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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Fairness to Local Contractors Act''.

SEC. 2. ENHANCEMENT OF STATE ENFORCEMENT OF STATE TAX, EMPLOYMENT, AND
LICENSING LAWS AGAINST CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS.

(a) Requirement for State Tax Clearance From Potential Construction
Contractors.--
(1) Defense contracts.--Section 2305(b) of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
''(10) In order to be considered a responsible bidder or offeror
for a contract for the construction of a public building, facility, or
work, a bidder or offeror shall submit with the bid or offer a tax
clearance from the State in which the contract is to be performed. For
purposes of this paragraph, a tax clearance is a document from an
appropriate State agency indicating that the bidder or offeror is in
compliance with all the tax laws of the State in which the contract is
to be performed.''.
(2) Civilian agency contracts.--Section 303B of title III
of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949
(41 U.S.C. 253b) is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
''(n) Tax Clearance.--In order to be considered a responsible
bidder or offeror for a contract for the construction of a public
building, facility, or work, a bidder or offeror shall submit with the
bid or offer a tax clearance from the State in which the contract is to
be performed. For purposes of this paragraph, a tax clearance is a
document from an appropriate State agency indicating that the bidder or
offeror is in compliance with all the tax laws of the State in which
the contract is to be performed.''.
(b) Requirement To Withhold Final Contract Payment Until Receipt of
State Tax Clearance and Certification of Compliance With Employment
Laws From Contractor.--
(1) Defense contracts.--Section 2307 of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
''(j) Requirement To Withhold Final Payment.--(1) The head of an
agency shall withhold final payment under a contract for the
construction of a public building, facility, or work until the
contractor submits to the agency both of the following:
''(A) A tax clearance from the State in which the contract
is or was performed.
''(B) A certification stating that the contractor is in
compliance (or was in compliance during the performance of the
contract) with all applicable State laws that require employers
to make payments to or for the benefit of employees, including
laws relating to unemployment insurance, workers compensation,
health insurance, and disability insurance.
''(2) For purposes of this subsection, a tax clearance is a
document from an appropriate State agency indicating that the
contractor is or was in compliance with all the tax laws of the State
in which the contract is or was performed.''.
(2) Civilian agency contracts.--Section 305 of title III of
the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949
(41 U.S.C. 255) is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
''(h) Requirement To Withhold Final Payment.--(1) The head of an
executive agency shall withhold final payment under a contract for the
construction of a public building, facility, or work until the
contractor submits to the agency both of the following:
''(A) A tax clearance from the State in which the contract
is or was performed.
''(B) A certification stating that the contractor is in
compliance (or was in compliance during the performance of the
contract) with all applicable State laws that require employers
to make payments to or for the benefit of employees, including
laws relating to unemployment insurance, workers compensation,
health insurance, and disability insurance.
''(2) For purposes of this subsection, a tax clearance is a
document from an appropriate State agency indicating that the
contractor is or was in compliance with all the tax laws of the State
in which the contract is or was performed.''.
(c) Authority To Withhold Payment to Contractor of Amounts
Necessary To Meet State Tax Obligations.--
(1) Defense contracts.--Section 2307 of title 10, United
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
''(k) Authority To Withhold Payment To Meet State Tax
Obligations.--The head of an agency may withhold, from any payment due
to a contractor under a contract made by the agency for the
construction of a public building, facility, or work, an amount
considered necessary by the head of the agency to pay to the State in
which the contract is being performed the amount of the contractor's
State tax liability that is attributable to the contract. The head of
the agency that so withholds a payment may, upon request of the State
in which the contract is being performed and with such documentation as
the head of the agency considers necessary, pay such tax liability
amount directly to the State from the withheld payment. Any amount of a
withheld payment that exceeds the actual State tax liability amount
shall be paid to the contractor.''.
(2) Civilian agency contracts.--Section 305 of title III of
the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949
(41 U.S.C. 255) is further amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
''(i) Authority To Withhold Payment To Meet State Tax
Obligations.--The head of an executive agency may withhold, from any
payment due to a contractor under a contract made by the agency for the
construction of a public building, facility, or work, an amount
considered necessary by the head of the agency to pay to the State in
which the contract is being performed the amount of the contractor's
State tax liability that is attributable to the contract. The head of
the executive agency that so withholds a payment may, upon request of
the State in which the contract is being performed and with such
documentation as the head of the agency considers necessary, pay such
tax liability amount directly to the State from the withheld payment.
Any amount of a withheld payment that exceeds the actual State tax
liability amount shall be paid to the contractor.''.
(d) Requirement for Construction Contractors To Obtain Applicable
State Licenses.--
(1) Defense contracts.--(A) Chapter 141 of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
''Sec. 2410n. Construction contracts: requirement to obtain applicable
State licenses
''The Secretary of Defense shall require, in any contract entered
into by the Secretary for the construction of a public building,
facility, or work which is to be performed in a State that requires
persons performing the type of work to be performed under the contract
to be licensed, that the contractor be so licensed.''.
(B) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

''2410n. Construction contracts: requirement to obtain applicable State
licenses.''.
(2) Civilian agency contracts.--Title III of the Federal
Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:

''SEC. 318. CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS: REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN APPLICABLE
STATE LICENSES.

''The head of an executive agency shall require, in any contract
entered into by the agency for the construction of a public building,
facility, or work which is to be performed in a State that requires
persons performing the type of work to be performed under the contract
to be licensed, that the contractor be so licensed.''.
(e) Requirement To Explain Hawaii Excise Tax in Federal Acquisition
Regulation.--The Federal Acquisition Regulation shall be revised to
contain provisions explaining the general excise tax law of the State
of Hawaii.
(f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply
with respect to contracts entered into after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
Fairness to Local Contractors Act - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 and defense contract law to require a bidder or offeror, to be considered a responsible bidder or offeror for the construction of a public building, facility, or work, to submit a tax clearance (a document stating that such entity is in compliance with all State tax laws) from the State in which the contract is to be performed. Requires the head of a Federal or defense agency to withhold the final payment under such a contract until the contractor submits both a tax clearance and a certification of compliance with all State laws concerning payments to employees under a contract, including unemployment insurance, workers compensation, health insurance, and disability insurance.

Authorizes the head of a Federal or defense agency to: (1) withhold from any contractor payments amounts necessary to pay any State tax liability attributable to the contract; and (2) pay such amount directly to such State.

Directs the Secretary of Defense or agency head to require a contractor to be licensed if the State in which a construction contract is to be performed requires a license.

Requires revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to explain the general excise tax law of Hawaii.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Pension Assistance and Counseling
Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. PENSION COUNSELING PROGRAMS.

Title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3058 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subtitle C as subtitle D;
(2) by redesignating sections 761 through 764 as sections
791 through 794, respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subtitle B the following:

''Subtitle C--Pension Counseling

''SEC. 761. PENSION COUNSELING PROGRAM.

''(a) Definitions.--In this section:
''(1) Pension and other retirement benefits.--The term
'pension and other retirement benefits' means private, civil
service, and other public pensions and retirement benefits,
including benefits provided under--
''(A) the Social Security program carried out under
title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et
seq.);
''(B) the railroad retirement program carried out
under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C.
231 et seq.);
''(C) the government retirement benefits programs
carried out under--
''(i) the Civil Service Retirement System
set forth in subchapter III of chapter 83 of
title 5, United States Code;
''(ii) the Federal Employees Retirement
System set forth in chapter 84 of title 5,
United States Code;
''(iii) title 10, United States Code; or
''(iv) any other government retirement
system, including any Government pension plan
as such term is defined under section 9502 of
title 31, United States Code; or
''(D) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
''(2) Pension counseling program.--The term 'pension
counseling program' means a program described in subsection
(c).
''(b) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish and
carry out pension counseling projects. In carrying out the projects,
the Assistant Secretary shall award grants under subsection (c) and
(d).
''(c) Pension Counseling Programs.--
''(1) Use of funds.--In carrying out the projects specified
in subsection (b), the Assistant Secretary shall award grants
to eligible entities to establish programs that create or
continue a sufficient number of pension assistance and
counseling projects to provide outreach, information,
counseling, referral, and other assistance regarding pension
and other retirement benefits, and rights related to such
benefits, to individuals throughout the United States.
''(2) Award of grants.--
''(A) Type of entity.--The Assistant Secretary
shall award under this subsection--
''(i) grants to State agencies or area
agencies on aging; and
''(ii) grants to nonprofit organizations
with a proven record of providing--
''(I) services related to
retirement of older individuals; or
''(II) specific pension counseling.
''(B) Panel.--In awarding grants under this
subsection, the Assistant Secretary shall use a citizen
advisory panel that shall include representatives of
business, labor, national senior advocates, and
national pension rights advocates.
''(C) Criteria.--In awarding grants under this
subsection, the Assistant Secretary, after consultation
with the panel, shall use as criteria--
''(i) evidence of commitment of an agency
or organization to carry out a proposed pension
counseling program;
''(ii) the ability of the agency or
organization to perform effective outreach to
affected populations, particularly populations
identified as in need of special outreach;
''(iii) reliable information that the
population to be served by the agency or
organization has a demonstrable need for the
services proposed to be provided under the
program; and
''(iv) evidence of ability of the agency or
organization to provide services under the
program on a statewide or regional basis.
''(3) Application.--
''(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a
grant under this subsection, an entity shall submit an
application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the
Assistant Secretary may require, including, at a
minimum--
''(i) a plan for the establishment of a
pension counseling program to serve a specific
geographic area; and
''(ii) an assurance that staff members
(including volunteer staff members) have no
conflict of interest in providing the services
described in the plan.
''(B) Plan.--The plan described in subparagraph (A)
shall provide for a program that--
''(i) establishes or continues a State or
area pension counseling service;
''(ii) provides counseling (including
direct counseling and assistance to individuals
needing information) and information that may
assist individuals in establishing rights to,
obtaining, and filing claims or complaints
related to, pension and other retirement
benefits;
''(iii) provides information on sources of
pension and other retirement benefits,
including the benefits under programs described
in subsection (a)(1);
''(iv) makes referrals to legal services
and other advocacy programs;
''(v) establishes a system of referral to
Federal, State, and local departments or
agencies related to pension and other
retirement benefits;
''(vi) provides a sufficient number of
staff positions (including volunteer positions)
to ensure information, counseling, referral,
and assistance regarding pension and other
retirement benefits;
''(vii) provides training programs for
staff members, including volunteer staff
members of the programs described in subsection
(a)(1);
''(viii) makes recommendations to the
Administration, the Department of Labor, and
other Federal, State, and local agencies
concerning issues for older individuals related
to pension and other retirement benefits; and
''(ix) establishes or continues to provide
projects to provide outreach, information,
counseling, referral, and other assistance
regarding pension and other retirement
benefits, with particular emphasis on outreach
to women, minorities, and low-income retirees.
''(d) Training and Technical Assistance Program.--
''(1) Use of funds.--In carrying out the projects described
in subsection (b), the Assistant Secretary shall award a grant
to an eligible entity to establish a training and technical
assistance program to provide--
''(A) information and technical assistance to the
staffs of entities operating pension counseling
programs; and
''(B) assistance to the entities, including
assistance in designing program evaluation tools.
''(2) Eligible entity.--Entities eligible to receive grants
under this subsection include nonprofit private organizations
with records of providing national information, referral, and
advocacy in matters related to pension and other retirement
benefits.
''(3) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subsection, an entity shall submit an application to the
Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may
require.
''(e) Pension Assistance Hotline and Interagency Coordination.--The
Assistant Secretary shall enter into interagency agreements for the
establishment and operation of, and dissemination of information about,
a telephone hotline for individuals seeking outreach, information,
counseling, referral, and assistance regarding pension and other
retirement benefits, and rights related to such benefits. The Assistant
Secretary shall also enter into agreements with the Secretary of Labor
and with the heads of other Federal agencies that regulate the
provision of pension and other retirement benefits, as the Assistant
Secretary determines to be appropriate, in order to carry out this
subsection and to develop a nationwide public-private pension
assistance system.
''(f) Report to Congress.--
''(1) Preparation.--The Assistant Secretary shall prepare a
report that--
''(A) summarizes the distribution of funds
authorized for grants under this section and the
expenditure of such funds;
''(B) summarizes the scope and content of training
and assistance provided under a program carried out
under this section and the degree to which the training
and assistance can be replicated;
''(C) outlines the problems that individuals
participating in programs funded under this section
encountered concerning rights related to pension and
other retirement benefits; and
''(D) makes recommendations regarding the manner in
which services provided in programs funded under this
section can be incorporated into the ongoing programs
of State agencies, area agencies on aging, multipurpose
senior centers, and other similar entities.
''(2) Submission.--Not later than 30 months after the date
of enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary shall
submit the report described in paragraph (1) to the Committee
on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate.
''(g) Administrative Expenses.--Of the funds appropriated under
subsection (h) to carry out this section for a fiscal year, not more
than $100,000 may be used by the Administration for administrative
expenses in carrying out this section.
''(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2003.''.

SEC. 3. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

(a) Repealer.--Section 429J of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42
U.S.C. 3035r) is repealed.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (b) of section 794 of the
Older Americans Act of 1965 (as redesignated in section 2(2)) is
amended by striking ''entities described in section 751(c)'' and
inserting ''persons and entities described in section 793(b)''.
Specifies that such grants shall be awarded to: (1) State agencies or area agencies on aging; (2) nonprofit organizations with a proven record of providing services related to retirement of older individuals or specific pension counseling; and (3) an eligible entity to establish a training and technical assistance program to provide information and technical assistance to the staffs of entities operating pension counseling programs and assistance to such entities, including assistance in designing program evaluation tools. Makes nonprofit private organizations with records of providing national information, referral, and advocacy in matters related to pension and other retirement benefits eligible to receive training and technical assistance grants.
Requires the Assistant Secretary to enter into: (1) interagency agreements for the establishment and operation of, and dissemination of information about, a telephone hotline for individuals seeking outreach, information, counseling, referral, and assistance regarding pension and other retirement benefits, and rights related to such benefits; and (2) agreements with the Secretary of Labor and with the heads of other Federal agencies that regulate the provision of pension and other retirement benefits, as appropriate, in order to carry out this Act and to develop a nationwide public-private pension assistance system.
Authorizes appropriations.
Repeals provisions of the Act that establish pension rights demonstration projects.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Reading Readiness Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. READING READINESS REPORT AND EVALUATION OF CURRENT BEST READING
READINESS PRACTICES.

Section 649(d) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844(d)) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (d)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (9) as
paragraphs (3) through (10), respectively, and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
''(2) determine whether every Head Start program is
providing to children who participate in such program the tools
necessary to succeed in school, including reading readiness,
and to review current best practices of Head Start programs
with respect to reading readiness;'', and
(2) in the matter following paragraph (10), as so
redesignated, by striking ''paragraph (9)'' and inserting
''paragraph (10)''.

SEC. 3. REQUIRING READING READINESS IN ALL HEAD START PROGRAMS.

The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C 9831 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 636 by inserting ''(including a strong focus
on reading readiness)'' after ''other services'', and
(2) in section 638 by inserting ''(including a strong focus
on reading readiness)'' after ''other services''.

SEC. 4. INCENTIVE FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS TO ADOPT CURRENT BEST
PRACTICES IN READING READINESS ACTIVITIES.

(a) Financial Assistance.--Section 638 of the Head Start Act (42
U.S.C. 9833) is amended--
(1) by inserting ''(a)'' after ''Sec.'', and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
''(b) From the portion specified in section 639(b)(4), the
Secretary shall award grants under this subsection on a competitive
basis to applicants selected by the Secretary to carry out current best
practices in reading readiness activities.''.
(b) Priority Use of Allotted Funds.--Section 640(a)(2)(C) of the
Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)(2)(C)) is amended in the matter
preceding clause (i) by inserting ''reading readiness and'' after
''carry out''.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON MAKING HEAD START SEAMLESS.

(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Recent early brain research has yielded evidence of the
need to help children in the earliest years of life in order to
ensure their success in school and in life.
(2) The Early Head Start pilot program begun in 1994 has
proven the value of intervention with younger children and
their families.
(3) Head Start programs have shown an increasing interest
to expand the scope of their preschool programs to include
infants, toddlers, and their families, and there is nothing in
the Head Start Act that precludes the Secretary of Health and
Human Services from approving the use of preschool Head Start
funds to enroll children less than 3 years of age.
(b) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that
the Secretary of Health and Human Services should immediately take such
steps as may be necessary to allow Head Start grantees that find
evidence of community need, to modify the use of their current grants
so as to enroll infants and toddlers in Head Start programs without
obtaining a separate Early Head Start grant.

SEC. 6. NATIONAL HEAD START ENROLLMENT CAMPAIGN.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement an
outreach campaign to promote enrollment in Head Start programs and
Early Head Start programs and shall include in such campaign--
(1) forceful messages that convey the fact that
participating in such programs increases the ability of
children to learn to read, and
(2) outreach activities in hospitals, clinics, Federal food
assistance programs, child care referral agencies, and other
programs that serve the health needs of children and pregnant
women.

SEC. 7. INCREASED ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD.

Section 645(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9840(a)(1)(B)(i)) is amended to read as follows:
''(i) programs demonstrating by community
assessment that all reasonable attempt has been made to
enroll children whose families' incomes are below the
poverty line may make eligible for participation in the
program children whose families' incomes are no greater
than 150 percent of the poverty line; and''.

SEC. 8. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING FULL FUNDING OF THE HEAD START
ACT.

It is the sense of the Congress that the Congress should
appropriate sufficient funds to carry out the Head Start Act so that
all children who are eligible to participate in programs under such Act
(including children who are on waiting lists to participate in such
programs) may participate in such programs.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ''such sums'' and all
that follows through ''2003'', and inserting ''$9,200,000,000
for fiscal year 2002, and $11,200,000,000 for fiscal year
2003'', and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2) by striking ''and'' at the
end,
(B) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the
end and inserting ''; and'', and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
''(4) not more than $1,000,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2002 and 2003 to provide additional funds for expansion
of existing Head Start programs or for new grantees who are
using current best practices in reading readiness activities
identified under section 649(d)(2).''.
Reading Readiness Act of 2001 - Amends the Head Start Act to require Head Start programs to include a strong focus on reading readiness. Requires research, demonstration, and evaluation activities to: (1) determine whether every Head Start program is providing participating children the tools necessary to succeed in school, including reading readiness; and (2) review current best practices of Head Start programs with respect to reading readiness.Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to selected Head Start applicants to carry out current best practices in reading readiness activities.Allows Head Start programs that demonstrate by community assessment that all reasonable attempt has been made to enroll children whose families' incomes are below the poverty line to make eligible for program participation children whose families' incomes are no greater than 150 percent of the poverty line.Directs the Secretary to implement an outreach campaign to promote enrollment in Head Start programs and Early Head Start programs.Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Secretary should allow Head Start grantees that find evidence of community need to modify the use of their current grants so as to enroll infants and toddlers without obtaining a separate Early Head Start grant; and (2) Congress should appropriate sufficient funds to carry out the Head Start Act so that all eligible children may participate.