datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 853
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to study the effect
that a tax system comprised of a 10 percent Federal consumption tax
and a 10 percent flat Federal income tax would have on the Federal
Government and the United States economy.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 26, 1997
Mr. TRAFICANT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to
study the effect that a tax system comprised of a 10
percent Federal consumption tax and a 10 percent flat
Federal income tax would have on the Federal Govern-
ment and the United States economy.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. STUDY OF TAX SYSTEM COMPRISED OF CON-
SUMPTION TAX AND FLAT INCOME TAX.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the
United States shall study the effect that a tax system com-
prised of a 10 percent Federal consumption tax and a 10
percent flat Federal income tax would have on—
(1) revenues to the United States Government,
including the effect on the annual budget deficit,
and
(2) the economy of the United States.
(b) MATTERS AFFECTING THE STUDY.—In conduct-
ing the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall assume no exclusions, deductions, or credits
other than those in connection with a trade or business
and the standard deduction, the personal exemption, inter-
est on indebtedness to acquire a principal residence, and
payments made for college tuition.
(c) VARIANCE OF RATES.—For purposes of para-
graphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall also study the effect if the rates of tax referred
to in subsection (a) are varied over time but raise the same
revenue as the tax system in effect on the date of the en-
actment of this Act.
(d) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General shall submit to the Congress a report con-
cerning the study under subsection (a).
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by statute for the citizenship status of persons born
in Puerto Rico, including extension of special statu-
tory United States citizenship from 1917 to the
present.
(3) Consistent with the Territorial Clause and
rulings of the United States Supreme Court, partial
application of the United States Constitution has
been established in the unincorporated territories of
the United States including Puerto Rico.
(4) In 1950 Congress prescribed a procedure
for instituting internal self-government for Puerto
Rico pursuant to statutory authorization for a local
constitution. A local constitution was approved by
the people, amended and conditionally approved by
Congress, and thereupon given effect in 1952 after
acceptance of congressional conditions by the Puerto
Rico Constitutional Convention and an appropriate
proclamation by the Governor. The approved con-
stitution established the structure for constitutional
government in respect of internal affairs without al-
tering Puerto Rico’s fundamental political, social,
and economic relationship with the United States
and without restricting the authority of Congress
under the Territorial Clause to determine the appli-
cation of Federal law to Puerto Rico, resulting in
‘‘(ii) caused the sum of all amounts
added to such account during such period
to exceed 20 percent of the total value of
such facility (determined in the manner
provided in subparagraph (B)(ii)) on the
first day of such period.’’
(c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) The last sentence of subsection (b)(4) of
section 954 of such Code is amended by striking
‘‘subsection (a)(5).’’ and by inserting ‘‘subsection
(a)(5) or foreign base company manufacturing relat-
ed income described in subsection (a)(6).’’
(2) Subsection (b)(5) of section 954 of such
Code is amended by striking ‘‘and the foreign base
company oil related income’’ and by inserting ‘‘the
foreign base company oil related income, and the
foreign base company manufacturing related in-
come’’.
(3) Subsection (b) of section 954 of such Code
is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(9) FOREIGN BASE COMPANY MANUFACTURING
RELATED INCOME NOT TREATED AS ANOTHER KIND
OF BASE COMPANY INCOME.—Income of a corpora-
tion which is foreign base company manufacturing
related income shall not be treated as foreign base
company income of such corporation under any
paragraph of subsection (a) other than paragraph
(6).’’
(d) EFFECTIVE DATES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to taxable years of foreign
corporations beginning after December 31, 1997,
and to taxable years of United States shareholders
in which, or with which, such taxable years of for-
eign corporations end.
(2) INVESTMENTS BEFORE THE DATE OF EN-
ACTMENT NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.—No facility
of a foreign controlled corporation shall be treated
as a tax holiday plant (within the meaning of section
954(h)(2)(A) of such Code, as amended by this sec-
tion) or as a runaway plant (within the meaning of
section 954(h)(2)(B) of such Code, as amended by
this section) on the basis of any amount paid or in-
curred with respect to such facility and added to the
capital account for such facility before the date of
the enactment of this Act.
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I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 855
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide administrative sup-
port and information to States for the establishment and operation
of prepaid tuition programs, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 26, 1997
Ms. WOOLSEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide
administrative support and information to States for the
establishment and operation of prepaid tuition programs,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Access to College Edu-
cation (ACE) Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) During the past 15 years, tuition at 4-year
public colleges and universities rose 234 percent.
(2) In contrast, during this same time, median
household income rose only 82 percent.
(3) The cost of consumer goods, as measured
by the Consumer Price Index, rose only 74 percent
during this time.
(4) During the past 15 years, the share of
schools’ revenues provided by tuition rose from 16
percent to 23 percent.
(5) The future of America depends on a well
educated work force.
(6) High-tech, high-wage jobs require post-
secondary education.
(7) Parents need information and assistance to
save for their children’s higher education.
(8) Prepaid college tuition programs are one
way parents can make sure they will be able to af-
ford the cost of their children’s college.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
Title X of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is
amended by inserting after part E (20 U.S.C. 1135g) the
following new part:
‘‘PART F—ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR STATE
PREPAID TUITION PROGRAMS.
‘‘SEC. 1096. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a program in accordance with the requirements of
this section to provide grants to States to support tempo-
rarily the establishment and operation of State prepaid
tuition programs. No State shall be eligible to receive more
than a single grant under this section.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any State desiring to ob-
tain a grant under this section shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such form,
and containing such information or assurances as
the Secretary may require by regulation.
‘‘(2) STATE PLAN.—An application under this
section shall include a State plan for the establish-
ment and operation of a program to offer parents
the opportunity to prepay tuition at State post-
secondary institutions. The State plan shall include
a description of—
‘‘(A) the type of prepaid tuition plan the
State offers or plans to offer, such as by con-
tract, tuition credit, or certificate, and the insti-
tutions at which prepaid tuition funds will be
available for use;
the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the
later of the following:
(1) The date on which the Secretary completes
amendment or revision of the land and resource
management plans for Plumas National Forest,
Lassen National Forest, and Tahoe National Forest
pursuant to subsection (i).
(2) The date that is five years after the date of
the commencement of the pilot project.
(h) CONSULTATION.—(1) Each statement required
by subsection (b)(1) shall be prepared in consultation with
the Quincy Library Group.
(2) CONTRACTING.—The Forest Service, subject to
the availability of appropriations, may carry out any (or
all) of the requirements of this section using private con-
tracts.
(i) CORRESPONDING FOREST PLAN AMENDMENTS.—
Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Regional Forester for Region 5 shall initiate the
process to amend or revise the land and resource manage-
ment plans for Plumas National Forest, Lassen National
Forest, and Tahoe National Forest. The process shall in-
clude preparation of at least one alternative that—
(1) incorporates the pilot project and area des-
ignations made by subsection (b), the resource man-
‘‘(B) the tuition and other expenses to
which the prepayment will be applied;
‘‘(C) the method by which the future cost
of such tuition and expenses is or will be cal-
culated;
‘‘(D) the options the parents have or will
have to make the prepayment;
‘‘(E) the methods by which prepaid tuition
funds will be invested;
‘‘(F) the methods by which the funds will
be disbursed;
‘‘(G) the methods by which prepaid tuition
funds will be taken into account in the calcula-
tion of State student aid eligibility;
‘‘(H) the methods by which the State will
inform the public on a regular basis of the actu-
arial projections for the cost of tuition; and
‘‘(I) the methods by which the State will
inform the public on a regular basis of the in-
vestment of these funds.
‘‘(3) DISCLOSURE OBLIGATION.—An application
under this section shall include an agreement by the
State to provide regular periodic disclosures of the
actuarial projections for the cost of tuition at State
postsecondary institutions and the investment of
prepaid tuition funds.
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—A State that obtains a grant
from funds provided under this section may use such
funds—
‘‘(1) to hire a chief administrative officer;
‘‘(2) to obtain office space for the program’s
administration;
‘‘(3) to acquire or improve office equipment
necessary for a prepaid college tuition program;
‘‘(4) to pay expenses necessary for the public
disclosure required by this section;
‘‘(5) to advertise the existence of this program
throughout the State; and
‘‘(6) to conduct activities which educate the
public about the necessity of early savings for higher
education.
‘‘(d) INFORMATION.—In order to assist other States
in establishing and improving prepaid tuition programs,
any State that receives a grant under this section shall
provide to the Secretary such information as the Secretary
may request concerning the development of its program.
The Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) collect information from existing prepaid
tuition programs;
‘‘(2) correlate such information with significant
variables such as—
‘‘(A) population of State;
‘‘(B) number of State postsecondary insti-
tutions;
‘‘(C) average cost of State postsecondary
institutions; and
‘‘(D) number of participants currently in
program;
‘‘(3) collect studies of prepaid college tuition
programs; and
‘‘(4) disseminate to States applying for grants
under this section the information and studies col-
lected for the purposes of providing such States with
information on successful practices to administer
prepaid college tuition programs.
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to make grants under
this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and such
sums as may be necessary for each of the 3 succeeding
fiscal years.’’.
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HR 858 RFS
paragraph (1)(A) shall not exceed $75,000 for each
of fiscal years 2000, 2001, and 2002.
(l) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.—Nothing in
this section exempts the pilot project from any Federal
environmental law.
Passed the House of Representatives July 9, 1997.
Attest:
ROBIN H. CARLE,
Clerk.
the present ‘‘Commonwealth’’ structure for local
self-government. The Commonwealth remains an un-
incorporated territory and does not have the status
of ‘‘free association’’ with the United States as that
status is defined under United States law or inter-
national practice.
(5) In 1953 the United States transmitted to
the Secretary-General of the United Nations for cir-
culation to its Members a formal notification that
the United States no longer would transmit informa-
tion regarding Puerto Rico to the United Nations
pursuant to Article 73(e) of its Charter. The formal
United States notification document informed the
United Nations that the cessation of information on
Puerto Rico was based on the ‘‘new constitutional
arrangements’’ in the territory, and the United
States expressly defined the scope of the ‘‘full meas-
ure’’ of local self-government in Puerto Rico as ex-
tending to matters of ‘‘internal government and ad-
ministration, subject only to compliance with appli-
cable provisions of the Federal Constitution, the
Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act and the acts of
Congress authorizing and approving the Constitu-
tion, as may be interpreted by judicial decision.’’.
HR 858 RS
deferred from resource management activities required
under subsection (d) and timber harvesting during
the term of the pilot project.
(2) RIPARIAN PROTECTION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Scientific Analysis
Team guidelines for riparian system protection
described in subparagraph (B) shall apply to all
resource management activities conducted under
subsection (d) and all timber harvesting activi-
ties that occur in the pilot project area during
the term of the pilot project.
(B) GUIDELINES DESCRIBED.—The guide-
lines referred to in subparagraph (A) are those
in the document entitled ‘‘Viability Assessments
and Management Considerations for Species As-
sociated with Late-Successional and Old-Growth
Forests of the Pacific Northwest’’, a Forest Serv-
ice research document dated March 1993 and co-
authored by the Scientific Analysis Team, in-
cluding Dr. Jack Ward Thomas.
(C) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section
shall be construed to require the application of
the Scientific Analysis Team guidelines to any
livestock grazing in the pilot project area during
the term of the pilot project, unless the livestock
HR 856 RFS
(3) Consistent with the Territorial Clause and
rulings of the United States Supreme Court, partial
application of the United States Constitution has
been established in the unincorporated territories of
the United States including Puerto Rico.
(4) In 1950, Congress prescribed a procedure
for instituting internal self-government for Puerto
Rico pursuant to statutory authorization for a local
constitution. A local constitution was approved by
the people of Puerto Rico, approved by Congress,
subject to conforming amendment by Puerto Rico,
and thereupon given effect in 1952 after acceptance
of congressional conditions by the Puerto Rico Con-
stitutional Convention and an appropriate proclama-
tion by the Governor. The approved constitution es-
tablished the structure for constitutional government
in respect of internal affairs without altering Puerto
Rico’s fundamental political, social, and economic re-
lationship with the United States and without re-
stricting the authority of Congress under the Terri-
torial Clause to determine the application of Federal
law to Puerto Rico, resulting in the present ‘‘Com-
monwealth’’ structure for local self-government. The
Commonwealth remains an unincorporated territory
and does not have the status of ‘‘free association’’
Union Calendar No. 318
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 860
[Report No. 105–503, Part I]
A BILL
To authorize appropriations to the Department of
Transportation for surface transportation re-
search and development, and for other purposes.
JUNE 3, 1998
The Committees on Commerce and Transportation and
Infrastructure discharged; committed to the Committee
on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
cipal political parties of Puerto Rico, the United
States was formally advised that ‘‘. . . the People of
Puerto Rico wish to be consulted as to their preference
with regards to their ultimate political status’’, and
the joint letter stated ‘‘. . . that since Puerto Rico
came under the sovereignty of the United States of
America through the Treaty of Paris in 1898, the
People of Puerto Rico have not been formally con-
sulted by the United States of America as to their
choice of their ultimate political status’’.
(9) In the 1989 State of the Union Message,
President George Bush urged the Congress to take the
necessary steps to authorize a federally recognized
process allowing the people of Puerto Rico, for the
first time since the Treaty of Paris entered into force,
to freely express their wishes regarding their future
political status in a congressionally recognized ref-
erendum, a step in the process of self-determination
which the Congress has yet to authorize.
(10) On November 14, 1993, the Government of
Puerto Rico conducted a plebiscite initiated under
local law on Puerto Rico’s political status. In that
vote none of the three status propositions received a
majority of the votes cast. The results of that vote
HR 856 RFS
time, in the same manner, and to the same extent
as in the case of any other rule of that House.
SEC. 7. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR THE REFERENDA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS DERIVED FROM
TAX ON FOREIGN RUM.—During the period begin-
ning October 1, 1997, and ending on the date the
President determines that all referenda required by
this Act have been held, from the amounts covered
into the treasury of Puerto Rico under section
7652(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
the Secretary of the Treasury—
(A) upon request and in the amounts iden-
tified from time to time by the President, shall
make the amounts so identified available to the
treasury of Puerto Rico for the purposes speci-
fied in subsection (b); and
(B) shall transfer all remaining amounts to
the treasury of Puerto Rico, as under current
law.
(2) REPORT OF REFERENDA EXPENDITURES.—
Within 180 days after each referendum required by
this Act, and after the end of the period specified in
paragraph (1), the President, in consultation with
the Government of Puerto Rico, shall submit a re-
HR 856 RFS
port to the United States Senate and United States
House of Representatives on the amounts made
available under paragraph (1)(A) and all other
amounts expended by the State Elections Commis-
sion of Puerto Rico for referenda pursuant to this
Act.
(b) GRANTS
FOR CONDUCTING REFERENDA
AND
VOTER
EDUCATION.—From amounts made available
under subsection (a)(1), the Government of Puerto Rico
shall make grants to the State Elections Commission of
Puerto Rico for referenda held pursuant to the terms of
this Act, as follows:
(1) Fifty percent shall be available only for
costs of conducting the referenda.
(2) Fifty percent shall be available only for
voter education funds for the central ruling body of
the political party, parties, or other qualifying enti-
ties advocating a particular ballot choice. The
amount allocated for advocating a ballot choice
under this paragraph shall be apportioned equally
among the parties advocating that choice.
(c) 
ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES.—In 
addition 
to
amounts made available by this Act, the Puerto Rico Leg-
islature may allocate additional resources for administra-
tive and voter education costs to each party so long as
HR 856 RFS
the distribution of funds is consistent with the apportion-
ment requirements of subsection (b).
Passed the House of Representatives March 4,
1998.
Attest:
ROBIN H. CARLE,
Clerk.
Managing Trustee shall ensure that such annual surplus
is invested, throughout the next following fiscal year, in—
‘‘(i) marketable interest-bearing obligations of
the United States or obligations guaranteed as to
both principal and interest by the United States,
purchased on original issue or at the market price,
or
‘‘(ii) certificates of deposit in insured depository
institutions (as defined in section 3(c)(2) of the Fed-
eral Deposit Insurance Act).
‘‘(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the ‘annual sur-
plus’ for either of the Trust Funds as of the end of a
fiscal year is the excess (if any) of—
‘‘(i) the sum of—
‘‘(I) in the case of the Federal Old-Age
and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the
amounts appropriated to such Trust Fund
under paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a)
for the fiscal year,
‘‘(II) in the case of the Federal Disability
Insurance Trust Fund, the amounts appro-
priated to such Trust Fund under paragraphs
(1) and (2) of subsection (b) for the fiscal year,
and
•HRES 168 IH
reason to believe has personal knowledge of
such conduct; or
(B) his personal review of—
(i) documents kept in the ordinary
course of business, government, or per-
sonal affairs; or
(ii) photographs, films, videotapes, or
recordings;
that contain information regarding conduct
which is the basis of a violation alleged in the
information offered as a complaint;
(2) a complainant or an individual from whom
the complainant obtains information will be found to
have personal knowledge of conduct which is the
basis of the violation alleged in the information of-
fered as a complaint if the complainant or that indi-
vidual witnessed or was a participant in such con-
duct; and
(3) an individual who submits information of-
fered as a complaint consisting solely of information
contained in a news or opinion source or publication
that he believes to be true does not have the req-
uisite personal knowledge.
(b) TIME FOR DETERMINATION.—The Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct shall amend its rules re-
H. Res. 197
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
July 25, 1997.
Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this res-
olution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule
XXIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of
the bill (H.R. 2209) making appropriations for the Legisla-
tive Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998,
and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be
dispensed with. Points of order against consideration of the
bill for failure to comply with section 302 or 308 of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974 are waived. General debate
shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. After
general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment
under the five-minute rule and shall be considered as read.
Points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to
comply with clause 2 or 6 of rule XXI are waived. No amend-
ment shall be in order except those printed in the report of
(5) A comparison of the revenues generated by,
and costs incurred in, the implementation of the re-
source management activities described in subsection
(d) on the Federal lands included in the pilot project
area with the revenues and costs during each of the
fiscal years 1992 through 1997 of timber manage-
ment of such lands before their inclusion in the pilot
project.
(6) A schedule for the resource management ac-
tivities to be undertaken in the pilot project area
during the next fiscal year.
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