To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the maximum amount of contributions to individual retirement accounts and the amounts of adjusted gross income at which the IRA deduction phases out for active participants in pension plans, and to allow penalty-free distributions from individual retirement accounts and 401(k) plans for certain purposes.

Summary: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the:  (1) maximum deduction for individual retirement account contributions; and (2) income amount at which phase-out of that deduction begins.  Exempts certain retirement account distributions (first homes, higher education expenses, unemployment, and medical) from the early distribution penalty.

SECTION 1. INCREASE IN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AND AMOUNTS AT WHICH PHASE 
              OUT OF DEDUCTION BEGINS FOR INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT 
              CONTRIBUTIONS.

    (a) Increase in Maximum Amount of Contribution to Individual 
Retirement Accounts.--
            (1) In general.--Subparagraph (A) of section 219(b)(1) of 
        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to maximum amount 
        of deduction) is amended by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting 
        ``the applicable amount''.
            (2) Applicable amount.--Subsection (b) of section 219 of 
        such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(5) Applicable amount.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1), 
                the term `applicable amount' means--
                            ``(i) for any taxable year beginning in 
                        1999, $2,500,
                            ``(ii) for any taxable year beginning after 
                        1999 and before 2008, the applicable amount 
                        determined under this paragraph for the 
                        preceding taxable year, increased by $500, and
                            ``(iii) for any taxable year beginning 
                        after 2007, $7,000.
                    ``(B) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of a 
                taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2008, 
                the $7,000 amount contained in subparagraph (A)(iii) 
                shall be increased by an amount equal to--
                            ``(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by
                            ``(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment under 
                        section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which 
                        the taxable year begins, determined by 
                        substituting `calendar year 2007' for `calendar 
                        year 1992' in subparagraph (B) thereof.
                If any amount as adjusted under the preceding sentence 
                is not a multiple of $10, such amount shall be rounded 
                to the nearest multiple of $10.''
    (b) Increase of Amounts at Which Phase-out of Deduction for IRA 
Contributions Begins.--
            (1) In general.--Clauses (i) and (ii) of section 
        219(g)(3)(B) of such Code (relating to limitation on deduction 
        for active participants in certain pension plans) are amended 
        to read as follows:
                            ``(i) In the case of a taxpayer filing a 
                        joint return--
                                    ``(I) for taxable years beginning 
                                in 1999, $60,000,
                                    ``(II) for taxable years beginning 
                                after 1999 and before 2004, the 
                                applicable dollar amount determined 
                                under this subclause for the preceding 
                                taxable year, increased by $10,000, and
                                    ``(III) for taxable years beginning 
                                after 2003, $110,000.
                            ``(ii) In the case of any other taxpayer 
                        (other than a married individual filing a 
                        separate return)--
                                    ``(I) for taxable years beginning 
                                in 1999, $40,000,
                                    ``(II) for taxable years beginning 
                                after 1999 and before 2004, the 
                                applicable dollar amount determined 
                                under this subclause for the preceding 
                                taxable year, increased by $5,000, and
                                    ``(III) for taxable years beginning 
                                after 2003, $60,000.''
            (2) Inflation adjustment.--Paragraph (3) of section 219(g) 
        of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of a 
                taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2004, 
                the $110,000 amount contained in subparagraph 
                (B)(i)(III) and the $60,000 amount contained in 
                subparagraph (B)(ii)(III) shall each be increased by an 
                amount equal to--
                            ``(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by
                            ``(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment under 
                        section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which 
                        the taxable year begins, determined by 
                        substituting `calendar year 2003' for `calendar 
                        year 1992' in subparagraph (B) thereof.
                If any amount as adjusted under the preceding sentence 
                is not a multiple of $100, such amount shall be rounded 
                to the nearest multiple of $100.''
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Paragraph (1) of section 408(a) of such Code is amended 
        by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting ``the applicable amount 
        (as in effect under section 219(b) for such taxable year)''.
            (2) Subparagraph (B) of section 408(b)(2) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting ``the applicable 
        amount in effect under section 219(b) for the taxable year of 
        such individual''.
            (3) Subsection (b) of section 408 of such Code is amended 
        in the last sentence by striking `$2,000'' and inserting ``the 
        applicable amount in effect under section 219(b) for such 
        taxable year''.
            (4) Subparagraph (A) of section 408(d)(5) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``dollar amount'' and inserting 
        ``applicable amount''.
            (5) Subsection (j) of section 408 of such Code is amended 
        by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting ``applicable''.
            (6) Paragraph (8) of section 408(p) of such Code is amended 
        by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting ``the dollar limitation in 
        effect under section 219(b)(1)(A)''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1998.

SEC. 2. PENALTY-FREE DISTRIBUTIONS.

    (a) Penalty-Free Distributions for First Homes and Higher Education 
Extended to Certain Plans.--
            (1) Subparagraphs (E) and (F) of section 72(t)(2) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are each amended by inserting ``, 
        or from amounts attributable to employer contributions made 
        pursuant to elective deferrals described in subparagraph (A) or 
        (C) of section 402(g)(3) or section 501(c)(18)(D)(iii),'' after 
        ``individual retirement plan''.
            (2) The heading of subparagraph (E) of section 72(t)(2) of 
        such Code is amended by striking ``individual retirement 
        plans'' and inserting ``certain''.
    (b) Penalty-Free Distributions for Certain Unemployed Individuals 
Not Limited to Health Insurance Costs and Allowed From 401(k) Plans, 
Etc.--Subparagraph (D) of section 72(t)(2) of such Code is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by inserting ``, or from amounts 
        attributable to employer contributions made pursuant to 
        elective deferrals described in subparagraph (A) or (C) of 
        section 402(g)(3) or section 501(c)(18)(D)(iii),'' after 
        ``individual retirement plan'',
            (2) in clause (i), by inserting ``and'' at the end of 
        subclause (I), by striking ``, and'' at the end of subclause 
        (II) and inserting a period, and by striking subclause (III), 
        and
            (3) by striking ``for health insurance premiums'' in the 
        subparagraph heading.
    (c) Unlimited Penalty-Free Distributions for Medical Care and 
Expanded Definition of Dependents for Purposes of Such Distributions.--
Subparagraph (B) of section 72(t)(2) of such Code is amended by 
striking ``medical care'' and all that follows and inserting ``medical 
care, determined--
                            ``(i) without regard to whether the 
                        employee itemizes deductions for such taxable 
                        year, and
                            ``(ii) in the case of a distribution from 
                        an individual retirement plan, or from amounts 
                        attributable to employer contributions made 
                        pursuant to elective deferrals described in 
                        subparagraph (A) or (C) of section 402(g)(3) or 
                        section 501(c)(18)(D)(iii)--
                                    ``(I) without regard to whether or 
                                not such expenses exceed 7.5 percent of 
                                adjusted gross income, and
                                    ``(II) by treating an individual's 
                                dependents as including all children 
                                and grandchildren of the individual (or 
                                of such individual's spouse), and all 
                                ancestors of the individual (or of such 
                                individual's spouse).''
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to payments and distributions in taxable years beginning after 
December 31, 1998.