TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
NANCY IVES (202)224-7130
OVER TWENTY McCAIN INITIATIVES PASS CONGRESS THIS YEAR
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- At the end of the first year of the 106th Congress, more than twenty initiatives either sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) passed both Houses of Congress and have been signed into law or are awaiting the President's signature. "While I've been discouraged at the enormous amount of pork barrel spending and budget gimmicks employed by Congress this year, I'm pleased that some progress was made in areas important to so much of our nation," said McCain. "Protecting the economy from frivolous lawsuits that could emerge from Y2K complications, improving bus and truck safety, increasing funding for veterans' health care, and ensuring adequate pay and restoring retirement benefits for men and women in our military are among some of the issues that will benefit Americans." A list of McCain initiatives signed into law or awaiting the President's signature follows:
Y2K Act (S.96) -- Sponsored this critical piece of product liability legislation that encourages businesses to correct Y2K problems and protects the economy from frivolous lawsuits. Passed with broad bipartisan support and the endorsement of virtually every facet of the nation's economy, with opposition only from the trial lawyers. P.L. 106-37.
Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (S. 1501) -- Sponsored legislation to improve truck and bus safety, by creating a separate motor carrier safety administration within the Department of Transportation, as recommended by the DOT Inspector General, and requiring DOT to implement the safety improvements recommended in the IG's April 1999 report. The legislation also includes a number of other truck safety initiatives, including provisions to strengthen the commercial driver's license program and improve safety enforcement efforts. It also authorizes additional funding for state truck and bus inspectors, but caps the size and budget of the proposed motor carrier safety administration to prevent increasing the already bloated bureaucracy. Passed as part of H.R. 3419 which is awaiting President's signature.
Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen's, and Marines' Relief Act of 1999 (S. 4) -- Principal co-author of comprehensive legislation to increase military pay, restore full military retirement, allow military personnel to participate in a government thrift and savings retirement plan, and provide a subsistence allowance to get 12,000 military families off food stamps. Passed the Senate as a separate bill; most provisions included in P.L. 106-65 (not including food stamp relief).
Increased funding for Veterans Health Care (Amdts. No. 1744 and 1747)-- Co-sponsored amendments to the Veterans Administration appropriations bill to increase veterans health care funding by $3 billion in Fiscal Year 2000. In the final bill, $1.7 billion was added above the President's request for veterans health care. P.L. 106-74.
Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 (S. 271) -- Original co-sponsor of legislation freeing all 50 states from many of the costly and burdensome federal regulations imposed by the federal government that prevent schools from providing innovative and effective academic opportunities for millions of young Americans. P.L. 106-25.
Medal of Honor Memorial (S. 1633) -- Authored a bill to honor America's most highly decorated service men and women by designating three Medal of Honor memorials as National Memorials. P.L. 106-83.
Border Patrol Recruitment and Retention Act of 1999 (S. 912) -- Principal co-sponsor of legislation to raise the pay and professional rank of experienced Border Patrol agents, provide for signing and language bonuses, and create an office to improve hiring and service in the Border Patrol. Included in H.R. 3421, which is awaiting President's signature.
Increased funding for Customs Service (Amdt. No. 1196) -- Co-sponsored an amendment to add $25 million for the U.S. Customs Service's Southwest Border operations, to be used for additional agents, inspectors, and equipment to reduce drug trafficking and facilitate trade and travel. Included in P.L. 106-58.
Normalized Trade Relations for Mongolia, S. 354 -- Co-sponsored legislation to extend nondiscriminatory trade status to the products of Mongolia. Included in P.L. 106-36.
Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 (S. 800) -- Co-sponsored legislation promoting enhanced public safety by designating 9-1-1 as the universal emergency assistance number, supporting state efforts to upgrade 9-1-1 capabilities, and encouraging the construction of seamless, reliable wireless networks. P.L. 106-81.
Rio Salado Environmental Restoration Project (S. 507) -- Successfully worked through the authorization process for Congressional approval of an environmental and habitat restoration project along the Salt River in Arizona, allowing local entities to qualify for funding and project assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers. Included in P.L. 106-53.
Sandra Day O'Connor Federal Courthouse (S. 1595) -- Co-sponsored with Senator Jon Kyl legislation to designate the U.S. courthouse at 401 West Washington Street in Phoenix, Arizona, the Sandra Day O'Connor Courthouse. Awaiting President's signature.
Arizona Statehood and Enabling Act Amendments (S. 415) -- Co-sponsored legislation with Senator Jon Kyl to protect the permanent trust funds of the state of Arizona from erosion due to inflation and modify the basis on which distributions are made from those funds. Passed as H.R. 747, awaiting President's signature.
Troops to Teachers Improvement Act of 1999 (S. 389) -- Authored bill to provide high-quality teachers to our nation's classrooms by assisting and counseling retired military personnel who are interested in beginning a new career as a teacher. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Fastener Quality Act Amendments of 1999 (S.795) -- Sponsored legislation to strengthen protections against the sale of mis-marked, misrepresented, and counterfeit fasteners and eliminate unnecessary burdens on the automotive and aviation manufacturing industries. P.L. 106-34.
Concurrent Receipt (S. 789) -- Authored bill that takes the first step in correcting the injustice that does not allow a disabled retiree to receive both retirement pay and disability benefits concurrently. Helps retirees who are at least 70 percent disabled by paying them an additional benefit of up to $300 per month. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Funeral Honors for Veterans -- Co-sponsored provisions to properly honor the nation's veterans by providing for a military honor guard at all veterans' funerals. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Renewal of Goldwater Range Withdrawal -- Authored legislation to renew the withdrawal from public use of 2.6 million acres in southern Arizona for continued military training use. Extends the availability of these lands for vitally important military training and readiness for 25 years. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Survivor Benefit Plan Reform -- Sponsored provisions to authorize minimum survivor benefit annuity for "forgotten widows" of reservists who died before September 21, 1972, and eliminating the 2001 cutoff date for the annuity. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Military Health Care Improvements -- Sponsored provisions to expand TRICARE benefits to military members and families at Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities who do not live near military bases and do not have access to hospitals because of their military assignments. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Expanded Dental Benefits for Military Retirees and Reserve and National Guard Members -- Sponsored efforts to expand retiree and reserve component dental benefits to match those of active duty military members. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Satellite Television Act of 1999 (S. 303) -- Sponsored legislation to promote competition in the multichannel video marketplace by making satellite TV a more viable competitor to cable TV. The bill would allow satellite TV carriers to retransmit local network television signals into local television markets, receive distant network signals to continue doing so, and improve local off-air signal reception verification and testing procedures. The provisions of S. 303 were included in S. 247, which passed the Senate on May 20, 1999. However, the bill was dramatically altered by the House-Senate conference, and McCain no longer supports the legislation because it bows to the special interests of the TV broadcast industry rather than serving the interests of consumers. Passed as S. 1948, awaiting President's signature.
Honoring Shoeless Joe Jackson (S. Res. 134) - Co-sponsored legislation expressing the sense of the Senate that Shoeless Joe Jackson should be appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball accomplishments.
Funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund State-Side Program -- Co-sponsored amendment to the Interior Department appropriations bill to add $30 million to fund the state-side program of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has not been funded since 1995. The state-side program provides matching grants to states for acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The final budget agreement provided $40 million for the state-side program. Included in H.R. 3423, which is awaiting President's signature.
(A complete list - 12 pages of all of McCain's initiatives is available on http://mccain.senate.gov/press releases)
STATUS OF MCCAIN INITIATIVES AT THE END OF
THE FIRST SESSION OF THE 106TH CONGRESS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Major initiatives sponsored by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) made significant progress during the first half of the 106th Congress.
Non-Legislative Initiatives
"Pork Watch" - Continued to make public extensive lists of wasteful, unnecessary, or low-priority projects in the spending and tax bills. Identified almost $14 billion in earmarks and set-asides that meet specific "pork" criteria, and published over 265 pages of pork lists on his website (mccain.senate.gov).
Voluntary TV Ratings System - Cemented the agreement he negotiated last Congress among TV broadcasters and family groups interested in revising the television ratings system by getting leading members of the Senate, including the Majority and Minority Leaders, to sign a letter agreeing to wait a number of years before enacting legislation concerning TV ratings.
Excessive Spending on Foreign Travel at NTSB - Initiated inquiries into the travel practices of Presidential appointees at the National Transportation Safety Board that led to the establishment of individual Board Members' travel budgets and foreign travel approval procedures under the supervision of the Board's Chairman.
Internet Privacy - Urged industry leaders to further the use of privacy policies that inform consumers about a website's business practices and how they treat personal information. Also asked industry to educate consumers about the importance of Internet privacy and safe shopping online. Several companies responded by launching a public education campaign.
Children's Online Privacy Regulations -- In September, the Federal Trade Commission published regulations as required by legislation sponsored by McCain in the last Congress, the Children's On Line Privacy Act (P.L. 105-277). The regulations will protect the privacy of children making purchases on the Internet and were hailed by industry and privacy advocates.
Investigations of Hate Groups - Successfully urged the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold hearings to determine whether the Justice Department and the FBI can effectively deter, investigate, and prosecute crimes of violence against any American. A hearing was held on September 14 focusing on the laws and procedures that govern monitoring and investigation of hate group activities, particularly on the Internet.
R&D Funding Discrepancies - Initiated a request for the Congressional Research Service to hold a workshop to review and compare the procedures that federal agencies and industry employ to collect and report federal R&D data.
Public Laws
Y2K Act (S.96) -- Sponsored this critical piece of product liability legislation that encourages businesses to correct Y2K problems and protects the economy from frivolous lawsuits. Passed with broad bipartisan support and the endorsement of virtually every facet of the nation's economy, with opposition only from the trial lawyers. P.L. 106-37.
Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen's, and Marines' Relief Act of 1999 (S. 4) -- Principal co-author of comprehensive legislation to increase military pay, restore full military retirement, allow military personnel to participate in a government thrift and savings retirement plan, and provide a subsistence allowance to get 12,000 military families off food stamps. Passed the Senate as a separate bill; most provisions included in P.L. 106-65 (not including food stamp relief).
Medal of Honor Memorial (S. 1633) - Authored a bill to honor America's most highly decorated service men and women by designating three Medal of Honor memorials as National Memorials. P.L. 106-83.
Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 (S. 800) - Co-sponsored legislation promoting enhanced public safety by designating 9-1-1 as the universal emergency assistance number, supporting state efforts to upgrade 9-1-1 capabilities, and encouraging the construction of seamless, reliable wireless networks. P.L. 106-81.
Border Patrol Recruitment and Retention Act of 1999 (S. 912) - Principal co-sponsor of legislation to raise the pay and professional rank of experienced Border Patrol agents, provide for signing and language bonuses, and create an office to improve hiring and service in the Border Patrol. Included in H.R. 3421, which is awaiting President's signature.
Increased funding for Customs Service (Amdt. No. 1196) - Co-sponsored an amendment to add $25 million for the U.S. Customs Service's Southwest Border operations, to be used for additional agents, inspectors, and equipment to reduce drug trafficking and facilitate trade and travel. Included in P.L. 106-58.
Increased funding for Veterans Health Care (Amdts. No. 1744 and 1747) - Co-sponsored amendments to the Veterans Administration appropriations bill to increase veterans health care funding by $3 billion in Fiscal Year 2000. In the final bill, $1.7 billion was added above the President's request for veterans health care. P.L. 106-74.
Normalized Trade Relations for Mongolia (S. 354) -- Co-sponsored legislation to extend nondiscriminatory trade status to the products of Mongolia. Included in P.L. 106-36.
Fastener Quality Act Amendments of 1999 (S.795) -- Sponsored legislation to strengthen protections against the sale of mis-marked, misrepresented, and counterfeit fasteners and eliminate unnecessary burdens on the automotive and aviation manufacturing industries. P.L. 106-34.
Satellite Television Act of 1999 (S. 303) - Sponsored legislation to promote competition in the multichannel video marketplace by making satellite TV a more viable competitor to cable TV. The bill would allow satellite TV carriers to retransmit local network television signals into local television markets, receive distant network signals to continue doing so, and improve local off-air signal reception verification and testing procedures. The provisions of S. 303 were included in S. 247, which passed the Senate on May 20, 1999. However, the bill was dramatically altered by the House-Senate conference, and McCain no longer supports the legislation because it bows to the special interests of the TV broadcast industry rather than serving the interests of consumers. Passed as S. 1948, awaiting President's signature.
Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (S. 1501) - Sponsored legislation to improve truck and bus safety, by creating a separate motor carrier safety administration within the Department of Transportation, as recommended by the DOT Inspector General, and requiring DOT to implement the safety improvements recommended in the IG's April 1999 report. The legislation also includes a number of other truck safety initiatives, including provisions to strengthen the commercial driver's license program and improve safety enforcement efforts. It also authorizes additional funding for state truck and bus inspectors, but caps the size and budget of the proposed motor carrier safety administration to prevent increasing the already bloated bureaucracy. Passed as part of H.R. 3419, awaiting President's signature.
Rio Salado Environmental Restoration Project (S. 507) -- Successfully worked through the authorization process for Congressional approval of an environmental and habitat restoration project along the Salt River in Arizona, allowing local entities to qualify for funding and project assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers. Included in P.L. 106-53.
Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 (S. 271) - Original co-sponsor of legislation freeing all 50 states from many of the costly and burdensome federal regulations imposed by the federal government that prevent schools from providing innovative and effective academic opportunities for millions of young Americans. P.L. 106-25.
Funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund State-Side Program -- Co-sponsored amendment to the Interior Department appropriations bill to add $30 million to fund the state-side program of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has not been funded since 1995. The state-side program provides matching grants to states for acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The final budget agreement provided $40 million for the state-side program. Included in H.R. 3423, which is awaiting President's signature.
Funeral Honors for Veterans -- Co-sponsored provisions to properly honor the nation's veterans by providing for a military honor guard at all veterans' funerals. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Troops to Teachers Improvement Act of 1999 (S. 389) -- Authored bill to provide high-quality teachers to our nation's classrooms by assisting and counseling retired military personnel who are interested in beginning a new career as a teacher. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Concurrent Receipt (S. 789) - Authored bill that takes the first step in correcting the injustice that does not allow a disabled retiree to receive both retirement pay and disability benefits concurrently. Helps retirees who are at least 70 percent disabled by paying them an additional benefit of up to $300 per month. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Renewal of Goldwater Range Withdrawal - Authored legislation to renew the withdrawal from public use of 2.6 million acres in southern Arizona for continued military training use. Extends the availability of these lands for vitally important military training and readiness for 25 years. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Survivor Benefit Plan Reform - Sponsored provisions to authorize minimum survivor benefit annuity for "forgotten widows" of reservists who died before September 21, 1972, and eliminating the 2001 cutoff date for the annuity. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Military Health Care Improvements - Sponsored provisions to expand TRICARE benefits to military members and families at Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities who do not live near military bases and do not have access to hospitals because of their military assignments. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Expanded Dental Benefits for Military Retirees and Reserve and National Guard Members - Sponsored efforts to expand retiree and reserve component dental benefits to match those of active duty military members. Included in P.L. 106-65.
Sandra Day O'Connor Federal Courthouse (S. 1595) - Co-sponsored with Senator Jon Kyl legislation to designate the U.S. courthouse at 401 West Washington Street in Phoenix, Arizona, the Sandra Day O'Connor Courthouse. Awaiting President's signature.
Arizona Statehood and Enabling Act Amendments (S. 415) - Co-sponsored legislation with Senator Jon Kyl to protect the permanent trust funds of the state of Arizona from erosion due to inflation and modify the basis on which distributions are made from those funds. Passed as H.R. 747, awaiting President's signature.
Honoring Shoeless Joe Jackson (S. Res. 134) - Co-sponsored legislation expressing the sense of the Senate that Shoeless Joe Jackson should be appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball accomplishments.
Passed Senate
Open-market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act (ORBIT) (S. 376) -- Co-sponsored legislation to promote a fully competitive domestic and international market for satellite communications services for the benefit of consumers and providers of satellite services by fully encouraging the privatization of the intergovernmental satellite organizations, INTELSAT and Inmarsat, and reforming the regulatory framework of the COMSAT Corporation.
Muhammed Ali Boxing Reform Act (S. 305) -- Sponsored legislation to reform exploitative and anti-competitive business practices in the boxing industry. The bill would limit certain coercive option contracts, establish fair business practice guidelines for organizations that rate boxers, establish key financial disclosure requirements on promoters and organizers of major boxing events.
Assistant Secretary for Indian Health Act of 1999 (S. 299) -- Primary sponsor of legislation to elevate the Director of the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services to be an Assistant Secretary for Indian Health, giving the office greater authority and ability to ensure the needs of American Indians for health services are addressed.
Serbia Democratization Act of 1999 (S. 720) -- Co-sponsored legislation designed to facilitate transformation of the government in Yugoslavia to prevent future wars of "ethnic cleansing". Sets forth a framework for further diplomatic and economic isolation of Serbia and authorizes $100 million to assist supporters of democracy inside Yugoslavia.
Wellton-Mohawk Transfer Act (S. 356) -- Co-sponsored legislation with Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) to implement an agreement among state and local entities and the Department of the Interior to sell facilities and assets of the Gila water project to the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District in Arizona.
Price Cap on International Space Station (S. 342) -- Establishes price cap of $21.9 billion on the U.S. shares of the costs of development of the space station and $17.7 billion for space shuttle utilization to construct the International Space Station.
Partial Birth Abortion Ban (S. 1692) -- Co-sponsored bill protecting unborn children from barbaric partial birth abortions.
Patients' Bill of Rights (S. 1344) -- Co-sponsored legislation providing health care protections to patients without driving up health care costs or making health care coverage unaffordable for millions of Americans.
African Growth and Opportunity Act (S. 666) -- Co-sponsored legislation to grant preferential trade and tariff treatment to imports from Sub-Saharan Africa and give U.S. companies investment incentives to ensure economic and political reform. This legislation also calls upon the President to begin closer economic cooperation with Sub-Saharan African countries in preparation for a free trade agreement with Sub-Saharan Africa. Incorporated into H.R. 434.
National ALS Awareness Month (S. Res. 72) -- Co-sponsored a resolution designating the month of May in 1999 and 2000 as National ALS Awareness Month.
National Mammography Day (S. Res. 179) -- Co-sponsored a resolution designating October 15, 1999, as National Mammography Day to draw national attention to the public health importance of mammographies for women in the battle against breast cancer.
Air Transportation Improvement Act (S. 82) -- Sponsored legislation to maintain and improve aviation safety and security as well as enhance competition in the airline industry to benefit all consumers. Reauthorizes the programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, including the Airport Improvement Program. Includes provisions to address regulations of commercial air tour flights over national parks, and includes provisions designed to promote higher standards for the treatment of disabled airline passengers . Unfortunately, the bill could not be completed before the end of the session because of significant differences with the House over funding of aviation programs. To ensure that airports will continue to receive much needed federal funding until negotiations resume in January, a six-month extension bill was passed.
Airline Passenger Fairness Act (S. 383) -- Sponsored legislation to improve the treatment of airline passengers and ensure they have the information needed to make informed choices in their travel plans. Also takes steps to ensure airlines live up to their voluntary commitments to provide better customer service. Included in S. 82, which is currently in conference with the House, but could not be completed before the end of the session because of significant differences over funding of aviation programs.
National Parks Overflights Act (S. 81) -- Sponsored legislation to require commercial air tour operators to conduct their tours in accordance with plans that would be developed for individual parks. The bill is designed to set the framework for reasonable flight restrictions before noise and safety problems threaten enjoyment of our nation's natural parks for the millions of people that visit them. Included in S. 82, which is currently in conference with the House, but could not be completed before the end of the session because of significant differences over funding of aviation programs.
Surgeon General's Report on Media and Violence (S. J. Res. 23) - Sponsored joint resolution expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for a Surgeon General's report on media and violence.
Youth Violence Prevention Act of 1999 (S. 991) - Sponsored legislation that would prevent juveniles from gaining illegal access to weapons and punish those who assist them in doing so. Also prohibits juveniles who commit acts of gun violence from purchasing guns in the future, sentences juveniles convicted of violent crimes under adult guidelines, and punishes juveniles who illegally carry or use handguns in schools.
National Youth Violence Commission Act (S. 1001) - Co-sponsored legislation establishing a National Youth Violence Commission that would conduct a comprehensive study of incidents of youth violence to determine the root causes of such violence, and report to the President and Congress recommendations to address the causes of, and reduce the incidence of, youth violence.
Digital Millennium Commerce Act of 1999 (S. 761) - Co-sponsored legislation promoting the continued expansion of interstate electronic commerce by clarifying the legal status and validity of electronic signatures and records related to commercial transactions.
Arizona National Forest Improvement Act of 1999 (S. 1088) - Co-sponsored legislation to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey specified National Forest System land and administrative sites in Arizona and sell specified land to the city of Sedona for construction of an effluent disposal system in Yavapai County, Arizona.
Reported to Senate:
Resolution on Use of Force in Kosovo (S. J. Res. 20) -- Sponsored a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the President should use all necessary means to bring an end to ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Despite intense opposition from the Senate Leadership on both sides of the aisle, prevailed in the effort to have a full debate and vote on the resolution in the Senate. The resolution was tabled by a vote of 78 to 22.
Tribal Self-Governance Amendments of 1999 (S. 979) -- Co-sponsored legislation to make the demonstration program for tribal self-governance a permanent program in the Indian Health Service.
Promote Reliable On-line Transactions to Encourage Commerce and Trade (PROTECT) Act of 1999 (S. 798) -- Sponsored a bill to update current laws on encryption technology by allowing exportation of key lengths of up to 64 bits. The White House, confronted with the likelihood of Congressional action on encryption, announced a significant liberalization of Administration encryption export policy shortly after the PROTECT Act was reported out of the Commerce Committee by a near unanimous vote. These changes mirror the provisions of the PROTECT Act.
Children's Internet Protection Act (S. 97) -- Sponsored legislation that would require schools and libraries utilizing the universal service fund subsidy to also use the subsidy to purchase blocking or filtering software to screen out material the local school or library may find inappropriate for minors. Expected to be included as part of the conference agreement on the Juvenile Justice crime bill (S. 254).
Commercial Space Launch Industry Indemnification (S. 832) - Sponsored legislation to extend for five years the commercial space launch indemnification procedures of current law to make U.S. commercial launch industry more competitive.
Introduced in Senate
Campaign Finance Reform (S. 1593) - Introduced a new bill which would ban "soft money" contributions to political parties and require labor unions to obtain authorization from non-union members before using their dues for political purposes. Led the floor fight in October, with Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), and garnered 53 supporters for the trimmed down version of earlier comprehensive campaign finance reform legislation.
Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act (S. 279) - Sponsored legislation to repeal the unfair Social Security earnings test, which penalizes seniors for continuing to work by taxing them $1 for every $3 they earn over $15,500.
Senior Citizens' Equity Act (S. 286) - Sponsored legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the increase in the tax on Social Security benefits and tier 1 railroad retirement benefits.
Tax Relief - Sponsored or co-sponsored several pieces of legislation to give much-needed tax relief to American families, including:
-Marriage Penalty Elimination Act of 1999 (S. 284) -- Eliminates the marriage penalty by increasing the standard deduction for married individuals filing joint returns to twice the standard deduction for unmarried individuals.
-Middle-Income Savings and Investment Act of 1999 (S. 283) - Encourages middle-income taxpayers to save and invest more by allowing them to keep the first $200 ($400 for joint filers) of interest and/or dividends tax-free.
-Middle-Class Tax Relief Act of 1999 (Amendment No. 1487) - Offered an amendment to the Taxpayer Refund Act of 1999 to increase the maximum taxable income for the 15 percent tax bracket, eliminate the marriage penalty in the standard deduction, exempt certain interest and dividend income from tax, phase out estate and gift taxes, and eliminate the earnings test for individuals who have reached retirement age.
Tax Relief for Military Personnel - Sponsored or co-sponsored two bills to provide tax relief to Americans serving in the Armed Forces:
-Uniformed Services Filing Fairness Act of 1999 (S. 308) - Provides a two-month extension for the due date for filing a tax return for any member of a uniformed service on a tour of duty outside the United States for a period which includes the normal due date for such a filing.
-Uniformed Services Home Sales Act (S. 309) - Provides that a member of the uniformed services shall be treated as using a principal residence while away from home on qualified official extended duty in determining the exclusion of gain from sale of such residence.
Base Realignment and Closure Commission (S. 258) - Introduced legislation to reestablish a base closure Commission and conduct a single round of base closures in 2001 in order to make scarce defense dollars available for military readiness and modernization. Also offered, but defeated, as amendment to S. 1059.
Repeal of "Buy America" Restrictions (S. 384) - Introduced bill to eliminate domestic source restrictions on certain products that prevent the Department of Defense from buying the best equipment for our military at the best price for the taxpayer. Also offered as amendment to S. 1122, but defeated.
Internet Regulatory Freedom Act (S. 1043) -- Sponsored legislation promoting the deployment of high-speed broadband Internet access throughout the nation by eliminating unnecessary regulations, and restricting the Federal Communications Commission enacting regulations related to the Internet.
Internet Tax Freedom Act of 1999 (S. 1611) -- Introduced legislation to protect the Internet from undue financial burdens by making permanent the moratorium on taxation of the Internet, including sales and use taxes, and urging the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate with our trading partners to make the Internet a "tax-free zone".
Repeal of the 3% telephone excise tax (S. 94) -- Sponsored legislation repealing the 3% telephone excise tax in order to provide relief to consumers experiencing increases in telephone rates as a result of implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and in recognition of telephone service as a basic necessity, not the luxury it was 100 years ago when the tax was enacted.
Telecommunications Ownership Diversity Act of 1999 (S. 1766) -- Sponsored legislation providing telecommunications companies with capital gains tax breaks for selling facilities to, or investing in small telecommunications businesses and telecommunications businesses owned by minorities and women.
Telecommunications Merger Review Act of 1999 (S. 1125) -- Sponsored legislation restricting the authority of the Federal Communications Commission to conduct merger reviews or place conditions on the license transfers between merging companies, when the merger is subject to review by the Department of Justice or Federal Trade Commission.
Trading Information Act (S. 95) -- Sponsored legislation ensuring the continued public availability, through all forms of mass communication, of real-time information concerning stocks traded on established stock exchanges.
Telecommunications Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1999 (S. 1084) -- Sponsored legislation to protect consumers from slamming, the unauthorized switching of a telephone subscribers long distance service provider of choice.
Budget Process Reform (S. Res. 4, 5, 6, 8, and 25) - Sponsored or co-sponsored several resolutions to reform the Congressional budget process to restore openness, fairness, and public input to the way Congress spends tax dollars.
Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment (S. J. Res. 7) - Co-sponsored legislation that proposes a Balanced Budget amendment to the Constitution.
Separate Enrollment and Line-Item Veto Act of 1999 (S. 100) - Sponsored legislation to restore the Line Item Veto which was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1997. Transforms each spending or tax item in any bill into a separate "mini-bill" that would then be sent to the President to be signed of vetoed.
Government Shutdown Prevention Act (S. 99) - Sponsored legislation to automatically continue funding (with no Congressional or Administration action required) at 98 percent of current levels for any government agency or department whose regular appropriation bill has not been signed into law by October 1.
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act (S. 92) - Co-sponsored legislation that requires the President to submit and the Congress to enact two-year authorization and appropriations bills, rather than the current process where Congress passes budgets and appropriates funding on an annual basis.
Elimination of Sugar Price Supports (S. 1118) - Co-sponsored legislation to gradually eliminate the price support program for sugarcane and sugar beets.
Establishment of the Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area (S. 1560) -- Co-sponsored a bill to protect 381,800 acres of land near the Grand Canyon in Arizona by establishing the Shivwits Plateau National Conservation Area.
Congressional Openness Act (S. 393) -- Introduced legislation to make Congressional Research Service products, lobbyist disclosure reports, and gift rule disclosure reports available to the public over the Internet.
21st Century Technology Resources and Commercial Leadership Act (S. 1804) -- Introduced legislation to lift the caps on H-1B visas for foreign workers through 2006, allowing American companies to meet the demand for highly skilled workers that cannot currently be met in the American workforce. Also directs that a portion of these visa fees be used for educational grants to improve tech-related skills for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade and older American workers who need retraining.
Electronic Commerce Technology Promotion Act (S. 1912) - Co-sponsored legislation to facilitate the growth of electronic commerce and enable the electronic commerce market to continue its current rate of growth and realize its full potential and to signal strong support of the electronic commerce market by promoting its use within federal government agencies and small- and medium-sized businesses.
National Right-to-Work Act (S. 424) - Co-sponsored legislation to preserve and protect the free choice of individual employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, or to refrain from such activities.
Educating America's Children for Tomorrow (Ed-ACT) (S. 667) -- Authored a comprehensive education reform bill that returns control to educators, parents and local communities, helps schools obtain quality teachers, provides educational opportunities for disadvantaged children, increases saving opportunities for each child's higher education costs, and encourages proficiency in English-Plus additional languages to increase the marketability of our citizens as well as our nation.
Child Custody Protection Act (S. 661) -- Co-sponsored legislation making it a federal criminal offense to take children across state lines to receive an abortion without the knowledge of their parents;
Mothers and Newborns Health Insurance Act of 1999 (S.1717) -- Original sponsor of a bill providing for health care coverage for low-income pregnant women.
Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 1999 (S. 98) - Sponsored legislation to reauthorize the board through 2002 which oversees rail and pipeline industries and certain non-licensing regulation of motor and water carriers.
Interstate Tolls Relief Act of 1999 (S. 947) - Co-sponsored legislation to prevent states from imposing tolls on existing interstate highways.
Funding for Highway Safety (S. 947) -- Increased the authorization for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to allow that agency to better fund its efforts to save lives on America's streets and highways. Specifically, the increased funding will help the agency complete its rule-making for development of advanced airbags and fully fund the National Crash Assessment Program, which provides crash data to consumers purchasing cars.
Adoption Awareness Act (S. 1382) - Sponsored legislation to require all family planning clinics receiving federal funds to train family planning counselors in adoption counseling, and to provide counseling to patients on adoption, prenatal care and delivery, infant care, and foster care.
21st Century Media Responsibility Act (S. 1228) -- Sponsored legislation requiring producers of video, motion picture, interactive video, and music products to establish uniform labeling that gives information to parents about the nature, context, intensity level, and age appropriateness of any violent content.
Urban Homestead Act (S. 485) -- Sponsored legislation requiring the Department of Housing and Urban Development to transfer ownership of all unoccupied and substandard housing stock in the HUD inventory to community-based, not-for-profit institutions that provide homeownership opportunities for low-income families.
Addiction Free Treatment Act (S. 423) -- Sponsored legislation to place limits on Medicaid payments and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration funding for methadone treatment programs. Designed to place greater emphasis on drug-free rehabilitation programs by limiting the methadone treatment period that may be reimbursed with federal dollars and by requiring extensive research into the effectiveness of non-methadone and methadone-to-abstinence heroin rehabilitation programs.
Olympic Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (S. 803) -- Responded to concerns about bribery in the selection of Olympic host cities and the widespread use of illegal performance enhancing drugs by holding hearings before the Senate Commerce Committee on needed reforms of the International Olympics Committee. These hearings helped spur both the International and United States Olympic Committees into enacting reforms to address both problems. Sponsored legislation to bring the International Olympic Committee under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which will assist U.S. law enforcement agencies to combat corruption in the Olympics.
Homeless Veterans (S. 312) - Introduced a bill to require that homeless shelters that receive federal funding be required to identify and provide counseling to homeless veterans about the availability of VA benefits.
Disabled Veterans' Life Memorial (S. 311) - Authored a bill to establish a memorial on federal land in the Washington, D.C. area to honor disabled American veterans who served in the Armed Forces.
50th Anniversary of the Geneva Convention (S. Con. Res. 31) - Introduced a resolution to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Convention and the contributions of the American Red Cross and the International Red Cross to the amelioration of pain and suffering of the victims of armed conflict.
Improving VA Insurance Collections (S. 1616) - Introduced legislation that would improve the VA's ability to collect insurance payments from third-party providers, thereby increasing the flow of non-appropriated revenues available for veterans health care. Also offered as amendment to H.R. 2684, but defeated.
National Military Appreciation Month (S. 1419) - Principal sponsor, with 62 co-sponsors, of legislation to designate the month of May as National Military Appreciation Month.
Educational Opportunities for Disadvantaged Children (S. 1512) - Authored a bill creating a three-year nationwide school choice demonstration program expanding educational opportunities for low-income children by providing parents and students the freedom to choose the best school for their unique academic needs, while encouraging schools to be creative and responsive to the need of all students. Also offered as an amendment to S. 1429, but was defeated.
Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 1999 (S. 1227) - Original co-sponsor of legislation to provide access to health care through the Medicaid system for pregnant women and children who are not legal immigrants.
Alternative Land Management Study for Barry Goldwater Range (S. 1963) - Introduced legislation authorizing the Departments of Defense and Interior to conduct a study to evaluate various land management options, including designations as a national park or preserve, wilderness, or national conservation area, that would improve natural and cultural resources management for areas comprising the Barry Goldwater military training range and the Oregon Pipe National Monument.
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area (S. 1998) - Introduced legislation to designate certain areas in Yuma, Arizona as a National Heritage Area under the National Park Service system. This designated status will enable the city of Yuma to engage in public and private partnerships to revitalize historic and cultural areas to increase economic and recreational opportunities.
U.S. Cruise Ship Tourism Development Act of 1999 (S. 1510) - Introduced legislation to provide a window of opportunity to encourage the immediate reflagging of large cruise vessels under the U.S. flag for operation in the domestic cruise trades, and permit the temporary operation of non-U.S. flag cruise vessels in the U.S. domestic cruise trades.
Drug-Free Borders Act of 1999 (S. 658) - Original co-sponsor of legislation authorizing the expenditure of over $1 billion for the Customs Service to better control our nation's borders while facilitating legitimate trade and travel through the acquisition of high-technology tools and the hiring of additional Customs agents.
Border Improvement and Immigration Act of 1999 (S. 745) - Original co-sponsor of legislation authorizing the expenditure of $588 million over two years to enhance border enforcement as well as investigate corruption and money laundering along the border. The bill would add nearly 3,000 new INS and Customs inspectors, agents, and investigators to bolster enforcement against illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
State Criminal Alien Assistance Program II and Local Medical Emergency Reimbursement Act of 1999 (S. 1709) - Principal co-sponsor of legislation to provide Federal reimbursement for jurisdictions whose local budgets are disproportionately affected by the costs associated with illegal immigration. The bill would reimburse states and localities for indirect costs relating to the incarceration and processing of illegal aliens, and for emergency health services provided to undocumented aliens.
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