United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2003
National Heroes Credit Protection Act - Amends the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 to require any consumer credit information entity that receives from a creditor a negative report of nonpayment or late payment with respect to the account of a person in military service to enter a notation that the account is delinquent or paid slowly due to military service. Requires any future potential creditor that receives a credit report that includes such a notation to disregard any negative information so noted.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2003
Pedestrian and Cyclist Equity Act of 2003 - Requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish and carry out a transportation and active living program to create, enhance, and promote, through changes in transportation, community design, and architectural policies and programs, community environments that improve opportunities for people to be physically active in their daily lives. Directs the Secretary to make grants to State, local, and regional agencies, including nonprofit organizations, for eligible activities. Authorizes the Secretary to consider initiatives that: (1) adopt community design, land use, and transportation policies to promote active living or remove barriers to physical activity; and (2) implement communications and marketing strategies to promote physical activity. Requires the Secretary to establish and carry out a safe routes to school program for the benefit of children in primary and middle schools. Directs the Secretary to: (1) make grants to a national nonprofit organization to operate a national safe routes to school clearinghouse; and (2) establish a national safe routes to school task force. Allows amounts apportioned to a State to be used for the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure-related projects (including sidewalk improvements) and for non-infrastructure-related activities (including public awareness campaigns) to encourage walking and bicycling to school. Requires the Secretary to establish and carry out a non-motorized transportation pilot program, including developing specified statistical information and assessing how changes promote livable community concepts, decreased traffic and energy usage, a cleaner environment, and healthier lifestyles.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply the harbor maintenance tax to certain ports used to import commercial cargo worth more than $100,000,000. Negates the tax on a port for any year after a period of three consecutive years in which $100,000,000 or less cargo was imported through the port and no Federal funds were used for construction, maintenance, or operation, as well as for subsequent years so long as the preceding year's cargo was $100,000,000 or less.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act - Redefines the term "law enforcement officer" under provisions of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to include: (1) Federal employees not otherwise covered by such term whose duties include the investigation or apprehension of suspected or convicted individuals and who are authorized to carry a firearm; and (2) such employees of the Internal Revenue Service whose duties are primarily the collection of delinquent taxes and the securing of delinquent returns. Requires that such service which is performed by an incumbent law enforcement officer be treated: (1) on or after the enactment date of this Act, for all purposes, as service performed as a law enforcement officer, irrespective of how such service is treated under the following; and (2) before, on, or after such date, for purposes of CSRS and FERS, as service performed as such an officer, but only if an appropriate written election is submitted to the Office of Personnel Management five years after such date or before separation from Government service, whichever is earlier. Provides that nothing under current law respecting mandatory separation from Government service under CSRS or FERS shall cause the involuntary separation of an officer before the end of the three-year period beginning on such date.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Calls for the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend and the U.S. Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp honoring Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone (the first recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor awarded in World War II, and the only enlisted Marine in that war to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, and the Purple Heart).
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2003
Military Tribunal Regulations Review Act - Requires the President, before a military tribunal rule takes effect, to submit to Congress a report containing: (1) a copy of the rule; (2) a concise statement relating to the rule; and (3) its proposed effective date. Sets forth congressional procedures for rule disapproval by joint resolution. Directs the President to submit to Congress periodic reports on the activities of each military tribunal.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2003
Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2003 - Entitles domestic partners of Federal employees to benefits available to spouses of Federal employees. Specifies certifications required for benefit eligibility, filing requirements regarding partnership dissolution, and confidentiality requirements. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the tax exemption for employer contributions to accident and health plans to domestic partners under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2003
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to compensate States for incarcerating undocumented aliens charged with a felony or two or more misdemeanors.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2003
Taxpayer Abuse Prevention Resolution of 2003 - Expresses the sense of Congress that Federal tax collection services should not be paid for on the basis of a commission or as a percentage of taxes collected.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2003
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of the Year of the Korean War Veteran (2003 marks the final year of the United States' 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration and the 50th year of the Armistice).
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General to award non-renewable grants to eligible applicants to prepare a comprehensive plan for and implement an adult or juvenile collaboration program, which targets adults or juveniles with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders in order to promote public safety and public health. Directs that grants be used to create or expand: (1) mental health courts or other court-based programs for preliminarily qualified offenders; (2) programs that offer specialized training to the officers and employees of a criminal or juvenile justice agency and mental health personnel in procedures for identifying the symptoms of mental illness; (3) programs that support cooperative efforts by criminal, juvenile justice, and mental health agencies to promote public safety by offering mental health and substance abuse treatment services; and (4) programs that support intergovernmental cooperation between State and local governments with respect to the mentally ill offender.. Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) develop a procedure under which applicants may apply simultaneously for a planning grant and an implementation grant; and (2) establish an interagency task force to identify policies which hinder or facilitate local collaborative initiatives. Directs the Attorney General to develop a list of best practices for appropriate diversion from incarceration of adult and juvenile offenders.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act - Identifies roadless areas within the National Forest System set forth in specified documents as National Forest Inventoried Roadless Areas, and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to manage such Areas to maintain their roadless character.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
States that the House of Representatives supports the efforts of organizations such as Second Harvest to provide emergency food assistance to hungry people in the United States, and encourages all Americans to provide volunteer services and other support for local antihunger advocacy efforts and hunger relief charities, including food banks, food rescue organizations, food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2003
Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act of 2003 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to make available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for programs, functions, and activities of the Veterans Health Administration for FY 2005 130 percent of the amount obligated during FY 2003. Adjusts the amount provided for fiscal years after FY 2005 based on the number of enrolled veterans and the number of other persons eligible but not enrolled who are provided care, multiplied by the per capital baseline amount for FY 2003, as increased by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index. Prohibits the availability of such funds for: (1) construction, acquisition, or alteration of veterans' medical facilities (other than for repairs provided for before the date of enactment of this Act); or (2) grants for the construction of State home facilities for the furnishing of veterans' domiciliary, nursing home, and hospital care.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2003
Working Taxpayer Fairness Restoration Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the refundability of the child tax credit, to accelerate the increase to the 15 percent rate. Limits, to fair market value immediately following a transaction, the importation of net built-in loss by a corporation. Prohibits an allocation of any decrease in the adjusted basis of partnership property to stock in a corporation which is a partner in the partnership. Repeals part V (Financial Asset Securitization Investment Trusts) of subchapter M (Regulated Investment Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts). Expands the definition of a disqualified debt instrument with respect to deduction disallowance on certain debt instruments of corporations. Expands the authority to disallow deductions, credits, or other allowances under provisions disallowing such benefits due to acquisitions made to evade or avoid income tax. Amends provisions affecting passive foreign investment companies to state that the term "qualified portion" (of a shareholder's holding period) does not include any period if there is only a remote likelihood of an inclusion in gross income under subpart F (Controlled Foreign Income). Adds to the definition of the term "real estate investment trust" by stating that such term includes a corporation, trust, or association which is not a controlled entity. Directs the Secretary to establish a program requiring the payment of user fees, until September 30, 2013, for: (1) requests to the Internal Revenue Service for ruling letters, opinion letters, and determination letters; and (2) other similar requests.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 2003
Medicaid Nursing Incentive Act of 2003 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to eliminate the State option to include nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and physician assistants as primary care case managers. Specifies as primary care case managers any nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant that provides primary care case management services under a primary care case management contract. Revises the coverage of certain nurse practitioner services under the Medicaid fee-for-service program to remove the specification of certified pediatric nurse practitioner and certified family nurse practitioner in order to extend such coverage to services furnished by any certified nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. Includes certified nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists in the mix of service providers which Medicaid managed care organizations are required to maintain.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Next Generation Hispanic Serving Institutions - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise provisions for Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) under title V (Developing Institutions). Establishes a program of competitive grants to eligible HSIs that offer postbaccalaureate certifications or degrees (part B grants). Limits a part B grant award's duration to not more than five years. Prohibits the Secretary of Education from awarding more than one part B grant to an HSI in any one fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through FY 2009 for: (1) the current part A program of grants to HSIs that offer baccalaureate degrees or are junior or community colleges; and (2) the new part B program of grants to HSIs that offer postbaccalaureate certifications or degrees. Eliminates the requirement that an eligible HSI provide assurances that at least 50 percent of its Hispanic students are low-income students. Includes, among authorized activities under part A grants, articulation agreements and student support programs to help transfers from two-year to four-year institutions. Eliminates the two-year wait-out period between any two five-year part A grants to an HSI.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act - Transfers marijuana from schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to schedule II of such Act. Prohibits, in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use under applicable State law, any provision of the Controlled Substances Act from prohibiting or otherwise restricting: (1) the prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use; (2) an individual from obtaining and using marijuana from a prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use by such individual; or (3) a pharmacy from obtaining and holding marijuana for the prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use under applicable State law. Prohibits any provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act from prohibiting or restricting a State entity, in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed by a physician for medical use, from producing or distributing marijuana for the purpose of its distribution for prescription or recommendation by a physician.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Supports the goals and ideals of a National Epilepsy Awareness Month. Urges: (1) an increase in Federal funding for epilepsy research programs at the National Institutes of Health and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and (2) that initial funding be provided to the Department of Health and Human Services to create demonstration projects to serve people with epilepsy who may lack access to adequate medical care.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Recognizes Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, and those who actively supported their efforts, for ending segregation in schools in Orange County, California, and for setting the precedent for Brown v. Board of Education (which ended segregation in U.S. schools and declared the doctrine of "separate but equal" unconstitutional).
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
Port Security Improvements Act of 2003 - Makes available to the Secretary of Homeland Security for security enhancements at each port over each of the next five fiscal years 30 percent of the difference between the amount of duties collected at each port and the port's security costs. Requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue: (1) final regulations governing biometric transportation security cards within one year; and (2) regulations that establish a national minimum set of standard security requirements for each port in the United States, each facility in a port in the United States, and each vessel entering a U.S. port.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
Fairness and Accountability in International Taxation Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny reduced withholding tax treaty benefits to a foreign entity on any deductible foreign payment (deductible payment made by a domestic entity to a related foreign entity) unless such entity is predominantly owned by individuals who are residents of such foreign country. Exempts from such provision: (1) corporations with substantial business activities in a treaty country with specified tax rates; (2) payments received by controlled foreign corporations from U.S. shareholders; and (3) certain conduit payments made by foreign corporations. Provides a special income and deduction allocation rule for related-party inbound (transfer price increased by deflected tax haven income) and outbound (transfer price increased by deflected tax haven income) transactions. Defines "related-party inbound transaction," "related-party outbound transaction," and "deflected tax haven."
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act - Amends Federal transportation law to prohibit a State from prescribing or enforcing any regulation that allows a restricted property-carrying unit (any trailer, semi-trailer, container, or other property-carrying unit longer than 53 feet, except for a fire-fighting unit) to operate on the National Highway System (including the Interstate System), unless the operation of such unit is authorized by the State on June 1, 2003, and in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including seasonal operations) on or before that date. Prohibits a State from allowing the operation of a commercial motor vehicle combination on the National Highway System (except a vehicle or load that cannot be dismantled or divided easily, and that has been issued a special permit under State law) with more than one property-carrying unit (excluding the truck tractor) whose property-carrying units are more than: (1) the maximum combination trailer, semi-trailer, or other type of length limitation allowed by State law on June 1, 2003; or (2) the length of the property-carrying units of those commercial motor vehicle combinations, by specific configuration, in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including continual seasonal operation) in such State on or before June 1, 2003. Permits a commercial motor vehicle combination authorized in a State to continue to operate on System highways provided it is in compliance with State law, including routing-specific and configuration-specific designations and all other restrictions in force in the State on June 1, 2003. Amends Federal highway law to prohibit a State from allowing the operation of a vehicle or combination (other than a longer combination vehicle) exceeding Interstate weight limits on the Interstate System unless its operation was lawful: (1) on July 1, 1956; (2) in the case of the overall gross weight of any group of two or more consecutive axles, on the date of enactment of the Federal-Aid Highway Amendments of 1974; or (3) under a special permit pursuant to State (grandfather) law. Subjects such vehicles and combinations to all routing-specific, commodity-specific, and weight-specific designations in force in such State on June 1, 2003. Sets forth requirements with respect to: (1) the operation of vehicles and loads which cannot be easily dismantled or divided (nondivisible loads) on the Federal-aid highway system as they relate to Interstate weight limitations; and (2) waiver of weight limitations for vehicles that operate on the Federal-aid highway system during periods of national emergency. Declares that Interstate weight limitations on vehicles and combinations (other than longer combination vehicles) that operate on the Interstate System shall also apply to such vehicles and combinations that operate on non-Interstate segments of the National Highway System, unless: (1) such segments are subject to lower State weight limits; or (2) a State allows the operation of any vehicle or combination on an existing non-Interstate segment of the National Highway System that could be so operated lawfully on June 1, 2003. Requires establishment of a model schedule of fines for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay the applicable premium to continue in force during the duty period any qualified health benefits plan coverage of a member of the reserves who is called or ordered to active duty for more than 30 days during a war or national emergency. Prohibits the private health insurance issuer of such a member from declining coverage or re-enrollment, imposing re-enrollment exclusions, or increasing premiums during such benefits coverage continuation period.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2003
Children's Vision Improvement and Learning Readiness Act of 2003 - Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to States for the purposes of: (1) providing comprehensive eye examinations for children identified as being at high risk of vision impairment, with priority to go to children under nine years old; (2) providing subsequent treatment or services necessary to correct vision problems; and (3) developing and disseminating educational materials with regard to the need and benefits of comprehensive eye examinations for children. Directs the Secretary to develop criteria for the collection of data related to vision assessment and the utilization of followup services. Directs the Secretary to coordinate the grant program, as appropriate, with other Federal and State programs that provide services to children. Requires a State to submit an application to the Secretary in order to receive a grant, which shall include a plan for the use of the grant. Requires a State to submit to the Secretary an annual evaluation of the operations and activities carried out under a grant.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2003
Calls for establishment of a National Community Health Center Week (beginning on August 10, 2003) to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income certain stipends paid as part of a State program under which individuals 60 years or older perform qualifying volunteer services.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude ($500 maximum) from gross income the value of certain real property tax reduction vouchers received by persons 65 years or older who provide qualifying volunteer services.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit an employee of a State political subdivision from being treated as having terminated the employment relationship with the subdivision due to the subdivision's abolition if, as a result of such abolition (or consolidation), the employee becomes a State employee with the same or substantially the same position.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2003
Declares that the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, South Asian-Americans, and Sikh-Americans, should be protected in light of the number of bias-motivated crimes against them in recent months. Condemns bigotry and acts of violence against such people and calls upon local, State, and Federal law enforcement authorities to prevent and investigate and prosecute such bias-motivated crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2003
Freedom of Choice for Women in the Uniformed Services Act - Limits the prohibition against the use of any medical treatment facility of the Department of Defense to perform an abortion except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to full term or in the case of rape or incest to those facilities in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2003
Nurse Education Promotion Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to: (1) associate degree schools of nursing for nursing student recruitment and scholarships and for nursing faculty hiring; and (2) professional nursing organizations, including nursing union chapters, for cooperative programs of continuing education for nurses with associate degrees to pursue baccalaureate degrees or receive training in understaffed and critical specialties.
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
Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2003 - Amends Federal firearms provisions to revise the definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" (SAW) to include conversion kits (for converting a firearm to a SAW) and any semiautomatic rifle or pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and that has any one of the following characteristics, respectively: (1) a folding or telescoping stock, a threaded barrel, a pistol grip, a forward grip, or a barrel shroud; or (2) a second pistol grip, a threaded barrel, a barrel shroud, or the capacity to accept a detachable magazine at a location outside of the pistol grip. Amends: (1) the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to reauthorize the assault weapons ban and add new restrictions; and (2) the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act to repeal the sunset provision regarding restrictions on large capacity ammunition feeding devices (LCAFDs) and on specified SAWs. Modifies the exemptions from the Brady Act's prohibition against manufacturing, transferring, or possessing a semiautomatic assault weapon to exclude: (1) specified firearms, or replicas or duplicates, as manufactured on October 1, 1993; (2) any semiautomatic rifle that cannot accept a detachable magazine that holds more than five rounds; and (3) any semiautomatic shotgun that cannot hold more than five rounds in a fixed or detachable magazine. Prohibits the transfer of a SAW except through a licensed dealer or a State or local law enforcement agency, subject to specified requirements. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish and maintain a record of the make, model, and date of manufacture of any SAW which the Attorney General is made aware has been used in relation to a crime, and of the nature and circumstances of the crime involved; and (2) annually submit the record to Congress and make the record available to the public. Prohibits: (1) the transfer of any assault weapon with an LCAFD; and (2) a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer who transfers an LCAFD that was manufactured on or before September 13, 1994, from failing to certify to the Attorney General, within 60 days of the transfer date, that the device was manufactured on or before that date. Sets penalties for violations. Prohibits: (1) the transfer of a SAW or an LCAFD to a juvenile; and (2) the importation of an LCAFD.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2003
Clean Smokestacks Act of 2003 - Amends the Clean Air Act (CAA) to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate regulations to achieve specified reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, and mercury from powerplants (electric generation facilities with a nameplate capacity of 15 megawatts or more that use a combustion device to generate electricity for sale) by January 1, 2009. Requires powerplants, on the later of the date 30 years after the powerplant commenced operation or five years after this Act's enactment, to comply with the most recent new source performance standards under CAA provisions regarding air quality and emissions limitations and with specified requirements for modified sources.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2003
Identity Theft and Financial Privacy Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prescribe duties imposed upon: (1) a card issuer with respect to confirmation of a consumer's changes of address; and (2) a consumer reporting agency with respect to notice of potential fraud. Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prescribe duties imposed upon a consumer reporting agency with respect to notice of potential fraud. Exempts from such requirements: (1) certain consumer reporting agencies acting as resellers of information; (2) certain check services companies; and (3) certain demand deposit account information service companies. Mandates truncation of credit card and debit card account numbers. Requires a consumer reporting agency to furnish, upon consumer request, a free annual disclosure of the information in the consumer's file.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2003
Health Care Tax Credit Enhancement for Workers and Steel Security Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the trade adjustment assistance-related health care tax credit to: (1) decrease age eligibility for Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation pension recipients; (2) eliminate the three-month coverage requirement concerning State-based coverage; and (3) revise covered month eligibility for the spouse of an individual entitled to Medicare. States that the steel import licensing and monitoring program established by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce shall remain in effect until not later than March 6, 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2003
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to: (1) restrict the application of the windfall elimination provision to individuals whose combined monthly income from the individual's primary insurance amount under such title and the portion of the monthly periodic payment attributable to noncovered service performed after 1956 exceeds $2,000; and (2) provide for a graduated implementation of such provision by specified percentages with respect to incremental amounts above such threshold, up to 100 percent for combined amounts over $3,000.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Korean Immigration Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 500,000 one dollar silver coins, the design of which shall be emblematic of the immigration of Koreans into the United States and the significant contributions of Korean Americans to the United States. States that no such coins shall be minted after December 31, 2003.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Public Housing Drug Elimination Program Reauthorization Act of 2003 - Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to authorize appropriations for the assisted housing drug elimination program. Limits activities for programs designed to reduce drug use in and around assisted low-income housing to: (1) providing drug abuse treatment through rehabilitation or relapse prevention; (2) providing education about the dangers and consequences of drug use or violent crime; (3) identifying drug users, and assisting drug use discontinuance through education or treatment programs; (4) providing after school youth activities; and (5) providing capital improvements and security services to discourage or eliminate drug use or violent crime.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Communications Commission should: (1) not weaken any current media ownership rules that protect people's access to diverse sources of information; (2) examine, and better inform the public regarding, the consequences of weakening such rules; and (3) allow for extensive public review and comment on proposed changes to such rules before issuing a final rule.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2003
VA Medical Workforce Enhancement Act of 2003 - States that: (1) current collective bargaining requirements within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) shall not preclude the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and any labor organization representing VHA employees from entering into a collective bargaining agreement with respect to the numbers, types, and grades of employees, the number of patients assigned to physicians, physicians assistants, or nurses, and employee-to-patient ratios within any VHA medical facility, clinic, or organizational subdivision; and (2) nothing shall limit the right or ability of any labor organization representing such employees from engaging in collective bargaining with respect to VHA promotion processes. Provides that when a VHA registered nurse has accomplished the performance elements of promotion to the next higher grade, the lack of a specific type of educational degree shall not be an impediment to such promotion. Authorizes additional pay for Saturday VHA nursing duty. Directs the Secretary to carry out a program to develop nurse preceptors to act as mentors to newly hired registered nurses at Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Liberian Refugee Immigration Protection Act of 2003 - Provides for the permanent resident status adjustment of certain Liberian nationals who were granted, or are eligible to apply for, temporary protected status as of a specified date.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act , the Internal Revenue Code, and Medicare supplemental policy provisions to prohibit health plans and insurers, with respect to protected genetic information, from discriminating in enrollment, eligibility, contribution rates, and premium rates based on such information. Makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or training program to discriminate because of protected genetic information.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of outpatient vision rehabilitation services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2003
Authorizes the President to present a gold medal in recognition of Jackie Robinson's contributions to the Nation. Calls for designation of a national day recognizing Robinson's accomplishments.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2003
Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to prohibit group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group health insurance coverage, with regard to hospital stays in connection with breast cancer treatment, from: (1) covering less than 48 hours after mastectomies or less than 24 hours after lymph node dissections; or (2) requiring plan or issuer authorization for prescribing any length of stay. Prohibits: (1) denying eligibility, enrollment, or renewal to avoid these requirements; (2) providing payments or rebates to women; or (3) penalizing or providing incentives to providers. Applies the same requirements to issuers in the individual market.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2003
Flight Attendant Certification Act - Amends Federal taransportation law to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to prescribe standards for cabin crew training and certification for individuals working in an aircraft cabin on board a transport category aircraft with twenty or more seats. Requires all new and existing cabin crew members to be certified by the Administrator after successful completion of an air carrier's training program consisting of: (1) initial, indoctrination, and emergency training; (2) air carrier specific training related to aircraft types and operator's certificate; and (3) submission by the air carrier to the Administrator confirming such completion. Declares that the Administrator shall be prohibited from granting an air carrier a waiver of cabin crew training requirements or an exemption from any part of such requirements. Requires a cabin crew member, to qualify for a cabin crew certificate, to successfully: (1) complete the training requirements established by the Administrator, including all initial, indoctrination, emergency, transition, differences, recurrent, and requalification training; (2) complete the cabin security and self-defense training requirements established by the Transportation Security Administrator; and (3) perform the assigned duties of a cabin crew member and complete the approved proficiency check, under the supervision of a certified instructor or supervisor, for not less than five hours of initial operating experience. Requires air carrier training programs to receive the Administrator's approval.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2003
International Civil Rights Center and Museum Study Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study and report to specified congressional committees on the suitability and feasibility of designating the International Civil Rights Center and Museum located in Greensboro, North Carolina, as a National Park System unit.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2003
Commends the efforts of former South African President Nelson Mandela and others involved in the historic peace agreement for the Republic of Burundi that was signed in 2001 in Arusha, Tanzania. Calls on the President to significantly increase development and economic assistance to Burundi. Urges the President to work with Congress to lift restrictions imposed on Burundi after the 1996 coup and, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to establish a USAID mission there. Urges the international community to assist Burundi in its debt relief efforts, including through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.
![Official portrait of Rep. Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c001037_200.jpg)