HCON 290 EAS
In the Senate of the United States,
April 7, 2000.
Resolved, That the resolution from the House of Representatives (H.
Con. Res. 290) entitled `Concurrent resolution establishing the congressional
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2001, revising the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2000, and
setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for each of fiscal years 2002 through
2005.', do pass with the following
AMENDMENT:
Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert:
SECTION 1. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR
2001.
(a) DECLARATION- Congress determines and declares that this resolution
is the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2001 including the
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 as
authorized by section 301 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and the
revised budgetary levels for fiscal year 2000 as authorized by section 304 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for this concurrent
resolution is as follows:
Sec. 1. Concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year
2001.
TITLE I--LEVELS AND AMOUNTS
Sec. 101. Recommended levels and amounts.
Sec. 102. Social Security.
Sec. 103. Major functional categories.
Sec. 104. Reconciliation of revenue reductions in the
Senate.
Sec. 105. Appropriate levels for Function 920.
Sec. 106. Further appropriate levels for Function 920.
TITLE II--BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS AND RULEMAKING
Sec. 201. Congressional lock box for Social Security
surpluses.
Sec. 202. Reserve fund for prescription drugs.
Sec. 203. Reserve fund for stabilization of payments to counties in
support of education.
Sec. 204. Reserve fund for agriculture.
Sec. 205. Tax reduction reserve fund in the Senate.
Sec. 206. Mechanism for additional debt reduction.
Sec. 207. Emergency designation point of order in the
Senate.
Sec. 208. Reserve fund pending increase of fiscal year 2001
discretionary spending limits.
Sec. 209. Congressional firewall for defense and nondefense
spending.
Sec. 210. Mechanisms for strengthening budgetary
integrity.
Sec. 211. Prohibition on use of Federal Reserve
surpluses.
Sec. 212. Reaffirming the prohibition on the use of revenue offsets
for discretionary spending.
Sec. 213. Application and effect of changes in allocations and
aggregates.
Sec. 214. Reserve fund to foster the health of children with
disabilities and the employment and independence of their
families.
Sec. 215. Exercise of rulemaking powers.
Sec. 216. Reserve fund for military retiree health care.
Sec. 217. Reserve fund for early learning and parent support
programs.
TITLE III--SENSE OF THE SENATE PROVISIONS
Sec. 301. Sense of the Senate on controlling and eliminating the
growing international problem of tuberculosis.
Sec. 302. Sense of the Senate on increased funding for the Child
Care and Development Block Grant.
Sec. 303. Sense of the Senate on tax relief for college tuition paid
and for interest paid on student loans.
Sec. 304. Sense of the Senate on increased funding for the National
Institutes of Health.
Sec. 305. Sense of the Senate supporting funding levels in
Educational Opportunities Act.
Sec. 306. Sense of the Senate on additional budgetary
resources.
Sec. 307. Sense of the Senate on regarding the inadequacy of the
payments for skilled nursing care.
Sec. 308. Sense of the Senate on the CARA programs.
Sec. 309. Sense of the Senate on veterans' medical care.
Sec. 310. Sense of the Senate on Impact Aid.
Sec. 311. Sense of the Senate on funding for increased acreage under
the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve
Program.
Sec. 312. Sense of the Senate on tax simplification.
Sec. 313. Sense of the Senate on antitrust enforcement by the
Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission regarding agriculture
mergers and anticompetitive activity.
Sec. 314. Sense of the Senate regarding fair markets for American
farmers.
Sec. 315. Sense of the Senate on women and Social Security
reform.
Sec. 316. Protection of battered women and children.
Sec. 317. Use of False Claims Act in combatting medicare
fraud.
Sec. 318. Sense of the Senate regarding the National
Guard.
Sec. 319. Sense of the Senate regarding military
readiness.
Sec. 320. Sense of the Senate on compensation for the Chinese
Embassy bombing in Belgrade.
Sec. 321. Sense of the Senate supporting funding of digital
opportunity initiatives.
Sec. 322. Sense of the Senate regarding immunization
funding.
Sec. 323. Sense of the Senate regarding tax credits for small
businesses providing health insurance to low-income employees.
Sec. 324. Sense of the Senate on funding for criminal
justice.
Sec. 325. Sense of the Senate regarding the Pell Grant.
Sec. 326. Sense of the Senate regarding comprehensive public
education reform.
Sec. 327. Sense of the Senate on providing adequate funding for
United States international leadership.
Sec. 328. Sense of the Senate concerning the HIV/AIDS
crisis.
Sec. 329. Sense of the Senate regarding tribal colleges.
Sec. 330. Sense of the Senate to provide relief from the marriage
penalty.
Sec. 331. Sense of the Senate on the continued use of Federal fuel
taxes for the construction and rehabilitation of our Nation's highways,
bridges, and transit systems.
Sec. 332. Sense of the Senate on the internal combustion
engine.
Sec. 333. Sense of the Senate regarding the establishment of a
national background check system for long-term care workers.
Sec. 334. Sense of the Senate concerning the price of prescription
drugs in the United States.
Sec. 335. Sense of the Senate against Federal funding of smoke
shops.
Sec. 336. Sense of the Senate regarding the need to reduce gun
violence in America.
Sec. 337. Sense of the Senate supporting additional funding for
fiscal year 2001 for medical care for our Nation's veterans.
Sec. 338. Sense of the Senate regarding medical care for
veterans.
Sec. 339. Sense of the Senate concerning investment of Social
Security trust funds.
Sec. 340. Sense of the Senate concerning digital
opportunity.
Sec. 341. Sense of the Senate on medicare prescription
drugs.
Sec. 342. Sense of the senate concerning funding for new education
programs.
Sec. 343. Sense of the Senate regarding enforcement of Federal
firearms laws.
Sec. 344. Sense of the Senate regarding the census.
Sec. 345. Sense of the Senate that any increase in the minimum wage
should be accompanied by tax relief for small businesses.
Sec. 346. Sense of the Senate concerning the minimum
wage.
Sec. 347. Sense of Congress regarding funding for the participation
of members of the uniformed services in the Thrift Savings Plan.
Sec. 348. Sense of the Senate concerning protecting the Social
Security trust funds.
Sec. 349. Sense of the Senate concerning regulation of tobacco
products.
Sec. 350. Sense of the Senate regarding after school
programs.
Sec. 351. Sense of Senate regarding cash balance pension plan
conversions.
Sec. 352. Sense of the Senate concerning uninsured and low-income
individuals in medically underserved communities.
Sec. 353. Sense of the Senate concerning fiscal year 2001 funding
for the United States Coast Guard.
TITLE I--LEVELS AND AMOUNTS
SEC. 101. RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS.
The following budgetary levels are the revised levels for fiscal year
2000 and the appropriate levels for the fiscal years 2001 through
2005:
(1) FEDERAL REVENUES- For purposes of the enforcement of this
resolution--
(A) The recommended levels of Federal revenues are as
follows:
Fiscal year 2000: $1,464,604,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $1,501,903,341,000.
Fiscal year 2002: $1,547,229,399,000.
Fiscal year 2003: $1,599,474,925,000.
Fiscal year 2004: $1,655,748,225,000.
Fiscal year 2005: $1,721,310,999,999.
(B) The amounts by which the aggregate levels of Federal revenues
should be changed are as follows:
Fiscal year 2000: -$877,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001: -$12,911,658,996.
Fiscal year 2002: -$24,157,600,996.
Fiscal year 2003: -$30,048,074,996.
Fiscal year 2004: -$36,894,774,996
Fiscal year 2005: -$42,790,999,997.
(2) NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY- For purposes of the enforcement of this
resolution, the appropriate levels of total new budget authority are as
follows:
Fiscal year 2000: $1,467,259,500,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $1,478,583,890,003.
Fiscal year 2002: $1,503,416,000,003.
Fiscal year 2003: $1,614,843,200,003.
Fiscal year 2004: $1,670,986,800,003.
Fiscal year 2005: $1,731,182,000,003.
(3) BUDGET OUTLAYS- For purposes of the enforcement of this resolution
and the revised fiscal year 2000 resolution, the appropriate levels of total
budget outlays are as follows:
Fiscal year 2000: $1,441,461,500,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $1,451,702,341,003.
Fiscal year 2002: $1,470,727,399,003.
Fiscal year 2003: $1,590,481,125,003.
Fiscal year 2004: $1,644,813,025,003.
Fiscal year 2005: $1,706,375,000,003.
(4) DEFICITS- For purposes of the enforcement of this resolution, the
amounts of the deficits are as follows:
Fiscal year 2000: $23,147,500,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $53,473,000,001.
Fiscal year 2002: $76,577,000,001.
Fiscal year 2003: $9,076,200,001.
Fiscal year 2004: $10,975,800,001.
Fiscal year 2005: $14,958,000,001.
(5) PUBLIC DEBT- The appropriate levels of the public debt are as
follows:
Fiscal year 2000: $5,625,962,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $5,667,144,000,001.
Fiscal year 2002: $5,681,983,000,001.
Fiscal year 2003: $5,768,762,000,001.
Fiscal year 2004: $5,849,465,000,001.
Fiscal year 2005: $5,923,674,000,001.
(6) DEBT HELD BY THE PUBLIC- The appropriate levels of the debt held
by the public are as follows:
Fiscal year 2000: $3,455,362,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $3,248,659,000,001.
Fiscal year 2002: $2,995,663,000,001.
Fiscal year 2003: $2,802,939,000,001.
Fiscal year 2004: $2,594,260,000,001.
Fiscal year 2005: $2,364,124,000,001.
SEC. 102. SOCIAL SECURITY.
(a) SOCIAL SECURITY REVENUES- For purposes of Senate enforcement under
section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the amounts of revenues
of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal
Disability Insurance Trust Fund are as follows:
Fiscal year 2000: $479,648,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $501,533,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002: $524,854,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003: $547,179,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004: $569,907,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005: $597,326,000,000.
(b) SOCIAL SECURITY OUTLAYS- For purposes of Senate enforcement under
section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the amounts of outlays of
the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal
Disability Insurance Trust Fund are as follows:
Fiscal year 2000: $322,545,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $331,869,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002: $339,068,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003: $347,733,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004: $357,737,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005: $368,976,000,000.
(c) SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES- In the Senate, the
amounts of new budget authority and budget outlays of the Federal Old-Age and
Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund
for administrative expenses are as follows:
(A) New budget authority, $3,160,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $3,187,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $3,429,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $3,378,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $3,471,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $3,438,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $3,505,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $3,473,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $3,541,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $3,507,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $3,576,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $3,543,000,000.
SEC. 103. MAJOR FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES.
Congress determines and declares that the appropriate levels of new
budget authority, budget outlays, new direct loan obligations, and new primary
loan guarantee commitments for fiscal year 2000 (as revised) and fiscal years
2001 through 2005 for each major functional category are:
(1) National Defense (050):
(A) New budget authority, $291,585,500,000.
(B) Outlays, $288,114,500,000.
(A) New budget authority, $309,843,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $296,074,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $309,091,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $302,278,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $315,489,200,000.
(B) Outlays, $309,366,200,000.
(A) New budget authority, $323,193,800,000.
(B) Outlays, $317,463,800,000.
(A) New budget authority, $331,534,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $327,950,000,000.
(2) International Affairs (150):
(A) New budget authority, $21,967,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $16,019,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $20,139,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $18,625,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $20,868,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $17,932,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $21,420,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $17,573,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $21,907,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $17,741,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $22,645,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $17,892,000,000.
(3) General Science, Space, and Technology (250):
(A) New budget authority, $19,267,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $18,418,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $19,703,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,245,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $19,877,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,593,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $19,806,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,515,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $20,069,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,655,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $20,337,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,900,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $1,081,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$607,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $1,475,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $172,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$264,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$1,366,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $1,202,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$43,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $1,238,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$124,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $1,210,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$85,000,000.
(5) Natural Resources and Environment (300):
(A) New budget authority, $24,487,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $24,245,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $24,936,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $24,905,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $25,023,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $25,045,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $25,019,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $25,203,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $25,066,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $25,065,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $25,059,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $24,876,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $35,257,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $33,916,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $20,894,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $18,779,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $18,950,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $17,235,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $17,965,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $16,366,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $17,354,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $15,910,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $16,092,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $14,593,000,000.
(7) Commerce and Housing Credit (370):
(A) New budget authority, $7,594,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $3,141,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $6,117,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,977,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $8,608,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $4,864,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $9,356,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $4,677,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $13,413,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $8,391,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $13,368,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $9,331,000,000.
(8) Transportation (400):
(A) New budget authority, $54,352,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $46,656,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $59,247,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $50,822,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $57,536,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $53,486,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $59,101,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $55,516,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $59,135,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $56,138,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $59,174,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $56,418,000,000.
(9) Community and Regional Development (450):
(A) New budget authority, $11,336,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $10,725,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $9,271,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $10,438,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $8,822,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $9,878,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $8,665,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $8,823,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $8,657,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $8,290,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $8,744,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $7,904,000,000.
(10) Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services
(500):
(A) New budget authority, $57,688,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $61,904,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $75,600,000,001.
(B) Outlays, $68,772,000,001.
(A) New budget authority, $76,377,000,001.
(B) Outlays, $73,182,000,001.
(A) New budget authority, $77,280,000,001.
(B) Outlays, $76,065,000,001.
(A) New budget authority, $78,406,000,001.
(B) Outlays, $77,412,000,001.
(A) New budget authority, $79,794,000,001.
(B) Outlays, $78,690,000,001.
(A) New budget authority, $159,224,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $153,473,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $170,815,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $167,436,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $178,911,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $177,766,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $190,951,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $190,300,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $205,181,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $204,835,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $221,484,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $220,329,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $199,601,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $199,507,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $218,751,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $219,005,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $228,635,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $228,604,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $249,762,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $249,520,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $265,318,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $265,546,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $288,730,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $288,681,000,000.
(13) Income Security (600):
(A) New budget authority, $238,891,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $248,071,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $253,236,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $255,424,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $264,844,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $267,252,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $274,789,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $278,452,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $284,929,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $288,367,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $297,669,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $301,202,000,000.
(14) Social Security (650):
(A) New budget authority, $11,532,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $11,533,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $9,728,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $9,727,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $11,572,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $11,572,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $12,271,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $12,271,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $13,020,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,020,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $13,841,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,841,000,000.
(15) Veterans Benefits and Services (700):
(A) New budget authority, $46,010,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $45,130,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $48,568,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $48,071,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $49,323,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $49,189,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $51,338,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $51,010,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $52,619,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $52,340,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $56,017,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $55,692,000,000.
(16) Administration of Justice (750):
(A) New budget authority, $27,370,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,013,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $28,210,890,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,345,341,000.
(A) New budget authority, $28,520,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,782,399,000.
(A) New budget authority, $29,157,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $29,191,925,000.
(A) New budget authority, $31,283,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $31,021,225,000.
(A) New budget authority, $32,124,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $31,863,000,000.
(17) General Government (800):
(A) New budget authority, $13,670,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $14,727,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $14,427,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $14,291,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $13,605,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,883,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $13,578,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,768,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $13,570,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,882,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $13,595,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,604,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $284,491,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $284,493,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $286,920,000,001.
(B) Outlays, $286,920,000,001.
(A) New budget authority, $285,291,000,001.
(B) Outlays, $285,290,000,001.
(A) New budget authority, $279,465,000,001.
(B) Outlays, $279,465,000,001.
(A) New budget authority, $275,502,000,001.
(B) Outlays, $275,502,000,001.
(A) New budget authority, $270,951,000,001.
(B) Outlays, $270,951,000,001.
(A) New budget authority, -$3,829,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$11,702,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$62,031,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$50,131,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$59,729,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$71,311,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, -$790,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, -$6,770,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, -$6,072,000,000.
(20) Undistributed Offsetting Receipts (950):
(A) New budget authority, -$34,315,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$34,315,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$38,366,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$38,366,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$41,943,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$41,943,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$41,270,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$41,270,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$38,374,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$38,374,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$40,686,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$40,686,000,000.
SEC. 104. RECONCILIATION OF REVENUE REDUCTIONS IN THE SENATE.
Not later than September 22, 2000, the Senate Committee on Finance
shall report to the Senate a reconciliation bill proposing changes in laws
within its jurisdiction necessary to reduce revenues by not more than
$12,911,658,999 in fiscal year 2001 and $146,803,109,999 for the period of
fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
SEC. 105. APPROPRIATE LEVELS FOR FUNCTION 920.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this resolution the appropriate
levels for function 920 are as follows:
(A) New budget authority, -$60,431,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$48,461,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$60,229,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$71,796,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$5,287,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$7,268,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$6,570,000,000.
SEC. 106. FURTHER APPROPRIATE LEVELS FOR FUNCTION 920.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this resolution, the
appropriate levels for function 920 are as follows:
(A) New budget authority, -$60,214,890,000.
(B) Outlays, -$48,152,341,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$59,729,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$71,395,399,000.
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, -$858,925,000.
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, -$6,779,225,000.
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, -$6,072,000,000.
TITLE II--BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS AND RULEMAKING
SEC. 201. CONGRESSIONAL LOCK BOX FOR SOCIAL SECURITY
SURPLUSES.
(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds that--
(1) under the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, the Social Security
trust funds are off-budget for purposes of the President's budget submission
and the concurrent resolution on the budget;
(2) the Social Security trust funds have been running surpluses for
18 years;
(3) these surpluses have been used to implicitly finance the general
operations of the Federal Government;
(4) in fiscal year 2001, the Social Security surplus will reach
$166,000,000,000;
(5) in fiscal year 1999, the Federal budget was balanced without
using Social Security;
(6) the only way to ensure that Social Security surpluses are not
diverted for other purposes is to balance the budget exclusive of such
surpluses; and
(7) Congress and the President should take such steps as are
necessary to ensure that future budgets continue to be balanced excluding
the surpluses generated by the Social Security trust funds.
(1) IN GENERAL- It shall not be in order in the House of
Representatives or the Senate to consider any revision to this concurrent
resolution, or any other concurrent resolution on the budget, or any
amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that sets forth a deficit
for any fiscal year.
(2) DEFICIT LEVELS- For purposes of this subsection, a deficit shall
be the level (if any) set forth in the most recently agreed to concurrent
resolution on the budget for that fiscal year pursuant to section 301(a)(3)
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(c) BUDGET COMMITTEE DETERMINATIONS- For purposes of this section, the
levels of new budget authority, outlays, direct spending, new entitlement
authority, revenues, deficits, and surpluses for a fiscal year shall be
determined on the basis of estimates made by the Committee on the Budget of
the House of Representatives or the Senate, as applicable.
(d) EXCEPTION- Subsection (b) shall not apply if--
(1) the most recent of the Department of Commerce's advance,
preliminary, or final reports of actual real economic growth indicate that
the rate of real economic growth for each of the most recently reported
quarter and the immediately preceding quarter is less than 1 percent;
or
(2) a declaration of war is in effect.
(e) SOCIAL SECURITY LOOK-BACK- If in any fiscal year the Social
Security surplus is used to finance general operations of the Federal
Government, an amount equal to the amount used shall be deducted from the
available amount of discretionary spending for the following fiscal year for
purposes of any concurrent resolution on the budget.
(f) WAIVER AND APPEAL- Subsection (b) may be waived or suspended in
the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly
chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the
Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate to sustain an
appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this
section.
SEC. 202. RESERVE FUND FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
(a) ALLOCATION- In the Senate, spending aggregates and other
appropriate budgetary levels and limits may be adjusted and allocations may be
revised for legislation reported by the Committee on Finance to provide a
prescription drug benefit for fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003, provided that
this legislation will not reduce the on-budget surplus by more than
$20,000,000,000 total during these 3 fiscal years, and provided that the
enactment of this legislation will not cause an on-budget deficit in any of
these 3 fiscal years.
(b) EXCEPTION- The adjustments provided in subsection (a) shall be
made for a bill or joint resolution, or an amendment that is offered (in the
Senate), that provides coverage for prescription drugs, if the Senate
Committee on Finance has not reported such legislation on or before September
1, 2000.
(c) ADJUSTMENT- If legislation is reported by the Senate Committee on
Finance that extends the solvency of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust
Fund without the use of transfers of new subsidies from the general fund,
without decreasing beneficiaries' access to health care, and excluding the
cost of extending and modifying the prescription drug benefit crafted pursuant
to section (a) or (b), then the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget may
change committee allocations and spending aggregates by no more than
$20,000,000,000 total for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 to fund the prescription
drug benefit if such legislation will not cause an on-budget deficit in either
of these 2 fiscal years.
(d) BUDGETARY ENFORCEMENT- The revision of allocations and aggregates
made under this section shall be considered for the purposes of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as allocations and aggregates contained in
this resolution.
SEC. 203. RESERVE FUND FOR STABILIZATION OF PAYMENTS TO COUNTIES IN
SUPPORT OF EDUCATION.
(1) IN GENERAL- Whenever the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate reports a bill, or an amendment thereto is offered,
or a conference report thereon is submitted, that provides additional
resources for counties and complies with paragraph (2), the chairman of the
Committee on the Budget may increase the allocation of budget authority and
outlays to that committee by the amount of budget authority (and the outlays
resulting therefrom) provided by that legislation for such purpose in
accordance with subsection (b).
(2) CONDITION- Legislation complies with this paragraph if it
provides for the stabilization of receipt-based payments to counties that
support school and road systems and also provides that a portion of those
payments would be dedicated toward local investments in Federal lands within
the counties.
(b) LIMITATIONS- The adjustments to the allocations required by
subsection (a) shall not exceed $200,000,000 in budget authority (and the
outlays resulting therefrom) for fiscal year 2001 and shall not exceed
$1,100,000,000 in budget authority (and the outlays resulting therefrom) for
the period of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
SEC. 204. RESERVE FUND FOR AGRICULTURE.
(1) IN GENERAL- If the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate reports a bill on or before June 29, 2000, or an
amendment thereto is offered, or a conference report thereon is submitted
that provides assistance for producers of program crops and specialty crops,
and enhancements for agriculture conservation programs that complies with
paragraph (2), the appropriate chairman of the Committee on the Budget may
increase the allocation of budget authority and outlays to that committee by
the amount of budget authority (and the outlays resulting therefrom)
provided by that legislation for such purpose in accordance with subsection
(b).
(2) CONDITIONS- Legislation complies with this paragraph if it does
not cause a net increase in budget authority and outlays of greater than
$1,640,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
(b) LIMITATIONS- The adjustments to the allocations required by
subsection (a) shall not exceed $5,500,000,000 in budget authority and outlays
for fiscal year 2000, and $3,000,000,000 in budget authority (and the outlays
resulting therefrom) for the period of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
SEC. 205. TAX REDUCTION RESERVE FUND IN THE SENATE.
In the Senate, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may reduce
the spending and revenue aggregates and may revise committee allocations for
legislation that reduces revenues if such legislation will not increase the
deficit or decrease the surplus for--
(2) the period of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
SEC. 206. MECHANISM FOR ADDITIONAL DEBT REDUCTION.
(a) IN GENERAL- If any of the legislation described in subsection (b)
does not become law on or before October 1, 2000, then the Chairman of the
Committee on the Budget of the Senate shall adjust the levels in this
concurrent resolution as provided in subsection (c).
(b) LEGISLATION- The adjustment required by subsection (a) shall be
made with respect to--
(1) the reconciliation legislation required by section 104;
or
(2) the Medicare legislation provided for in section 202.
(c) ADJUSTMENTS TO BE MADE- The adjustment required in subsection (a)
shall be--
(1) with respect to the legislation required by section 104, to
decrease the balance displayed on the Senate's pay-as-you-go scorecard and
increase the revenue aggregate by the amount set forth in section 104 (as
adjusted, if adjusted, pursuant to section 205) and to decrease the level of
debt held by the public as set forth in section 101(6) by that same amount;
or
(2) with respect to the legislation provided for in section 202, to
decrease the balance displayed on the Senate's pay-as-you-go scorecard by
the amount set forth in section 202 and to decrease the level of debt held
by the public as set forth in section 101(6) by that same amount and make
the corresponding adjustments to the revenue and spending aggregates and
allocations (as adjusted by section 202).
SEC. 207. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION POINT OF ORDER IN THE SENATE.
(1) GUIDANCE- In making a designation of a provision of legislation
as an emergency requirement under section 251(b)(2)(A) or 252(e) of the
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the committee
report and any statement of managers accompanying that legislation shall
analyze whether a proposed emergency requirement meets all the criteria in
paragraph (2).
(A) IN GENERAL- The criteria to be considered in determining
whether a proposed expenditure or tax change is an emergency requirement
are--
(i) necessary, essential, or vital (not merely useful or
beneficial);
(ii) sudden, quickly coming into being, and not building up over
time;
(iii) an urgent, pressing, and compelling need requiring
immediate action;
(iv) subject to subparagraph (B), unforeseen, unpredictable, and
unanticipated; and
(v) not permanent, temporary in nature.
(B) UNFORESEEN- An emergency that is part of an aggregate level of
anticipated emergencies, particularly when normally estimated in advance,
is not unforeseen.
(3) JUSTIFICATION FOR FAILURE TO MEET CRITERIA- If the proposed
emergency requirement does not meet all the criteria set forth in paragraph
(2), the committee report or the statement of managers, as the case may be,
shall provide a written justification of why the requirement should be
accorded emergency status.
(b) POINT OF ORDER- When the Senate is considering a bill, resolution,
amendment, motion, or conference report, a point of order may be made by a
Senator against an emergency designation in that measure and if the Presiding
Officer sustains that point of order, that provision making such a designation
shall be stricken from the measure and may not be offered as an amendment from
the floor.
(c) WAIVER AND APPEAL- This section may be waived or suspended in the
Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen
and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate,
duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of
the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
(d) DEFINITION OF AN EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT- A provision shall be
considered an emergency designation if it designates any item an emergency
requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) or 252(e) of the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
(e) FORM OF THE POINT OF ORDER- A point of order under this section
may be raised by a Senator as provided in section 313(e) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
(f) CONFERENCE REPORTS- If a point of order is sustained under this
section against a conference report the report shall be disposed of as
provided in section 313(d) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(g) EXCEPTION FOR DEFENSE SPENDING- Subsection (b) shall not apply
against an emergency designation for a provision making discretionary
appropriations in the defense category.
SEC. 208. RESERVE FUND PENDING INCREASE OF FISCAL YEAR 2001
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING LIMITS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds the following:
(1) The functional totals with respect to discretionary spending set
forth in this concurrent resolution, if implemented, would result in
legislation which exceeds the limit on discretionary spending for fiscal
year 2001 set out in section 251(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985. Nonetheless, the allocation pursuant to section
302 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to the
Committee on Appropriations is in compliance with current law spending
limits.
(2) Consequently unless and until the discretionary spending limit
for fiscal year 2001 is increased, aggregate appropriations which exceed the
current law limits would still be out of order in the Senate and subject to
a supermajority vote.
(3) The functional totals contained in this concurrent resolution
envision a level of discretionary spending for fiscal year 2001 as
follows:
(A) For the discretionary category: $602,179,000,000 in new budget
authority and $593,926,000,000 in outlays.
(B) For the highway category: $26,920,000,000 in
outlays.
(C) For the mass transit category: $4,639,000,000 in
outlays.
(4) To facilitate the Senate completing its legislative
responsibilities for the 106th Congress in a timely fashion, it is
imperative that the Senate consider legislation which increases the
discretionary spending limit for fiscal year 2001 as soon as
possible.
(b) ADJUSTMENT TO ALLOCATIONS- Whenever a bill or joint resolution
becomes law that increases the discretionary spending limit for fiscal year
2001 set out in section 251(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985, the appropriate chairman of the Committee on the Budget
shall increase the allocation called for in section 302(a) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to the appropriate Committee on
Appropriations.
(c) LIMITATION ON ADJUSTMENT- An adjustment made pursuant to
subsection (b) shall not result in an allocation under section 302(a) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that exceeds the total budget authority and
outlays set forth in subsection (a)(3).
SEC. 209. CONGRESSIONAL FIREWALL FOR DEFENSE AND NONDEFENSE
SPENDING.
(a) DEFINITION- In this section, for fiscal year 2001 the term
`discretionary spending limit' means--
(1) for the defense category, $310,819,000,000 in new budget
authority and $297,050,000,000 in outlays; and
(2) for the nondefense category, $291,360,000,000 in new budget
authority and $329,183,000,000 in outlays.
(b) POINT OF ORDER IN THE SENATE-
(1) IN GENERAL- After the adjustment to the section 302(a)
allocation to the Appropriations Committee is made pursuant to section 207
and except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall not be in order in the
Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or
conference report that exceeds any discretionary spending limit set forth in
this section.
(2) EXCEPTION- This subsection shall not apply if a declaration of
war by Congress is in effect.
(c) WAIVER AND APPEAL- This section may be waived or suspended in the
Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen
and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate,
duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of
the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
SEC. 210. MECHANISMS FOR STRENGTHENING BUDGETARY INTEGRITY.
(a) DEFINITION- For purposes of this section, the term `budget year'
means with respect to a session of Congress, the fiscal year of the Government
that starts on October 1 of the calendar year in which that session
begins.
(b) POINT OF ORDER WITH RESPECT TO ADVANCED APPROPRIATIONS-
(1) IN GENERAL- It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider
any bill, resolution, amendment, motion or conference report
that--
(A) provides an appropriation of new budget authority for any
fiscal year after the budget year that is in excess of the amounts
provided in paragraph (2); and
(B) provides an appropriation of new budget authority for any
fiscal year subsequent to the year after the budget year.
(2) LIMITATION ON AMOUNTS- The total amount, provided in
appropriations legislation for the budget year, of appropriations for the
subsequent fiscal year shall not exceed $23,000,000,000.
(c) POINT OF ORDER WITH RESPECT TO DELAYED OBLIGATIONS-
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall not be
in order in the Senate to consider any bill, resolution, amendment, motion,
or conference report that contains an appropriation of new budget authority
for any fiscal year which does not become available upon enactment of such
legislation or on the first day of that fiscal year (whichever is
later).
(2) EXCEPTION- Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to
appropriations in the defense category; nor shall it apply to appropriations
reoccurring or customary or for the following programs: Provided,
That such appropriation is not delayed beyond the specified date and
does not exceed the specified amount:
(A) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR- Operation of Indian Programs
School Operation Costs (Bureau of Indian Affairs Funded Schools and Other
Education Programs): July 1 not to exceed $401,000,000.
(i) Training and Employment Service: July 1 not to exceed
$1,650,000,000.
(ii) State Unemployment Insurance: July 1 not to exceed
$902,000,000.
(C) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION-
(i) Education Reform: July 1 not to exceed
$512,000,000.
(ii) Education for the Disadvantaged: July 1 not to exceed
$2,462,000,000.
(iii) School Improvement Program: July 1 not to exceed
$975,000,000.
(iv) Special Education: July 1 not to exceed
$2,048,000,000.
(v) Vocational Education: July 1 not to exceed
$858,000,000.
(D) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION- Grants to the National Railroad
Passenger Corporation: September 30 not to exceed
$343,000,000.
(E) DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS- Medical Care
(equipment-land-structures): August 1 not to exceed
$900,000,000.
(F) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY- Hazardous Substance
Superfund: September 1 not to exceed $100,000,000.
(d) WAIVER AND APPEAL- Subsections (b) and (c) may be waived or
suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate
to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised
under this section.
(e) FORM OF THE POINT OF ORDER- A point of order under this section
may be raised by a Senator as provided in section 313(e) of the Congressional
Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
(f) CONFERENCE REPORTS- If a point of order is sustained under this
section against a conference report, the report shall be disposed of as
provided in section 313(d) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control
Act of 1974.
(g) PRECATORY AMENDMENTS- For purposes of interpreting section
305(b)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, an amendment is not germane
if it contains only precatory language.
(h) SUNSET- Except for subsection (g), this section shall expire
effective October 1, 2002.
SEC. 211. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL RESERVE SURPLUSES.
(a) PURPOSE- The purpose of this section is to ensure that transfers
from nonbudgetary governmental entities such as the Federal Reserve banks
shall not be used to offset increased on-budget spending when such transfers
produce no real budgetary or economic effects.
(b) BUDGETARY RULE- For purposes of points of order under this
resolution and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974,
provisions contained in any bill, resolution, amendment, motion, or conference
report that affects any surplus funds of the Federal Reserve banks shall not
be scored with respect to the level of budget authority, outlays, or revenues
contained in such legislation.
SEC. 212. REAFFIRMING THE PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF REVENUE OFFSETS FOR
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.
(a) PURPOSE- The purpose of this section is to reaffirm Congress'
belief that the discretionary spending limits should be adhered to and not
circumvented by increasing taxes.
(b) RESTATEMENT OF BUDGETARY RULE- For purposes of points of order
under this resolution and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act
of 1974, provisions contained in an appropriations bill (or an amendment
thereto or a conference report thereon) resulting in increased revenues shall
continue not to be scored with respect to the level of budget authority or
outlays contained in such legislation.
SEC. 213. APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ALLOCATIONS AND
AGGREGATES.
(a) APPLICATION- Any adjustments of allocations and aggregates made
pursuant to this concurrent resolution for any measure shall--
(1) apply while that measure is under consideration;
(2) take effect upon the enactment of that measure; and
(3) be published in the Congressional Record as soon as
practicable.
(b) EFFECT OF CHANGED ALLOCATIONS AND AGGREGATES- Revised allocations
and aggregates resulting from these adjustments shall be considered for the
purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as allocations and aggregates
contained in this concurrent resolution.
SEC. 214. RESERVE FUND TO FOSTER THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES AND THE EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDENCE OF THEIR FAMILIES.
(1) IN GENERAL- Whenever the Committee on Finance of the Senate
reports a bill, or an amendment thereto is offered, or a conference report
thereon is submitted, that facilitates children with disabilities receiving
needed health care at home and complies with paragraph (2), the chairman of
the Committee on the Budget may increase the spending aggregate and
allocation of budget authority and outlays to that committee by the amount
of budget authority (and the outlays resulting therefrom) provided by that
legislation for such purpose in accordance with subsection (b).
(2) CONDITION- Legislation complies with this paragraph if it
finances health programs designed to allow children with disabilities to
access the health services they need to remain at home with their families
while allowing their families to become or remain employed.
(b) LIMITATIONS- The adjustments to the spending aggregates and
allocations required by subsection (a) shall not exceed $50,000,000 in budget
authority (and the outlays resulting therefrom) for fiscal year 2001 and shall
not exceed $300,000,000 in budget authority (and the outlays resulting
therefrom) for the period of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
SEC. 215. EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING POWERS.
Congress adopts the provisions of this title--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and the
House of Representatives, respectively, and as such they shall be considered
as part of the rules of each House, or of that House to which they
specifically apply, and such rules shall supersede other rules only to the
extent that they are inconsistent therewith; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either
House to change those rules (so far as they relate to that House) at any
time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other
rule of that House.
SEC. 216. RESERVE FUND FOR MILITARY RETIREE HEALTH CARE.
(a) IN GENERAL- In the Senate, aggregates, allocations, functional
totals, and other budgetary levels and limits may be revised for Department of
Defense authorization legislation reported by the Committee on Armed Services
of the Senate to fund improvements to health care programs for military
retirees and their dependents in order to fulfill the promises made to them:
Provided, That the enactment of that legislation will not cause an
on-budget deficit for--
(2) the period of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
(b) REVISED LEVELS- Upon the consideration of legislation pursuant to
subsection (a), the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may
file with the Senate appropriately revised allocations under section 302(a) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and revised functional levels and
aggregates to carry out this section. These revised allocations, functional
levels, and aggregates shall be considered for the purposes of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as allocations, functional levels, and
aggregates contained in this resolution.
SEC. 217. RESERVE FUND FOR EARLY LEARNING AND PARENT SUPPORT
PROGRAMS.
(a) ADJUSTMENT- When the Committee on Education and Workforce of the
House of Representatives or the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate reports a bill, an amendment is offered in the House of
Representatives or the Senate, or a conference report is filed that improves
opportunities at the local level for early learning, brain development, and
school readiness for young children from birth to age 6 and offers support
programs for such families, particularly those with special needs such as
mental health issues and behavioral disorders, the relevant chairman of the
Committee on the Budget may increase the allocation aggregates, functions,
totals, and other budgetary totals in the resolution by the amount of budget
authority (and the outlays resulting therefrom) provided by the legislation
for such purpose in accordance with subsection (b) if the legislation does not
cause an on-budget deficit.
(b) LIMITATIONS- The adjustments to the aggregates and totals pursuant
to subsection (a) shall not exceed $8,500,000,000 on-budget authority (and the
outlays resulting therefrom) for the period fiscal year 2001 through
2005.
TITLE III--SENSE OF THE SENATE PROVISIONS
SEC. 301. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON CONTROLLING AND ELIMINATING THE GROWING
INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM OF TUBERCULOSIS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds the following:
(1) According to the World Health Organization--
(A) nearly 2,000,000 people worldwide die each year of
tuberculosis-related illnesses;
(B) one-third of the world's total population is infected with
tuberculosis; and
(C) tuberculosis is the world's leading killer of women between
15- and 44-years old and is a leading cause of children becoming
orphans.
(2) Because of the ease of transmission of tuberculosis, its
international persistence and growth pose a direct public health threat to
those nations that had previously largely controlled the disease. This is
complicated in the United States by the growth of the homeless population,
the rate of incarceration, international travel, immigration, and
HIV/AIDS.
(3) With nearly 40 percent of the tuberculosis cases in the United
States attributable to foreign-born persons, tuberculosis will never be
eliminated in the United States until it is controlled abroad.
(4) The means exist to control tuberculosis through screening,
diagnosis, treatment, patient compliance, monitoring, and ongoing review of
outcomes.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assumes that additional resources should be provided to
fund international tuberculosis control efforts at $60,000,000 in fiscal year
2001, consistent with authorizing legislation approved by the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate.
SEC. 302. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE CHILD CARE
AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) in 1998, 33.2 percent of women in the labor force have children
under 14;
(2) in 1998, 65.2 percent of women with children younger than age 6,
and 78.4 percent of women with children ages 6 through 17 were in the labor
force, and 41.6 percent of women with children younger than 3 were employed
full-time;
(3) 1,920,000 couples both working and with children under 18 had
family incomes of under $30,000 (10.3 percent);
(4)(A) in 1998, 11,700,000 children out of 21,300,000 (55.1 percent)
under the age of 5 have employed mothers;
(B) 18.4 percent of children under 6 are cared for by their fathers
at home;
(C) another 5.5 percent (562,000) are looked after by their mother
either at home or away from home; and
(D) in other words, less than a quarter (23.9 percent) of these
children are taken care of by 1 parent;
(5) a 1997 General Accounting Office study found that the increased
work participation requirement of the welfare reform law will cause the need
for child care to exceed the known supply;
(6) a 1995 study by the Urban Institute of child care prices in 6
cities found that the average cost of daycare for a 2-year-old in a child
care center ranged from $3,100 to $8,100;
(7) for an entry-level worker, the family's child care costs at the
average price of care for an infant in a child care center would be at least
50 percent of family income in 5 of the 6 cities examined;
(8) a large number of low- and middle-income families sacrifice a
second full-time income so that a parent may be at home with the
child;
(9) the average income of 2-parent families with a single income (a
family with children, wife does not work) is $13,566 less than the average
income of 2-parent families with 2 incomes;
(10) a recent National Institute for Child Health and Development
study found that the greatest factor in the development of a young child is
`what is happening at home and in families'; and
(11) increased tax relief directed at making child care more
affordable, and increased funding for the Child Care and Development Block
Grant, would take significant steps toward bringing quality child care
within the reach of many parents, and would increase the options available
to parents in deciding how best to care for their children.
(b) SENSE OF SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in
this resolution and legislation enacted pursuant to this resolution
assume--
(1) that tax relief should be directed to parents who are struggling
to afford quality child care, including those who wish to stay home to care
for a child, and should be included in any tax cut package; and
(2) a total of $4,567,000,000 in funding for the Child Care and
Development Block Grant in fiscal year 2001.
SEC. 303. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON TAX RELIEF FOR COLLEGE TUITION PAID AND
FOR INTEREST PAID ON STUDENT LOANS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) in our increasingly competitive global economy, the attainment
of a higher education is critical to the economic success of an individual,
as evidenced by the fact that, in 1975, college graduates earned an average
of 57 percent more than those who just finished high school, compared to 76
percent more today;
(2) the cost of attaining a higher education has outpaced both
inflation and median family incomes;
(3) specifically, over the past 20 years, the cost of college
tuition has quadrupled (growing faster than any consumer item, including
health care and nearly twice as fast as inflation) and 8 times as fast as
median household incomes;
(4) despite recent increases passed by Congress, the value of the
maximum Pell Grant has declined 23 percent since 1975 in inflation-adjusted
terms, forcing more students to rely on student loans to finance the cost of
a higher education;
(5) from 1992 to 1998, the demand for student loans soared 82
percent and the average student loan increased 367 percent;
(6) according to the Department of Education, there is approximately
$150,000,000,000 in outstanding student loan debt, and students borrowed
more during the 1990's than during the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's combined;
and
(7) in Congress, proposals have been made to address the rising cost
of tuition and mounting student debt, including a bipartisan proposal to
provide a deduction for tuition paid and a credit for interest paid on
student loans.
(b) SENSE OF SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in
this resolution and legislation enacted pursuant to this resolution assume
that any tax cut package reported by the Finance Committee and passed by
Congress during the fiscal year 2001 budget reconciliation process include tax
relief for college tuition paid and for interest paid on student
loans.
SEC. 304. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) the National Institutes of Health is the Nation's foremost
research center;
(2) the Nation's commitment to and investment in biomedical research
has resulted in better health and an improved quality of life for all
Americans;
(3) continued biomedical research funding must be ensured so that
medical doctors and scientists have the security to commit to conducting
long-term research studies;
(4) funding for the National Institutes of Health should continue to
increase in order to prevent the cessation of biomedical research studies
and the loss of medical doctors and research scientists to private research
organizations; and
(5) the National Institutes of Health conducts research protocols
without proprietary interests, thereby ensuring that the best health care is
researched and made available to the Nation.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume increased funding in function 550 (Health) for the
National Institutes of Health of $2,700,000,000, reflecting the commitment
made in the fiscal year 1998 Senate Budget Resolution to double the National
Institute of Health budget by 2003.
SEC. 305. SENSE OF THE SENATE SUPPORTING FUNDING LEVELS IN EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES ACT.
It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in this resolution
assume that of the amounts provided for elementary and secondary education
within the Budget Function 500 of this resolution for fiscal years 2001
through 2005, such funds shall be appropriated in proportion to and in
accordance with the levels authorized in the Educational Opportunities Act, S.
2.
SEC. 306. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON ADDITIONAL BUDGETARY
RESOURCES.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds the following:
(1) In its review of government operations, the General Accounting
Office noted that it was unable to determine the extent of improper
government payments, due to the poor quality of agency accounting practices.
In particular, the General Accounting Office cited the Government's
inability to--
(A) `properly account for and report billions of dollars of
property, equipment, materials, and supplies and certain stewardship
assets'; and
(B) `properly prepare the Federal Government's financial
statements, including balancing the statements, accounting for billions of
dollars of transactions between governmental entities, and properly and
consistently compiling the information in the financial
statements.'.
(2) Private economic forecasters are currently more optimistic than
the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Blue Chip expects 2000 real GDP
growth of 4.1 percent, whereas the Congressional Budget Office expects 3.3
percent growth. From 1999 through 2005, Blue Chip expects real GDP to grow
more than 0.3 percentage points faster per year than the Congressional
Budget Office does. Using budgetary rules of thumb, this latter difference
translates into more than $150,000,000,000 over the 5-year budget
window.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
contained in this resolution assume that--
(1) there are billions of dollars in wasted expenditures in the
Federal Government that should be eliminated; and
(2) higher projected budget surpluses arising from reductions in
government waste and stronger revenue inflows could be used in the future
for additional tax relief or debt reduction.
SEC. 307. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON REGARDING THE INADEQUACY OF THE
PAYMENTS FOR SKILLED NURSING CARE.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) Congress confronted and addressed the funding crisis for
medicare beneficiaries requiring skilled nursing care through the Balanced
Budget Refinement Act of 1999;
(2) Congress recognized the need to address the inadequacy of the
prospective payment system for certain levels of care, as well as the need
to end arbitrary limits on rehabilitative therapies. Congress restored
$2,700,000,000 to reduce access threats to skilled care for medicare
beneficiaries; and
(3) Currently, more than 1,600 skilled nursing facilities caring for
more than 175,000 frail and elderly Americans have filed for bankruptcy
protection.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that--
(1) the Administration should identify areas where they have the
authority to make changes to improve quality, including analyzing and fixing
the labor component of the skilled nursing facility market basket update
factor; and
(2) while Congress deliberates funding structural medicare reform
and the addition of a prescription drug benefit, it must maintain the
continued viability of the current skilled nursing benefit. Therefore, the
committees of jurisdiction should ensure that medicare beneficiaries
requiring skilled nursing care have access to that care and that those
providers have the resources to meet the expectation for high quality
care.
SEC. 308. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE CARA PROGRAMS.
It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in this resolution
assume that, if the Congress and the President so choose, the following
programs can be fully funded as discretionary programs in fiscal year 2001,
including--
(1) the Land and Water Conservation Fund programs;
(2) the Federal aid to Wildlife Fund;
(3) the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Grants;
(4) the National Historic Preservation Fund;
(5) the Payment in Lieu of Taxes; and
(6) the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
SEC. 309. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON VETERANS' MEDICAL CARE.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) this budget addresses concerns about veterans' medical
care;
(2) we successfully increased the appropriation for veterans'
medical care by $1,700,000,000 last year, although the President had
proposed no increase in funding in his budget; and
(3) this year's budget proposes to increase the veterans' medical
care appropriation by $1,400,000,000, the level of funding in the
President's budget.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume an increase of $1,400,000,000 in veterans' medical
care appropriations in fiscal year 2001.
SEC. 310. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON IMPACT AID.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) the Impact Aid, as created by Congress in 1950, fulfills a
Federal obligation to local educational agencies impacted by a Federal
presence;
(2) the Impact Aid provides funds to these local educational
agencies to help them meet the basic educational needs of all their
children, particularly the needs of transient military dependent students,
Native American children, and students from low-income housing projects;
and
(3) the Impact Aid is funded at a level less than what is required
to fully fund `all' federally connected local educational
agencies.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that the Impact Aid Program strive to reach the goal
that all local educational agencies eligible for Impact Aid receive at a
minimum, 40 percent of their maximum payment under sections 8002 and
8003.
SEC. 311. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON FUNDING FOR INCREASED ACREAGE UNDER THE
CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM AND THE WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds the following:
(1) The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Wetlands Reserve
Program (WRP) have been successful, voluntary, incentive-based endeavors
that over the last decade and a half have turned millions of acres of
marginal cropland into reserves that protect wildlife in the United States,
provide meaningful income to farmers and ranchers (especially in periods of
collapsed commodity prices), and combat soil and water erosion. CRP and WRP
also provide increased opportunities for hunting, fishing, and other
recreational activities.
(2) CRP provides landowners with technical and financial assistance,
including annual rental payments, in exchange for removing environmentally
sensitive farmland from production and implementing conservation practices.
Currently, CRP includes around 31,300,000 acres in the United
States.
(3) Similarly, WRP offers technical and financial assistance to
landowners who select to restore wetlands. Currently, WRP includes 785,000
acres nationwide.
(4) Furthermore, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the
106th Congress to increase the acreage permitted under both CRP and WRP. The
Administration also supports raising the acreage limitations in both
programs.
(5) Unfortunately, both CRP and WRP may soon become victims of their
own success and their respective statutory acreage limitations unless
Congress acts. Given the popularity and demand for these conservation
programs, the statutory acreage limitations will likely exhaust resources
available to producers who want to participate in CRP or WRP. As currently
authorized, CRP has an enrollment cap of 36,400,000 acres and WRP is limited
at 975,000 acres. As of October 1, 1999, enrollment in CRP stood at
approximately 31,300,000 acres and enrollment in WRP at just over 785,000
acres.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that Congress and the Administration should take
steps to raise the acreage limits of the CRP and WRP in order to make these
programs available to aid the preservation and conservation of sensitive
natural soil and water resources without negatively effecting rural
communities. Further, such actions should help improve farm income for
agricultural producers and restore prosperity and growth to rural sectors of
the United States.
SEC. 312. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON TAX SIMPLIFICATION.
(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds that--
(1) the tax code has become increasingly complex, undermining
confidence in the system, and often undermining the principles of
simplicity, efficiency, and equity;
(2) some have estimated that the resources required to keep records
and file returns already cost American families an additional 10 percent to
20 percent over what they actually pay in income taxes; and
(3) if it is to enact a greatly simplified tax code, Congress should
have a thorough understanding of the problem as well as specific proposals
to consider.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that the Joint Committee on Taxation shall develop a
report and alternative proposals on tax simplification by the end of the year,
and the Department of the Treasury is requested to develop a report and
alternative proposals on tax simplification by the end of the year.
SEC. 313. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON ANTITRUST ENFORCEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE AND FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION REGARDING AGRICULTURE MERGERS AND
ANTICOMPETITIVE ACTIVITY.
(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds that--
(1) the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice is charged
with the civil and criminal enforcement of the antitrust laws, including the
review of corporate mergers likely to reduce competition in particular
markets, with a goal of protecting the competitive process;
(2) the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission is
also charged with enforcement of the antitrust laws, including the review of
corporate mergers likely to reduce competition;
(3) the Antitrust Division and the Bureau of Competition are also
responsible for the prosecution of companies and individuals who engage in
anti-competitive behavior and unfair trade practices;
(4) the number of merger filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, which the Department of Justice, in
conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission, is required to review, has
increased significantly in fiscal years 1998 and 1999;
(5) large agri-businesses have constituted part of this trend in
mergers and acquisitions;
(6) farmers and small agricultural producers are experiencing one of
the worst periods of economic downturn in years;
(7) farmers currently get less than a quarter of every retail food
dollar, down from nearly half of every retail food dollar in
1952;
(8) the top 4 beef packers presently control 80 percent of the
market, the top 4 pork producers control 57 percent of the market, and the
largest sheep processors and poultry processors control 73 percent and 55
percent of the market, respectively;
(9) the 4 largest grain processing companies presently account for
approximately 62 percent of the Nation's flour milling, and the 4 largest
firms control approximately 75 percent of the wet corn milling and soybean
crushing industry;
(10) farmers and small, independent producers are concerned about
the substantial increase in concentration in the agriculture industry and
significantly diminished opportunities in the marketplace; and
(11) farmers and small, independent producers are also concerned
about possible anticompetitive behavior and unfair business practices in the
agriculture industry.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that--
(1) the Antitrust Division and the Bureau of Competition will have
adequate resources to enable them to meet their statutory requirements,
including those related to reviewing increasingly numerous and complex
mergers and investigating and prosecuting anticompetitive business activity;
and
(2) these departments will--
(A) dedicate considerable resources to matters and transactions
dealing with agri-business antitrust and competition; and
(B) ensure that all vertical and horizontal mergers implicating
agriculture and all complaints regarding possible anticompetitive business
practices in the agriculture industry will receive extraordinary
scrutiny.
SEC. 314. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING FAIR MARKETS FOR AMERICAN
FARMERS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) United States agricultural producers are the most efficient and
competitive in the world;
(2) United States agricultural producers are at a competitive
disadvantage in the world market because the European Union outspends the
United States (on a dollar/acre basis) by a ratio of 10:1 on domestic
support and by a ratio of 60:1 on export subsidies;
(3) the support the European Union gives their producers results in
more prosperous rural communities in Europe than in the United
States;
(4) the European Union blocked consensus at the World Trade
Organization ministerial meeting in Seattle because Europe does not want to
surrender its current advantage in world markets;
(5) despite the competitiveness of American farmers, the European
advantage has led to a declining United States share of the world market for
agricultural products;
(6) the United States Department of Agriculture reports that United
States export growth has lagged behind that of our major competitors,
resulting in a loss of United States market share, from 24 percent in 1981
to its current level of 18 percent;
(7) the United States Department of Agriculture also reports that
United States market share of global agricultural trade has eroded steadily
over the past 2 decades, which could culminate in the United States losing
out to the European Union as the world's top agricultural exporter sometime
in 2000;
(8) prices of agricultural commodities in the United States are at
50-year lows in real terms, creating a serious economic crisis in rural
America; and
(9) fundamental fairness requires that the playing field be leveled
so that United States farmers are no longer at a competitive
disadvantage.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that--
(1) the United States should take steps to increase support for
American farmers in order to level the playing field for United States
agricultural producers and increase the leverage of the United States in
World Trade Organization negotiations on agriculture as long as such support
is not trade distorting, and does not otherwise exceed or impair existing
Uruguay Round obligations; and
(2) such actions should improve United States farm income and
restore the prosperity of rural communities.
SEC. 315. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON WOMEN AND SOCIAL SECURITY
REFORM.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) without Social Security benefits, the elderly poverty rate among
women would have been 52.2 percent, and among widows would have been 60.6
percent;
(2) women tend to live longer and tend to have lower lifetime
earnings than men do;
(3) during their working years, women earn an average of 70 cents
for every dollar men earn; and
(4) women spend an average of 11.5 years out of their careers to
care for their families, and are more likely to work part-time than
full-time.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that--
(1) women face unique obstacles in ensuring retirement security and
survivor and disability stability;
(2) Social Security plays an essential role in guaranteeing
inflation-protected financial stability for women throughout their old
age;
(3) the Congress and the Administration should act, as part of
Social Security reform, to ensure that widows and other poor elderly women
receive more adequate benefits that reduce their poverty rates and that
women, under whatever approach is taken to reform Social Security, should
receive no lesser a share of overall federally funded retirement benefits
than they receive today; and
(4) the sacrifice that women make to care for their family should be
recognized during reform of Social Security and that women should not be
penalized by taking an average of 11.5 years out of their careers to care
for their family.
SEC. 316. PROTECTION OF BATTERED WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) Each year an estimated 1,000,000 women suffer nonfatal violence
by an intimate partner.
(2) Nearly 1 out of 3 adult women can expect to experience at least
1 physical assault by a partner during adulthood.
(3) Domestic violence is statistically consistent across racial and
ethnic lines. It does not discriminate based on race or economic
status.
(4) The chance of being victimized by an intimate partner is 10
times greater for a woman than a man.
(5) Past and current victims of domestic violence are
over-represented in the welfare population. It is estimated that at least 60
percent of current welfare beneficiaries have experienced some form of
domestic violence.
(6) Abused women who do seek employment face barriers as a result of
domestic violence. Welfare studies show that 15 to 50 percent of abused
women report interference from their partner with education, training, or
employment.
(7) The programs established by the Violence Against Women Act of
1994 have empowered communities to address the threat caused by domestic
violence.
(8) Since 1995, Congress has appropriated close to $1,800,000,000 to
fund programs established by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994,
including the STOP program, shelters for battered women and children, the
domestic violence hotline, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
injury control programs.
(9) The programs established by the Violence Against Women Act of
1994 have been and continue to comprise a successful national strategy for
addressing the needs of battered women and the public health threat caused
by this violence.
(10) The Supreme Court could act during this session to overturn a
major protection and course of action provided for in the Violence Against
Women Act of 1994. In United States v. Morrison/Brzonkala, the Supreme Court
will address the issue of the constitutionality of the Federal civil rights
remedy under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, and may overturn
congressional intent to elevate violence against women to a category
protected under Federal civil rights law.
(11) The actions taken by the courts and the failure to reauthorize
the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 has generated a great deal of concern
in communities nationwide.
(12) Funding for the programs established by the Violence Against
Women Act of 1994 is the only lifeline for battered women and Congress has a
moral obligation to continue funding and to strengthen key components of the
Violence Against Women Act of 1994.
(13) Congress and the Administration should work to ensure the
continued funding of programs established by the Violence Against Women Act
of 1994.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that, in light of the pending litigation challenging
the constitutionality of the Federal civil rights remedy in the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994 and the lack of action on legislation reauthorizing
and strengthening the provisions of that Act--
(1) Congress, through reauthorization of the programs established by
the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, should work to eliminate economic
barriers that trap women and children in violent homes and relationships;
and
(2) full funding for the programs established by the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994 will be provided from the Violent Crime Reduction
Fund.
SEC. 317. USE OF FALSE CLAIMS ACT IN COMBATTING MEDICARE
FRAUD.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) the solvency of the medicare trust funds is of vital importance
to the well-being of the Nation's seniors and other vulnerable people in
need of quality health care;
(2) fraud against the medicare trust funds is a major problem
resulting in the depletion of the trust funds; and
(3) chapter 37 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to
as the False Claims Act) and the qui tam provisions of that chapter are
vital tools in combatting fraud against the medicare program.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that chapter 37 of title 31, United States Code
(commonly referred to as the False Claims Act) and the qui tam provisions of
that chapter are essential tools in combatting medicare fraud and should not
be weakened in any way.
SEC. 318. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE NATIONAL GUARD.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) the Army National Guard relies heavily upon thousands of
full-time employees, Military Technicians and Active Guard/Reserves, to
ensure unit readiness throughout the Army National Guard;
(2) these employees perform vital day-to-day functions, ranging from
equipment maintenance to leadership and staff roles, that allow the drill
weekends and annual active duty training of the traditional Guardsmen to be
dedicated to preparation for the National Guard's warfighting and peacetime
missions;
(3) when the ability to provide sufficient Active Guard/Reserves and
Technicians end strength is reduced, unit readiness, as well as quality of
life for soldiers and families is degraded;
(4) the Army National Guard, with agreement from the Department of
Defense, requires a minimum essential requirement of 23,500 Active
Guard/Reserves and 25,500 Technicians; and
(5) the fiscal year 2001 budget request for the Army National Guard
provides resources sufficient for approximately 22,430 Active Guard/Reserves
and 23,957 Technicians, end strength shortfalls of 1,052 and 1,543,
respectively.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in the resolution assume that the Department of Defense will give priority to
funding the Active Guard/Reserves and Military Technicians at levels
authorized by Congress in the fiscal year 2000 Department of Defense
authorization bill.
SEC. 319. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING MILITARY READINESS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) the Secretary of the Air Force stated that the United States Air
Force's top unfunded readiness priority for fiscal year 2000 was its
aircraft spares and repair parts account and top Air Force officers have
said that getting more spares is a top priority to improve readiness
rates;
(2) the Chief of Naval Operations stated that the aircraft spares
and repair parts account for a top readiness priority important to the
long-term health of the Navy;
(3) the General Accounting Office's study of personnel retention
problems in the armed services cited shortages of spares and repair parts as
a major reason why people are leaving the services;
(4) the fiscal year 2001 budget request decreases the Air Force's
spares and repair parts account by 13 percent from fiscal year 2000 expected
levels; and
(5) the fiscal year 2001 budget request decreases the Navy's spares
and repair parts account by 6 percent from the fiscal year 2000 expected
levels.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the
functional totals in the budget resolution assume that Congress will protect
the Department of Defense's readiness accounts, including spares and repair
parts, and operations and maintenance, and use the requested levels as the
minimum baseline for fiscal year 2001 authorization and
appropriations.
SEC. 320. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON COMPENSATION FOR THE CHINESE EMBASSY
BOMBING IN BELGRADE.
It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in this resolution
assume funds designated to compensate the People's Republic of China for the
damage inadvertently done to their embassy in Belgrade by NATO forces in May
1999, should not be appropriated from the international affairs
budget.
SEC. 321. SENSE OF THE SENATE SUPPORTING FUNDING OF DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY
INITIATIVES.
(a) The Senate finds that--
(1) computers, the Internet, and information networks are not luxury
items but basic tools largely responsible for driving the current economic
expansions;
(2) information technology utility relies on software applications
and online content;
(3) access to computers and the Internet and the ability to use this
technology effectively is becoming increasingly important for full
participation in America's economic, political, and social life;
and
(4) unequal access to technology and high-tech skills by income,
educational level, race, and geography could deepen and reinforce the
divisions that exist within American society.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that the Committees on Appropriations and Finance
should support efforts that address the digital divide, including tax
incentives and funding to--
(1) broaden access to information technologies;
(2) provide workers and teachers with information technology
training;
(3) promote innovative online content and software applications that
will improve commerce, education, and quality of life; and
(4) help provide information and communications technology to
underserved communities.
SEC. 322. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING IMMUNIZATION FUNDING.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) vaccines protect children and adults against serious and
potentially fatal diseases;
(2) society saves up to $24 in medical and societal costs for every
dollar spent on vaccines;
(3) every day, 11,000 babies are born--4,000,000 each year--and each
child needs up to 19 doses of vaccine by age 2;
(4) approximately 1,000,000 2-year-olds have not received all of the
recommended vaccine doses;
(5) the immunization program under section 317(j)(1) under the
Public Health Service Act, administered by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, provides grants to States and localities for critical
activities including immunization registries, outbreak control, provider
education, outreach efforts, and linkages with other public health and
welfare services;
(6) Federal grants to States and localities for these activities
have declined from $271,000,000 in 1995 to $139,000,000 in 2000;
(7) because of these funding reductions States are struggling to
maintain immunization rates and have implemented severe cuts to immunization
delivery activities;
(8) even with significant gains in national immunization rates,
underimmunized children still exist and there are a number of subpopulations
where coverage rates remain low and are actually declining;
(9) rates in many of the Nation's urban areas, including Chicago and
Houston, are unacceptably low; and
(10) these pockets of need create pools of susceptible children and
increase the risk of dangerous disease outbreaks.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in the resolution assume that Congress should enact legislation that provides
$214,000,000 in funding for immunization grants under section 317 of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b) for infrastructure and delivery
activities, including targeted support for immunization project areas with low
or declining immunization rates or who have subpopulations with special
needs.
SEC. 323. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING TAX CREDITS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE TO LOW-INCOME EMPLOYEES.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) 25,000,000 workers in the United States were uninsured in 1997
and more than two-thirds of the uninsured workers earn less than $20,000
annually, according to a Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
report;
(2) the percentage of employees of small businesses who have
employer-sponsored health insurance coverage decreased from 52 percent in
1996 to 47 percent in 1998; for the smallest employers, those with 3 to 9
workers, the percentage of employees covered by employer-sponsored health
insurance fell from 36 percent in 1996 to 31 percent in 1998;
(3) between 1996 and 1998, health premiums for small businesses
increased 5.2 percent; premiums increased by 8 percent for the smallest
employers, the highest increase among all small businesses;
(4) monthly family coverage for workers at firms with 3 to 9
employees cost $520 in 1998, compared to $462 for family coverage for
workers at large firms; and
(5) only 39 percent of small businesses with a significant
percentage of low-income employees offer employer-provided health insurance
and such companies are half as likely to offer health benefits to such
employees as are companies that have only a small percentage of low-income
employees.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that Congress should enact legislation that allows
small businesses to claim a tax credit when they provide health insurance to
low-income employees.
SEC. 324. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON FUNDING FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) our success in the fight against crime and improvements in the
administration of justice are the result of a bipartisan effort;
and
(2) since 1993 the Congress and the President have increased justice
funding by 92 percent, and a strong commitment to law enforcement and the
administration of justice remains appropriate.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that funds to improve the justice system will be
available as follows:
(1) $665,000,000 for the expanded support of direct Federal
enforcement, adjudicative, and correctional-detention activities.
(2) $50,000,000 in additional funds to combat terrorism, including
cyber crime.
(3) $41,000,000 in additional funds for construction costs for the
Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center.
(4) $200,000,000 in support of Customs and Immigration and
Nationalization Service port of entry officers for the development and
implementation of the ACE computer system designed to meet critical trade
and border security needs.
(5) Funding is available for the continuation of such programs as:
the Byrne Grant Program, Violence Against Women, Juvenile Accountability
Block Grants, First Responder Training, Local Law Enforcement Block Grants,
Weed and Seed, Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth in Sentencing, State
Criminal Alien Assistance Program, Drug Courts, Residential Substance Abuse
Treatment, Crime Identification Technologies, Bulletproof Vests,
Counterterrorism, Interagency Law Enforcement Coordination.
SEC. 325. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE PELL GRANT.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) public investment in higher education yields a return of several
dollars for each dollar invested;
(2) higher education promotes economic opportunity for individuals;
for example recipients of bachelor's degrees earn an average of 75 percent
per year more than those with high school diplomas and experience half as
much unemployment as high school graduates;
(3) access to a college education has become a hallmark of American
society, and is vital to upholding our belief in equality of
opportunity;
(4) for a generation, the Federal Pell Grant has served as an
established and effective means of providing access to higher
education;
(5) over the past decade, Pell Grant has failed to keep up with
inflation. Over the past 25 years, the value of the average Pell Grant has
decreased by 23 percent--it is now worth only 77 percent of what Pell Grants
were worth in 1975;
(6) grant aid as a portion of student aid has fallen significantly
over the past 5 years. Grant aid used to comprise 55 percent of total aid
awarded and loans comprised just over 40 percent. Now that trend has been
reversed so that loans comprise nearly 60 percent of total aid awarded and
grants only comprise 40 percent of total aid awarded;
(7) the percentage of freshmen attending public and private 4-year
institutions from families whose income is below the national median has
fallen since 1981.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that within the discretionary allocation provided to
the Committee on Appropriations, the funding for the maximum Pell Grant award
should be at or above the level requested by the President.
SEC. 326. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION
REFORM.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds the following:
(1) Recent scientific evidence demonstrates that enhancing
children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development before
the age of 6 results in tremendous benefits throughout life.
(2) Successful schools are led by well-trained, highly qualified
principals, but many principals do not get the training in management skills
that the principals need to ensure their school provides an excellent
education for every child.
(3) Good teachers are a crucial catalyst to quality education, but 1
in 4 new teachers do not meet State certification requirements; each year
more than 50,000 underprepared teachers enter the classroom; and 12 percent
of new teachers have had no teacher training at all.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that the Federal Government should support State and
local educational agencies engaged in comprehensive reform of their public
education system and that any public education reform should include at least
the following principles:
(1) Every child should begin school ready to learn.
(2) Training and development for principals and teachers should be a
priority.
SEC. 327. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON PROVIDING ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR UNITED
STATES INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) United States international leadership is essential to
maintaining security and peace for all Americans;
(2) such leadership depends on effective diplomacy as well as a
strong military;
(3) effective diplomacy requires adequate resources both for
operations and security of United States embassies and for international
programs;
(4) in addition to building peace, prosperity, and democracy around
the world, programs in the International Affairs (150) budget serve United
States interests by ensuring better jobs and a higher standard of living,
promoting the health of our citizens and preserving our natural environment,
and protecting the rights and safety of those who travel or do business
overseas;
(5) real spending for International Affairs has declined more than
40 percent since the mid-1980's, at the same time that major new challenges
and opportunities have arisen from the disintegration of the Soviet Union
and the worldwide trends toward democracy and free markets;
(6) current ceilings on discretionary spending will impose severe
additional cuts in funding for International Affairs;
(7) improved security for United States diplomatic missions and
personnel will place further strain on the International Affairs budget
absent significant additional resources;
(8) the United States cannot reduce efforts to safeguard nuclear
materials in the former Soviet States or shortchange initiatives aimed at
maintaining stability on the Korean peninsula, where 37,000 United States
forces are deployed. We cannot reduce support for peace in the Middle East
or in Northern Ireland or in the Balkans. We cannot stop fighting terror or
simply surrender to the spread of HIV/AIDS. We must continue to support all
of these things, which are difficult to achieve without adequate and
realistic funding levels; and
(9) the President's request for funds for fiscal year 2001 would
adequately finance our International Affairs programs without detracting
from our defense and domestic needs. It would help keep America prosperous
and secure. It would enable us to leverage the contributions of allies and
friends on behalf of democracy and peace. It would allow us to protect the
interests of Americans who travel, study, or do business overseas. It would
do all these things and more for about 1 penny of every dollar the Federal
Government spends.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that additional budgetary resources should be
identified for function 150 to enable successful United States international
leadership.
SEC. 328. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING THE HIV/AIDS CRISIS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds the following:
(1) More than 16,000,000 people have been killed by Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) since the epidemic began.
(2) 14,000,000 Africans have died as a result of the AIDS epidemic.
Eighty-four percent of the worldwide deaths from AIDS have occurred in
sub-Saharan Africa.
(3) Each day, AIDS kills 5,500 Africans, and infects 11,000
more.
(4) By the end of 2000, 10,400,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa
will have lost one or both parents, to AIDS.
(5) Over 85 percent of the world's HIV-positive children live in
Africa.
(6) Fewer than 5 percent of those living with AIDS in Africa have
access to even the most basic care.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) the functional totals underlying this resolution on the budget
assume that Congress has recognized the catastrophic effects of the HIV/AIDS
epidemic, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and seeks to maximize the
effectiveness of the United States' efforts to combat the disease through
any necessary authorization or appropriations;
(2) Congress should strengthen ongoing programs which address
education and prevention, testing, the care of AIDS orphans, and improving
home and community-based care options for those living with AIDS;
and
(3) Congress should seek additional or new tools to combat the
epidemic, including initiatives to encourage vaccine development and
programs aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission of the
disease.
SEC. 329. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING TRIBAL COLLEGES.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds the following:
(1) More than 26,500 students from 250 tribes nationwide attend
tribal colleges. The colleges serve students of all ages, many of whom are
moving from welfare to work. The vast majority of tribal college students
are first-generation college students.
(2) While annual appropriations for tribal colleges have increased
modestly in recent years, core operation funding levels are still about half
of the $6,000 per Indian student level authorized by the Tribally Controlled
College or University Act.
(3) Although tribal colleges received a $3,000,000 increase in
funding in fiscal year 2000, because of rising student populations and other
factors, these institutions may face an actual per-student decrease in
funding over fiscal year 1999.
(4) Per-student funding for tribal colleges is roughly half the
amount given to mainstream community colleges.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that--
(1) the Senate recognizes the funding difficulties faced by tribal
colleges and assumes that priority consideration will be provided to them
through funding for the Tribally Controlled College and University Act, the
1994 Land Grant Institutions, and title III of the Higher Education Act;
and
(2) such priority consideration reflects Congress' intent to
continue work toward current statutory Federal funding goals for the tribal
colleges.
SEC. 330. SENSE OF THE SENATE TO PROVIDE RELIEF FROM THE MARRIAGE
PENALTY.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) marriage is the foundation of the American society and a key
institution for preserving our values;
(2) the tax code should not penalize those who choose to
marry;
(3) a report to the Treasury Department's Office of Tax Analysis
estimates that in 1999, 48 percent of married couples will pay a marriage
penalty under the present tax system;
(4) the Congressional Budget Office found that the average penalty
amounts to $1,400 a year.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the level
in this budget resolution assume that the Congress shall--
(1) pass marriage penalty tax relief legislation that begins a
phasedown of this penalty in 2001;
(2) consider such legislation prior to April 15, 2000.
SEC. 331. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE CONTINUED USE OF FEDERAL FUEL TAXES
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, AND
TRANSIT SYSTEMS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) current law, as stipulated in the Transportation Equity Act for
the 21st Century (TEA-21), requires all Federal gasoline taxes be deposited
into the Highway Trust Fund;
(2) current law, as stipulated in TEA-21, guarantees that all such
deposits to the Highway Trust Fund are spent in full on the construction and
rehabilitation of our Nation's highways, bridges, and transit
systems;
(3) the funding guarantees contained in TEA-21 are essential to the
ability of the Nation's Governors, highway commissioners, and transit
providers to address the growing backlog of critical transportation
investments in order to stem the deterioration of our road and transit
systems, improve the safety of our highways, and reduce the growth of
congestion that is choking off economic growth in communities across the
Nation;
(4) any effort to reduce the Federal gasoline tax or de-link the
relationship between highway user fees and highway spending pose a great
danger to the integrity of the Highway Trust Fund and the ability of the
States to invest adequately in our transportation infrastructure;
and
(5) proposals to reduce the Federal gasoline tax threaten to
endanger the spending levels guaranteed in TEA-21 while providing no
guarantee that consumers will experience any reduction in price at the gas
pump.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the
functional totals in this budget resolution do not assume the reduction of any
Federal gasoline taxes on either a temporary or permanent basis.
SEC. 332. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION
ENGINE.
It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in this resolution
assume that the Senate will not, on behalf of Vice President Al Gore, increase
gasoline and diesel fuel taxes by $1.50 per gallon effective July 1, 2000, and
by an additional $1.50 per gallon effective fiscal year 2005, as part of `a
coordinated global program to accomplish the strategic goal of completely
eliminating the internal combustion engine over, say, a twenty-five year
period' since `their cumulative impact on the global environment is posing a
mortal threat to the security of every nation that is more deadly than that of
any military enemy we are ever again likely to confront'.
SEC. 333. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL
BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM FOR LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) The impending retirement of the baby boom generation will
greatly increase the demand and need for quality long-term care and it is
incumbent on Congress and the President to ensure that medicare and medicaid
patients are protected from abuse, neglect, and mistreatment.
(2) Although the majority of long-term care facilities do an
excellent job in caring for elderly and disabled patients, incidents of
abuse and neglect and mistreatment do occur at an unacceptable rate and are
not limited to nursing homes alone.
(3) Current Federal and State safeguards are inadequate because
there is little or no information sharing between States about known abusers
and no common State procedures for tracking abusers from State to State and
facility to facility.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the
assumptions underlying the functional totals in this concurrent resolution on
the budget assume that a national registry of abusive long-term care workers
should be established by building upon existing infrastructures at the Federal
and State levels that would enable long-term care providers who participate in
the medicare and medicaid programs to conduct background checks on prospective
employees.
SEC. 334. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING THE PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
IN THE UNITED STATES.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) Today, two-thirds of senior citizens in the United States have
access to prescription drugs through health insurance coverage.
(2) However, it is difficult for many Americans, including senior
citizens, to afford the prescription drugs that they need to stay
healthy.
(3) Many senior citizens in the United States leave the country and
go to Canada or Mexico to buy prescription drugs that are developed,
manufactured, and approved in the United States in order to buy such drugs
at lower prices than such drugs are sold for in the United
States.
(4) According to the General Accounting Office, a consumer in the
United States pays on average 1/3 more for a prescription drug than a
consumer pays for the same drug in another country.
(5) The United States has made a strong commitment to supporting the
research and development of new drugs through taxpayer-supported funding of
the National Institutes of Health, through the research and development tax
credit, and through other means.
(6) The development of new drugs is important because the use of
such drugs enables people to live longer and lead healthier, more productive
lives.
(7) Citizens of other countries should pay a portion of the research
and development costs for new drugs, or their fair share of such costs,
rather than just reap the benefits of such drugs.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the
budgetary levels in this resolution assume that the cost disparity between
identical prescription drugs sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico
should be reduced or eliminated.
SEC. 335. SENSE OF THE SENATE AGAINST FEDERAL FUNDING OF SMOKE
SHOPS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) Smoking begun by children during their teen years and even
earlier turns the lives of far too many Americans into nightmares decades
later, plagued by disease and premature death.
(2) The Federal Government should leave a legacy of more healthy
Americans and fewer victims of tobacco-related illness.
(3) Efforts by the Federal Government should seek to protect young
people from the dangers of smoking.
(4) Discount tobacco stores, sometimes known as smoke shops, operate
to sell high volumes of cigarettes and other tobacco products, often at
significantly reduced prices, with each tobacco outlet often selling
millions of discount cigarettes each year.
(5) Studies by the Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention demonstrate that children are particularly
susceptible to price differentials in cigarettes, such as those available
through smoke shop discounts.
(6) The Department of Housing and Urban Development is using Federal
funds for grants to construct not less than 6 smoke shops or facilities that
contain a smoke shop.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the budget
levels in this resolution assume that no Federal funds may be used by the
Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide any grant or other
assistance to construct, operate, or otherwise benefit a smoke shop or other
tobacco outlet.
SEC. 336. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE NEED TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE
IN AMERICA.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds the following:
(1) On average, 12 children die from gun fire everyday in
America.
(2) On May 20, 1999, the Senate passed the Violent and Repeat
Offender Accountability and Rehabilitation Act, by a vote of 73 to 25, in
part, to stem gun-related violence in the United States.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in function 750 of this resolution assume that Congress should--
(1) pass the conference report to accompany H.R. 1501, the Violent
and Repeat Juvenile Offender Accountability and Rehabilitation Act,
including Senate-passed provisions, with the purpose of limiting access to
firearms by juveniles, convicted felons, and other persons prohibited by law
from purchasing or possessing firearms; and
(2) consider H.R. 1501 not later than April 20, 2000.
SEC. 337. SENSE OF THE SENATE SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2001 FOR MEDICAL CARE FOR OUR NATION'S VETERANS.
(a) It is the sense of the Senate that the provisions in this
resolution assume that if the Congressional Budget Office determines there is
an on-budget surplus for fiscal year 2001, $500,000,000 of that surplus will
be restored to the programs cut in this amendment.
(b) It is the sense of the Senate that the assumptions underlying this
budget resolution assume that none of these offsets will come from defense or
veterans, and to the extent possible should come from administrative
functions.
SEC. 338. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING MEDICAL CARE FOR
VETERANS.
It is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) the provisions of this resolution assume that if the
Congressional Budget Office determines there is an on-budget surplus for
fiscal year 2001, $500,000,000 of that surplus will be restored to the
programs cut by this amendment; and
(2) the assumptions underlying this resolution assume that none of
the offsets made by this amendment will come from defense or veterans and
should, to the extent possible, come from administrative
functions.
SEC. 339. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING INVESTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY
TRUST FUNDS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) Government investment of the Social Security trust funds in the
stock market is a gamble Congress should be unwilling to make on behalf of
the millions who receive and depend on Social Security to meet their
retirement needs;
(2) in 1999, the Senate voted 99-0 to oppose Government investment
of the Social Security trust funds in private financial markets;
(3) in addition to the unanimous opposition of the United States
Senate, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and Securities and Exchange
Commissioner Arthur Levitt also oppose the idea; and
(4) despite this opposition, and despite the dangers inherent in
having the Government invest Social Security trust funds in private
financial markets, President Clinton has once again suggested, on page 37 of
the Administration's proposed fiscal year 2001 Federal budget, that the
Government invest part of the Social Security trust funds in corporate
equities.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the
assumptions underlying the functional totals in this resolution assume that
the Federal Government should not directly invest contributions made to the
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability
Insurance Trust Fund established under section 201 of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 401), or any interest derived from those contributions, in private
financial markets.
SEC. 340. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) A digital divide exists in America. Low-income, urban and rural
families are less likely to have access to the Internet and computers.
African American and Hispanic families are only 2/5 as likely to have
Internet access as white families. Access by Native Americans to the
Internet and to computers is statistically negligible.
(2) Regardless of income level, Americans living in rural areas lag
behind in Internet access. Individuals with lower incomes who live in rural
areas are half as likely to have Internet access as individuals who live in
urban areas.
(3) The digital divide for the poorest Americans has grown by 29
percent since 1997.
(4) Access to computers and the Internet and the ability to use this
technology effectively is becoming increasingly important for full
participation in America's economic, political and social life.
(5) Unequal access to technology and high-tech skills by income,
educational level, race and geography could deepen and reinforce the
divisions that exist within American society.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the
functional totals underlying this resolution on the budget assume
that--
(1) to ensure that all children are computer literate by the time
they finish the eighth grade, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, income,
geography or disability, to broaden access to information technologies, to
provide workers, teachers and students with information technology training,
and to promote innovative online content and software applications that will
improve commerce, education and quality of life, initiatives that increase
digital opportunity should be provided for as follows:
(A) $200,000,000 in tax incentives should be provided to encourage
private sector donation of high-quality computers, sponsorship of
community technology centers, training, technical services and computer
repair;
(B) $450,000,000 should be provided for teacher
training;
(C) $150,000,000 for new teacher training;
(D) $400,000,000 should be provided for school technology and
school libraries;
(E) $20,000,000 should be provided to place computers and trained
personnel in Boys & Girls Clubs;
(F) $25,000,000 should be provided to create an E-Corps within
Americorps;
(G) $100,000,000 should be provided to create 1,000 Community
Technology Centers in low-income urban and rural
communities;
(H) $50,000,000 should be provided for public/private partnerships
to expand home access to computers and the Internet for low-income
families;
(I) $45,000,000 should be provided to promote innovative
applications of information and communications technology for underserved
communities;
(J) $10,000,000 should be provided to prepare Native Americans for
careers in Information Technology and other technical fields;
and
(2) all Americans should have access to broadband telecommunications
capability as soon as possible and as such, initiatives that increase
broadband deployment should be funded, including $25,000,000 to accelerate
private sector deployment of broadband and networks in underserved urban and
rural communities.
SEC. 341. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in this budget
resolution assume that among its reform options, Congress should explore a
medicare prescription drug proposal that--
(2) increases access for all medicare beneficiaries;
(3) is designed to provide meaningful protection and bargaining
power for medicare beneficiaries in obtaining prescription drugs;
(4) is affordable for all medicare beneficiaries and for the
medicare program;
(5) is administered using private sector entities and competitive
purchasing techniques;
(6) is consistent with broader medicare reform;
(7) preserves and protects the financial integrity of the medicare
trust funds;
(8) does not increase medicare beneficiary premiums; and
(9) provides a prescription drug benefit as soon as
possible.
SEC. 342. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING FUNDING FOR NEW EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.
It is the sense of the Senate that the budgetary levels in this
resolution assume that Congress' first priority should be to fully fund the
programs described under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.) at the originally promised level of 40 percent
before Federal funds are appropriated for new education programs.
SEC. 343. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL FIREARMS
LAWS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) The Clinton Administration has failed to adequately enforce
Federal firearms laws. Between 1992 and 1998, Triggerlock gun
prosecutions--prosecutions of defendants who use a firearm in the commission
of a felony--dropped nearly 50 percent, from 7,045 to approximately
3,800.
(2) The decline in Federal firearms prosecutions was not due to a
lack of adequate resources. During the period when Federal firearms
prosecutions decreased nearly 50 percent, the overall budget of the
Department of Justice increased 54 percent.
(3) It is a Federal crime to possess a firearm on school grounds
under section 922(q) of title 18, United States Code. The Clinton Department
of Justice prosecuted only 8 cases under this provision of law during 1998,
even though more than 6,000 students brought firearms to school that year.
The Clinton Administration prosecuted only 5 such cases during
1997.
(4) It is a Federal crime to transfer a firearm to a juvenile under
section 922(x) of title 18, United States Code. The Clinton Department of
Justice prosecuted only 6 cases under this provision of law during 1998 and
only 5 during 1997.
(5) It is a Federal crime to transfer or possess a semiautomatic
assault weapon under section 922(v) of title 18, United States Code. The
Clinton Department of Justice prosecuted only 4 cases under this provision
of law during 1998 and only 4 during 1997.
(6) It is a Federal crime for any person `who has been adjudicated
as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution' to
possess or purchase a firearm under section 922(g) of title 18, United
States Code. Despite this Federal law, mental health adjudications are not
placed on the national instant criminal background system established under
section 103(b) of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (18 U.S.C. 922
note).
(7) It is a Federal crime for any person knowingly to make any false
statement in the attempted purchase of a firearm under section 922(a)(6) of
title 18, United States Code. It is also a Federal crime for convicted
felons to possess or purchase a firearm under section 922(g) of title 18,
United States Code.
(8) More than 500,000 convicted felons and other prohibited
purchasers have been prevented from buying firearms from licensed dealers
since the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act was enacted. When these
felons attempted to purchase a firearm, they violated section 922(a)(6) of
title 18, United States Code, by making a false statement under oath that
they were not disqualified from purchasing a firearm. Nonetheless, of the
more than 500,000 violations, only approximately 200 of the felons have been
referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the
assumptions underlying the functional totals in this concurrent resolution on
the budget assume that Federal funds will be used for an effective law
enforcement strategy requiring a commitment to enforcing existing Federal
firearms laws by--
(1) designating not less than 1 Assistant United States Attorney in
each district to prosecute Federal firearms violations and thereby expand
Project Exile nationally;
(2) upgrading the national instant criminal background system
established under section 103(b) of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention
Act (18 U.S.C. 922 note) by encouraging States to place mental health
adjudications on that system and by improving the overall speed and
efficiency of that system; and
(3) providing incentive grants to States to encourage States to
impose mandatory minimum sentences for firearm offenses based on section
924(c) of title 18, United States Code, and to prosecute those offenses in
State court.
SEC. 344. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE CENSUS.
It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in this resolution and
legislation enacted pursuant to this resolution assume that no American will
be prosecuted, fined or in anyway harassed by the Federal Government or its
agents for failure to respond to any census questions which refer to an
individual's race, national origin, living conditions, personal habits or
mental and/or physical condition, but that all Americans are encouraged to
send in their census forms.
SEC. 345. SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT ANY INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE
SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY TAX RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
It is the sense of the Senate that the functional totals underlying
this resolution on the budget assume that the minimum wage should be increased
as provided for in amendment number 2547, the Domenici and others amendment to
S. 625, the Bankruptcy Reform legislation.
SEC. 346. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING THE MINIMUM WAGE.
It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in this resolution
assume that Congress should enact legislation to amend the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) to increase the Federal minimum
wage by $1.00 over 1 year with a $0.50 increase effective May 2, 2000 and
another $0.50 increase effective on May 2, 2001.
SEC. 347. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING FUNDING FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF
MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES IN THE THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN.
It is the sense of Congress that the levels of funding for the defense
category in this resolution--
(1) assume that members of the Armed Forces are to be authorized to
participate in the Thrift Savings Plan; and
(2) provide the $980,000,000 necessary to offset the reduced tax
revenue resulting from that participation through fiscal year
2009.
SEC. 348. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING PROTECTING THE SOCIAL SECURITY
TRUST FUNDS.
It is the sense of the Senate that the levels in this resolution
assume that the Congress shall pass legislation which provides for
sequestration to reduce Federal spending by the amount necessary to ensure
that, in any fiscal year, the Social Security surpluses are used only for the
payment of Social Security benefits, retirement security, Social Security
reform, or to reduce the Federal debt held by the public.
SEC. 349. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING REGULATION OF TOBACCO
PRODUCTS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) Cigarette smoking and tobacco use is the single most preventable
cause of death and disability in the United States.
(2) Cigarette smoking and tobacco use cause approximately 400,000
deaths each year in the United States.
(3) Health care costs associated with treating tobacco-related
diseases are $80,000,000,000 per year, and almost half of such costs are
paid for by taxpayer-financed government health care programs.
(4) In spite of the well established dangers of cigarette smoking
and tobacco use, there is no Federal agency that has authority to regulate
the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of tobacco products.
(5) Major tobacco companies spend over $5,600,000,000 each year
($15,000,000 each day) to promote the use of tobacco products.
(6) Ninety percent of adult smokers first started smoking before the
age of 18.
(7) Each day 3,000 children become regular smokers and 1/3 of such
children will die of diseases associated with the use of tobacco
products.
(8) The Food and Drug Administration regulates the manufacture,
sale, distribution, and use of nicotine-containing products used as
substitutes for cigarette smoking and tobacco use and should be granted the
authority to regulate tobacco products.
(9) Congress should restrict youth access to tobacco products and
ensure that tobacco products meet minimum safety standards.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the
budgetary levels in this resolution assume that--
(1) the Food and Drug Administration is the most qualified Federal
agency to regulate tobacco products; and
(2) Congress should enact legislation in the year 2000 that grants
the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco
products.
SEC. 350. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) The demand for after school education is very high, with more
than 1,000,000 students waiting to get into such programs.
(2) After school programs improve educational achievement and have
widespread support, with over 90 percent of the American people supporting
such programs.
(3) 450 of the Nation's leading police chiefs, sheriffs, and
prosecutors, along with the presidents of the Fraternal Order of Police, and
the International Union of Police Associations, support government funding
of after school programs.
(4) Many of our Nation's governors endorse increasing the number of
after school programs through a Federal and State partnership.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that this
resolution assumes that the President's level of funding for after school
programs in fiscal year 2001 will be provided, which will accommodate the
current need for after school programs.
SEC. 351. SENSE OF SENATE REGARDING CASH BALANCE PENSION PLAN
CONVERSIONS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds the following:
(1) Defined benefit pension plans are guaranteed by the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation and provide a lifetime benefit for a
beneficiary and spouse.
(2) Defined benefit pension plans provide meaningful retirement
benefits to rank and file workers, since such plans are generally funded by
employer contributions.
(3) Employers should be encouraged to establish and maintain defined
benefit pension plans.
(4) An increasing number of major employers have been converting
their traditional defined benefit plans to `cash balance' or other hybrid
defined benefit plans.
(5) Under current law, employers are not required to provide plan
participants with meaningful disclosure of the impact of converting a
traditional defined benefit plan to a `cash balance' or other hybrid
formula.
(6) For a number of years after a conversion, the cash balance or
other hybrid benefit formula may result in a period of `wear away' during
which older and longer service participants earn no additional
benefits.
(7) Federal law should continue to prohibit pension plan
participants from being discriminated against on the basis of age in the
provision of pension benefits.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the levels
in this resolution assume that pension plan participants whose plans are
changed to cause older or longer service workers to earn less retirement
income, including conversions to `cash balance plans,' should receive
additional protection than what is currently provided, and Congress should act
this year to address this important issue. In particular, at a
minimum--
(1) all pension plan participants should receive adequate, accurate,
and timely notice of any change to a plan that will cause participants to
earn less retirement income in the future; and
(2) pension plans that are changed to a cash balance or other hybrid
formula should not be permitted to `wear away' participants' benefits in
such a manner that older and longer service participants earn no additional
pension benefits for a period of time after the change.
SEC. 352. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING UNINSURED AND LOW-INCOME
INDIVIDUALS IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) the uninsured population in the United States continues to grow
at over 100,000 individuals per month, and is estimated to reach over
53,000,000 people by 2007;
(2) the growth in the uninsured population continues despite public
and private efforts to increase health insurance coverage;
(3) nearly 80 percent of the uninsured population are members of
working families who cannot afford health insurance or cannot access
employer-provided health insurance plans;
(4) minority populations, rural residents, and single-parent
families represent a disproportionate number of the uninsured
population;
(5) the problem of health care access for the uninsured population
is compounded in many urban and rural communities by a lack of providers who
are available to serve both insured and uninsured populations;
(6) community, migrant, homeless, and public housing health centers
have proven uniquely qualified to address the lack of adequate health care
services for uninsured populations, serving over 4,500,000 uninsured
patients in 1999, including over 1,000,000 new uninsured patients who have
sought care from such centers in the last 3 years;
(7) health centers care for nearly 7,000,000 minorities, nearly
600,000 farmworkers, and more than 500,000 homeless individuals each
year;
(8) health centers provide cost-effective comprehensive primary and
preventive care to uninsured individuals for less than $1.00 per day, or
$350 annually, and help to reduce the inappropriate use of costly emergency
rooms and inpatient hospital care;
(9) current resources only allow health centers to serve 10 percent
of the Nation's 44,000,000 uninsured individuals;
(10) past investments to increase health center access have resulted
in better health, an improved quality of life for all Americans, and a
reduction in national health care expenditures; and
(11) Congress can act now to increase access to health care services
for uninsured and low-income people together with or in advance of health
care coverage proposals by expanding the availability of services at
community, migrant, homeless, and public housing health centers.
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that the
functional totals underlying this resolution on the budget assume
that--
(1) appropriations for consolidated health centers under section 330
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) should be increased by 100
percent over the next 5 fiscal years in order to double the number of
individuals who receive health care services at community, migrant,
homeless, and public housing health centers; and
(2) appropriations for consolidated health centers should be
increased by $150,000,000 in fiscal year 2001 over the amount appropriated
for such centers in fiscal year 2000.
SEC. 353. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING FISCAL YEAR 2001 FUNDING FOR
THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) The United States Coast Guard in 1999 saved approximately 3,800
lives in providing the essential service of maritime safety.
(2) The United States Coast Guard in 1999 prevented 111,689 pounds
of cocaine and 28,872 pounds of marijuana from entering the United States in
providing the essential service of maritime security.
(3) The United States Coast Guard in 1999 boarded more than 14,000
fishing vessels to check for compliance with safety and environmental laws
in providing the essential service of the protection of natural
resources.
(4) The United States Coast Guard in 1999 ensured the safe passage
of nearly 1,000,000 commercial vessel transits through congested harbors
with vessel traffic services in providing the essential service of maritime
mobility.
(5) The United States Coast Guard in 1999 sent international
training teams to help more than 50 countries develop their maritime
services in providing the essential service national defense.
(6) Each year, the United States Coast Guard ensures the safe
passage of more than 200,000,000 tons of cargo cross the Great Lakes
including iron ore, coal, and limestone. Shipping on the Great Lakes faces a
unique challenge because the shipping season begins and ends in ice anywhere
from 3 to 15 feet thick. The ice-breaking vessel MACKINAW has allowed
commerce to continue under these conditions. However, the productive life of
the MACKINAW is nearing an end. The Coast Guard has committed to keeping the
vessel in service until 2006 when a replacement vessel is projected to be in
service, but to meet that deadline, funds must be provided for the Coast
Guard in fiscal year 2001 to provide for the procurement of a
multipurpose-design heavy icebreaker.
(7) Without adequate funding, the United States Coast Guard would
have to radically reduce the level of service it provides to the American
public.
(b) ADJUSTMENT IN BUDGET LEVELS-
(1) INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION- Notwithstanding any
other provision of this resolution, the amounts specified in section 103(8)
of this resolution for budget authority and outlays for Transportation
(budget function 400) for fiscal year 2001 shall be increased as
follows:
(A) The amount of budget authority for that fiscal year, by
$300,000,000.
(B) The amount of outlays for that fiscal year, by
$300,000,000.
(2) OFFSETTING DECREASE IN FUNDING FOR ALLOWANCES- Notwithstanding
any other provision of this resolution, the amounts specified in section
103(19) of this resolution for budget authority and outlays for Allowances
(budget function 920) for fiscal year 2001 shall be decreased as
follows:
(A) The amount of budget authority for that fiscal year, by
$300,000,000.
(B) The amount of outlays for that fiscal year, by
$300,000,000.
(c) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) the provisions of this resolution, as modified by subsection
(b), should provide additional budget authority and outlay authority for the
United States Coast Guard for fiscal year 2001 such that the amount of such
authority in fiscal year 2001 exceeds the amount of such authority for
fiscal year 2000 by $300,000,000; and
(2) any level of such authority in fiscal year 2001 below the level
described in paragraph (1) would require the Coast Guard to--
(A) close numerous stations and utilize remaining assets only for
emergency situations;
(B) reduce the number of personnel of an already streamlined
workforce;
(C) curtail its capacity to carry out emergency search and rescue;
and
(D) reduce operations in a manner that would have a detrimental
impact on the sustainability of valuable fish stocks in the North Atlantic
and Pacific Northwest and its capacity to stem the flow of illicit drugs
and illegal immigration into the United States.
Attest:
Secretary.
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 290
AMENDMENT
END