United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2001
Military Widows Equity Act - Repeals, as of October 1, 2002, certain provisions which require the offset of amounts paid in dependency and indemnity compensation from Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities for the surviving spouses of former military personnel who are entitled to military pay or who would be entitled to retired pay except for being under 60 years of age. Provides for the recoupment of certain amounts previously paid to SBP recipients in the form of a retired pay refund.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2001
Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish at least one Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team in each State as well as an additional team under the direction of the National Guard Bureau.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2001
Social Security Benefits Guarantee Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a benefit guarantee certificate, with an accurate annual cost-of-living adjustment, to each individual determined by the Commissioner of Social Security to be entitled to benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2001
Fair Tax Treatment for Insurance Agents' Termination Payments Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to consider a qualified termination payment received from an insurance company by a former insurance salesman for such company as a sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than 12 months.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2001
Amends rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner from having access to classified information (including access through attendance at any briefing or other event at which classified information is presented) unless such individual meets the same security clearance and confidentiality requirements as Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence employees.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2001
Business Retained Income During Growth and Expansion Act of 2001 or the BRIDGE Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an eligible small business to elect to pay its tax in four equal installments. Limits the maximum amount of tax which may be paid in installments for any taxable year to whichever of the following is the least: (1) the tax imposed for the taxable year; (2) the amount contributed by the taxpayer into a BRIDGE Account during such year; or (3) the excess of $250,000 over the aggregate amount of tax for which an election was made by the taxpayer for all prior taxable years. Limits the above provisions to taxes imposed for taxable years beginning after enactment and before January 1, 2006. Sets forth provisions: (1) defining an eligible small business; (2) setting dates for installment payments and interest payments; (3) establishing BRIDGE accounts; and (4) providing for a study and report.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2001
Secure Aviation Employment and Training Enhancement Act of 2001 - Amend Federal aviation law to direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to implement a criminal background check program for individuals enrolled or to be enrolled in civilian schools giving instruction in flying or repairing, altering, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances. Sets forth program requirements, including: (1) establishment of a standard application form for all civilian schools giving such instruction; (2) maintenance of a database of all processed applications; (3) completion of a standard application by each applicant and a criminal background check; and (4) if a check reveals evidence of criminal, espionage, or terrorist activity or any other evidence that the Administrator determines to be a security threat, establishment of procedures to ensure the applicant does not receive training at such school. Requires the Administrator to establish reasonable fees (not to exceed $100 per individual) to pay expenses incurred in carrying out this Act. Requires the Director of the Office of Homeland Security to conduct a review of the current air carrier employee criminal background check procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2001
Debbie Smith Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out sexual assault nurse examiner programs and to train law enforcement personnel and first responders in the handling of sexual assault cases and the collection and use of DNA samples for forensic evidence. Provides that for a State to be eligible to receive a grant, the chief executive officer of the State shall submit to the Attorney General an application which shall include a certification that the State shall comply with specified quality assurance standards. Sets forth provisions regarding restrictions on the use of funds and expenditure records. Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to issue (and revise periodically) standards for collecting and processing, for use as forensic evidence, samples on which DNA analysis may be carried out. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out DNA analyses of samples from crime scenes for inclusion in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System. Sets forth provisions regarding State eligibility, restrictions on uses of funds, and expenditure records.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2001
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay compensation in an amount of $20,000 to veterans, civilian employees, or contractor employees (or their surviving spouse) who: (1) served in or with U.S. combat forces during World War II; (2) were captured and held as prisoners of war by Japan during such service; and (3) were required by Japan or a Japanese corporation to perform slave labor during such War.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001 - Amends Federal postal law to provide that any limitation in the Semipostal Authorization Act relating to whether more than one semipostal (a postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service, at a premium, in order to help provide funding for a national public interest) may be offered for sale at the same time, shall not apply to the breast cancer research special stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Extends the Service's authority to issue such stamps through July 29, 2008. Revises the differential amount of the special rate of postage for the breast cancer research stamp to not less than 15 percent of the regular first-class rate (currently, not to exceed 25 percent of first-class). Requires the special rate to be evenly divisible by five.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Date Certain Tax Code Replacement Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2005; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2005. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Establishes the National Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification to review: (1) the present structure and provisions of the Code; (2) whether the tax systems of other countries could provide more efficient and fair methods of funding government revenue requirements; (3) whether the income tax should be replaced with a tax imposed in a different manner or on a different base; and (4) whether the Code can be simplified, absent wholesale restructuring or replacement. Requires a Commission report to Congress on review results, with recommendations for Code reform and simplification. Terminates the Commission 90 days after such report. Authorizes appropriations (with interim funding). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be approved by Congress in its final form before July 4, 2005, and, if not, Congress should be required to vote to reauthorize the Code.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act of 2001 - Requires a manufacturer of a motor vehicle sold or introduced into commerce in the United States to disclose to the vehicle owner, a repair facility, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the information necessary to diagnose, service, or repair the vehicle. Sets forth protections for trade secrets. States that manufacturer noncompliance with this Act constitutes an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice affecting commerce within the purview of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Authorizes a vehicle owner or repair facility to bring a civil action in Federal district court for violations of this Act without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties. Instructs the FTC to prescribe a uniform methodology for manufacturer disclosure in writing, and on the Internet. Prohibits the FTC from prescribing rules that interfere with the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency regarding motor vehicle emissions control diagnostics systems.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Declares that Congress encourages the Government of China to honor its obligations under the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, as modified by the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees of 1967, by: (1) making genuine efforts to identify and protect the refugees among the North Korean migrants encountered by Chinese authorities; (2) providing North Korean refugees residing in China with a safe asylum; (3) halting the forced repatriations of North Korean refugees seeking asylum in China; (4) allowing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to have access to all North Korean refugees residing in China; and (5) cooperating with the UNHCR in efforts to resettle the North Korean refugees residing in China in other countries. Encourages the UNHCR to facilitate the resettlement of North Korean refugees residing in China in other countries.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Round II EZ/EC Flexibility Act of 2001 - Authorizes appropriations to: (1) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for specified urban empowerment zones; and (2) the Secretary of Agriculture for specified rural empowerment zones and rural enterprise communities. Permits: (1) use of such funds for zone or community strategic plan implementation; and (2) use of Federal funds to pay matching fund requirements. States that an empowerment zone or enterprise community shall not loses Federal funding because of reclassification as a renewal community.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Social Security Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to repeal: (1) pension offset provisions applicable to husband's and wife's insurance benefits, widow's and widower's insurance benefits, and mother's and father's insurance benefits with respect to Old-Age and Survivors insurance benefit payments; and (2) windfall elimination provisions with respect to computation of the primary insurance amount of an individual.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of: (1) the National Institutes of Health to expand, intensify, and coordinate programs for the conduct and support of research with respect to blood cancer, particularly with respect to leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma; (2) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a related public information program, to be carried out in collaboration with private health organizations that have national education and patient assistance programs on blood-related cancers.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month should be established to raise public awareness about the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the serious problems associated with it.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Training for Closed Captioners Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to provide grants to no more than 20 eligible entities (approved and accredited court reporting programs) to promote the training of students to become realtime closed captioners. Limits to $1 million the amount of a grant provided to an entity in a fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2001
Wage Equity Act of 2001 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include among the conditions of approval of an H-2A (visa) temporary agricultural worker petition the requirement that an employer may not be required to pay workers more than the greater of: (1) the prevailing wage for seasonal agricultural workers in the occupation in the area of intended employment; or (2) the greater of Federal or State minimum wage.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2001
Commercial Driver's License Devolution Act of 2001 - Amends Federal transportation law to authorize an individual to operate a commercial motor vehicle solely within the borders of a State (intrastate) if such individual meets State-prescribed minimum standards for fitness for operating a commercial motor vehicle and has passed written and driving tests meeting those same standards. Requires States to test the fitness of commercial motor vehicle operators, including the passing of a written and driving test, who operate intrastate.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a church to participate or intervene in a political campaign and maintain its tax-exempt status as long as such participation is not a substantial part of its activities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2001 - Establishes the Federal Agency Sunset Commission to: (1) submit to Congress a schedule for review by the Commission, at least once every 12 years, of the abolishment or reorganization of each agency; (2) review and evaluate the efficiency and public need for each agency using specified criteria; (3) recommend whether each agency should be abolished or reorganized; and (4) report to Congress on all legislation introduced that would establish a new agency or a new program to be carried out by an existing agency. Requires the abolishment of any agency within one year of the Commission's review, unless the agency is reauthorized by Congress. Authorizes the deadline for abolishing an agency to be extended for an additional two years by legislation enacted by a super majority of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare an inventory of Federal programs within each agency for the purpose of advising and assisting Congress and the Commission in carrying out the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer an income-based credit ($2,000 maximum) for qualifying child disability education and training expenses paid on behalf of a dependent under the age of 18.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2001
Conservation Tax Incentives Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income 50 percent of any gain from the sale of land or an interest in land or water to an eligible entity if: (1) such land or interest in land or water was owned by the taxpayer or a member of the taxpayer's family at all times during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale; and (2) such land or interest in land or water is being acquired by an eligible conservation entity which provides the taxpayer, at the time of acquisition, a written letter of intent stating that the purchaser's intent in making the acquisition is to serve specified conservation purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a taxpayer to elect to use the completed contract accounting method with respect to an qualified naval construction contract (more than 24 months in duration).
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit: (1) Federal civilian and military retirees to pay Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and TRICARE supplemental premiums on a pretax basis; and (2) a deduction (available to itemizers and nonitemizers) for TRICARE supplemental premiums and enrollment fees.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2001
Medicare Medical Nutrition Therapy Amendment Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, to provide coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for certain Medicare beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2001
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Amends the Organic Act to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish and maintain a list of each person that notifies the Secretary that it is a manufacturer or seller that is: (1) licensed to engage in interstate or foreign commerce of a firearm or ammunition product; or (2) is a trade association representing such manufacturers or sellers. Declares that any lawful conduct carried out by a manufacturer or seller in interstate or foreign commerce of a firearm or ammunition product, or lawful conduct carried out by a trade association in the course of representing such manufacturers or sellers, shall not be the basis for imposing a restriction on such commerce (the award of civil damages, equitable relief, or any other specified limitation) as a result of harm caused by the criminal or other unlawful misuse of such firearm or ammunition product by any other person.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2001
Fair Debt Collection Practices Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to permit continuation of collection activities and communications during the 30-day period following notice of debt, unless the consumer requests cessation of such activities. Broadens prescriptions governing debtor's civil liability to include a series of class actions arising out of the same violations by the same debt collector. Disallows recovery of legal fees that accrue after the date of a consumer's refusal of a debt collector's settlement offer which is greater than or equal to the final judgment award (including participants in a class action or series of class actions). Requires the court to consider the amount of actual damages awarded when it determines the amount of liability. Declares that a debt collector shall not be liable if the preponderance of the evidence shows that the violation resulted from good faith compliance with either Federal or State rules of civil procedure, or with a non-judicial foreclosure proceeding.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2001
Veterans Educational Opportunities Enhancement Act of 2001 - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to allow the basic pay reduction for entitlement to veterans educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill to be taken over two years (currently one year). Allows the withdrawal of an election not to receive such assistance during a specified open period for an individual who: (1) first becomes a member or enters into active service on or after the enactment of this Act; (2) continues to serve the period of obligated service without a service break; (3) before completing such period, is discharged or released from duty for a service-connected disability, a preexisting medical condition, a hardship, a physical or mental condition that did not result from the individual's own willful misconduct, or for the convenience of the Government; (4) completes the requirements of a secondary school diploma or equivalency certificate or 12 semester hours toward a standard college degree; and (5) is discharged honorably or placed on one of specified retirement lists. Provides a basic pay reduction for entitlement to such assistance. Provides an opportunity for certain active-duty military personnel who first became a member of the armed forces before July 1, 1985, to enroll for such assistance during an open period under eligibility requirements very similar to those above, and requires a similar basic pay reduction for such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2001
Entitles to an annuity under either the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employee Retirement System a military reserve technician who is separated from service as a technician after either: (1) becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 (currently, 25) years of such service; or (2) completing 25 years of such service.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2001
Uniformed Services Former Spouses Equity Act of 2001 - Requires payment from the monthly disposable retired pay of a member to his or her former spouse in compliance with court orders (division of property) to terminate upon the remarriage of that spouse, effective as of the last day of the month in which the remarriage occurs. Provides that, in the case of a member to whom a final decree of divorce, dissolution, annulment, or legal separation is issued before the member begins to receive retired pay, the disposable retired pay of such member, for purposes of such monthly payments, shall be computed based on the pay grade and length of service of the member while married. Increases such amount concurrently with retired pay increases. Requires a member's spouse or former spouse to obtain a court order for reapportionment of a member's monthly disposable retired pay by the later of the following dates: (1) two years of the date of the final decree of divorce, dissolution, annulment, or legal separation; or (2) six months after the enactment of this Act. Prohibits the court from treating as part of a member's disposable retired pay amounts which have been waived from such pay in order to receive veterans' disability compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2001
Amends Federal aviation law with respect to the air traffic control contract program to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants to an airport sponsor for: (1) the construction or improvement of a nonapproach control tower (effectively eliminating eligibility of Level I air traffic control towers for such grants); and (2) the acquisition and installation of air traffic control equipment to be used in a nonapproach control tower to assist in sustaining or improving the safe and efficient movement of air traffic. Revises eligibility requirements with respect to such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2001
Korea Defense Service Medal Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to issue a campaign medal, to be known as the Korea Defense Service Medal, to each member who served in the Republic of Korea or its adjacent waters after July 27, 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2001
Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act of 2001 - Provides that neither a person (including any other entity) who donates re-certified fire control or fire rescue equipment, nor a State or local agency that administers the distribution of such equipment, shall be liable for personal injuries, property damage, or death proximately caused after the donation by a defect in such equipment. Waives such liability protection if: (1) the person's or agency's act or omission causing the injury, damage, or loss constitutes malice, gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct; or (2) the person or agency is the manufacturer of such equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2001
Veterans Medicare Reimbursement Demonstration Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize the Secretaries of Health and Human Services (HHS) and of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a Medicare subvention demonstration project under which the HHS Secretary, acting under a coordinated care health plan model, shall reimburse the VA Secretary from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for Medicare health care services furnished to targeted Medicare-eligible veterans who volunteer for such project. Requires the demonstration project to be conducted at up to ten sites jointly designated by the Secretaries. Directs the VA Secretary to establish and operate coordinated care health plans to provide benefits to the targeted veterans enrolled in the project.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2001
PILT and Refuge Revenue Sharing Permanent Funding Act - Provides permanent funding for the following programs: (1) Bureau of Land Management Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT); and (2) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's refuge revenue sharing program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2001
YMCA Teen Action Agenda Enhancement of 2001 - Directs the Attorney General to award a grant to the YMCA of the USA to make subgrants to local YMCAs for programs for at-risk teens which include specified types of activities.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2001
Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise provisions relating to access and choice for small business employers with respect to medical care for their employees. Establishes rules governing association health plans (group health plans whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations), including requirements relating to certification, sponsors and boards of trustees, participation, coverage, plan documents, contribution rates, benefit options, applications for certification, notice for voluntary termination, corrective actions, and mandatory termination. Requires association health plans which provide health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage to maintain certain reserves and comply with other solvency provisions. Directs the Secretary of Labor to apply for appointment, and carry out specified duties, as trustee of any such insolvent association health plans which provide health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage. Allows a State to impose a contribution tax on any association health plan commencing operations in such State after the enactment of this Act. Requires association health plans to include in their summary plan descriptions, in connection with each benefit option, a description of the form of any solvency or guarantee fund protection secured under ERISA or applicable State law. Revises provisions relating to treatment of: (1) single employer arrangements; and (2) certain collectively bargained arrangements. Sets forth provisions for association health plans with respect to: (1) enforcement; (2) cooperation between Federal and State authorities; and (3) treatment of certain existing health benefit programs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2001
Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prescribe guidelines for rental-purchase transactions, including: (1) the determination of rental-purchase cost; (2) disclosure requirements; (3) proscriptions against confessions of judgment, wage assignments, and waiver of consumer claims or defenses; (4) furnishing of statements of account; (5) point-of-rental disclosures; and (6) rental-purchase advertising disclosures. Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to promulgate implementing regulations. Provides for Federal and State enforcement of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2001
Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2001 - Requires a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer that provides any emergency services benefits (including ambulance services) to cover such services: (1) without prior authorization; (2) whether or not the health care provider furnishing such services is a participating provider; (3) in a manner so that if such services are provided by a nonparticipating provider, the participant, beneficiary, or enrollee is not liable for amounts that would exceed those of a participating provider; and (4) without regard to any other term or condition of such plan or coverage (other than exclusion or coordination of benefits, a specified affiliation or waiting period, and applicable cost sharing). Requires such plan or issuer, in the case of non-emergency maintenance or post-stabilization care services, to provide for reimbursement for services provided by nonparticipating providers in a manner consistent with specified guidelines under the Social Security Act or as the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish. Requires plans and issuers to make information regarding emergency services coverage available annually. Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code to deem requirements of this Act to be incorporated into such Acts and the Internal Revenue Code.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Rewarding Performance in Compensation Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide that an employee's regular pay rate, for purposes of calculating overtime compensation, will not be affected by additional payments to reward an employee or group of employees for meeting or exceeding productivity, quality, efficiency, or sales goals under a gain sharing, incentive bonus, commission, or performance contingent bonus plan.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Access to Cancer Therapies Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend Medicare coverage to all oral drugs prescribed for use as an anticancer agent for a medically accepted indication.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for the treatment of certified diabetes educators recognized by the National Certification Board of Diabetes Educators as certified providers for purposes of outpatient diabetes education services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) mandate a single national average standardized payment amount for inpatient hospital services furnished, regardless of whether in an urban or non-urban area, under the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for discharges occurring in FY 2002 and thereafter; and (2) establish a minimum factor of .925 as a floor for area wage adjustment factors used under the PPS for inpatient and outpatient hospital services.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are to be commended for their progress toward political and economic liberty and meeting the guidelines for prospective members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); (2) such countries would make an outstanding contribution toward furthering NATO goals should they become members; (3) extension of full NATO membership to the Baltic states would contribute to stability, freedom, and peace in the Baltic region and Europe as a whole; and (4) with complete satisfaction of NATO guidelines and criteria for membership, such countries should be invited to become full NATO members.