Calendar No. 482
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. CON. RES. 101
[Report No. 106-251]
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for
fiscal years 2001 through 2005 and revising the budgetary levels for fiscal year
2000.
March 31, 2000
Reported, under authority of the order of the Senate of March 30, 2000,
and placed on the calendar
SCON 101 PCS
Calendar No. 482
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. CON. RES. 101
[Report No. 106-251]
Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States
Government for fiscal years 2001 through 2005 and revising the budgetary levels
for fiscal year 2000.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 31, 2000
Mr. DOMENICI, from the Committee on the Budget, reported, under authority of
the order of the Senate of March 30, 2000, the following original concurrent
resolution; which was placed on the calendar
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States
Government for fiscal years 2001 through 2005 and revising the budgetary levels
for fiscal year 2000.
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
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.
TITLE II--BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS AND RULEMAKING
Sec. 201. Congressional lock box for Social Security surpluses.
Sec. 202. Reserve fund for Medicare.
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. Reserve fund for additional surpluses.
Sec. 207. Mechanism for additional debt reduction.
Sec. 208. Emergency designation point of order in the Senate.
Sec. 209. Reserve fund pending increase of fiscal year 2001
discretionary spending limits.
Sec. 210. Congressional firewall for defense and non-defense
spending.
Sec. 211. Mechanisms for strengthening budgetary integrity.
Sec. 212. Prohibition on use of Federal Reserve surpluses.
Sec. 213. Reaffirming the prohibition on the use of revenue offsets for
discretionary spending.
Sec. 214. Application and effect of changes in allocations and
aggregates.
Sec. 215. Reserve fund to foster the health of children with
disabilities and the employment and independence of their families.
Sec. 216. Exercise of rulemaking powers.
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 veteran's 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.
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: $1,501,658,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002: $1,546,533,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003: $1,598,771,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004: $1,655,093,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005: $1,720,654,000,000.
(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: -$13,157,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002: -$24,854,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003: -$30,752,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004: -$37,550,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005: -$43,448,000,000.
(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: $1,467,257,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $1,471,817,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002: $1,502,777,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003: $1,614,195,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004: $1,670,329,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005: $1,730,514,000,000.
(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: $1,441,459,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $1,447,795,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002: $1,469,962,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003: $1,589,699,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004: $1,644,120,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005: $1,705,698,000,000.
(4) DEFICITS- For purposes of the enforcement of this resolution, the
amounts of the deficits are as follows:
Fiscal year 2000: $23,145,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $53,863,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002: $76,571,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003: $9,072,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004: $10,973,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005: $14,956,000,000.
(5) PUBLIC DEBT- The appropriate levels of the public debt are as
follows:
Fiscal year 2000: $5,625,962,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001: $5,667,144,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002: $5,681,983,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003: $5,768,762,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004: $5,849,465,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005: $5,923,674,000,000.
(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: $3,248,659,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002: $2,995,663,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003: $2,802,939,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004: $2,594,260,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005: $2,364,124,000,000.
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, $291,583,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $288,112,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $305,833,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $294,064,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $309,085,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $302,272,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $315,485,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $309,362,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $323,191,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $317,461,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $331,532,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $327,948,000,000.
(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, $9,021,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $10,386,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $8,822,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $9,815,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $8,665,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $8,749,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $8,657,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $8,255,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $8,744,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $7,886,000,000.
(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, $74,977,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $68,648,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $75,744,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $72,570,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $76,636,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $75,430,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $77,751,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $76,766,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $79,128,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $78,033,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $159,224,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $153,473,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $169,215,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $165,836,000,000.
(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, $47,568,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $47,141,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $48,823,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $48,704,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $50,838,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $50,513,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $52,119,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $51,842,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $55,517,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $55,194,000,000.
(16) Administration of Justice (750):
(A) New budget authority, $27,370,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,013,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $27,927,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,224,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $28,520,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,698,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $29,157,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $29,123,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $31,283,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $31,012,000,000.
(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, $286,920,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $286,920,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $285,291,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $285,290,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $279,465,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $279,465,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $275,502,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $275,502,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, $270,951,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $270,951,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$3,829,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$11,702,000,000.
(A) New budget authority, -$59,931,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$48,031,000,000.
(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 $13,157,000,000
in fiscal year 2001 and $149,761,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2001
through 2005.
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
purusuant 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. RESERVE FUND FOR ADDITIONAL SURPLUSES.
(a) CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE UPDATED BUDGET FORECAST- Pursuant to
section 202(e)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Congressional
Budget Office shall update its economic and budget outlook for fiscal years
2001 through 2010 by July 1, 2000.
(b) REPORTING A SURPLUS- If the report provided pursuant to subsection (a)
estimates an on-budget surplus for any fiscal year that exceeds the on-budget
surplus set forth in the Congressional Budget Office's March 2000 economic and
budget outlook, the appropriate chairman of the Committee on the Budget may
make the adjustments as provided in subsection (c).
(c) ADJUSTMENTS- The appropriate chairman of the Committee on the Budget
may make the following adjustments in an amount equal to the difference
between the on-budget surpluses set forth in the March report and the
on-budget surplus contained in the July report:
(1) Reduce the on-budget revenue aggregate by that amount for such
fiscal year.
(2) Increase the on-budget surplus levels used for determining
compliance with the pay-as-you-go requirements of section 207 of H. Con.
Res. 68 (106th Cong., 1st Sess.).
(3) Adjust the instruction in section 104 to--
(A) increase the reduction in revenues by that amount for fiscal year
2001; and
(B) increase the reduction in revenues by the sum of the amounts for
the period of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
SEC. 207. 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. 208. 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.
SEC. 209. 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: $596,579,000,000 in new budget
authority and $590,326,000,000 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. 210. CONGRESSIONAL FIREWALL FOR DEFENSE AND NON-DEFENSE SPENDING.
(a) DEFINITION- In this section, for fiscal year 2001 the term
`discretionary spending limit' means--
(1) for the defense category, $306,819,000,000 in new budget authority
and $295,050,000,000 in outlays; and
(2) for the nondefense category, $289,760,000,000 in new budget
authority and $327,583,000,000 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 208 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. 211. 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 $14,200,000,000.
(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 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. 212. 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. 213. 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. 214. 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. 215. 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. 216. 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.
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 VETERAN'S MEDICAL CARE.
(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds that--
(1) this budget addresses concerns about Veteran's medical care;
(2) we successfully increased the appropriation for Veteran's 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 Veteran's 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 Veteran's 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 million acres and WRP is limited at
975,000 acres. As of October 1, 1999, enrollment in CRP stood at
approximately 31,300,000 million 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 $27l,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.
END