Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Department of Justice Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Title III: The Judiciary Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies Title V: Related Agencies Title VI: General Provisions Title VII: Rescissions Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for FY 1999 for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the judiciary, and related agencies. Title I: Department of Justice - Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for the Department of Justice for: (1) general administration; (2) a joint automated booking system; (3) counterterrorism activities; (4) administration of pardon and clemency petitions and immigration-related activities; (5) the Office of Inspector General; (6) the U.S. Parole Commission; (7) legal activities; (8) antitrust activities; (9) the Offices of U.S. Attorneys; (10) the U.S. Trustee Program; (11) the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission; (12) the U.S. Marshals Service, including an amount for expenses related to prisoners in the custody of the Marshals Service; (13) fees and expenses of witnesses; (14) the Community Relations Service; (15) certain uses of the Assets Forfeiture Fund; (16) administrative expenses related to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act; (17) interagency law enforcement with respect to organized crime drug trafficking; (18) the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); (19) construction for specified agencies; (20) the Drug Enforcement Administration; (21) the Immigration and Naturalization Service; (22) the Federal prison system, including amounts for buildings and facilities; (23) the Office of Justice programs; (24) State and local law enforcement assistance, including amounts for violent crime reduction programs; (25) the Executive Office for Weed and Seed; (26) community-oriented policing services for violent crime reduction; (27) juvenile justice programs; and (28) public safety officers' benefits. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Establishes a Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System Fund for the payment of expenses related to the scheduling and transportation of U.S. prisoners and illegal and criminal aliens in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Makes appropriations for initial capitalization of the Fund. (Sec. 102) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated by this title to: (1) pay for abortions except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or in the case of rape; or (2) require any person to perform or facilitate an abortion. (Sec. 110) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to remove the authority for beneficiaries of certain petitions for classification or applications for labor certifications to apply to the Attorney General for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Repeals provisions which allow certain employment-based immigrants to adjust to permanent residence status. Establishes the Immigration Detention and Naturalization Activity Account in the Treasury. Provides for: (1) the deposit of certain application fees into the Account; and (2) refunds to any appropriation for expenses incurred by the Attorney General for the detention of aliens, construction relating to such detention, and activities relating to naturalization. (Sec. 112) Prohibits any immigration inspection fee from being charged in connection with the arrival of any passenger, other than aircraft passengers, whose journey originated in a U.S. State. (Sec. 115) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require the Attorney General to provide investigative assistance to tribal law enforcement agencies. (Sec. 116) Repeals provisions of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 that provide for an automated entry and exit control system. Revises provisions requiring aliens to present border identification cards that match appropriate biometric characteristics in order to cross the border to phase in such requirement over a number of years, requiring all cards in circulation as of April 1, 1998, to match by October 1, 2003. (Current law applies such requirement to all cards presented three years after such Act's enactment date.) (Sec. 117) Directs the President, with the FY 2000 budget request, to present the specific dollar amounts budgeted, by appropriation account and line item, for counterterrorism and antiterrorism programs. Requires a narrative outline of the content of, and detail of the amounts budgeted for, each program for FY 1998 through 2000 and the succeeding five years of the Federal Counterterrorism Strategy. (Sec. 118) Amends the Controlled Substances Act to make unlawful certain knowing failures to provide records or reports, including those pertaining to listed chemicals and certain machines. (Current law provides that all failures to do so are unlawful.) Limits penalties for knowing violations regarding reports or recordkeeping to $500 if no unauthorized person obtains unlawful control of a controlled substance as a result of such a violation. (Sec. 120) Requires the General Accounting Office to report to specified congressional committees on compliance of the Department of Justice and all U.S. Attorneys with the Guidance on the Use of the False Claims Act in Civil Health Care Matters. Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies - Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for the Department of Commerce for: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the International Trade Commission; (3) international trade administration; (4) export administration and national security activities; (5) the Economic Development Administration; (6) minority business development; (7) economic and statistical analysis programs; (8) the Census Bureau; (9) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; (10) public telecommunications facilities, planning, and construction grants; (11) information infrastructure grants; (12) the Patent and Trademark Office; (13) the Under Secretary for Technology-Office of Technology Policy; (14) the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and for construction and renovation of facilities; (15) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including amounts for procurement, acquisition, and construction of capital assets; (16) the Coastal Zone Management Fund; (17) the Fishermen's Contingency Fund; (18) the Foreign Fishing Observer Fund; (19) the fisheries finance program account; (20) general administration; and (21) the Office of Inspector General. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title III: The Judiciary - Judiciary Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for: (1) the Supreme Court, including an amount for care of the building and grounds; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; (3) the U.S. Court of International Trade; (4) the courts of appeals, district courts, and other judicial services; (5) defender services; (6) fees of jurors and commissioners; (7) court security; (8) the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts; (9) the Federal Judicial Center; (10) judicial retirement funds; and (11) the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 304) Authorizes U.S. judges and justices to receive a salary adjustment during FY 1999. Appropriates funds for such purpose. Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies - Department of State and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 - Makes appropriations for the Department of State for: (1) administration of foreign affairs, diplomatic and consular programs; (2) salaries and expenses; (3) the Capital Investment Fund; (4) the Office of Inspector General; (5) representation allowances; (6) protection of foreign missions and officials; (7) security and maintenance of U.S. missions; (8) emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service; (9) the repatriation loans program account; (10) the American Institute in Taiwan; (11) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (12) international organizations, conferences, peacekeeping, and commissions; and (13) the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Appropriates funds for the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) for: (1) international information programs; (2) information technology improvements; (3) educational and cultural exchanges; (4) the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships, Incorporated; (5) the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program; (6) international broadcasting, including broadcasting to Cuba; (7) radio construction; (8) the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West; (9) the North-South Center; and (10) the National Endowment for Democracy. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. (Sec. 403) Requires funds made available by any Act for arrearage payments to the United Nations for peacekeeping operations to be reduced by 25 percent of total U.S. expenditures between October 30, 1997, and February 23, 1998, made in response to efforts by Iraq to block United Nations-sanctioned inspections of Iraqi military and civilian facilities with respect to weapons of mass destruction. Makes such reductions during FY 1998 through 2000. (Sec. 404) Bars the use of funds made available in this Act by the State Department or USIA to provide assistance to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation or a similar organization. (Sec. 405) Prohibits funds appropriated by any Act from being expended to pay for costs incurred in operating certain diplomatic or consular posts in Vietnam or increasing the number of personnel assigned to such posts unless the President certifies that the Vietnamese Government is cooperating in specified activities regarding resolution of sightings of, and accounting for, prisoners-of-war and individuals missing in action, recovery and analysis of American remains, and investigations in Laos. (Sec. 406) Grants the Secretary of State discretionary authority to pay tort claims in connection with damages sought against the United States for injury or loss of property or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of a Federal employee in a foreign country with respect to State Department overseas operations. Title V: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for the: (1) Maritime Administration for maritime security, operations and training, and the maritime guaranteed loan program; (2) Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (3) Commission on Civil Rights; (4) Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (5) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); (6) Federal Communications Commission; (7) Federal Maritime Commission; (8) Federal Trade Commission; (9) Legal Services Corporation; (10) Marine Mammal Commission; (11) Commission on Ocean Policy; (12) Securities and Exchange Commission; (13) Small Business Administration, including amounts for the Office of Inspector General, business and disaster loans, and capital for the Surety Bond Guarantees Revolving Fund; and (14) State Justice Institute. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, such funds. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth limitations on the use of funds under this Act. (Sec. 607) Sets forth Buy American provisions. (Sec. 608) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to: (1) enforce any EEOC guidelines covering harassment based on religion if such guidelines do not differ from proposed guidelines of October 1, 1993; or (2) provide specified personal comforts in the Federal prison system. (Sec. 613) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to issue visas to certain individuals from Haiti, including those involved in specified extrajudicial and political killings. (Sec. 614) Prohibits the use of funds made available in any Act to issue or renew a fishing permit or authorization for any U.S. fishing vessel exceeding a specified length, tonnage, or horsepower that would allow such vessel to engage in fishing in any fishery within the U.S. exclusive economic zone unless: (1) a certificate of documentation had been issued for the vessel, endorsed with a fishery endorsement effective on September 25, 1997, and endorsed at all times thereafter; or (2) the regional fishery management council recommends, and the Secretary of Commerce approves, a fishery management plan that allows the vessel to engage in such fishing. Invalidates any permit or authorization issued or renewed prior to this Act's enactment date for a vessel exceeding such limits that would allow the vessel to engage in fishing for any Atlantic mackerel or herring in the waters off the U.S. east coast during FY 1999 unless the Secretary has approved a plan to allow such fishing. Bars the use of funds made available in any Act to issue an individual fishing quota under a fishery management plan approved by a regional fishery management council after September 30, 2000, to a non-U.S. citizen or a corporation or other entity in which less than 75 percent controlling interest is owned by U.S. citizens. (Sec. 615) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to pay the expenses of an election officer appointed by a court to oversee an election of any officer or trustee for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. (Sec. 616) Amends the International Security and Development Corporation Act of 1985 to reduce the number of members of the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. (Sec. 618) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to study and report to the Appropriations Committee on: (1) taxation of the Internet by States and political subdivisions; (2) access to the Internet; and (3) communications and transactions conducted through the Internet. (Sec. 619) Authorizes, upon the joint motion of the United States and the State of Alaska and the issuance of an order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, the deposit of the joint trust funds or any portion thereof, including any interest accrued thereon, received, or to be received by the United States and Alaska under the Agreement and Consent decree issued in United States v. Exxon Corporation (i.e., the Exxon Valdez oil spill consent decree), in appropriate accounts outside the Court Registry, including the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Fund. Allows any interest accrued under the authority of this section to be used only for grants for marine research and monitoring and for community and economic restoration projects. Terminates the authority provided in this section on September 30, 2002, unless by September 30, 2001, the trustees have submitted to the Congress legislation to establish a board to administer funds invested, interest received, and grants awarded from such interest. Title VII: Rescissions - Rescinds specified amounts of funds made available for: (1) the Department of Justice working capital fund; (2) FBI construction, salaries and expenses, and violent crime reduction; (3) the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration; and (4) the Endowment for Children's Educational TV.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 24 February 1998

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral.

   Source: Committee

2. 26 February 1998

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral.

   Source: Committee

3. 3 March 1998

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral.

   Source: Committee

4. 4 March 1998

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral.

   Source: Committee

5. 5 March 1998

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral.

   Source: Committee

6. 12 March 1998

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral.

   Source: Committee

7. 19 March 1998

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 105-756.

   Source: Committee

8. 25 June 1998

   Reported

   Committee on Appropriations ordered to be reported an original measure.

   Source: Committee

9. 2 July 1998

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 449.

   Source: Calendars

10. 2 July 1998

    Reported

    Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Gregg under the authority of the order of Jun 26, 98. With written report No. 105-235.

    Source: Committee

11. 2 July 1998

    Reported

    Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Gregg under the authority of the order of Jun 26, 98. With written report No. 105-235.

    Source: Committee

12. 2 July 1998

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

13. 20 July 1998

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8594)

    Source: Floor

14. 21 July 1998

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8604-8653)

    Source: Floor

15. 22 July 1998

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S8689-8775)

    Source: Floor

16. 23 July 1998

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S8815-8880, S8951)

    Source: Floor

17. 23 July 1998

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 99-0. Record Vote No: 234.

    Source: Floor

18. 31 August 1998

    Floor

    Senate vitiated previous passage. (consideration: CR S9713)

    Source: Floor

Votes

Versions

• Placed on Calendar Senate · 2 July 1998 · Official file

Documents

4 official files

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 23 July 1998

  Open at official source

• Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 2 July 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 2 July 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 2 July 1998

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Gregg, Judd [R-NH-2] · R · Sponsor
• · ssap00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999