datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2770
To provide that service of the members of the group known as the United
States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II constituted active mili-
tary service for purposes of any law administered by the Department
of Veterans Affairs.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 5, 1999
Mrs. LOWEY (for herself and Mr. OBERSTAR) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To provide that service of the members of the group known
as the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World
War II constituted active military service for purposes
of any law administered by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
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 ‘‘United States Cadet
Nurse Corps Equity Act of 1999’’.
HR 2770 IH
SEC. 2. SERVICE DEEMED TO BE ACTIVE MILITARY SERV-
ICE.
(a) 
IN
GENERAL.—For 
purposes 
of 
section
401(a)(1)(A) of the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 (38
U.S.C. 106 note), the Secretary of Defense is deemed to
have determined that qualified service of a person con-
stituted active military service.
(b) DETERMINATION OF DISCHARGE STATUS.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall issue an
honorable discharge under section 401(a)(1)(B) of
the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 to each person
whose qualified service warrants an honorable dis-
charge.
(2) Such discharge shall be issued before the
end of the one-year period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION OF RETROACTIVE BENEFITS.
Benefits shall not be paid to any person as a result
of the enactment of this Act for any period before the date
of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. DEFINITION.
For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘qualified service’’
means service of a person as a member of the group known
as the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during the period
beginning July 1, 1943, and ending December 15, 1945.
Æ
I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2772
To amend the Agricultural Market Transition Act to provide a variant of
loan deficiency payments to producers who are otherwise eligible for
such payments, but who elect to use acreage planted to the eligible
commodity for the grazing of livestock.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 5, 1999
Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Market Transition Act to provide
a variant of loan deficiency payments to producers who
are otherwise eligible for such payments, but who elect
to use acreage planted to the eligible commodity for
the grazing of livestock.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PAYMENT IN LIEU OF A LOAN DEFICIENCY PAY-
MENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 135 of the Agricultural
Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7235) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(e) PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF LOAN DEFICIENCY PAY-
MENTS.—
‘‘(1) ELIGIBILITY.—In the case of a producer
who would be eligible for a loan deficiency payment
under this section for a loan commodity, but who
elects to use acreage planted to the commodity for
the grazing of livestock, the Secretary shall make a
payment to the producer under this subsection if the
producer enters into an agreement with the Sec-
retary to forego any other harvesting of the com-
modity on that acreage during that crop year.
‘‘(2) CALCULATION.—The payment under this
section shall be calculated by multiplying—
‘‘(A) the loan deficiency payment rate de-
termined under subsection (c) in effect, as of
the date of the agreement, in the county in
which the acreage is located; by
‘‘(B) the quantity of the loan commodity
involved, 
which 
shall 
be 
determined 
by
multiplying—
‘‘(i) the total acreage on which the
producer agrees to forego harvest; by
‘‘(ii) the higher of the producer’s es-
tablished yield for the commodity or the
county average yield for the commodity, as
determined by the Secretary.
‘‘(3) TIME FOR PAYMENT.—A payment under
this subsection shall be made as soon as practicable
after the producer and the Secretary enter into the
agreement required by paragraph (1), without re-
gard to the stage of maturity of the loan commodity
involved.’’.
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—Within 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agri-
culture shall issue regulations to carry out the amendment
made by subsection (a). The issuance of the regulations
shall be made without regard to—
(1) the notice and comment provisions of sec-
tion 553 of title 5, United States Code;
(2) the statement of policy of the Secretary of
Agriculture effective July 24, 1971 (36 FR 13804),
relating to notices of proposed rulemaking and pub-
lic participation in rulemaking;
(3) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code
(commonly known as the ‘‘Paperwork Reduction
Act’’); and
(4) other provisions of law which would delay
the implementation of the amendment made by sub-
section (a) beyond 90 days.
Æ
HR 4837 PCS 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS 
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip-
ment of temporary or permanent public works, naval in-
stallations, facilities, and real property for the Navy and 
Marine Corps as currently authorized by law, including 
personnel in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command 
and other personal services necessary for the purposes of 
this appropriation, $1,081,042,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2009: Provided, That of this amount, 
not to exceed $93,284,000 shall be available for study, 
planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as 
authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense deter-
mines that additional obligations are necessary for such 
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives and Senate of the deter-
mination and the reasons therefor. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE 
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip-
ment of temporary or permanent public works, military 
installations, facilities, and real property for the Air Force 
as currently authorized by law, $797,865,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2009: Provided, That of this 
amount, not to exceed $165,367,000 shall be available for 
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer serv-
ices, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense
tain such coverage, with such assistance varying de-
pending upon the income of such beneficiaries.
‘‘(b) VOLUNTARY NATURE OF PROGRAM FOR ENTI-
TIES AND BENEFICIARIES.—Nothing in this part shall be
construed as requiring—
‘‘(1) an eligible medicare beneficiary to obtain
coverage under a plan or policy that provides SPICE
prescription drug coverage;
‘‘(2) a Medicare+Choice organization to offer a
Medicare+Choice plan that provides SPICE pre-
scription drug coverage; or
‘‘(3) an issuer of a medicare supplemental pol-
icy to issue a SPICE medicare supplemental policy.
‘‘(c) 
PROVIDING
INFORMATION
TO
BENE-
FICIARIES.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The SPICE Board shall
broadly disseminate information to eligible medicare
beneficiaries on the SPICE drug benefit program
under this part, including information on the sanc-
tions for delayed enrollment under section 1860D(e).
‘‘(2) SIMILAR
TO
MEDICARE+CHOICE
ACTIVI-
TIES.—Such activities shall be similar to the activi-
ties performed under section 1851(d) (including the
approval of policy marketing materials).
Committee shall have an advisory role only, it will
not have regulatory or land acquisition authority.
‘‘(d) COMPLIANCE REVIEW.—After completion of the
comprehensive management plan, the Secretary shall bien-
nially review compliance with the plan and shall promptly
report to the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources of the Senate any deviation from the plan
that could result in any diminution of the values for which
the Wekiva river system was designated as a component
of the national wild and scenic rivers system.
‘‘(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
AND OTHER SUP-
PORT.—The Secretary may provide technical assistance,
staff support, and funding to assist in the development
and implementation of the comprehensive management
plan.
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section and section
3(a)(161).’’.
Æ
tation Board’s standard procedures for obtaining
rate relief are highly complex and time-consuming’’
and the General Accounting Office estimates that
over ‘‘70 percent [of shippers] believe that the time,
complexity, and costs of filing complaints are bar-
riers that often preclude them from seeking relief.’’
(7) The General Accounting Office analyzed all
41 rate complaints filed with the Interstate Com-
merce Commission and its successor, the Surface
Transportation Board, since 1990 and found that
each complaint cost shippers between $500,000 and
$3,000,000 apiece and took between a few months
and 16 years to resolve.
(8) The General Accounting Office surveyed
over 700 shippers and found that—
(A) 75 percent of the shippers believed
that they are overcharged with unreasonable
rates; and
(B) over 70 percent of the shippers be-
lieved that the time, complexity, and costs of fil-
ing complaints create unsurmountable barriers
and therefore preclude them from pursuing the
rate relief they are entitled to under the law.
I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2775
To amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure the safe operations of
small commercial vans.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 5, 1999
Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Mr. ROTHMAN) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure the safe
operations of small commercial vans.
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 ‘‘Safe and Efficient Pas-
senger Van Act’’.
SEC. 2. STATE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE SMALL COMMER-
CIAL VANS.
Section 14501(a) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(3) AUTHORITY OF STATES TO ENSURE THE
SAFE OPERATIONS OF SMALL COMMERCIAL VANS.—
‘‘(A) COMMERCIAL
VAN
DEFINED.—For
purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘commer-
cial van’ means a motor vehicle providing reg-
ular route transportation service for compensa-
tion and having a capacity of not more than 15
passengers, including the driver.
‘‘(B) GENERAL
RULE.—Notwithstanding
paragraph (1), a State may regulate operations
of commercial vans to ensure that such
operations—
‘‘(i) are safe for passengers and the
public;
‘‘(ii) only load and unload passengers
at locations that are safe for such pur-
poses;
‘‘(iii) do not interfere with the flow of
traffic or significantly worsen road conges-
tion; and
‘‘(iv) are limited to routes approved by
the States.
‘‘(C) INCLUDED
ACTIVITIES.—Exercising
the authority provided by subparagraph (B)
may include limiting the number of commercial
vans operating on any route and inspecting
such vans.
‘‘(D) DELEGATION
OF
AUTHORITY.—A
State may delegate to political subdivisions of
the State the authority to regulate operations of
commercial vans.’’.
SEC. 3. USE OF MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY GRANTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 31102(c) of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘(4) Oversight and enforcement of State regu-
lations relating to operations of commercial vans
issued under the authority of section 14501(a)(3).’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 31102 of
such title is further amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(1) by aligning subpara-
graph (A) with subparagraph (B) of such sub-
section;
(2) in subsections (c)(1) and (c)(3) by striking
‘‘enforcement’’ and inserting ‘‘Enforcement’’; and
(3) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ‘‘detection’’
and inserting ‘‘Detection’’.
Æ
HR 2833 PCS
(2) It is in the national interest to promote,
preserve, and protect physical remnants of a commu-
nity with almost 500 years of recorded history which
has outstanding cultural, historic, and architectural
value for the education and benefit of present and
future generations.
(3) The designation of the Yuma Crossing as a
national heritage area would preserve Yuma’s his-
tory and provide related educational opportunities,
provide recreational opportunities, preserve natural
resources, and improve the city and county of
Yuma’s ability to serve visitors and enhance the
local economy through the completion of the major
projects identified within the Yuma Crossing Na-
tional Heritage Area.
(4) The Department of the Interior is respon-
sible for protecting the Nation’s cultural and historic
resources. There are significant examples of these
resources within the Yuma region to merit the in-
volvement of the Federal Government in developing
programs and projects, in cooperation with the
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area and other
local and governmental bodies, to adequately con-
serve, protect, and interpret this heritage for future
volved in or associated with, the loss, injury, or death of
the animal, the owner of the animal shall be entitled to
compensation from the carrier in an amount that—
‘‘(1) is not less than 2 times any limitation es-
tablished by the carrier for loss or damage to bag-
gage under part 254 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations (or any successor regulation); and
‘‘(2) includes all veterinary and other related
costs that are documented and initiated not later
than 1 year after the incident that caused the loss,
injury, or death of the animal.’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The analysis for chapter
463 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘46317. Civil penalties and compensation for loss, injury, or death of animals
during air transport.’’.
SEC. 203. CARGO HOLD IMPROVEMENTS TO PROTECT ANI-
MAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—To protect the health and safety
of animals in transport, the Secretary of Transportation
shall—
(1) in conjunction with requiring certain trans-
port category airplanes used in passenger service to
replace class D cargo or baggage compartments with
class C cargo or baggage compartments under parts
25, 121, and 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regu-
lations, to install, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, systems that permit positive airflow and
heating and cooling for animals that are present in
cargo or baggage compartments; and
(2) effective beginning January 1, 2001, pro-
hibit the transport of an animal by any carrier in a
cargo or baggage compartment that fails to include
a system described in paragraph (1).
(b) REPORT.—Not later than March 31, 2002, the
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that describes
actions that have been taken to carry out subsection (a).
Æ
(d) INCLUSION OF UNIRRIGATED CORNERS OF IRRI-
GATED FIELDS.—Section 1231(b)(4) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)(4)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as sub-
paragraph (E); and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph:
‘‘(D) if the croplands consist of the
unirrigated corners of fields that are irrigated
using center pivot irrigation systems; or’’.
Æ
(b) PERIOD TO MATURITY.—The period to maturity
of any loan made under section 6 shall not be less than
10 years nor more than 30 years, at the discretion of the
borrower, but may be paid earlier.
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.—The Bank shall impose
an administrative fee of not more than one-quarter of 1
percent on each recipient of a loan, sufficient to cover ad-
ministrative costs incurred by the Bank, including over-
head, in administering such loan.
(d) COLLECTION OF PRINCIPAL AND FEES.—The
Bank shall enforce collection of any loan in which 2 or
more payments are due and payable. To that end, the
Bank shall be empowered to enter Federal district court
to seek an order to attach property of the borrower, up
to the amount necessary to end the delinquency. The cost
of collection shall be added to the balance of the loan. The
borrower shall continue to make semiannual payments of
the same amount until the entire balance, including fees,
is paid.
SEC. 9. ABOLISHMENT OF BANK.
(a) WINDING UP OPERATIONS.—The Bank shall
wind up the affairs of the Bank during the 6-month period
ending on the date the last outstanding loan issued by the
Bank under this Act is repaid.
(b) BANK ABOLISHED.—Effective at the end of the
30-day period beginning on the date described in sub-
section (a), the Bank is hereby abolished.
Æ
H. R. 4829
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four
An Act
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 East
Kleberg in Kingsville, Texas, as the ‘‘Irma Rangel Post Office Building’’.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
The facility of the United States Postal Service located at
103 East Kleberg in Kingsville, Texas, shall be known and des-
ignated as the ‘‘Irma Rangel Post Office Building’’.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper,
or other record of the United States to the facility referred to
in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘‘Irma Rangel
Post Office Building’’.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.
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 ‘‘Taunton River Wild
and Scenic River Study Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) the Taunton River in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts possesses important resource values
(including wildlife, ecological, and scenic values), his-
toric sites, and a cultural past important to the her-
itage of the United States;
(2) there is strong support among State and
local officials, area residents, and river users for a
cooperative wild and scenic river study of the area;
and
(3) there is a longstanding interest among
State and local officials, area residents, and river
users in undertaking a concerted cooperative effort
to manage the river in a productive and meaningful
way.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION FOR STUDY.
Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16
U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amended—
(1) by designating the undesignated paragraph
following (135) as paragraph (136); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(137) TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.—The
segment downstream from the headwaters, from the con-
fluence of the Town River and the Matfield River in
Bridgewater to the confluence with the Forge River in
Raynham, Massachusetts.’’.
SEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT.
Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16
U.S.C. 1276(b)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating the second paragraph (8)
as paragraph (10);
(2) by redesignating the second paragraph (11)
as paragraph (12);
(3) by redesignating the third paragraph (11)
as paragraph (13);
(4) by redesignating the fourth paragraph (11)
as paragraph (14);
(5) by redesignating the first undesignated
paragraph as paragraph (15);
(6) by redesignating the second undesignated
paragraph as paragraph (16);
(7) in paragraph (16), as so redesignated by
paragraph (6) of this subsection, by striking ‘‘para-
graph ( )’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (136)’’; and
(8) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(17) TAUNTON
RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.—Not
later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this
paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior—
‘‘(A) shall complete the study of the Taunton
River, Massachusetts; and
‘‘(B) shall submit to Congress a report describ-
ing the results of the study.’’.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as are necessary to carry out this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives June 19, 2000.
Attest:
Clerk.
H. R. 2778
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
An Act
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Taunton
River in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for study for potential addition
to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Taunton River Wild and Scenic
River Study Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) the Taunton River in the Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts possesses important resource values (including wildlife,
ecological, and scenic values), historic sites, and a cultural
past important to the heritage of the United States;
(2) there is strong support among State and local officials,
area residents, and river users for a cooperative wild and
scenic river study of the area; and
(3) there is a longstanding interest among State and local
officials, area residents, and river users in undertaking a con-
certed cooperative effort to manage the river in a productive
and meaningful way.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION FOR STUDY.
Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1276(a)) is amended—
(1) by designating the undesignated paragraph following
(135) as paragraph (136); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(137) TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.—The segment down-
stream from the headwaters, from the confluence of the Town
River and the Matfield River in Bridgewater to the confluence
with the Forge River in Raynham, Massachusetts.’’.
SEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT.
Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1276(b)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating the second paragraph (8) as paragraph
(10);
(2) by redesignating the second paragraph (11) as para-
graph (12);
(3) by redesignating the third paragraph (11) as paragraph
(13);
H. R. 2778—2
(4) by redesignating the fourth paragraph (11) as paragraph
(14);
(5) by redesignating the first undesignated paragraph as
paragraph (15);
(6) by redesignating the second undesignated paragraph
as paragraph (16);
(7) in paragraph (16), as so redesignated by paragraph
(6) of this subsection, by striking ‘‘paragraph ( )’’ and inserting
‘‘paragraph (136)’’; and
(8) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(17) TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.—Not later than 3 years
after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary
of the Interior—
‘‘(A) shall complete the study of the Taunton River,
Massachusetts; and
‘‘(B) shall submit to Congress a report describing the results
of the study.’’.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are
necessary to carry out this Act.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.