•HCON 290 RH
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$46,000,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $45,200,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$47,800,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $47,400,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$49,000,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $48,900,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$50,800,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $50,600,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$52,000,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $51,700,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$55,300,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $54,900,000,000.
(16) Administration of Justice (750):
Fiscal year 2000:
•HCON 290 RH
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$27,300,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$28,000,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$27,800,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$27,900,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $27,900,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$28,200,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $27,900,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$28,400,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,100,000,000.
(17) General Government (800):
Fiscal year 2000:
•HCON 290 RH
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$13,900,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $14,700,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$13,600,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $14,200,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$13,600,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,900,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$13,500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,700,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004:
ew 
budget 
authority,
$13,500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,700,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$13,600,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,500,000,000.
(18) Net Interest (900):
Fiscal year 2000:
•HCON 290 RH
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$284,600,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $284,600,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$288,500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $288,500,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$290,000,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $290,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$285,800,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $285,800,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$281,000,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $281,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$275,500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $275,500,000,000.
(19) Allowances (920):
Fiscal year 2000:
•HCON 290 RH
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
$8,500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $11,500,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$4,200,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$8,600,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$1,500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$500,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$1,700,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$1,400,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$2,300,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$2,200,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$2,500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$2,500,000,000.
(20) Undistributed Offsetting Receipts (950):
Fiscal year 2000:
•HCON 290 RH
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$34,100,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$34,100,000,000.
Fiscal year 2001:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$38,400,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$38,400,000,000.
Fiscal year 2002:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$41,300,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$41,300,000,000.
Fiscal year 2003:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$40,700,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$40,700,000,000.
Fiscal year 2004:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$38,100,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$38,100,000,000.
Fiscal year 2005:
(A) 
New 
budget 
authority,
¥$39,200,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$39,200,000,000.
•HCON 290 RH
SEC. 4. RECONCILIATION.
(a) LEGISLATION PROVIDING $150 BILLION IN TAX
RELIEF OVER A 5-YEAR PERIOD.—
(1) SUBMISSIONS REGARDING REVENUES.—The
House Committee on Ways and Means shall report
to the House a reconciliation bill—
(A) not later than May 26, 2000;
(B) not later than June 23, 2000;
(C) not later than July 28, 2000; and
(D) not later than September 22, 2000;
that consists of changes in laws within its jurisdic-
tion sufficient to reduce the total level of revenues
by not more than: $9,554,000,000 for fiscal year
2001, and $145,648,000,000 for the period of fiscal
years 2001 through 2005.
(2) 
HEALTH-RELATED
TAX
PROVISIONS.—
Whenever any bill referred to in section 9(a) is re-
ported (or an amendment is offered or a conference
report thereon is submitted) after the date of adop-
tion of this resolution that provides the health-re-
lated tax provisions contained in H.R. 2990 (as
passed the House), the chairman of the Committee
on the Budget of the House shall increase the rec-
onciliation instruction set forth in section 4(a)(1) by
the amount of the revenue reduction provided by
such measure for such purpose but not to exceed
•HCON 290 RH
$446,000,000 
in 
fiscal 
year 
2001 
and
$4,352,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2001
through 2005 (and make all other appropriate con-
forming adjustments).
(b) SUBMISSIONS REGARDING DEBT HELD BY THE
PUBLIC.—The House Committee on Ways and Means
shall report to the House a reconciliation bill—
(1) not later than May 26, 2000, that consists
of changes in laws within its jurisdiction sufficient
to reduce the debt held by the public by
$10,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2001; and
(2) not later than September 22, 2000 that
consists of changes in laws within its jurisdiction
sufficient to reduce the debt held by the public by
not more than $20,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
SEC. 5. 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 17 years;
•HCON 290 RH
(3) these surpluses have been used to implicitly
finance the general operations of the Federal Gov-
ernment;
(4) in fiscal year 2001, the social security sur-
plus will be $166 billion;
(5) this resolution balances the Federal budget
without counting the social security surpluses;
(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 are balanced excluding the surpluses gen-
erated by the social security trust funds.
(b) POINT OF ORDER.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—It shall not be in order in
the House of Representatives or the Senate to con-
sider any revision to this resolution or a concurrent
resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2002, 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 reso-
lution on the budget for that fiscal year pursuant to
•HCON 290 RH
section 301(a)(3) of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974.
(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that legislation should be enacted in this session of
Congress that would enforce the reduction in debt held
by the public assumed in this resolution by the imposition
of a statutory limit on such debt or other appropriate
means.
SEC. 6. DEBT REDUCTION LOCK-BOX.
(a) POINT OF ORDER.—It shall not be in order in
the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider
any reported bill or joint resolution, or any amendment
thereto or conference report thereon, that would cause a
surplus for fiscal year 2001 to be less than the level (as
adjusted for reconciliation or other tax-related legislation,
medicare, or agriculture as considered pursuant to section
4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14) set forth in section 2(4)
for that fiscal year.
(b) SPECIAL RULE.—The level of the surplus for pur-
poses of subsection (a) shall take into account amounts
adjusted under section 314(a)(2)(B) or (C) of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974.
•HCON 290 RH
SEC. 7. REDUCTION OF PUBLICLY-HELD DEBT.
(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to
ensure that the fiscal year 2000 on-budget surplus is used
to reduce publicly-held debt.
(b) REDUCTION OF PUBLICLY-HELD DEBT.—
(1) POINT OF ORDER AGAINST CERTAIN LEGIS-
LATION.—Except as provided by paragraph (2), it
shall not be in order in the House of Representatives
or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution,
amendment, motion, or conference report if—
(A) the enactment of that bill or resolution
as reported;
(B) the adoption and enactment of that
amendment; or
(C) the enactment of that bill or resolution
in the form recommended in that conference re-
port,
would cause a decrease in the on-budget surplus for
fiscal year 2000.
(2) EXCEPTION.—The point of order set forth
in paragraph (1) shall not apply to a bill, joint reso-
lution, amendment, motion, or conference report if
it—
(A) reduces revenues;
(B) implements structural social security
reform; or
•HCON 290 RH
(C) implements structural medicare re-
form.
(3) WAIVERS AND APPEALS IN THE SENATE.—
(A) WAIVERS.—Paragraph (1) may be
waived or suspended in the Senate only by the
affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members,
duly chosen and sworn.
(B) APPEALS.—(i) Appeals in the Senate
from the decisions of the Chair relating to para-
graph (1) shall be limited to 1 hour, to be
equally divided between, and controlled by, the
mover and the manager of the bill, joint resolu-
tion, amendment, motion, or conference report,
as the case may be.
(ii) An affirmative vote of three-fifths of
the Members, 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 paragraph (1).
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The provisions of this section
shall cease to have any force or effect on October 1, 2000.
SEC. 8. SPECIAL PROCEDURES TO SAFEGUARD TAX RE-
LIEF.
(a) ADJUSTMENTS
TO PRESERVE SURPLUSES.—
Upon the reporting of a reconciliation bill by the Com-
•HCON 290 RH
mittee on Ways and Means pursuant to section 4(a)(1)
or, the offering of an amendment to, or the submission
of a conference report on, H.R. 3081, H.R. 6, or H.R.
2990, whichever occurs first, the chairman of the Com-
mittee on the Budget of the House shall reduce to zero
the amounts by which aggregate levels of Federal revenues
should be reduced as set forth in section 2(1)(B) (and
make all other appropriate conforming adjustments).
(b) ADJUSTMENTS
FOR REVENUE BILLS.—After
making the adjustments referred to in paragraph (1), and
whenever the Committee on Ways and Means reports any
reconciliation bill pursuant to section 4(a)(1) (or an
amendment thereto is offered or a conference report there-
on is submitted) or an amendment to H.R. 3081, H.R.
6, or H.R. 2990 is offered or a conference report thereon
is submitted after the date of adoption of this resolution,
the chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the
House shall increase the levels by which Federal revenues
should be reduced by the reduction in revenue caused by
such measure for each applicable year or period, but not
to exceed, after taking into account any other bill or joint
resolution enacted during this session of the One Hundred
Sixth Congress that causes a reduction in revenues for
such year or period, $9,554,000,000 in fiscal year 2001
and $145,648,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2001
•HCON 290 RH
through 2005 (and make all other appropriate conforming
adjustments).
SEC. 9. RESERVE FUND PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL $50
BILLION FOR ADDITIONAL TAX RELIEF AND
DEBT REDUCTION.
Whenever the Committee on Ways and Means reports
any reconciliation bill pursuant to section 4(a)(1) (or an
amendment thereto is offered or a conference report there-
on is submitted), or an amendment to H.R. 3081, H.R.
6, or H.R. 2990 is offered or a conference report thereon
is submitted after the date of adoption of this resolution
(after taking into account any other bill or joint resolution
enacted during this session of the One Hundred Sixth
Congress that would cause a reduction in revenues for fis-
cal year 2001 or the period of fiscal years 2001 through
2005) that would cause the level by which Federal reve-
nues should be reduced, as set forth in section 2(1)(B)
for such fiscal year or for such period, as adjusted, to be
exceeded, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget
of the House may increase the levels by which Federal
revenues should be reduced by the amount exceeding such
level resulting from such measure, but not to exceed $0
in fiscal year 2001 and $50,000,000,000 for the period
of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 (and make all other
appropriate conforming adjustments).
•HCON 290 RH
SEC. 10. RESERVE FUND FOR AUGUST UPDATE REVISION
OF BUDGET SURPLUSES.
(a) REPORTING A SURPLUS.—If the Congressional
Budget Office report referred to in subsection (c) projects
an increase in the surplus for fiscal year 2000, fiscal year
2001, and the period of fiscal years 2001 through 2005
over the corresponding levels set forth in its March 2000
economic and budget forecast for fiscal year 2001, sub-
mitted pursuant to section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, the chairman of the Committee on
the Budget of the House may make the adjustments as
provided in subsection (b).
(b) ADJUSTMENTS.—Whenever the Committee on
Ways and Means reports any reconciliation bill pursuant
to section 4(a)(1) (or an amendment thereto is offered or
a conference report thereon is submitted), or an amend-
ment to H.R. 3081, H.R. 6, or H.R. 2990 is offered or
a conference report thereon is submitted after the date
of adoption of this resolution that (after taking into ac-
count any other bill or joint resolution enacted during this
session of the One Hundred Sixth Congress that would
cause a reduction in revenues for such year or period)
would cause the level by which Federal revenues should
be reduced, as set forth in section 2(1)(B) for fiscal year
2001 or for the period of fiscal years 2001 through 2005,
as adjusted, to be exceeded, the chairman of the Com-
•HCON 290 RH
mittee on the Budget of the House may increase the levels
by which Federal revenues should be reduced by the
amount exceeding such level resulting from such measure
for each applicable year or period (or for fiscal year 2000
may increase the level of the surplus and make all other
appropriate conforming adjustments), but not to exceed
the increase in the surplus for such year or period in the
report referred to in subsection (a).
(c) CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET
OFFICE
UPDATED
BUDGET FORECAST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001.—The report
referred to in subsection (a) is the Congressional Budget
Office updated budget forecast for fiscal year 2001.
SEC. 11. RESERVE FUND FOR MEDICARE.
Whenever the Committee on Ways and Means or
Committee on Commerce of the House reports a bill or
joint resolution, or an amendment thereto is offered (in
the House), or a conference report thereon is submitted
that reforms the medicare program and provides coverage
for prescription drugs, the chairman of the Committee on
the Budget may increase the aggregates and allocations
of new budget authority (and outlays resulting therefrom)
by the amount provided by that measure for that purpose,
but not to exceed $2,000,000,000 in new budget authority
and outlays for fiscal year 2001 and $40,000,000,000 in
new budget authority and outlays for the period of fiscal
•HCON 290 RH
years 2001 through 2005 (and make all other appropriate
conforming adjustments).
SEC. 12. RESERVE FUND FOR AGRICULTURE IN FISCAL
YEAR 2000.
Whenever the Committee on Agriculture of the House
reports a bill or joint resolution, or an amendment thereto
is offered (in the House), or a conference report thereon
is submitted that provides income support to owners and
producers of farms, the chairman of the Committee on the
Budget may increase the allocation of new budget author-
ity and outlays to that committee for fiscal year 2000 by
the amount of new budget authority (and the outlays re-
sulting therefrom) provided by that measure for that pur-
pose not to exceed $6,000,000,000 in new budget author-
ity and outlays for fiscal year 2000, $0 in new budget au-
thority and outlays for the period of fiscal years 2001
through 2004, and $6,000,000,000 in new budget author-
ity and outlays for the period of fiscal years 2000 through
2004 (and make all other appropriate conforming adjust-
ments).
SEC. 13. RESERVE FUND FOR AGRICULTURE IN FISCAL
YEAR 2001.
Whenever the Committee on Agriculture of the House
reports a bill or joint resolution, or an amendment thereto
is offered (in the House), or a conference report thereon
•HCON 290 RH
is submitted that provides risk management or income as-
sistance for agricultural producers, the chairman of the
Committee on the Budget may increase the allocation of
new budget authority and outlays to that committee by
the amount of new budget authority (and the outlays re-
sulting therefrom) if such legislation does not exceed
$1,355,000,000 
in 
new 
budget 
authority 
and
$595,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year 2001 and
$8,359,000,000 
in 
new 
budget 
authority 
and
$7,223,000,000 in outlays for the period of fiscal years
2001 through 2005 (and make all other appropriate con-
forming adjustments).
SEC. 14. RESERVE FUND FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES PAY
RAISE AND BENEFIT PACKAGE.
Whenever any bill is reported by the Committee on
Government Reform (or an amendment is offered or a
conference report thereon is submitted) that permits Fed-
eral employees to immediately participate in the Thrift
Savings Plan, the chairman of the Committee on the
Budget of the House shall increase (if necessary) the levels
by which Federal revenues should be reduced by an
amount not to exceed $17,000,000 in fiscal year 2001 and
$107,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2001 through
2005 (and make all other appropriate conforming adjust-
ments).
•HCON 290 RH
SEC. 15. APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ALLO-
CATIONS AND AGGREGATES.
(a) APPLICATION.—Any adjustments of allocations
and aggregates made pursuant to section 4(a)(2), 8(b),
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 for any measure shall—
(1) apply while that measure is under consider-
ation;
(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 AG-
GREGATES.—Revised allocations and aggregates resulting
from these adjustments shall be considered for the pur-
poses of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as alloca-
tions and aggregates contained in this resolution.
(c) BUDGET COMMITTEE DETERMINATIONS.—For
purposes of this resolution—
(1) the levels of new budget authority, outlays,
direct spending, new entitlement authority, revenues,
deficits, and surpluses for a fiscal year or period of
fiscal years shall be determined on the basis of esti-
mates made by the Committee on the Budget of the
House of Representatives or the Senate, as applica-
ble; and
•HCON 290 RH
(2) such chairman, as applicable, may make
any other necessary adjustments to such levels to
carry out this resolution.
SEC. 16. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON WASTE, FRAUD, AND
ABUSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The House finds that—
(1) while the budget may be in balance, it con-
tinues to be ridden with waste, fraud, and abuse;
(2) just last month, auditors documented more
than $19,000,000,000 in improper payments each
year by such agencies as the Agency of International
Development, the Internal Revenue Service, the So-
cial Security Administration, and the Department of
Defense;
(3) the General Accounting Office (GAO) re-
cently reported that the financial management prac-
tices of some Federal agencies are so poor that it is
unable to determine the full extent of improper gov-
ernment payments; and
(4) the GAO now lists a record number of 25
Federal programs that are at ‘‘high risk’’ of waste,
fraud, and abuse.
(b) SENSE OF THE HOUSE.—It is the sense of the
House that the Committee on the Budget has now created
task forces to address this issue and that the President
•HCON 290 RH
should take immediate steps to reduce waste, fraud, and
abuse within the Federal Government and report on such
actions to the Congress and that the resolution should in-
clude reconciliation directives to the appropriate commit-
tees of jurisdiction to dedicate the resulting savings to
debt reduction and tax relief.
SEC. 17. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
DOLLARS TO THE CLASSROOM.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) strengthening America’s public schools
while respecting State and local control is critically
important to the future of our children and our Na-
tion;
(2) education is a local responsibility, a State
priority, and a national concern;
(3) a partnership with the Nation’s governors,
parents, teachers, and principals must take place in
order to strengthen public schools and foster edu-
cational excellence;
(4) the consolidation of various Federal edu-
cation programs will benefit our Nation’s children,
parents, and teachers by sending more dollars di-
rectly to the classroom; and
(5) our Nation’s children deserve an educational
system that will provide opportunities to excel.
•HCON 290 RH
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that—
(1) Congress should enact legislation that would
consolidate thirty-one Federal K–12 education pro-
grams; and
(2) the Department of Education, the States,
and local educational agencies should work together
to ensure that not less than 95 percent of all funds
appropriated for the purpose of carrying out elemen-
tary and secondary education programs administered
by the Department of Education is spent for our
children in their classrooms.
SEC. 18. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING EMERGENCY
SPENDING.
It is the sense of Congress that, as a part of a com-
prehensive reform of the budget process, the Committees
on the Budget should develop a definition of, and a proc-
ess for, funding emergencies consistent with the applicable
provisions of H.R. 853, the Comprehensive Budget Proc-
ess Reform Act of 1999, that could be incorporated into
the Rules of the House of Representatives and the Stand-
ing Rules of the Senate.
•HCON 290 RH
SEC. 19. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON ESTIMATES OF THE IM-
PACT OF REGULATIONS ON THE PRIVATE
SECTOR.
(a) FINDINGS.—The House finds that—
(1) the Federal regulatory system sometimes
adversely affects many Americans and businesses by
imposing financial burdens with little corresponding
public benefit;
(2) currently, Congress has no general mecha-
nism for assessing the financial impact of regulatory
activities on the private sector;
(3) Congress is ultimately responsible for mak-
ing sure agencies act in accordance with congres-
sional intent and, while the executive branch is re-
sponsible for promulgating regulations, Congress
should curb ineffective regulations by using its over-
sight and regulatory powers; and
(4) a variety of reforms have been suggested to
increase congressional oversight over regulatory ac-
tivity, including directing the President to prepare
an annual accounting statement containing several
cost/benefit analyses, recommendations to reform in-
efficient regulatory programs, and an identification
and analysis of duplications and inconsistencies
among such programs.
•HCON 290 RH
(b) SENSE OF THE HOUSE.—It is the sense of the
House that the House should reclaim its role as reformer
and take the first step toward curbing inefficient regu-
latory activity by passing legislation authorizing the Con-
gressional Budget Office to prepare regular estimates on
the impact of proposed Federal regulations on the private
sector.
SEC. 20. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON BIENNIAL BUDGET.
It is the sense of the House that there is a wide range
of views on the advisability of biennial budgeting and this
issue should be considered only within the context of com-
prehensive budget process reform.
SEC. 21. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ACCESS TO HEALTH IN-
SURANCE AND PRESERVING HOME HEALTH
SERVICES 
FOR 
ALL 
MEDICARE 
BENE-
FICIARIES.
(a) ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE.—
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(A) 44.4 million Americans are currently
without health insurance, and that this number
is expected to rise to nearly 60 million people
in the next 10 years;
(B) the cost of health insurance continues
to rise, a key factor in increasing the number
of uninsured; and
•HCON 290 RH
(C) there is a consensus that working
Americans and their families will suffer from
reduced access to health insurance.
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS ON IMPROVING AC-
CESS TO HEALTH CARE INSURANCE.—It is the sense
of Congress that access to affordable health care
coverage for all Americans is a priority of the 106th
Congress.
(b) PRESERVING HOME HEALTH SERVICE FOR ALL
MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES.—
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(A) the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 re-
formed Medicare home health care spending by
instructing the Health Care Financing Adminis-
tration to implement a prospective payment sys-
tem and instituted an interim payment system
to achieve savings;
(B) the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP
Balanced Budget Refinement Act, 1999, re-
formed the interim payment system to increase
reimbursements to low-cost providers and de-
layed the automatic 15 percent payment reduc-
tion until after the first year of the implementa-
tion of the prospective payment system; and
•HCON 290 RH
(C) patients whose care is more extensive
and expensive than the typical Medicare patient
do not receive supplemental payments in the in-
terim payment system but will receive special
protection in the home health care prospective
payment system.
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ACCESS TO HOME
HEALTH CARE.—It is the sense of Congress that—
(A) Congress recognizes the importance of
home health care for seniors and disabled citi-
zens;
(B) Congress and the Administration
should work together to maintain quality care
for patients whose care is more extensive and
expensive than the typical Medicare patient, in-
cluding the sickest and frailest Medicare bene-
ficiaries, while home health care agencies oper-
ate in the interim payment system; and
(C) Congress and the Administration
should work together to avoid the implementa-
tion of the 15 percent reduction in the prospec-
tive payment system and ensured timely imple-
mentation of that system.
•HCON 290 RH
SEC. 
22. 
SENSE 
OF 
CONGRESS 
REGARDING
MEDICARE+CHOICE PROGRAMS/REIMBURSE-
MENT RATES.
It is the sense of Congress that the Medicare+Choice
regional disparity among reimbursement rates is unfair,
and that full funding of the Medicare+Choice program is
a priority as Congress deals with any medicare reform leg-
islation.
SEC. 23. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON DIRECTING THE INTER-
NAL REVENUE SERVICE TO ACCEPT NEGA-
TIVE NUMBERS IN FARM INCOME AVER-
AGING.
(a) FINDINGS.—The House finds that—
(1) farmers’ and ranchers’ incomes vary widely
from year to year due to uncontrollable markets and
unpredictable weather;
(2) in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Con-
gress enacted 3-year farm income averaging to pro-
tect agricultural producers from excessive tax rates
in profitable years;
(3) last year, the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) proposed final regulations for averaging farm
income which fail to make clear that taxable income
in a given year may be a negative number; and
•HCON 290 RH
(4) this IRS interpretation can result in farm-
ers having to pay additional taxes during years in
which they experience a loss in income.
(b) SENSE OF THE HOUSE.—It is the sense of the
House that during this session of the 106th Congress, leg-
islation should be considered to direct the Internal Rev-
enue Service to count any net loss of income in deter-
mining the proper rate of taxation.
SEC. 24. SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING THE STA-
BILIZATION 
OF 
CERTAIN 
FEDERAL 
PAY-
MENTS TO STATES, COUNTIES, AND BOR-
OUGHS.
It is the sense of the House that Federal revenue-
sharing payments to States, counties, and boroughs pursu-
ant to the Act of May 23, 1908 (35 Stat. 260; 16 U.S.C.
500), the Act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 963; 16 U.S.C.
500), the Act of August 28, 1937 (chapter 876; 50 Stat.
875; 43 U.S.C. 1181f), the Act of May 24, 1939 (chapter
144; 53 Stat. 753; 43 U.S.C. 1181f–1 et seq.), and sec-
tions 13982 and 13983 of the Omnibus Budget Reconcili-
ation Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–66; 16 U.S.C. 500
note; 43 U.S.C. 1181f note) should be stabilized and
maintained for the long-term benefit of schools, roads,
public services, and communities, and that providing such
•HCON 290 RH
permanent, stable funding is a priority of the 106th Con-
gress.
SEC. 25. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) the year 2000 will mark the 50th Anniver-
sary of the National Science Foundation;
(2) the National Science Foundation is the
largest supporter of basic research in the Federal
Government;
(3) the National Science Foundation is the sec-
ond largest supporter of university-based research;
(4) research conducted by the grantees of the
National Science Foundation has led to innovations
that have dramatically improved the quality of life of
all Americans;
(5) grants made by the National Science Foun-
dation have been a crucial factor in the development
of important technologies that Americans take for
granted, such as lasers, Magnetic Resonance Imag-
ing, Doppler Radar, and the Internet;
(6) because basic research funded by the Na-
tional Science Foundation is high-risk, cutting edge,
fundamental, and may not produce tangible benefits
•HCON 290 RH
for over a decade, the Federal Government is
uniquely suited to support such research; and
(7) the National Science Foundation’s focus on
peer-reviewed merit based grants represents a model
for research agencies across the Federal Govern-
ment.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the function 250 (Basic Science) levels assume
an amount of funding which ensures that the National
Science Foundation is a priority in the resolution; recog-
nizing the National Science Foundation’s critical roles in
funding basic research, which leads to the innovations that
assure the Nation’s economic future, and in cultivating
America’s intellectual infrastructure.
SEC. 26. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SKILLED NURS-
ING FACILITIES.
It is the sense of Congress that the Medicare Pay-
ment Advisory Commission continue to carefully monitor
the medicare skilled nursing benefit to determine if pay-
ment rates are sufficient to provide quality care, and that
if reform is recommended, Congress should pass legisla-
tion as quickly as possible to assure quality skilled nursing
care.
SEC. 27. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SPECIAL EDUCATION.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
•HCON 290 RH
(1) all children deserve a quality education, in-
cluding children with disabilities;
(2) the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act provides that the Federal, State, and local gov-
ernments are to share in the expense of educating
children with disabilities and commits the Federal
Government to pay up to 40 percent of the national
average per pupil expenditure for children with dis-
abilities;
(3) the high cost of educating children with dis-
abilities and the Federal Government’s failure to
fully meet its obligation under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act stretches limited State
and local education funds, creating difficulty in pro-
viding a quality education to all students, including
children with disabilities;
(4) the current level of Federal funding to
States and localities under the Individuals with Dis-
abilities Education Act is contrary to the goal of en-
suring that children with disabilities receive a qual-
ity education;
(5) the Federal Government has failed to ap-
propriate 40 percent of the national average per
pupil expenditure per child with a disability as re-
quired under the Individuals with Disabilities Act to
•HCON 290 RH
assist States and localities to educate children with
disabilities; and
(6) the levels in function 500 (Education) for
fiscal year 2001 assume sufficient discretionary
budget authority to accommodate fiscal year 2001
appropriations for IDEA at least $2,000,000,000
above such funding levels appropriated in fiscal year
2000.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that—
(1) Congress and the President should increase
fiscal year 2001 funding for programs under the In-
dividuals 
with 
Disabilities 
Act 
by 
at 
least
$2,000,000,000 above fiscal year 2000 appropriated
levels;
(2) Congress and the President should give pro-
grams under the Individuals with Disabilities Edu-
cation Act the highest priority among Federal ele-
mentary and secondary education programs by meet-
ing the commitment to fund the maximum State
grant allocation for educating children with disabil-
ities under such Act prior to authorizing or appro-
priating funds for any new education initiative;
(3) Congress and the President should, if new
or increased funding is authorized or appropriated
•HCON 290 RH
for any education initiative, provide the flexibility in
such authorization or appropriation necessary to
allow local educational agencies the authority to use
such funds for programs under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act; and
(4) if a local educational agency chooses to uti-
lize the authority under section 613(a)(2)(C)(i) of
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to
treat as local funds up to 20 percent of the amount
of funds the agency receives under part B of such
Act that exceeds the amount it received under that
part for the previous fiscal year, then the agency
should use those local funds to provide additional
funding for any Federal, State, or local education
program.
SEC. 28. ASSUMED FUNDING LEVELS FOR SPECIAL EDU-
CATIONAL.
It is the sense of Congress that function 500 (Edu-
cation) levels assume at least a $2,000,000,000 increase
in fiscal year 2001 over the current fiscal year to reflect
the commitment of Congress to appropriate 40 percent of
the national per pupil expenditure for children with dis-
abilities by a date certain.
•HCON 290 RH
SEC. 29. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE
PAY RAISE.
It is the sense of Congress that the pay increase for
Federal employees in January 2001 should be at least 3.7
percent.
SEC. 30. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING HCFA DRAFT
GUIDELINES.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) on February 15, 2000, the Health Care Fi-
nancing Administration in the Department of Health
and Human Services issued a draft Medicaid School-
Based Administrative Claiming (MAC) Guide; and
(2) in its introduction, the stated purpose of the
draft MAC guide is to provide information for
schools, State medicaid agencies, HCFA staff, and
other interested parties on the existing requirements
for claiming Federal funds under the medicaid pro-
gram for the costs of administrative activities, such
as medicaid outreach, that are performed in the
school setting associated with school-based health
services programs.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that—
(1) many school-based health programs provide
a broad range of services that are covered by med-
•HCON 290 RH
icaid, affording access to care for children who oth-
erwise might well go without needed services;
(2) such programs also can play a powerful role
in identifying and enrolling children who are eligible
for medicaid, as well as the State Children’s Health
Insurance programs;
(3) undue administrative burdens may be
placed on school districts and States and deter time-
ly application approval;
(4) the Health Care Financing Administration
should substantially revise or abandon the current
draft MAC guide because it appears to promulgate
new rules that place excessive administrative bur-
dens on participating school districts;
(5) the goal of the revised guide should be to
encourage the appropriate use of Medicaid school-
based services without undue administrative bur-
dens; and
(6) the best way to ensure the continued viabil-
ity of medicaid school-based services is to guarantee
that the guidelines are fair and responsible.
SEC. 31. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ASSET-BUILDING FOR
THE WORKING POOR.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
•HCON 290 RH
(1) 33 percent of all Americans households and
60 percent of African American households have no
or negative financial assets;
(2) 46.9 percent of children in America live in
households with no financial assets, including 40
percent of Caucasian children and 75 percent of Af-
rican American children;
(3) in order to provide low-income families with
more tools for empowerment, incentives, including
individual development accounts, are demonstrating
success at empowering low-income workers;
(5) middle and upper income Americans cur-
rently benefit from tax incentives for building assets;
and
(6) the Federal Government should utilize the
Federal tax code to provide low-income Americans
with incentives to work and build assets in order to
escape poverty permanently.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the provisions of this resolution assume that
Congress should modify the Federal tax law to include In-
dividual Development Account provisions in order to en-
courage low-income workers and their families to save for
buying a first home, starting a business, obtaining an edu-
cation, or taking other measures to prepare for the future.