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Girls Club funding for five more
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Title IV: Juvenile Crime Control and Accountability Block Grant
Promotes funding for prosecutors, improved-record keeping, juvenile prisons, and prevention through $500 million block grant. Qualifying states must trace all firearms recovered from individuals under age 21 to identify illegal firearm traffickers, and must share criminal records of all juvenile violent offenders with other jurisdictions. $100 million of this grant program must be dedicated to both prevention and to hiring more prosecutors.
Title V: Extension of COPS and Juvenile Justice programs
Extends program to hire new community police officers. Reauthorizes Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Title VI: Extension of Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund
Extends trust fund established by 1994 Crime Act to pay for anti-crime programs with savings from reduction of federal workforce.
By Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. DODD, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. HOLLINGS, Mr. INOUYE, Ms. LANDRIEU, and Mr. REID):
S. 717. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that the reductions in social security benefits which are required in the case of spouses and surviving spouses who are also receiving certain Government pensions shall be equal to the amount by which two-thirds of the total amount of the combined monthly benefit (before reduction) and monthly pension exceeds $1,200, adjusted for inflation; to the Committee on Finance.
GOVERNMENT PENSION OFFSET REFORM ACT
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, today, I am introducing a bill to modify a harsh and heartless rule of government that is unfair and prevents current workers from enjoying the benefits of their hard work in their retirement. This legislation is very important to me, very important to my constituents in Maryland, and very important to government workers and retirees across the nation. I want the middle class of this Nation to know that if you worked hard to become middle class you should stay middle class when you retire.
Under current law, there is something called the Pension Offset law. This is a harsh and unfair policy. Let me tell you why.
If you are a retired government worker, and you qualify for a spousal Social Security benefit based on your spouse's employment record, you may not receive what you qualify for. Because the Pension Offset law reduces or entirely eliminates a Social Security spousal benefit when the surviving spouse is eligible for a pension from a local, state or federal government job that was not covered by Social Security.
This policy only applies to government workers, not private sector workers. Let me give you an example of two women, Helen and her sister Phyllis.
Helen is a retired Social Security benefits counselor who lives in Woodlawn, Maryland. Helen currently earns $600 a month from her federal government pension . She's also entitled to a $645 a month spousal benefit from Social Security based on her deceased husband's hard work as an auto mechanic. That's a combined monthly benefit of $1,245.
Phyllis is a retired bank teller also in Woodlawn, Maryland. She currently earns a pension of $600 a month from the bank. Like Helen, Phyllis is also entitled to a $645 a month spousal benefit from Social Security based on her husband's employment. He was an auto-mechanic, too. In fact, he worked at the same shop as Helen's husband.
So, Phyllis is entitled to a total of $1,245 a month, the same as Helen. But, because of the Pension Offset law, Helen's spousal benefit is reduced by 2/3 of her government pension , or $400. So instead of $1,245 per month, she will only receive $845 per month.
This reduction in benefits only happens to Helen because she worked for the
government . Phyllis will receive her full benefits because her pension is a private sector pension . I don't think that's right, and that's why I'm introducing this legislation.
The crucial thing about the MIKULSKI Modification is that it guarantees a minimum benefit of $1,200. So, with the MIKULSKI Modification to the Pension Offset , Helen is guaranteed at least $1,200 per month.
Let me tell you how it works. Helen's spousal benefit will be reduced only by 2/3 of the amount her combined monthly benefit exceeds $1,200. In her case, the amount of the offset would be 2/3 of $45, or $30. That's a big difference from $400, and I think people like our federal workers, teachers and our firefighters deserve that big difference.
Why should earning a government pension penalize the surviving spouse? If a deceased spouse had a job covered by Social Security and paid into the Social Security system, that spouse expected his earned Social Security benefits would be there for his surviving spouse.
Most working men believe this and many working women are counting on their spousal benefits. But because of this harsh and heartless policy, the spousal benefits will not be there, your spouse will not benefit from your hard work, and, chances are, you won't find out about it until your loved one is gone and you really need the money.
The MIKULSKI modification guarantees that the spouse will at least receive $1,200 in combined benefits. That Helen will receive the same amount as Phyllis.
I'm introducing this legislation, because these survivors deserve better than the reduced monthly benefits that the Pension Offset currently allows. They deserve to be rewarded for their hard work, not penalized for it.
Many workers affected by this Offset policy are women, or clerical workers and bus drivers who are currently working and looking forward to a deserved retirement. These are people who worked hard as federal employees, school teachers, or firefighters.
Frankly, I would repeal this policy all together. But, I realize that budget considerations make that unlikely. As a compromise, I hope we can agree that retirees who work hard should not have this offset applied until their combined monthly benefit exceeds $1,200.
In the few cases where retirees might have their benefits reduced by this policy change, my legislation will calculate their pension offset by the current method. I also have a provision in this legislation to index the minimum amount of $1,200 to inflation
so retirees will see their minimum benefits increase as the cost of living increases.
I believe that people who work hard and play by the rules should not be penalized by arcane, legislative technicalities. That's why I'm introducing this bill today.
Representative WILLIAM JEFFERSON of Louisiana has introduced similar legislation in the House. I look forward to working with him to modify the harsh Pension Offset rule.
If the federal government is going to force government workers and retirees in Maryland and across the country to give up a portion of their spousal benefits, the retirees should at least receive a fair portion of their benefits.
I want to urge my Senate colleagues to join me in this effort and support my legislation to modify the Government Pension Offset .
By Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. INOUYE):
S. 718. A bill to amend chapters 83 and 84 of title 5, United States Code, to extend the civil service retirement provisions of such chapter which are applicable to law enforcement officers, to inspectors of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, inspectors and canine enforcement officers of the United States Customs Service, and revenue officers of the Internal Revenue Service; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
HAZARDOUS OCCUPATIONS RETIREMENT BENEFITS ACT OF 1999
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, today I introduce the Hazardous Occupations Retirement Benefits Act of 1999. This legislation will grant an early retirement package for revenue officers of the Internal Revenue Service, customs inspectors of the U.S. Customs Service, and immigration inspectors of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Under current law, most Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters are eligible to retire at age 50 with 20
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This legislation will amend the current law and finally grant the same 20-year retirement to these members of the Internal Revenue Service, Customs Service, and Immigration and Naturalization Service. The employees under this bill have very hazardous, physically taxing occupations, and it is in the public's interest to have a young and competent work force in these jobs.
The need for a 20-year retirement benefit for inspectors of the Customs Service is very clear. These employees are the country's first line of defense against terrorism and the smuggling of illegal drugs at our borders. They have the authority to apprehend those engaged in these crimes. These officers carry a firearm on the job. They are responsible for the most arrests performed by Customs Service employees. The Customs Service interdicts more narcotics than any other law enforcement agency--over a million pounds a year. In 1996, they seized 180,946 pounds of cocaine, 2,895 pounds of heroin, and 775,225 pounds of marijuana. They are required to have the same law enforcement training as all other law enforcement personnel. These employees face so many challenges. They confront criminals in the drug war, organized crime figures, and increasingly sophisticated white-collar criminals.
Revenue officers struggle with heavy workloads and a high rate of job stress. Some IRS employees must even employ pseudonyms to hide their identity because of the great threat to their personal safety. The Internal Revenue Service currently provides it's employees with a manual entitled: `Assaults and Threats: A Guide to Your Personal Safety' to help employees respond to hostile situations. The document advises IRS employees how to handle on-the-job assaults, abuse, threatening telephone calls, and other menacing situations.
Mr. President, this legislation is cost effective. Any cost that is created by this act is more than offset by savings in training costs and increased revenue collection. A 20-year retirement bill for these critical employees will reduce turnover, increase productivity, decrease employee recruitment and development costs, and enhance the retention of a well-trained and experienced work force.
I urge my colleagues to join me again in this Congress in expressing support for this bill and finally getting it enacted. This bill will improve the effectiveness of our inspector and revenue officer work force to ensure the integrity of our borders and proper collection of the taxes and duties owed to the Federal Government .
By Mr. REID:
S. 719. A bill to provide for the orderly disposal of certain Federal land in the State of Nevada and for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive land in the State, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
THE NEVADA PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1999
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am proud to introduce today, the Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1999. This Act provides a process for the sale of public lands to support the expansion and economic development of rural communities in Nevada.
Many of Nevada's rural counties are actively planning for economic growth and expansion. However, they are hampered, because more than 87 percent of Nevada is owned by the Federal Government and some Nevada counties are more than 90 percent owned by the federal government . As these counties seek to expand economic diversification, they find themselves land-locked by Federal lands.
But a lack of land is not the only problem these counties face. Many lack an adequate tax base, due to their lack of private lands. As the tax roles shrink and they experience some growth, officials are unable to adequately provide the basic public services expected of them. Adequate police and fire protection, education, road maintenance, and basic health care are suffering.
The legislation we introduce today will allow for the coordinated disposal of Federal lands that have already been identified by the Federal government and the Bureau of Land Management as suitable for disposal. Simply put, we are setting up a willing seller-willing buyer scenario. Sale of these lands will allow for economic diversification while implementing smart growth practices. Local governments will benefit from an infusion of revenue and a stable tax base to fund basic public services.
Senator BRYAN's and my bill requires that disposal of Nevada's lands be accomplished by competitive bidding, a process which will ensure that the sale of these public lands yield the highest return for the public. It is crucial to rural Nevada that we provide revenues for the basic services so many Americans take for granted, while also giving the Federal government the revenues they need to acquire truly special lands for future generations to enjoy.
Mr. President, this bill was drafted with conscious regard for the laws governing the management of public lands. In particular, the bill meets the intent of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act in three ways. First, it only involves lands determined to be suitable for disposal by the Bureau of Land Management's own land use planning process. Secondly, the bill assures that state and local governments are provided meaningful public involvement in land use decisions for public lands. And finally, the bill would allow for expansion of communities and economic development.
Two years ago I convened a Presidential Summit on the shores of Lake Tahoe to save the Lake. This Summit created a model of federal, state, local, public and private partnership. It is a model that the President said can apply across the nation and across the world. We learned there that we can call work together to preserve the nation's special places and promote economic growth. The legislation we introduce today is crafted with the Lake Tahoe Model in mind. It encourages cooperation between all levels of government and the private sector. It is supported by Nevada state and local officials on a bi-partisan basis and our Republican colleague Representative JIM GIBBONS has introduced similar legislation today in the House.
This kind of bill shows truly how government can work for the people in partnership. I urge its swift passage.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1999''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.--Congress finds that--
(1) Federal holdings in the State of Nevada constitute over 87 percent of the area of the State, and in 10 of the 17 counties the Federal Government controls at least 80 percent of the land;
(2) the large amount of federally controlled land in Nevada and the lack of an adequate private land ownership base has had a negative impact on the overall economic development of rural counties and communities and severely degraded the ability of local governments to provide necessary services;
(3) under general land laws less than 3 percent of the Federal land in Nevada has moved from Federal control to private ownership in the last 130 years;
(4) in resource management plans, the Bureau of Land Management has identified for disposal land that is difficult and costly to manage and that would more appropriately be in non-Federal ownership;
(5) implementation of Federal land management plans has been impaired by the lack of necessary funding to provide the needed improvements and the lack of land management programs to accomplish the goals and standards set out in the plans; and
(6) the lack of a private land tax base prevents most local governments from providing the appropriate infrastructure to allow timely development of land that is disposed of by the Federal Government for community expansion and economic growth.
(b) PURPOSES.--The purposes of this Act are to provide for--
(1) the orderly disposal and use of certain Federal land in the State of Nevada that was not included in the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-263; 112 Stat. 2343);
(2) the acquisition of environmentally sensitive land in the State; and
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(3) the implementation of projects and activities in the State to protect or restore important environmental and cultural resources.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) CURRENT LAND USE PLAN.--The term ``current land use plan'', with respect to an administrative unit of the Bureau of Land Management, means the management framework plan or resource management plan applicable to the unit that was approved most recently before the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND.--The term ``environmentally sensitive land'' means land or an interest in land, the acquisition of which the United States would, in the judgment of the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture--
(A) promote the preservation of natural, scientific, aesthetic, historical, cultural, watershed, wildlife, or other values that contribute to public enjoyment or biological diversity;
(B) enhance recreational opportunities or public access;
(C) provide the opportunity to achieve better management of public land through consolidation of Federal ownership; or
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