Flood Relief bill

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Department of Defense Supplementals

Title II: Natural Disasters and Other Emergencies

Title III: Other Supplementals

Title IV: Department of Defense Offsets

Title V: Other Offsets

Title VI: Social Services Block Grant Amendment

Title VII: Government Shutdown Prevention Act

Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act of 1997 - Title I: Department of Defense Supplementals - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 to the Department of Defense (DOD)--Military, for: (1) Military Personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps,and Air Force; (2) operation and maintenance, Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer Fund; (3) OPLAN 34A-35 POW payments to individuals; and (4) the Reserve Mobilization Income Insurance Fund.

(Sec. 101) Authorizes the Secretary of Defense, upon his determination that it is necessary in the national interest and with Office of Management and Budget approval, to transfer between such appropriations, but only for higher priority items, based on unforeseen military requirements, up to a specified amount of DOD working capital and other specified funds earmarked for: (1) U.S. participation in the Bosnia Stabilization Force (SFOR); and (2) enforcement of the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq.

(Sec. 102) Prohibits the use of DOD funds to transfer management, development, and acquisition authority over the National Missile Defense Program from the Military Services until the contract for a Lead System Integrator for it is awarded. Directs the Joint Requirements Oversight Council to: (1) submit recommendations to Congressional Defense Committees on the future roles of the Services with respect to the management, technical development, cost, schedule, and acquisition plan for the elements in such program; and (2) certify that such contract will conform to these recommendations.

(Sec. 103) Makes additional appropriations for a grant to reimburse the American Red Cross for disaster relief and recovery expenditures.

(Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer specified funds to reimburse costs incurred for repairing damage caused by hurricanes, flooding, and other natural disasters during 1996 and 1997 to real property and facilities at Marine Corps facilities (including Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Cherry Point, North Carolina; and the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California).

(Sec. 105) Makes additional appropriations to cover incremental operation and maintenance costs from hurricane damage to family housing units at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

(Sec. 106) Prohibits use of DOD funds for operations or activities of the Armed Forces relating to Bosnia, unless the President reports to the Congress, with specified details, on the cost and source of funds for military activities relating to Bosnia.

(Sec. 107) Authorizes the incumbent to continue to serve as the Secretary of Defense designee on the Board of the Panama Canal Commission if he retires as an officer of the Department of Defense, until and unless the Secretary of Defense designates another person to serve in this position.

Title II: Natural Disasters and Other Emergencies - Chapter 1: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of Agriculture for: (1) the Farm Service Agency's Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account for the additional cost of certain emergency insured loans (including loan modifications); (2) the Emergency Conservation Program for expenses, including carcass removal; (3) the Tree Assistance Program for assistance to small orchardists to replace, rehabilitate, or replant disaster-damaged trees and vineyards, including (through the Forestry Incentives Program) trees damaged by 1997 tornadoes; and (4) the Commodity Credit Corporation Fund, Disaster Reserve Assistance Program, to implement a livestock indemnity program.

Makes such appropriations to: (1) the Natural Resources Conservation Service, for Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations to repair damages to the waterways and watersheds; (2) the Rural Housing Service, Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program, for the cost of specified direct loans for emergency expenses, and Rural Housing Assistance Program, for very low-income housing repair grants and domestic farm labor grants; and (3) the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Utilities Assistance Program, for the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants.

Chapter 2: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of Commerce for: (1) the Economic Development Administration, Economic Development Assistance Programs; and (2) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for construction.

Chapter 3: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of Defense--Civil, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers--Civil, for: (1) flood control, Mississippi River and tributaries, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee; (2) general operations and maintenance; and (3) flood control and coastal emergencies.

Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, for operation and maintenance.

Chapter 4: Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of the Interior for: (1) the Bureau of Land Management; (2) the Fish and Wildlife Service; (3) National Park Service; (4) U.S. Geological Survey; and (5) the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Makes such appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to: (1) the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service for the National Forest System's emergency expenses;and (2) the Department of Health and Human Services' Indian Health Service.

Chapter 5: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations for FY 1997 with respect to flood and other natural disaster costs to the Department of Transportation for: (1) the Federal Highway Administration, Federal-Aid Highways, Emergency Relief Program; and (2) the Federal Railroad Administration, Emergency Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair, to repair and rebuild freight rail lines of regional and short line railroads damaged as a result of the floods in the northern plains States in March and April of 1997.

Makes such appropriations for a related agency, the National Transportation Safety Board, for emergency expenses resulting from the crashes of TWA Flight 800 and ValuJet 592, and for assistance to families of victims of aviation accidents.

Chapter 6: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations to: (1) the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Planning and Development, community development block grants fund; and (2) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for disaster relief. Requires the FEMA Director to submit to the Congress a legislative proposal to control disaster relief expenditures, including the elimination of funding for certain revenue producing facilities.

Chapter 7: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies - Makes emergency appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Secretary, Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, to support research on environmental risk factors associated with breast cancer. Directs the Secretary of HHS to award such funds on a competitive basis.

Title III: Other Supplementals - Chapter 1: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for: (1) the Farm Service Agency's Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account for the additional cost of certain direct operating loans; and (2) the Food and Consumer Service's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.

Chapter 2: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of State for payment of United States arrearages owed to the United Nations, subject to express authorization enacted in a subsequent Act.

Chapter 3: Subcommittee on the District of Columbia - Makes supplemental FY 1997 appropriations to the District of Columbia, (Federal Payment to the District of Columbia) for deposit into an escrow account of the D.C. Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority and disbursal pursuant to the instructions of, and in accordance with a plan approved by, such Authority. Requires the use of specified portions of such funds for: (1) emergency repair of D.C. public schools; and (2) pay raises within the Metropolitan Police Department.

Chapter 4: Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, for repairs, facilities construction, visitor transportation, and related purposes at Yosemite National Park.

Chapter 5: Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, Congressional Operations, Senate - Makes supplemental appropriations for an additional amount for expenses of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, to carry out specified provisions of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1997.

Chapter 6: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Transportation for: (1) Coast Guard retired pay and for operating expenses directly related to support activities in the TWA Flight 800 crash investigation; (2) Federal Aviation Administration, to reimburse State and local agencies for unanticipated disaster costs associated with efforts directly related to the 1996 TWA Flight 800 and ValuJet Flight 592 tragedies; and (3) Federal Highway Administration, Federal-Aid Highways.

Chapter 7: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government - Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of the Treasury. Authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to use the law enforcement services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the State of Colorado and of the County and City of Denver for security arrangements for the Denver Summit of Eight.

Makes supplemental appropriations to the U.S. Postal Service, for the Postal Service Fund, for revenue forgone on free and reduced rate mail for specified purposes.

Chapter 8: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies - Makes supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration; and (2) the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for annual contributions for assisted housing and for capacity building for community development and affordable housing.

Chapter 9: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies - Amends specified Federal law relating to appropriations to provide for additional amounts for: (1) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Health Resources and Services Administration's Health Education Assistance Loans Program, and the Administration for Children and Families' Social Services Block Grant program; and (2) the Department of Education, Education for the Disadvantaged programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Chapter 10: General Provisions - Earmarks a specified amount from the Counterterrorism Fund of the Department of Justice for allocation to the appropriate unit or units of government in Ogden, Utah, for necessary expenses to counter any potential terrorism threat related to the 2002 Winter Olympic games.

(Sec. 303) Prohibits the use of any funds made available in any appropriations Act for FY 1997 to the Department of Commerce for preparing to use sampling in the 2000 decennial census.

(Sec. 304) Provides that, for specified purposes, all patents in force on June 8, 1995, are entitled to the full benefit of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act of 1994 as well as any extension granted before such date.

(Sec. 305) Repeals specified provisions of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, which make certain additional Department of Defense appropriations earmarked for the Dual-Use Applications Program.

(Sec. 306) Declares that the U.S. members and alternate members, appointed under the Susquehanna River Basin Compact and the Delaware River Basin Compact, shall be officers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who hold Presidential appointments as Regular Army officers with Senate confirmation, and serve without additional compensation.

(Sec. 307) Amends the Delaware River Basin Compact to provide that certain members serve at the pleasure of the President.

(Sec. 308) Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (part of the Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996) with respect to a recreational fee demonstration program.

(Sec. 309) Amends the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, to authorize the Indian Health Service (IHS), with respect to functions it transfers to tribes or tribal organizations, to provide goods and services to those entities, on a reimbursable basis, including payment in advance with subsequent adjustment.

(Sec. 310) Prohibits the use of any funds for any Federal agency for FY 1997 and thereafter to promulgate or implement any rule, regulation, policy, statement, or directive issued after October 1, 1993, regarding the recognition, validity, or management of any right of way established pursuant specified Federal law relating to public lands.

(Sec. 311) Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to exempt certain emergency flood control projects from specified consultation and conferencing requirements, and prohibitions against the taking of species.

(Sec. 312) Extends through FY 1998 the availability, to recipients in Presidentially-declared disaster areas, of certain funds awarded for State-administered programs of the Department of Education for FY 1995 (and for FY 1996, with respect to such programs under the Rehabilitation Act).

(Sec. 313) Authorizes the Secretary of Education, with respect to student aid awards for award year 1997-1998, to waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision applicable to the student financial aid programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to assist individuals and other program participants who suffered financial harm from natural disasters.

(Sec. 314) Prohibits the use of any funds to administer or implement in Denver, Colorado, a Medicare Competitive Pricing-Open Enrollment Demonstration program.

(Sec. 315) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1968 to make a specified limitation on the minimum rate of gross compensation inapplicable to any member or civilian employee of the Capitol Police whose compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.

(Sec. 316) Authorizes the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration, to provide additional facilities, services, equipment, and office space for use by a Senator in that Senator's State in connection with a Presidentially-declared disaster or emergency.

(Sec. 319) Authorizes additional appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY 1997 for grants to States for alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures.

(Sec. 320) Amends Federal transportation law to exempt from certain fees overflights operated by citizens of a country contiguous to the United States if: (1) both the origin and destination of such flights are within that country; and (2) that country exempts similar categories of flights operated by U.S. citizens.

(Sec. 321) Authorizes the Administrator of General Services to obligate specified appropriations for construction of the Montgomery, Alabama, courthouse.

(Sec. 322) Prohibits the use of funds to impose or collect any penalty imposed solely because of a failure to use the electronic fund transfer system by a person first required do so during the last six months of 1997.

(Sec. 323) Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to repeal specified provisions relating to cooperative purchasing.

(Sec. 324) Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to publish quarterly in the Federal Register a list of all contracts and task orders in excess of $250,000 entered into by HUD, the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), and the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

(Sec. 325) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise certain time periods relating to notice requirements for terminating section 8 housing contracts.

Title IV: Department of Defense Offsets - Rescinds specified funds provided in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1997 for: (1) military personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force; (2) operation and maintenance for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Defense-wide; (3) environmental restoration by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense-wide; (4) Former Soviet Union Threat Reduction; (5) various types of procurement, including aircraft missile, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, shipbuilding and conversion, and ammunition, by various branches of the armed forces; (6) National Guard and Reserve equipment; (7) armed forces research, development, test and evaluation; (8) the National Defense Sealift Fund; (9) chemical agents and munitions destruction; and (10) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities.

(Sec. 401) Rescinds specified amounts of the funds appropriated in specified categories in: (1) the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1996, including the Base Realignment and Closure Account; and (2) the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1997.

(Sec. 402) Authorizes the continuing obligation and expenditure of certain funds appropriated for Navy weapons procurement that were obligated and expended to settle claims on the MK-50 torpedo program.

(Sec. 403) Prohibits the use of any Department of Defense funds to pay the cost of operating a National Missile Defense Joint Program Office which includes more than 55 military and civilian personnel located in the National Capital Region.

(Sec. 404) Requires the merger of certain National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Air Force funds for obligation only on Titan IV vehicles and related activities.

(Sec. 405) Rescinds a certain amount of funds appropriated for Military Construction in the Navy under specified Federal law.

Title V: Other Offsets - Chapter 1: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies - Rescinds specified amounts of the available unobligated balances for the Department of Justice under the General Administration Working Capital Fund.

Chapter 2: Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies - Rescinds specified funds made available to the Department of Energy for Clean Coal Technology and for Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Chapter 3: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies - Rescinds specified contract authorizations for the Department of Transportation for: (1) Federal Aviation Administration grants-in-aid for airports; (2) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highway traffic safety grants; and (3) Federal Transit Administration discretionary grants for fixed guideway modernization and bus activities.

Chapter 4: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government - Rescinds specified amounts available to the General Services Administration for Presidential transition expenses.

Chapter 5: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies - Rescinds specified amounts recaptured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from annual contributions for assisted housing. Directs the Secretary of HUD to recapture a specified section 8 reserve funds made available to housing agencies for tenant-based assistance.

Rescinds a specified amount of negative credit subsidy from the sale of mortgage notes for the HUD Federal Housing Administration General and Special Risk Program Account.

Rescinds certain funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and NASA.

Chapter 6: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies - Prohibits the use of Department of Agriculture funds under the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 to pay the personnel salaries and expenses above specified levels to carry out: (1) a combined program for export credit guarantees, supplier credit guarantees, and emerging democracies facilities guarantees; and (2) an export enhancement program.

Chapter 7: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development - Cancels, permanently, specified funds for the Department of Defense--Civil, Corps of Engineers--Civil, for general construction.

Title VI: Social Services Block Grant Amendment - Amends title XX of the Social Security Act to establish a program of block grants to States for non-Medicaid assistance to noncitizens.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997.

Title VII: Government Shutdown Prevention Act - Government Shutdown Prevention Act - Provides for continuing appropriations for FY 1998 at 98 percent of the level of FY 1997 operations, in the absence of regular appropriations for FY 1998.