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United States · Official source
4,010 records where Rep. Bereuter, Doug [R-NE-1] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Expresses the sense of Congress that a postage stamp should be issued to honor all missing children.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2003
Prescription Value Act - Directs the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to: (1) collect scientific evidence regarding the relative clinical appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of prescription drugs frequently used by Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries; (2) assess the validity and reliability of such evidence; and (3) identify areas of additional research needed to make an objective determination on the clinical appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of such drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2003
Offers the condolences and deepest sympathy of the House of Representatives to the families of the victims of the terrorist suicide bombing attacks that occurred on May 16, 2003, in Casablanca, Morocco. Expresses its hopes for a quick recovery to those individuals who were injured in the attacks. Supports the provision of appropriate U.S. assistance to the people of Morocco in this time of sorrow and grief. Calls on the Federal Government to continue to work with the Kingdom of Morocco as an ally in the fight against terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2003
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to President Jose Maria Aznar of Spain in recognition of his contributions to maintaining the security of all freedom-loving nations. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to strike such medal and authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2003
Preventing Perchlorate Pollution Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require that information on the discharge and storage of perchlorate be reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the appropriate State water pollution control agency. Impose fines on violators. Requires that fines be deposited in a newly created Perchlorate Pollution Prevention Fund and used for loans to public water suppliers and private well owners to replace water contaminated by percholorate.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2003
NATO Peacekeeping in Iraq Act of 2003 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should begin contributing peacekeeping and civil order personnel to promote security and stability in Iraq, and that the President should use diplomatic means to persuade NATO and NATO member nations to undertake a major peacekeeping and civil order mission in Iraq. Authorizes appropriations to: (1) the Secretary of State to support NATO peacekeeping within Iraq; and (2) the President to make available defense articles, defense services, and military education and training to support peacekeeping activities.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2003
Expedited Remedy for Persistent Dumping Act of 2003 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise requirements for monitoring cases of suspected persistent dumping to: (1) provide for an expedited antidumping investigation of merchandise from an additional supplier country if the Department of Commerce discerns imports of merchandise from the additional supplier country have increased by 15 percent or more during a period of 90 days or longer; and (2) establish Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission procedures and deadlines for making determinations as to whether or not dumping and injury have occurred. Adds specific conditions for reducing the price used to establish export price or "constructed export price," meaning the amount at which the merchandise is first sold or agreed to be sold in the United States by or for the producer or exporter.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2003
Essential Air Service Modernization Act of 2003 - Increases the authorization of appropriations to carry out the essential air service program. Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify an affected community at least 90 days before the basic essential service to that community is terminated: (2) facilitate and assist in negotiations between major and national air carriers and carriers that provide essential air service in order to determine equitable joint fares; (3) establish an alternate essential air service program which would provide compensation directly to local governments, instead of to air carriers, to use to obtain air service, to obtain surface transportation to and from air hubs, or to participate with other local governments in providing regional transportation services to airports; and (4) pay $5,000 to local governments to promote public use of air service or transportation for which compensation is received under the program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2003
Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Service Act of 2003 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from permitting any license for a commercial television broadcast station to be granted, transferred, or assigned to any party if such action would result in that party owning, operating, controlling, or having a cognizable interest in stations which have an aggregate national audience reach exceeding 35 percent. Requires any party currently having licenses in excess of such limit to divest as necessary to comply with such limit within one year.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2003
Pledge Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal judicial code to deny jurisdiction to any court established by Act of Congress to hear or determine any claim that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance violates the first amendment of the Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2003
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) increase from $255 to $1,000 the maximum amount of the lump-sum death benefit; and (2) allow for payment of such a benefit, in the absence of an eligible surviving spouse or child, to the legal representative of the estate of the deceased individual.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Recognizes the outstanding efforts of the individuals and communities involved with the North Platte Canteen that served the needs of six million military personnel who traveled through North Platte, Nebraska, on troop trains from December 25, 1941, to April 1, 1946, during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 100,000 $5 gold coins and 500,000 $1 silver coins, which shall be emblematic of the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia (the first permanent English settlement in America). Provides for a $35 per coin surcharge for the $5 dollar coins and $10 per coin for the $1 dollar coins. Directs that: (1) half of the surcharges be used to support programs to promote the understanding of the legacies of Jamestown (to be paid to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation); and (2) half be used to sustain the ongoing mission of preserving Jamestown, to enhance national and international educational programs relating to Jamestown, to improve infrastructure and archeological research activities relating to Jamestown, and conduct other programs to support the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown (to be distributed by the Secretary in equal shares to the Secretary of the Interior, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation).
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt from certain child labor restrictions the employment, inside or outside of businesses where machinery is used to process wood products, of individuals between ages 14 and 18 who are members of religious sects that do not permit formal education beyond the eighth grade. Permits such youth employment if the individual: (1) is supervised by an adult relative or by an adult member of the same religious sect or division; (2) does not operate or assist in the operation of power-driven woodworking machines; (3) is protected from wood particles or other flying debris within the workplace by a barrier appropriate to such potential hazard or by maintaining a sufficient distance from machinery in operation; and (4) is required to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to excessive levels of noise and sawdust.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2003
Missile Threat Reduction Act of 2003 - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to increase the duration of existing sanctions against foreign persons who violate U.S. export controls with respect to the transfer of missile equipment and technology on the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex. Requires sanctions imposed under the Arms Export Control Act and the Export Administration Act of 1979 to extend to governmental entities and other entities, including transactions involving third parties. Authorizes foreign assistance and technical assistance to countries that agree to destroy their ballistic missiles.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act of 2003 - States that a person (including a governmental or other entity) who donates fire control or fire rescue equipment to a volunteer fire company shall not be liable for State or Federal civil damages for personal injuries, property damage or loss, or death proximately caused by the equipment after the donation. Waives such liability protection if: (1) the person's act or omission causing the injury, damage, loss, or death constitutes gross negligence, or intentional misconduct; or (2) the person is the manufacturer of such equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation to Dr. Dorothy Height (President of the National Council of Negro Women) of a congressional gold medal in recognition of her many contributions to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Truth in Employment Act of 2003 - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that nothing in specified prohibitions against unfair labor practices by employers shall be construed as requiring an employer to employ any person who seeks or has sought employment with the employer in furtherance of other employment or agency status.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Nuclear Security Initiative Act of 2003 - Declares it is the policy of the United States to seek to cooperate with the Russian Federation and each other independent state of the former Soviet Union to: (1) effect as quickly as is reasonably practical basic security measures at each facility in the Russian Federation and each such state that is used for storing nuclear weapons or nuclear materials and is not yet protected by such measures; (2) the Russian Federation to accelerate the closure of facilities in the Russian Federation used for the production of nuclear weapons; (3) improve the security at facilities, in the Russian Federation and each such state, that contain radioactive materials that could be used in radiological dispersal devices; and (4) improve border controls and other measures to track and intercept illicit transfers of weapons of mass destruction and the materials and technologies for developing and producing such weapons. Authorizes the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to expand the International Nuclear Materials Protection and Cooperation program of the Department of Energy to encompass countries other than the Russian Federation and the other independent states of the former Soviet Union. Declares it is the policy of the United States to seek to: (1) cooperate with all appropriate nations to attempt to ensure that all nuclear weapons and nuclear materials worldwide are secure and accounted for according to stringent standards; (2) work with international partners to install, at critical international ports, appropriate devices to detect and intercept illicit transfers of weapons of mass destruction that are nuclear or radiological in nature and the materials and technologies for developing and producing such weapons; (3) prevent the proliferation, from the Russian Federation and the other independent states of the former Soviet Union to countries of proliferation concern, of scientists, engineers, and technicians possessing the expertise to develop and produce weapons of mass destruction; (4) establish and promote programs to prevent the proliferation, from scientists, engineers, and technicians of the Russian Federation and other independent states of the former Soviet Union to countries of proliferation concern, of expertise to develop and produce weapons of mass destruction; and (5) seek to assist independent states of the former Soviet Union that have been helpful to the United States in the war on terrorism so as to promote the creation of jobs that foster economic stability and democracy. Authorizes appropriations for accelerated disposition for highly enriched uranium. Directs the Secretary to carry out a Silk Road Initiative to develop sustainable employment opportunities in the United States and in Silk Road nations (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) for scientists, engineers, and technicians formerly engaged in activities to develop and produce weapons of mass destruction in such nations. Authorizes appropriations to assist the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Science for Peace program. Directs the Secretary to: (1) analyze and report to Congress on the effect on threat reduction and nonproliferation programs of applicable congressional oversight measures; (2) report annually to Congress on the use of funds appropriated for threat reduction and nonproliferation programs in the Russian Federation and the other independent states of the former Soviet Union. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002, as amended by section 1205 of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, to direct the President submit to Congress a comprehensive, detailed plan to: (1) secure and destroy all chemical and biological weapons, and the chemical and biological materials designed for use in such weapons, that are located in Russia and the independent states of the former Soviet Union; and (2) prevent the outflow from those states of the technology and scientific expertise that could be used for developing those weapons, including delivery systems. for coordination of chemical and biological weapons nonproliferation programs with states of the former soviet union. Declares it is U.S. policy to seek to establish jointly with the Russian Federation comprehensive inventories and data exchanges of Russian Federation and U.S. nuclear weapons-grade material and nuclear weapons, with particular attention to tactical warheads and warheads that are no longer operationally deployed. Urges the United States to seek to work with the Russian Federation to develop such inventories. Establishes a Duma-Congress Nuclear Threat Reduction Working Group as an interparliamentary group of the United States and the Russian Federation. Declares it is U.S. policy that the President should seek to ensure that the United States takes the lead in arranging for the United States, in conjunction with NATO, to enter into appropriate cooperative relationships with the Russian Federation with respect to the development and deployment of theater-level ballistic missile defenses. Declares it is U.S. policy: (1) to encourage joint efforts by the United States and the Russian Federation to reduce the chances of a Russian nuclear attack anywhere in the world as the result of misinformation or miscalculation by developing the capabilities and increasing the reliability of Russian ballistic missile early-warning systems, including the Russian-American Observation Satellite (RAMOS) program; and (2) to encourage other United States-Russian programs to ensure that the Russia Federation has reliable information, including real-time data, regarding launches of ballistic missiles anywhere in the world. Directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure interim funding of the RAMOS program pending the execution of a new agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation providing for it. Directs the Secretary of Energy to seek to enter into an agreement with the Minister of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation to carry out a cooperative venture, to be known as the (Edward) Teller-(Igor) KurchatovAlliance for Peace, to develop and promote peaceful, safe, and environmentally sensitive uses of nuclear energy. Authorizes the Administrator for Nuclear Security to award international exchange Teller-Kurchatov Fellowships in the nuclear nonproliferation sciences to scientists employed at the Kurchatov Institute of the Russian Federation and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (California). Declares the sense of Congress in favor of discussions on nuclear and radiological security and safety between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for the purpose of exploring issues of nuclear and radiological security and safety, including the creation of new sources of revenue (including debt reduction) for states to provide nuclear security; and (2) the discussions referred to in paragraph (1) should also provide a forum to explore possible sources of funds in support of the G-8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Increases from $60,000 to $81,000 the maximum amount of a home loan guarantee available to a veteran from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Solid Waste Interstate Transportation Act of 2003 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit a landfill or incinerator (facility) from receiving out-of-State municipal solid waste (MSW) for disposal or incineration unless the waste is received pursuant to a new or existing host community agreement or an exemption from this prohibition (which may be limited by the State). Establishes conditions for exemptions. Authorizes States to establish limits on the amount of out-of-State waste received annually for disposal at each facility. Allows a State to limit the amount of out-of-State MSW received annually at each facility to the amount received during 1995 if the State has enacted a comprehensive, statewide recycling program. Prohibits State limits from conflicting with permits or host community agreements that set higher (or no) limits. Sets the limitation amount for any facility that began receiving documented out-of-State waste before enactment of this Act at the amount received during 1993. Prohibits discrimination against shipments of such waste on the basis of State of origin. Allows States to require that a permit issued for a new facility or an expansion include an annual limitation of not less than 20 percent on the total quantity of out-of-State MSW relative to the total waste received by the facility. Requires percentage limitations to be uniform for all facilities and not discriminate against out-of-State waste according to the State of origin.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, based on recommendations from the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Advisory Panel (established by this Act), to make grants, after a process of peer review and programmatic review, to public or nonprofit private entities for the development and operation of not more than eight centers for the purpose of conducting multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research on environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2003
Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to make a variety of changes with regard to rural health care and such matters as: (1) urban and rural standardized payment amounts under the Medicare inpatient hospital prospective payment system (PPS); (2) disproportionate share hospital (DSH) adjustment for rural hospitals; (3) adjustment to the Medicare inpatient hospital PPS wage index to revise the labor-related share of such index; (4) treatment of certain sole community hospitals to limit the decline in payment under the PPS for hospital outpatient department services; (5) the critical access hospital program; and (6) permanent treatment of certain physician pathology services under Medicare. Amends the Public Health Service Act to give the Secretary the authority to make and guarantee loans from the loan fund to any rural entity for projects for capital improvements. Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for a five-year extension of the authorization for appropriations for certain Medicare rural grants.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2003
Universal Service Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in calculating Federal universal service support for eligible telecommunications carriers that serve rural, insular, and high cost areas, to revise its support mechanism for high cost areas to provide support to each wire center in which the incumbent local exchange carrier's average cost per line for such center exceeds 3.75 times the national average cost per line. Requires the FCC to provide support for each State equal to the greater of the amount calculated under the FCC's current support mechanism for high cost areas or the amount calculated above. Limits per State support and total support for all States. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the need to reform the high cost support mechanism for rural, insular, and high cost areas. States that nothing in this Act shall affect the support provided to rural telephone companies.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2003
Commends the people of the Republic of Kenya for conducting free and fair elections, and the Government of Kenya for its successful completion of a peaceful and orderly transition of power. Urges other African countries to look to Kenya as an example of a working democracy in action and to follow the example set by the people of Kenya during this recent election process. Commends President Mwai Kibaki and his government for their commitment and concrete steps taken, since taking office, to: (1) strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of law; (2) combat corruption; (3) provide free and universal primary education; (4) fight against HIV/AIDS; and (5) support the United States in the war on terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2003
Urges the United States to support any proposal that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) play a greater role in fostering security throughout Afghanistan. Declares that Congress believes that NATO can and should participate more fully in increasing the security and stability in Afghanistan to ensure the successful transition, as outlined in the Bonn Agreement of December 5, 2001, to a peaceful and democratic national government, representative of all its peoples, safe and secure with its neighbors, respectful of human rights (particularly women's rights), and a model for other countries. Urges Congress to fully fund the authorization in the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002 for the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) with the flexibility to utilize those funds for an expanded ISAF or to support a new NATO role in Afghanistan, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2003
Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes and which make collegiate housing and infrastructure improvement grants to continue to be treated as tax-exempt organizations so long as all of the active members of the recipient organization are full-time students at the college or university with which the recipient organization is associated.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2003
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal to Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom in recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions to maintaining the security of all freedom-loving nations. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) strike such gold medal (and authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell duplicate bronze medals); and (2) deposit sums received from the sale of the bronze medals into the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2003
Constitutional Amendment - States that no person born in the United States shall be a citizen of the United States, or of any State, on account of birth in the United States unless the mother or father of the person is a citizen of the United States, or is lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, at the time of the birth.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Don't Feed the Bears Act of 2003 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to enforce the National Parks System regulatory prohibitions against the feeding and baiting of wildlife on National Park System lands and in wildlife refuge areas, in particular the intentional feeding of bears for the purpose of enticing them to a particular area to be hunted (bear baiting). Requires the Secretary of the Interior with respect to lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, and the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to National Forest System lands, to adopt and enforce a regulation to prohibit individuals from intentionally feeding bears, including feeding for the purpose of bear baiting.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Expresses the appreciation of the House of Representatives for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to seek a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem for the benefit of the people of Cyprus and the region. Expresses its strong disappointment that the Secretary General's efforts to bring his plan for a comprehensive settlement to a referenda by the people of Cyprus has been rejected. Expresses its very strong regret that Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Denktash, rejected the comprehensive settlement offered by the Secretary General and denied the Turkish Cypriot people the opportunity to determine their own future by refusing to offer the settlement proposal to referenda. Declares that the House remains committed, despite the recent setback, to giving any assistance necessary for finding a just and durable settlement for the Cyprus problem and urges the maximum effort by the U.S. Government and others to redouble their efforts to seek a just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem. Encourages both Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to renew their efforts to find a settlement to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Secretary General's framework. Urges the Governments of Turkey and Greece to do everything possible to support the search for a settlement, including actions by the Government of Turkey helping to persuade the Turkish Cypriot leader to reach an agreement which would reunite the island and which would serve the interests of both Cypriot communities. Encourages both sides, upon completion of a comprehensive settlement, to consider putting it to referenda, if necessary, in order that the will of the people of Cyprus can be democratically expressed.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2003
Commends the bravery and professionalism of members of the U.S. armed forces and its coalition partners. Extends sympathies to the families of such members who are killed, wounded, missing in action, or taken prisoners of war in Iraq. Condemns the failure of Iraqi authorities to treat prisoners of war in strict conformity with Geneva Convention. Demands that Iraqi authorities: (1) abide by the principles and obligations of such Convention; and (2) permit the Red Cross to visit any and all American and any other prisoners of war at the earliest possible time. Joins the President in warning all Iraqi authorities that any individual who mistreats such prisoners of war shall be considered a war criminal and prosecuted to the fullest extent of U.S. and international law. Expresses support for the President in: (1) committing the U.S. Government to the repatriation of all prisoners of war at the earliest possible moment; and (2) seeking the fullest possible accounting, at the earliest possible time, of all members of the U.S. armed forces who are in a missing status as a result of operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
Homeland Emergency Response Operations Act or HERO Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting any extension beyond December 31, 2006, for the reassignment of the frequencies assigned for public safety services. Directs the FCC to complete assignment of the electromagnetic spectrum between 764 and 776 megahertz and between 794 and 806 megahertz for public safety services and to permit operations by public safety services on those frequencies no later than January 1, 2007.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2003
Offers the condolences of the House of Representatives and its deepest sympathy to the people of Serbia and the family of Zoran Djindjic following the assassination of Prime Minister Djindjic. States that the House of Representatives understands that organized criminal groups within Serbian society continue to threaten the free and democratic government of Serbia and Montenegro. Recognizes that while implementing necessary reforms and cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may carry significant risks for the leadership of Serbia and Montenegro, these reforms and this cooperation are necessary and must continue. Declares the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should: (1) support continued democratic reforms initiated by Zoran Djindjic; (2) urge his successors to dedicate themselves to continue to support his road to reform; and (3) pledge to assist Serbia and its new leadership in accomplishing these necessary reforms, including efforts to fight organized crime and corruption.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a credit to promote the production and usage of biodiesel fuel. Requires a taxpayer to obtain a certification from the producer of the biodiesel which identifies the product produced in order to utilize the credit. Imposes a tax for biodiesel not used as fuel, but for which a credit was granted. Reduces motor fuel excise taxes on biodiesel mixtures. Provides for transfers of funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation to the Highway Trust Fund in amounts equivalent to the reductions that would occur but for this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act of 2003 - Revises and reauthorizes appropriations for: (1) Workforce Investment Systems for job training and employment services under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA); (2) Adult Basic Skills Education, including adult education and family literacy programs; and (3) vocational rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Amends WIA to revise Workforce Investment Systems requirements for State and local planning, allocation, work force investment board membership, and performance accountability. Requires State certification of one-stop centers for allocation of infrastructure funds. Consolidates, under a formula grant for a comprehensive program for adult activities, funding for adult job training, dislocated worker retraining, the employment service system, and reemployment grants. Requires youth training programs to spend a greater portion of their funds on out-of-school youth. Reauthorizes various national job training programs, including the Job Corps and programs for Native Americans, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, and veterans. Replaces the Youth Opportunity Grants program with a Youth Challenge Grants program for in-school and out-of-school youth. Directs the Secretary of Labor to allot grants to States to allocate funds to local areas to establish personal reemployment accounts for individuals likely to exhaust their unemployment compensation. Exempts religious organizations, with respect to their employment of individuals of a particular religion, from WIA nondiscrimination requirements. Adult Basic Skills Education Act - Revises, reauthorizes, and renames WIA title II as Adult Basic Skills Education (currently the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act). Requires focus on, and State demonstration of progress in, basic skills, such as English language acquisition, reading, writing, and mathematics. Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a program of national leadership activities. Repeals Wagner-Peyser Act provisions relating to the U.S. Employment Service. Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to revise and reauthorize vocational rehabilitation programs. Places the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) in the Department of Education (currently Office of the Secretary), with an RSA Director (currently Commissioner) appointed by the Secretary of Education (currently President). Revises transitional services for special education students moving from school to post-school activities, and coordination of such services with those under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
American Dream Downpayment Act - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to participating jurisdictions for downpayment assistance to low-income, first-time home buyers; and (2) make the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 inapplicable to such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2003
Safer Roads Everywhere Act - Amends Federal highway law to authorize the Secretary of Transportation, in exercising his or her authority to increase highway safety, to improve through specified traffic safety-related activities worldwide traffic safety and reduce the burden of deaths and injuries from traffic accidents.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (105 Stat. 2032), with respect to I-35 High Priority Corridor from Laredo, Texas, to Duluth, Minnesota, to specify the connection from Wichita, Kansas, to Sioux City, Iowa, which includes: (1) I-135 from Wichita, Kansas to Salina, Kansas; (2) United States Route 81 from Salina, Kansas, to Norfolk, Nebraska; (3) Nebraska State Route 35 from Norfolk to South Sioux City, Nebraska; and (4) the connection to I-29 in Sioux City, Iowa.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Resolves that the House of Representatives: (1) congratulates the American Dental Association for establishing the "Give Kids a Smile" program; (2) emphasizes the need to improve access to dental care for children; and (3) thanks the thousands of dentists who volunteered their time to treat an estimated one million children on February 21, 2003.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Asbestos Compensation Act of 2003 - Establishes in the Department of Justice the Office of Asbestos Compensation (OAC) with exclusive jurisdiction over proceedings to determine if a claimant is entitled to compensation for an asbestos claim and the amount of such compensation. Excludes any claim brought under any workers' compensation law or veterans' benefits program. Establishes within OAC: (1) an Asbestos Compensation Fund to make payments to claimants under this Act; and (2) an Office of Administrative Law Judges for expedited administrative adjudication of asbestos claims.. Requires the OAC to implement a legal assistance program to provide legal representation to claimants. Prescribes guidelines governing: (1) medical eligibility; (2) damages; (3) come back rights; (4) class actions; (5) core claims; (6) eligible medical categories; (7) fiscal and financial management of the Asbestos Compensation Fund; and (8) transitional civil actions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Family Time Flexibility Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for compensatory time for all employees. Allows an employee to receive, in lieu of monetary overtime compensation, compensatory time off at a rate not less than one and one-half hours for each hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required under the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Milk Import Tariff Equity Act - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to impose tariff-rate quotas (quantitative import limits) and provide various duty rates on certain casein, caseinates, milk protein concentrate, and other casein derivatives and glues imported into the United States (except imports from Mexico). Authorizes the President to: (1) enter into a trade agreement with a foreign country to grant new concessions as compensation in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions; and (2) proclaim any necessary modification or continuance of any existing duty, or continuance of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or any quantitative limitation. Sets forth certain limits on the reduction of duties on such products.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income amounts received by a claimant on account of claims based on unlawful discrimination (as defined). Permits income averaging for backpay and frontpay awards received on account of such claims.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Declares that Congress: (1) appreciates the efforts of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General to seek a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem for the benefit of the Cypriot people and the region; (2) urges the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides, as well as the guarantor powers, the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey, to agree to sign the commitment to put in place the Secretary General's plan to separate, simultaneous referenda on the island on March 30, 2003; (3) expresses its view that such referenda must be carried out in a transparent and fair manner so that the will of the Cypriot people can be democratically expressed; and (4) urges the Cypriot people to participate in the referenda and to vote in support of the UN plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in order to bring a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement which will benefit all people of Cyprus.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2003
Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to authorize funding to reach the Federal Government's goal of providing 40 percent of the national average per pupil expenditure to assist States and local educational agencies with the excess costs of educating children with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations for IDEA part B programs of assistance for education of all children with disabilities, in specified amounts for FY 2004 through 2007, and as necessary thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2003
Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants or cooperative agreements to develop State-wide lifespan respite care programs. Defines "lifespan respite care" to mean a coordinated system of accessible community-based respite care services for family caregivers regardless of the individual's age, race, ethnicity, or special need. Requires the Secretary to establish a review panel to make recommendations on applicants. Permits the use of funds for respite care services and training programs. Limits grants to five years. Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a National Resource Center on Lifespan Respite Care to maintain a national database and provide training, technical assistance, and information.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2003
The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act - Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to make the sunset provisions inapplicable to provisions that expanded and increased the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs under the Internal Revenue Code.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2003
American History and Civics Education Act of 2003 - Directs the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to award competitive grants to nonprofit educational institutions to establish: (1) Presidential Academies for Teaching of American History and Civics to offer workshops for teachers of American history and civics; and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics to offer workshops for outstanding students of American history and civics. Directs the NEA Chairperson to award a grant to an organization for the creation of a national alliance of elementary school and secondary school teachers of American history and civics.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2003
Pioneer National Historic Trails Studies Act - Amends the National Trails System Act to require specified revisions of feasibility and suitability studies of certain existing National Historic Trails. Directs the Secretary to study the feasibility of designating certain routes and cutoffs for inclusion within the Oregon, Pony Express, California, and Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trails.