datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
V
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2425
For the relief of Lawrence E. Hall, Jr. and Nancy T. Hall.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 5, 1997
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
For the relief of Lawrence E. Hall, Jr. and Nancy T. Hall.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. WAIVER OF TIME LIMITATIONS.
The time limitations set forth in section 2401 of title
28, United States Code, shall not apply with respect to
any claims by Lawrence E. Hall, Jr. and Nancy T. Hall
against the United States arising out of the mortgage held
by the Department of Agriculture (formerly held by the
Farmers Home Administration) on their home at 1 East
Public Street, Assonet, Massachusetts.
SEC. 2. DEADLINE.
Section 1 shall apply only with respect to claims sub-
mitted by Lawrence E. Hall, Jr. and Nancy T. Hall, or
their authorized representatives, within 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. ABEYANCE OF FORECLOSURE.
The Department of Agriculture shall not foreclose
upon the mortgage described in section 1 until the later
of 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act or
the final resolution of the claims described in section 2.
Æ
V
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2426
For the relief of Vince Munoz, Governor of the Tribal Council of the Ysleta
del Sur Pueblo and all other enrolled members of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 5, 1997
Mr. REYES introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary
A BILL
For the relief of Vince Munoz, Governor of the Tribal Coun-
cil of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and all other enrolled
members of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That notwithstanding section 12 of the Act of August 13,
1946 (60 Stat. 1052), or any other statute of limitations,
the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed
to pay, out of the Treasury from monies not otherwise
appropriated, to Vince Munoz, Governor the Tribal Coun-
cil of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, the sum of $llll
for the benefit of and distribution to Vince Munoz and
all other enrolled members of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.
The payment of said sum shall be in full settlement of
all claims of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo arising from the
taking by the United States of land owned or occupied
by the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo without payment for such
lands of compensation agreed to by that tribe, and claims
based upon fair and honorable dealings that are not recog-
nized by any existing rule of law or equity, and other
claims which otherwise, except for the lapse of time and
the failure to timely file, would have been compensable
under the Act of August 13, 1946 (60 Stat. 1049).
Æ
I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2428
To improve the operations and governance of the Internal Revenue Service,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 8, 1997
Mr. RANGEL (for himself, Mr. COYNE, Mr. HOYER, Mr. WAXMAN, and Mr.
MATSUI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Commit-
tee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Govern-
ment Reform and Oversight, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To improve the operations and governance of the Internal
Revenue Service, 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; AMENDMENT OF THE 1986 CODE;
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Internal Revenue Service Improvement Act of 1997’’.
(b) AMENDMENT OF 1986 CODE.—Except as other-
wise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amend-
HR 2431 EAS
(6) Though not confined to a particular region
or regime, religious persecution is often particularly
widespread, systematic, and heinous under totali-
tarian governments and in countries with militant,
politicized religious majorities.
(7) Congress has recognized and denounced acts
of religious persecution through the adoption of the
following resolutions:
(A) House Resolution 515 of the One Hun-
dred Fourth Congress, expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives with respect to the per-
secution of Christians worldwide.
(B) Senate Concurrent Resolution 71 of the
One Hundred Fourth Congress, expressing the
sense of the Senate regarding persecution of
Christians worldwide.
(C) House Concurrent Resolution 102 of the
One Hundred Fourth Congress, expressing the
sense of the House of Representatives concerning
the emancipation of the Iranian Baha’i commu-
nity.
(b) POLICY.—It shall be the policy of the United
States, as follows:
(1) To condemn violations of religious freedom,
and to promote, and to assist other governments in
I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2429
To reauthorize the Small Business Technology Transfer Program through
fiscal year 2000.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 8, 1997
Mr. SENSENBRENNER (for himself, Mr. TALENT, Mr. BROWN of California,
Mr. LAFALCE, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. GORDON, Mr. BARTLETT of Mary-
land, Mr. POSHARD, and Mr. DAVIS of Virginia) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To reauthorize the Small Business Technology Transfer
Program through fiscal year 2000.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT.
Section 9(n)(1)(C) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 638(n)(1)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘and 1997’’
and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘through 2000’’.
Æ
IB
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2429
[Report No. 105–259, Part I]
To reauthorize the Small Business Technology Transfer Program through
fiscal year 2000.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 8, 1997
Mr. SENSENBRENNER (for himself, Mr. TALENT, Mr. BROWN of California,
Mr. LAFALCE, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. GORDON, Mr. BARTLETT of Mary-
land, Mr. POSHARD, and Mr. DAVIS of Virginia) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
SEPTEMBER 23, 1997
Reported from the Committee on Science with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
A BILL
To reauthorize the Small Business Technology Transfer
Program through fiscal year 2000.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT.
Section 9(n)(1)(C) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 638(n)(1)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘and 1997’’
and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘through 2000’’.
SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS.
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638)
is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(7), by inserting ‘‘, and the
Committee on Science’’ after ‘‘of the Senate’’;
(2) in subsection (e)(6)(B), by inserting ‘‘agen-
cy’’ after ‘‘to meet particular’’;
(3) in subsection (n)(1)(C), by striking ‘‘and
1997’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘through 2000’’;
(4) in subsection (o)—
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(8)
through (11) as paragraphs (10) through (13),
respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs:
‘‘(8) include, as part of its annual performance
plan as required by section 1115 (a) and (b) of title
31, United States Code, a section on its STTR pro-
gram, and shall submit such section to the Committee
on Small Business of the Senate, and the Committee
on Science and the Committee on Small Business of
the House of Representatives;
‘‘(9) collect such data from awardees as is nec-
essary to assess STTR program outputs and out-
comes;’’; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections:
‘‘(s) OUTREACH PROGRAM.—Within 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this subsection, the Administrator
shall develop and begin implementation of an outreach pro-
gram to encourage increased participation in the STTR
program of small business concerns, universities, and other
research institutions located in States in which the total
number of STTR awards for the previous 2 fiscal years is
less than 20.
‘‘(t) INCLUSION IN STRATEGIC PLANS.—Program in-
formation relating to the SBIR and STTR programs shall
be included by Federal agencies in any updates and revi-
sions required under section 306(b) of title 5, United States
Code.’’.
Æ
HR 2431 EAS
the promotion of, the fundamental right to freedom of
religion.
(2) To seek to channel United States security
and development assistance to governments other than
those found to be engaged in gross violations of the
right to freedom of religion, as set forth in the For-
eign Assistance Act of 1961, in the International Fi-
nancial Institutions Act of 1977, and in other formu-
lations of United States human rights policy.
(3) To be vigorous and flexible, reflecting both
the unwavering commitment of the United States to
religious freedom and the desire of the United States
for the most effective and principled response, in light
of the range of violations of religious freedom by a va-
riety of persecuting regimes, and the status of the re-
lations of the United States with different nations.
(4) To work with foreign governments that af-
firm and protect religious freedom, in order to develop
multilateral documents and initiatives to combat vio-
lations of religious freedom and promote the right to
religious freedom abroad.
(5) Standing for liberty and standing with the
persecuted, to use and implement appropriate tools in
the United States foreign policy apparatus, including
diplomatic, political, commercial, charitable, edu-
I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 242
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the marriage
penalty under the one-time exclusion of gain on the sale of a principal
residence by an individual who has attained age 55.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 7, 1997
Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate
the marriage penalty under the one-time exclusion of
gain on the sale of a principal residence by an individual
who has attained age 55.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ELIMINATION OF MARRIAGE PENALTY UNDER
ELECTION OF ONE-TIME EXCLUSION OF GAIN
FROM SALE OF PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE BY AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS ATTAINED AGE 55.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (b) of section 121 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to one-time
exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence by an
individual who has attained age 55) is amended by redes-
ignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4) and by inserting
after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:
‘‘(3) DISREGARD OF CERTAIN ELECTIONS.—For
purposes of applying paragraph (2) to individuals
who are married to each other, an election by one
individual with respect to—
‘‘(A) a sale or exchange occurring before
the date of the marriage, or
‘‘(B) a sale or exchange occurring on or
after such date of property owned by such indi-
vidual before such date,
shall be disregarded for purposes of determining
whether an election may be made by the other indi-
vidual with respect to property owned by such other
individual before such date. A separate limitation
under paragraph (1) shall be allowed with respect to
each election which may be made by reason of this
paragraph.’’
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall apply for purposes of determining
whether an election may be made under section 121 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to a sale
or exchange occurring on or after January 1, 1997.
Æ
I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2430
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt certain adopted
children, and certain children coming to the United States for adoption,
from the requirement to present documentation of vaccination against
vaccine-preventable diseases.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 8, 1997
Mr. DELAHUNT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt
certain adopted children, and certain children coming
to the United States for adoption, from the requirement
to present documentation of vaccination against vaccine-
preventable diseases.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXCEPTION FROM VACCINATION REQUIRE-
MENT.
Section 212(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(1)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting ‘‘ex-
cept as provided in subparagraph (C),’’ after ‘‘(ii)’’;
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) EXCEPTION
FOR
ADOPTED
CHIL-
DREN.—Subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not apply to
a child who is—
‘‘(i) described in section 101(b)(1)(F);
‘‘(ii) seeking an immigrant visa as an
immediate relative under section 201(b);
and
‘‘(iii) 10 years of age or younger at
the time a petition is filed in the child’s be-
half to accord a classification as an imme-
diate relative under such section.’’.
Æ
there is either category 1 or category 2 persecution,
the Director, in consultation with the Secretary of
Commerce, shall identify and list the items on the
list established under section 6(n) of the Export Ad-
ministration Act of 1979 that are directly and sub-
stantially used or intended for use in carrying out
acts of religious persecution in such country.
(3) IDENTIFICATION
OF
RESPONSIBLE
ENTI-
TIES.—With respect to each country in which the
Secretary of State has determined that there is cat-
egory 1 persecution, the Director shall identify and
list the responsible entities within that country that
are engaged in such persecution. Such entities shall
be defined as narrowly as possible.
(4) OTHER REPORTS.—The Director shall in-
clude the reports submitted to the Director by the
Attorney General under section 9 and by the Sec-
retary of State under section 10.
(c) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Director may submit
interim reports to the Congress containing such matters
as the Director considers necessary, including revisions to
the lists issued under paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection
(b). The Director shall submit an interim report in the
case of a determination by the Secretary of State under
section 5(g), other than in an annual report of the Direc-
(5) With respect to the year that is the subject
of the report, a description of training on religious
persecution provided under section 235(d) of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (as added by sub-
section (b)) to immigration officers performing func-
tions under section 235(b) of such Act, or adjudicat-
ing applications under section 207 or 208 of such
Act, including a list of speakers and materials used
in such training and the number of officers who re-
ceived such training.
(e) ADMISSION PRIORITY.—For purposes of section
207(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, an in-
dividual who is a member of a persecuted community that
the Director found to be subject to category 1 or category
2 religious persecution in the most recent annual report
submitted to the Congress under section 6, and is deter-
mined by the Attorney General to be a refugee within the
meaning of section 101(a)(42)(A) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act, shall be considered a refugee of special
humanitarian concern to the United States. In carrying
out such section, such an individual shall be given priority
status at least as high as that given to any member of
any other specific group of refugees of special concern to
the United States.
105
available to promote United States tour-
ism in Sudan.
(6) GOVERNMENT
OF
SUDAN
BANK
AC-
COUNTS.—
(A) PROHIBITION.—A United States
depository institution may not ac-
cept, receive, or hold a deposit ac-
count from the Government of Sudan,
except for such accounts which may
be authorized by the President for
diplomatic or consular purposes.
(B) ANNUAL
REPORTS.—The Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall submit
annual reports to the Congress on the
nature and extent of assets held in
the United States by the Government
of Sudan.
(C) DEFINITION.—For purposes of
this paragraph, the term ‘‘depository
institution’’ has the meaning given
that term in section 19(b)(1) of the
Act of December 23, 1913 (12 U.S.C.
461(b)(1)).
(7) PROHIBITION ON UNITED STATES GOV-
ERNMENT PROCUREMENT FROM SUDAN.—
H. R. 2431
One Hundred Fifth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twenty-seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight
An Act
To express United States foreign policy with respect to, and to strengthen United
States advocacy on behalf of, individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account
of religion; to authorize United States actions in response to violations of religious
freedom in foreign countries; to establish an Ambassador at Large for International
Religious Freedom within the Department of State, a Commission on International
Religious Freedom, and a Special Adviser on International Religious Freedom
within the National Security Council; and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; policy.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIVITIES
Sec. 101. Office on International Religious Freedom; Ambassador at Large for
International Religious Freedom.
Sec. 102. Reports.
Sec. 103. Establishment of a religious freedom Internet site.
Sec. 104. Training for Foreign Service officers.
Sec. 105. High-level contacts with nongovernmental organizations.
Sec. 106. Programs and allocations of funds by United States missions abroad.
Sec. 107. Equal access to United States missions abroad for conducting religious
activities.
Sec. 108. Prisoner lists and issue briefs on religious freedom concerns.
TITLE II—COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Sec. 201. Establishment and composition.
Sec. 202. Duties of the Commission.
Sec. 203. Report of the Commission.
Sec. 204. Applicability of other laws.
Sec. 205. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 206. Termination.
TITLE III—NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
Sec. 301. Special Adviser on International Religious Freedom.
TITLE IV—PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
Subtitle I—Targeted Responses to Violations of Religious Freedom Abroad
Sec. 401. Presidential actions in response to violations of religious freedom.
Sec. 402. Presidential actions in response to particularly severe violations of
religious freedom.
Sec. 403. Consultations.
Sec. 404. Report to Congress.
Sec. 405. Description of Presidential actions.
(3) Persecution of religious believers, particu-
larly Roman Catholic and evangelical Protestant
Christians, in Communist countries, such as Cuba,
Laos, the People’s Republic of China, North Korea,
and Vietnam, persists and in some cases is increas-
ing.
(4) In many Islamic countries and regions
thereof, governments persecute non-Muslims and re-
ligious converts from Islam using means such as
‘‘blasphemy’’ and ‘‘apostasy’’ laws, and militant
movements seek to corrupt a historically tolerant Is-
lamic faith and culture through the persecution of
Baha’is, Christians, and other religious minorities.
(5) The militant, Islamic Government of Sudan
is waging a self-described religious war against
Christian, non-Muslim, and moderate Muslim per-
sons by using torture, starvation, enslavement, and
murder.
(6) In Tibet, where Tibetan Buddhism is inex-
tricably linked to the Tibetan identity, the Govern-
ment of the People’s Republic of China has intensi-
fied its control over the Tibetan people by perverting
the selection of the Panchen Lama, propagandizing
against the religious authority of the Dalai Lama,
restricting religious study and traditional religious
practices, and increasing the persecution of monks
and nuns.
(7) The United States Government is commit-
ted to the right to freedom of religion and its poli-
cies and relations with foreign governments should
be consistent with the commitment to this principle.
(8) The 104th Congress recognized the facts set
forth in this section and stated clearly the sense of
the Senate and the House of Representatives regard-
ing these matters in approving—
(A) House Resolution 515, expressing the
sense of the House of Representatives with re-
spect to the persecution of Christians world-
wide;
(B) S. Con. Res. 71, expressing the sense
of the Senate with respect to the persecution of
Christians worldwide;
(C) H. Con. Res. 102, concerning the
emancipation of the Iranian Baha’i community;
and
(D) section 1303 of H.R. 1561, the For-
eign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years
1996 and 1997.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means
the Director of the Office of Religious Persecution
Monitoring established under section 5.
(2) PERSECUTED COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘per-
secuted community’’ means any religious group or
community identified in section 4.
(3) PERSECUTION
FACILITATING
PRODUCTS,
GOODS, AND SERVICES.—The term ‘‘persecution fa-
cilitating products, goods, and services’’ means those
products, goods, and services which are being used
or determined to be intended for use directly and in
significant measure to facilitate the carrying out of
acts of religious persecution.
(4) RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘religious
persecution’’ means widespread and ongoing
persecution of persons because of their member-
ship in or affiliation with a religion or religious
denomination, whether officially recognized or
otherwise, when such persecution includes ab-
duction, enslavement, killing, imprisonment,
forced mass resettlement, rape, or crucifixion or
other forms of torture.
(B) CATEGORY
RELIGIOUS
PERSECU-
TION.—Category 1 religious persecution is reli-
gious persecution that is conducted with the in-
volvement or support of government officials or
its agents, or as part of official government pol-
icy.
(C) CATEGORY
RELIGIOUS
PERSECU-
TION.—Category 2 religious persecution is reli-
gious persecution that is not conducted with the
involvement or support of government officials
or its agents, or as part of official government
policy, but which the government fails to under-
take serious and sustained efforts to eliminate.
(5) RESPONSIBLE
ENTITIES.—The term ‘‘re-
sponsible entities’’ means the specific government
departments, agencies, or units which directly carry
out acts of religious persecution.
(6) SANCTIONED COUNTRY.—The term ‘‘sanc-
tioned country’’ means a country on which sanctions
have been imposed under section 7.
(7) UNITED
STATES
ASSISTANCE.—The term
‘‘United States assistance’’ means—
(A) any assistance under the Foreign As-
sistance Act of 1961 (including programs under
title IV of chapter 2 of part I of that Act, relat-
ing to the Overseas Private Investment Cor-
poration), other than—