortgage auctions; and (2) transfer of certain excess receipts to the flexible subsidy program. (Sec. 422) Authorizes the Secretary to regulate rents, sales, charges, and operations with respect to certain multifamily housing projects in order to provide reasonable rentals and a reasonable rate of return. (Sec. 423) Includes health care facilities within the partial payment of claims authority. (Sec. 424) Amends the Housing Act of 1959 and the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to provide environmental protection under the supportive housing for the elderly program and the supportive housing for persons with disabilities program. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 425) Amends the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to authorize the Secretary to assign regulatory agreements in connection with the sale of HUD mortgages. Title V: Rehabilitation Grants - Amends the Act to authorize the Secretary to make rehabilitation grants to owners of formerly insured or assisted qualifying projects.
Bill· SS. 849 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1997
American Farm Heritage and Small Business Preservation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the estate and gift tax credits each to $1.5 million.
Bill· SS. 859 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1997
Repeals the tax increase on social security benefits made by the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993. Mandates application and administration of the Internal Revenue Code as if such increase had not been enacted.
Bill· HRH.R. 1832 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1997
Prohibits funds from being appropriated to the Department of Defense (DOD) for any fiscal year after 1997 for research, development, test, and evaluation or for procurement for: (1) the Navy F/A-18E/F aircraft program; (2) the Marine Corps V-22 Osprey aircraft program; and (3) the Air Force F-22 aircraft program. Prohibits the use of funds after FY 1997 for the production of Trident II (D-5) missiles for the Navy. Requires the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to retire eight Trident I submarines during FY 2000 through 2003. Prohibits the Secretary of the Air Force from procuring more than eight C-17 aircraft in each of FY 1998 through 2000. Directs the Secretary to reduce: (1) by FY 2003 the DOD strategic nuclear force to include a maximum of 300 Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missiles; and (2) DOD theater missile defense programs by terminating the Navy sea-based area theater missile defense system, the Army Medium Extended Air Defense System, the Air Force airborne laser for destruction of missiles system, and the Space and Missile Tracking System. Prohibits any funds from being appropriated to DOD for fiscal years after 1997 for assistance to Israel for development of the Arrow missile. Directs the Secretary of Energy to reduce activities under the Stockpile Stewardship Program so as to achieve specified savings during FY 1998 through 2002 by consolidating, terminating, and cancelling specified activities at Department of Energy research and development sites. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to provide that any sale of major defense equipment approved under such Act shall include an appropriate charge for costs incurred by the United States in the research, development, and production of such equipment. Provides an exception. Repeals a provision of such Act which allows for the recovery of certain administrative expenses when such expenses are neither salaries of U.S. armed forces nor represent unfunded estimated costs of civilian retirement and other benefits.
Bill· HRH.R. 1828 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1997
Directs the President to ensure that the number of full-time executive branch political appointments does not, during any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1997, exceed 2,000, using reductions in force if needed.
Bill· SS. 840 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Principal Residence Tax Exclusion Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the existing one-time exclusion of up to $125,000 of gain from the sale of a principal residence by a person at least 55 years old with an exclusion of gain of up to $250,000 ($500,000 for qualifying joint return) for a qualifying sale of a principal residence regardless of the person's age. Applies such exclusion to only one sale or exchange every two years. Repeals the provision providing for nonrecognition of gain on principal residence rollovers.
Bill· SS. 832 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore the business meal expense deduction to 80 percent (currently 50 percent) for individuals subject to the hours of service limitations of the Department of Transportation.
Bill· SS. 843 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Treatment of Passive Foreign Investment Companies Title II: Treatment of Controlled Foreign Corporations Title III: Other Provisions International Tax Simplification for American Competitiveness Act - Title I: Treatment of Passive Foreign Investment Companies - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt U.S. shareholders of a controlled foreign corporation (CFC) from passive foreign investment company (PFIC) inclusion. (Sec. 102) Allows a U.S shareholder of a PFIC to elect to include the difference between such stock's fair market value and adjusted basis as income, or the difference between adjusted basis and fair market value or unreversed inclusions as a deduction. (Sec. 103) Modifies the definition of "passive income." Title II: Treatment of Controlled Foreign Corporations - Amends the Code to treat the gain on certain CFC stock sales as dividends. (Sec. 203) Revises specified indirect (deemed taxes paid) foreign tax credit provisions. (Sec. 204) Excludes certain active finance-related income from inclusion as foreign personal holding company income. (Sec. 205) Applies, for foreign tax credit purposes, income category "look-through" rules to dividends earned by certain noncontrolled U.S.-foreign corporations providing specified information. Applies a single foreign tax credit limitation where such information is not provided. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a study on the feasibility of treating all European Union countries as one country for purposes of certain same-country exceptions with respect to controlled foreign corporations. (Sec. 207) Increases the amount of income used to determine the taxability of foreign base company income or insurance income with respect to CFCs. (Sec. 208) Permits use of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles with respect to CFCs. (Sec. 209) Excludes income from the transportation of oil or gas within a foreign country from the definition of "foreign base company oil related income." (Sec. 210) Provides a deduction for dividends received from certain foreign corporations. Applies constructive ownership provisions to certain foreign ownership requirements with respect to post-1986 undistributed U.S. earnings. Title III: Other Provisions - Amends the Code with respect to certain foreign tax credit determinations to provide that accrued taxes shall be translated into dollars by using the average exchange rate for the year to which such taxes relate. (Sec. 302) Allows a taxpayer to elect a specified alternative minimum foreign tax credit limitation. (Sec. 303) Provides for recognition of taxable gain with respect to certain property transfers by a U.S. person to a foreign corporation. (Sec. 306) Applies uniform capitalization rules to foreign taxpayers with respect to income connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. (Sec. 307) Extends the excess foreign tax carryover or carryback period. (Sec. 308) Provides for recharacterization of overall domestic loss by treating certain U.S. source income as non-U.S. source income. (Sec. 309) Includes computer software within the category of foreign sales corporation property. Eliminates the special 50 percent rule relating to foreign sales corporation transactions of military property. (Sec. 310) Provides special rules with respect to financial services income and interest. (Sec. 311) Excludes from consideration as U.S. property certain assets acquired by securities or commodities dealers. (Sec. 312) Exempts from taxation certain regulated investment company dividends received by nonresident aliens. Treats certain regulated investment company stock owned by nonresident noncitizens as non-U.S.property for estate tax purposes. (Sec. 313) Excludes nonenforceable preliminary agreements from the definition of "intangible property." (Sec. 314) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a study of the interest allocation rules.
Bill· SS. 835 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise provisions determining the effectively connected net investment income of foreign companies carrying on insurance business in the United States. Requires such companies to recompute their effectively connected net investment income for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996. Provides for increases (or decreases, as appropriate) in such income where the recomputed amount exceeds (or is less than) the income for the recomputed year. Requires payment (or receipt) of interest on the underpayment (or overpayment) of adjusted amounts.
Bill· SS. 831 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Stealth Tax Prevention Act - Amends Federal law relating to congressional review of agency rulemaking to include in the definition of "major rule" any rule that is promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service and for which the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget finds that implementation and enforcement of the rule has resulted in (or is likely to result in) any net increase in Federal revenues.
Bill· HRH.R. 1816 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Family Education Freedom Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of up to $3,000 per student per year for the cost of attendance at any educational institution (including any private, parochial, religious, or home school) organized to provide elementary or secondary education (or both).
Bill· HRH.R. 1819 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Lifetime Learning Accounts Title II: Increase in Maximum Pell Grant Awards Title III: Restoration of Deduction for Interest on Educational Loans Lifetime Learning Affordability Act of 1997 - Title I: Lifetime Learning Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an annual deduction ($4,000 or $2,000 for a married single filer) for contributions to a lifetime learning account established to pay for higher education or job training expenses of the taxpayer or family member. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) deductibility income limitations; (2) account ceilings; (3) age and contribution restrictions; and (4) tax treatment of distributions. Title II: Increase in Maximum Pell Grant Awards - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase maximum Pell Grant awards. Title III: Restoration of Deduction for Interest on Educational Loans - Amends the Code to allow an annual deduction for interest on qualified educational loans for a taxpayer, spouse, or dependent.
Bill· HRH.R. 1818 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments to Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 Title II: Amendments to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Title III: Repeal of Title V Relating to Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs Title IV: General Provisions Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1997 - Title I: Amendments to Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to: (1) include a finding that weapons offenses and homicides are two of the fastest growing violent crimes committed by juveniles; (2) include as a purpose to support State and local programs that prevent juvenile involvement in delinquent behavior; and (3) define "violent crime" as murder or non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, or robbery, or aggravated assault committed with the use of a firearm. (Sec. 104) Redesignates the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as the Office of Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention. (Sec. 105) Modifies provisions of the Act regarding: (1) concentration of Federal effort to repeal the requirements that the Administrator of the Office develop for each fiscal year a comprehensive plan of activities and that each Federal agency administering a Federal juvenile delinquency program submit annually a juvenile delinquency development statement; and (2) an annual report to require that such report include an evaluation of programs funded and their effectiveness in reducing the incidence of juvenile delinquency, particularly violent crime committed by juveniles. (Sec. 106) Eliminates: (1) the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and (2) certain allocations of funds to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. (Sec. 109) Modifies Act requirements regarding State plans. Provides that the advisory group shall consist of the State attorney general or such other State official who has primary responsibility for overseeing the enforcement of State criminal laws. Requires State plans to: (1) contain plans for providing needed services for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency in rural areas, mental health services to juveniles in the juvenile justice system, and gender-specific services for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency; and (2) provide for the coordination and maximum utilization of existing juvenile delinquency programs, programs operated by private agencies, and other related programs in the State. Requires such plans to provide that not less than 75 percent of the funds available to the State be used for specified purposes, including: (1) programs that assist in holding juveniles accountable for their actions; (2) expanded use of probation officers; (3) boot camps for juvenile offenders; (4) other activities (such as court-appointed special advocates) that the State determines will hold juveniles accountable for their acts and decrease juvenile involvement in delinquent activities; (5) establishing policies and systems to incorporate relevant child protective services records into juvenile justice records for purposes of establishing treatment plans for juvenile offenders; (6) a system of records equivalent to the records that would be kept for adults relating to any adjudication of juveniles under 18 years of age as delinquent for conduct that would constitute a violent crime if committed by an adult; (7) programs that utilize multidisciplinary interagency case management and information sharing that enable the juvenile justice and law enforcement agencies, schools, and social service agencies to make more informed decisions regarding early identification, control, supervision, and treatment of juveniles who repeatedly commit violent or serious delinquent acts; and (8) programs designed to prevent and reduce hate crimes committed by juveniles. Revises State plan requirements regarding limits on the placement of juveniles in secure detention or correctional facilities, juvenile contact with adults incarcerated or awaiting trial on criminal charges, and juvenile detention or confinement in adult jails and lockups. (Sec. 110) Revises the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Block Grant Program by: (1) repealing provisions governing grants for the National Institute for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, gang-free schools and communities, State challenge activities, treatment for juvenile offenders who are victims of child abuse or neglect, mentoring, boot camps, and the White House Conference on Juvenile Justice; and (2) authorizing the Administrator to make grants to eligible States for the purpose of providing financial assistance to eligible entities to carry out projects designed to prevent juvenile delinquency. Includes among such projects: (1) projects that assist in holding juveniles accountable for their actions; (2) projects that provide treatment to juvenile offenders who are victims of child abuse or neglect; (3) education projects or supportive services for delinquent or other juveniles; (4) projects which expand the use of probation officers; (5) one-on-one mentoring projects; (6) community-based projects which work with juvenile offenders and their family members; (7) substance abuse programs; (8) postsecondary education and training projects; (9) projects designed to prevent or reduce gang participation; (10) employment and job training referral projects; (11) delinquency prevention activities; and (12) family stengthening activities. Sets forth provisions regarding grant allocation (based on a State's relative juvenile population and crime rate), State and local government and entity grant eligibility requirements, and limitations. (Sec. 111) Authorizes the Administrator to undertake specified activities regarding research, evaluation, technical assistance, and training, including making agreements with: (1) the National Institute of Justice or another Federal agency to conduct research and evaluation relating to juvenile delinquency; and (2) the Bureau of Justice Statistics or another Federal agency to undertake statistical work in juvenile justice matters. (Sec. 112) Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to and contracts with States, local governmental units, Indian tribal governments, public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals to carry out projects for the development, testing, and demonstration of promising initiatives and programs for the prevention, control, or reduction of juvenile delinquency. Authorizes technical assistance for such grants. Sets forth provisions regarding eligibility and reports. (Sec. 113) Authorizes appropriations for specified programs under such Act for FY 1998 through 2001. (Sec. 115) Amends the Act to prohibit the use of funds for the cost of facility construction, with an exception, or for advocacy or support for the unsecured release of juveniles charged with violent crime. (Sec. 118) Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) receive surplus Federal property and lease such property to States and units of local government for use in or as facilities for juveniles offenders, or for use in or as facilities for delinquency prevention and treatment activities; and (2) issue rules that establish procedures and methods for making grants and contracts, and distributing funds available, to carry out the Act. Title II: Amendments to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act - Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to: (1) include findings that it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to develop an accurate national reporting system on runaway and homeless youth and that services for such youth are needed in urban, suburban, and rural areas; (2) authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities to establish and operate local centers to provide services for such youth and their families; (3) require a grant applicant, to be eligible for assistance, to include assurances that the applicant shall submit an annual report that includes statistical summaries describing the number and the characteristics of such youth and youth at risk of family separation who participated in the project and the services provided to such youth by the project; and (4) modify the services that applicants must plan to provide in order to use grant money for street-based, home-based, and drug abuse education and prevention services. (Sec. 204) Revises Act provisions regarding: (1) approval of applications to direct the Secretary to consider the geographical distribution in the State of the proposed services; (2) authority for the transitional living grant program to repeal definitions of "homeless youth" and "transitional living youth project"; and (3) authority to make grants for research, demonstration, and service projects to repeal references to home-based and street based services from the research and demonstration projects. (Sec. 208) Repeals provisions of the Act: (1) regarding temporary demonstration projects to provide services to youth in rural areas; (2) directing that assistance to potential grantees include information on the need for the establishment of additional runaway and homeless youth centers in the geographical area identified by the potential grantee involved; and (3) barring the disclosure and transfer of records containing the identity of individual youths. Directs the Secretary to evaluate on-site a grantee that receives grants for three consecutive fiscal years. (Sec. 209) Modifies provisions of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 regarding education and prevention grants to reduce sexual abuse of runaway, homeless, and street youth to authorize the Secretary to make grants to nonprofit private agencies for the purpose of providing street-based services to runaway and homeless youth and street youth who have been subjected to, or are at risk of, sexual abuse. Extends the authorization of appropriations through FY 2000. (Sec. 210) Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to require the Secretary, by April 1, 1999, and at two-year intervals thereafter, to submit to specified congressional committees a report on the status, activities, and accomplishments of entities that receive grants under the Act. Lists information that must be included in the report. Requires the Secretary to include summaries of the Secretary's evaluations of grantees and descriptions of the qualifications and training of the individuals administering the evaluations. (Sec. 213) Authorizes appropriations under such Act for FY 1998 through 2001. Sets forth the division of appropriations among the programs. (Sec. 214) Grants the Secretary authority to implement a single consolidated application review process. Title III: Repeal of Title V Relating to Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs - Repeals Title V of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 regarding incentive grants for local delinquency prevention programs. Title IV: General Provisions - Makes this Act effective on the date of its enactment. Specifies that amendments made by this Act shall apply only to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1997.
Bill· HRH.R. 1814 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Trident II (D-5) Missile Production Termination Act - Prohibits funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for fiscal years after 1997 from being obligated or expended for production of additional Trident II (D-5) missiles. Allows amounts appropriated to the Department to be expended for such missile only to complete production of those missiles commenced with funds appropriated before FY 1998.
Bill· HRH.R. 1802 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Human Rights in India Act - Prohibits development assistance for India for any fiscal year unless the President certifies to the Congress that the Government of India: (1) has released all prisoners of conscience; (2) ensures that all political prisoners are brought to trial promptly and fairly and have access to legal counsel and family members; (3) has eliminated the practice of torture by the military and police forces; (4) impartially investigates all allegations of torture and deaths of individuals in custody; (5) has established to the best of its ability the fate or whereabouts of all political detainees who have disappeared; (6) brings to justice promptly members of the military and police forces responsible for torturing or improperly treating prisoners; (7) permits citizens who are critical of such Government to travel abroad and return to India; (8) ensures that human rights monitors are not targeted for arrest or harassment by the military and police forces; (9) permits human rights organizations and television, film, and print media full access to all states in India where significant human rights problems exist; (10) has investigated allegations of cremations of Sikhs who have died in police custody and has made every effort to bring those responsible to justice; and (11) has repealed certain special and preventive detention laws. Waives such prohibition if such waiver is in the national security interest.
Bill· HRH.R. 1824 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Amends the Small Business Act to increase from 20 to 25 percent of the total value of all Federal prime contracts awarded in a fiscal year the goal for contracts awarded to small businesses, small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and small businesses owned and controlled by women.
Bill· HRH.R. 1820 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Requires, for any taxable year beginning before January 1, 1993, treating a timber industry arrangement under which up to 25 percent of a logger's compensation is treated as reimbursement for the use of the logger's chain saw as an accountable plan for purposes of Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to deductions from gross income. Makes payments under such an arrangement deductible from gross income. Waives, for one year after enactment of this Act, any law or rule of law (including res judicata) that would have prevented the application of this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 1800 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude gain or loss from the sale of livestock (as defined in existing provisions relating to property used in the trade or business and involuntary conversions) from the definition of "disqualified income" for purposes of the earned income credit. Applies the amendment to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1995.