United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2002
Food Choking Prevention Act of 2002 - Directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish an Office of Choking Hazard Evaluation to require warning labels on food products primarily consumed by children that pose a demonstrably high choking risk to them. Grants the Office mandatory recall authority over food products determined to pose a significant and unacceptable choking hazard to the general public. Mandates establishment of a Choking Hazard Evaluation Task Force whose staff shall be designated jointly by such agencies to establish criteria for determining whether a food product poses a significant and unacceptable choking hazard, using age-differentiated criteria for choking hazards. Directs the FDA to: (1) establish a national database of unusual food choking incidents; and (2) provide for an adequate reporting system throughout its field offices, which members of the health care profession and the general public can readily access to report new incidents.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2002
Recognizes and congratulates former President Jimmy Carter for his receipt of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, and commends him for his tireless work for and dedication to peace.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2002
Children's Mental Health Screening and Prevention Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Education, and the Attorney General (the "Secretaries"), in consultation with various other officials, to make a grant to one "demonstration facility" in each of ten areas to be selected by the Secretaries to implement screening to detect mental illness and suicidal tendencies in school-age youth. Defines "demonstration facility" as a facility serving at-risk youth or performing outreach to school-age youth. Requires the selected areas to include various areas, including one that has a shortage of mental health professionals and one located in an Indian reservation. Prohibits grants from going to applicants that do not agree to report certain information to the Secretaries, including on: (1) demographics of the youth in the project; (2) the outcomes of the screening; (3) referrals based on outcomes; (4) treatment based on referrals; (5) suicide, including suicide attempts and rates, to the extent practicable. Prohibits the Secretaries from discriminating against an applicant due to the applicant's inability to collect information on suicide. Directs the Secretaries to convene an advisory panel to advise each of the Secretaries regarding the use or improvement of the screening methods to detect mental illness and suicidal tendencies in school-age youth.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2002
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) supports the goals and ideals of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund; (2) salutes the Fund, and recognizes the efforts in support of equal opportunity in higher education of its president, its board of directors, and the presidents, faculties, staff, and trustees of its member institutions; and (3) commends the students who benefit from the Fund for their pursuit of academic excellence.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2002
Center for International Human Rights Act of 2002 - Declares that Congress finds that a private, nonprofit corporation known as the Center for International Human Rights has been established in the District of Columbia to: (1) establish programs to promote, monitor, and analyze the status of human rights throughout the world; (2) investigate allegations of human rights violations in conjunction with private and governmental organizations; (3) sponsor fellows to study international human rights issues at the Center; (4) carry out a conference series to bring together international human rights experts to discuss and disseminate information; and (5) make grants to and cooperative agreements with non-governmental organizations to promote human rights, giving priority to indigenous human rights organizations in countries the governments of which violate such rights. Authorizes the Secretary of State to make an annual grant to the Center.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2002
Rejecting Social Security Privatization Act of 2002 - States that the Congress hereby commits to preserve the guaranteed, lifelong, inflation-protected benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to retirees, disabled workers, and their families, and the survivors of deceased workers, by rejecting plans to institute Personal Retirement Accounts, or any other forms of private accounts, which would divert or remove all or portions of monies from the Social Security trust funds and reduce the retirement security of current and future beneficiaries, and which would reduce guaranteed Social Security benefits for retirees, disabled workers, and survivors.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2002
Renames title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (prohibiting discrimination in education based on sex) the "Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act".
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2002
HOPE VI Program Revitalization Act of 2002 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to extend and authorize appropriations for the HOPE VI revitalization program. Revises grant selection criteria.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2002
Apprenticeship Opportunity Act - Requires the Federal Government, in awarding any contract for a construction project, to give a preference to entities participating in qualified apprenticeship programs.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2002
Medicare Beneficiary Skilled Nursing Protection Act of 2002 - Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 to extend for three years the temporary increase in the nursing component of the Federal prospective payment rate. Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 to extend for three years the increase in the skilled nursing facility adjusted Federal per diem rate under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2002
Rural Fire Department Equipment Priority Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture to use the existing property disposal program of the Forest Service (known as the Federal Excess Personal Property program) to facilitate the reutilization of Department of Defense (DOD) excess personal property by firefighting agencies in rural areas. Requires a DOD transfer of property for such purpose to be given a property disposal priority at least equal to the priority given the military departments and other entities within DOD.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2002
Calls for the United States to work through the United Nations to seek to ensure that Iraq is not developing weapons of mass destruction, through the resumption of weapons inspections, negotiation, enquiry, mediation, regional arrangements, and other peaceful means.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2002
Protecting Our Children From Violence Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to set forth criminal penalties for the: (1) assault or maiming of an individual under 18 years of age (minor); (2) custodial (parental) kidnaping of a minor; and (3) murder or attempted murder of a minor. Provides a civil action for the relief of a victim or of a parent on behalf of a victim. Authorizes the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to forward to local law enforcement agencies any electronic reports received concerning possible violations of child pornography laws. Requires the Attorney General to establish an AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert Coordinator position. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to States for developing and constructing along highways facilities and equipment designed to notify the public of missing children. Establishes within the Federal Bureau of Investigation a National Crimes Against Children Response Center to: (1) develop a national response plan model for reporting crimes involving the victimization of children; and (2) protect children from future crimes. Increases from 25 to 35 years the statute of limitations for child abuse offenses. Makes the confidential marital communication privilege and adverse spousal privilege inapplicable to Federal proceedings where a spouse is charged with a crime against a child of either spouse or against a child under the custody or control of either spouse. Increases penalties for sex offenses. Directs the Attorney General to appoint a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Crimes Against Children.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2002
Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2002 - Adjusts the basic Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity amount for surviving spouses, age 62 or over, of former military personnel to: (1) 35 percent of the retired pay of the decedent (current law), for months beginning on or before the enactment of this Act; (2) 40 percent of such pay, for months beginning after enactment of this Act until October 2005; (3) 45 percent of such pay for months beginning after September 2005 and before October 2012; and (4) 55 percent of such pay for months after September 2012. Adjusts similarly the percentage amounts of SBP supplemental annuity authorized to be provided for such surviving spouses. Directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure appropriate adjustments in the computation of retired pay reductions for such supplemental annuities.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2002
Chance to Succeed Act of 2002 - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to include as a work activity satisfactory participation in services to address barriers designed to improve future employment opportunities, including substance abuse treatment and physical rehabilitation, mental health, and mental retardation and developmental disabilities services. Requires the assessment for each assistance recipient to determine whether the recipient has any such barriers. Prohibits a TANF-recipient State from imposing a sanction against an individual or family on the basis of noncompliance with a program requirement if the individual whose conduct is the basis of the sanction is in the uncompleted process of being screened or assessed for a mental health problem, disability, substance abuse problem, or sexual or domestic violence situation, or if the services outlined in the service plan developed for the individual or family were not offered, available, and accessible to the individual or family at the time of the noncompliance. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting a State in compliance with its requirements from imposing a sanction for noncompliance with work requirements against an individual or family who opts to not take full advantage of the opportunity for assessment or the services and supports made available. Requires each State receiving a State family assistance grant to establish an advisory panel to review the efficacy of each TANF-funded program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2002
Supports the goals and ideals of National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. Salutes and acknowledges historically Black colleges and universities and the presidents, faculties, staff, and trustees of the 118 such institutions for their vigorous and persistent efforts in support of equal opportunity in higher education. Commends the students who benefit from such institutions for their pursuit of academic excellence.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2002
Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2002 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide that a public safety officer who dies as the direct and proximate result of a heart attack or stroke suffered while on duty or within 24 hours after participating in a training exercise or responding to an emergency situation shall be presumed to have died as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty, for purposes of survivor benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2002
Save Our Children: Stop the Violent Predators Against Children DNA Act of 2002 - Directs the Attorney General to establish and maintain a database solely for collecting DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) information with respect to violent predators against children. Authorizes Federal, State, and local agencies and other entities to submit DNA information for the database and to compare DNA information within the database. Directs the Attorney General to make grants to States to improve programs to decrease recidivism of such predators. Requires the maximum sentence to be imposed for a crime of violence, including a sex crime, against an individual under age 18 that would, in and of itself, establish the offender as such a predator, without regard to any mitigating circumstance that would otherwise apply.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2002
Northeastern North Carolina Heritage Area Study Act of 2002 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to study and report on the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Northeastern North Carolina Heritage Study Area in North Carolina (to be comprised of Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington counties).
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2002
Small and Disadvantaged Business Ombudsman Act - Amends the Small Business Act to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to designate a Small and Disadvantaged Business Ombudsman for Procurement, who shall: (1) work with each Federal agency with procurement authority to ensure that small businesses are treated fairly in the procurement process; (2) establish a procedure for receiving comments from small businesses and personnel of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (Office) of each Federal agency regarding the activities of agencies and prime contractors on Federal procurement contracts for small businesses; and (3) establish a procedure for addressing concerns received with respect to small businesses and Federal procurement contracting. Requires an annual report from the Ombudsman to the congressional small business committees evaluating such activities. Requires each Federal agency to assist the Ombudsman to ensure compliance with Federal procurement goals for small businesses, certain procurement policies, and Federal prime contractor small business subcontracting plans. Requires a Federal agency to submit a goal attainment plan upon failure to meet small business procurement goals. Requires each Office director to: (1) have experience assisting small businesses with Federal procurement; (2) not currently serve as the chief procurement officer of such agency; (3) have no other duties; and (4) attend meetings of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Council. Establishes such Council. Increases, from the current 23 percent to up to 30 percent for FY 2006 and thereafter, the Federal small business procurement goal.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2002
Good Medicine Cultural Competence Act of 2002 - Establishes the Cultural Competence Commission to study and report on establishing standards in cultural competence education for medical and health professionals. Addresses issues of training, clinical guidelines and protocols, access, vulnerable populations, policy forums and think tanks, incentives, collaboration, and enforcement mechanisms.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2002
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) small business concerns should continue to play an active role in assisting the military, Federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and State and local police by designing and developing innovative products to combat terrorism; and (2) Federal, State, and local governments should aggressively seek out and purchase innovative technologies and services from, and promote research opportunities for, small businesses to improve homeland defense and aid in the fight against terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2002
Small Business Drought Relief Act - Amends the Small Business Act to include drought within the definition of "disaster" for purposes of disaster loans provided to small businesses through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Authorizes such loan assistance for farm- and nonfarm-related small businesses affected by droughts. Requires the SBA to respond in writing to a State governor regarding its determination concerning the provision of disaster loan assistance within 30 days after receiving such governor's certification that small businesses in that State have suffered economic injury as a result of a disaster.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2002
Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Caregivers Age 55-to-65 Years of Age). Makes eligible for both part A and part B Medicare benefits during a specified period certain individuals 55 or older who are caring on a full-time basis for family members who are Medicare beneficiaries requiring substantial supervision due to severe cognitive impairment or are unable to perform at least two activities of daily living. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine and to provide for payment and collection of a monthly premium. Creates in the Treasury the Medicare Caregiver Trust Fund to hold collected premiums. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide an annual long-term care credit of $3000 per applicable person for whom a taxpayer is an eligible caregiver. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to carry out research, demonstration, and education programs toward improving the delivery of appropriate health and support services for patients with fatal chronic illnesses. Requires the Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Director of the National Institutes of Health to expand activities with respect to fatal chronic illness. Requires the Secretary to develop pilot programs for the treatment for fatal chronic illness. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the delivery of appropriate treatment services to patients with fatal chronic illness under health care programs of the Department of Veterans Services.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2002
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a National Epilepsy Awareness Month should be established and observed with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2002
Recognizes the role of women's sports programs in the development of women's leadership skills and supports the goals of Women's Leadership Through Sports Day.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2002
Senior Nutrition Act of 2002 - Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to make a person who is at least 60 years old eligible for the commodity supplemental food program (program) if such person: (1) is eligible for the food stamp program; or (2) has a household income that is not more than 185 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. Authorizes permanent program appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2002
Textile and Apparel Recognition Act - Calls upon the President to: (1) ensure enforcement of U.S. trade laws with respect to trade practices resulting in harm to the U.S. textile and apparel industry; (2) ensure enforcement of international trade agreements with respect to the U.S. textile and apparel industry, including existing safeguard remedies available under the World Trade Organization and the North American Free Trade Agreement; (3) ensure enforcement of existing quota and tariff regulations to prevent further illegal circumvention of the U.S. textile import restraint program; (4) deny requests from trading partners of the United States for unilateral liberalization by the United States of its textile and apparel market other than that provided for under existing international trade agreements; and (5) implement strategies to open foreign markets to provide equitable access for goods exported by the U.S. textile and apparel industry. Directs the President when conducting negotiations to enter into trade agreements with other countries to take into account potential foreign currency devaluations so that such countries do not receive the benefit of reduced tariffs while at the same time making their exports more cost-competitive on the international market through such currency devaluations. Requires the President to report annually to Congress on the ability of the U.S. textile manufacturing sector to compete with the textile industry in other countries when foreign currencies are devalued.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2002
Honors Corinne "Lindy" Claiborne Boggs for her extraordinary service to the people of Louisiana and the United States on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Congressional Women's Caucus. Recognizes that her role in its founding has improved the lives of families throughout the United States. Commends her bipartisan spirit as an example to all elected officials.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Yellowstone Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement the final rule to phase out snowplane use in Grand Teton National Park and snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park, the John. D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, and Grand Teton National Park. Prohibits the Secretary from modifying or superseding any provisions of that final rule.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2002
Urges the establishment of a National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day on September 24, 2002, to encourage public education on sarcoidosis and support research for better treatment options and a cure.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2002
Rural Self-Sufficiency and Workforce Advancement Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promote workforce development in rural areas and assist low-income residents of rural communities in moving from welfare to work, by making competitive grants to eligible applicants for: (1) rural transitional jobs programs; and (2) implementing rural workforce investment plans. Makes appropriations for both these grant programs. Requires rural transitional jobs program grantees to: (1) reimburse employers for wages and payroll taxes (100 percent for nonprofit employers and 50 percent for for-profit employers); (2) pay the greater of the applicable Federal or State minimum wage for a relevant minimum or maximum number of hours per week; (3) limit the number of participants in the employer's workforce, and not displace other employees; (4) limit to 12 months the maximum period of a participant's employment in such a position; and (5) prepare annual reports. Requires such grantees also to provide each participant with an individual plan of services to prepare for positions available in the local economy offering potential advancement and growth, including: (1) counseling, training, and services for six to 15 hours per week during the 24-month period beginning when the participant is placed in such a transitional employment position; and (2) a stipend based on the hourly wage earned in the position and the number of hours of counseling, training, and services participated in that week. Requires rural workforce investment plan grantees to: (1) implement plans approved by the Secretary for various authorized activities; and (2) prepare annual reports.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
National Slave Memorial Act - Authorizes the National Foundation for African American Heritage to establish, in the District of Columbia, a memorial to slavery to: (1) acknowledge the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies; and (2) honor the nameless and forgotten men, women, and children who have gone unrecognized for their undeniable and weighty U.S. contribution. Expresses the sense of Congress that the memorial should be situated in a specified area near the Lincoln Memorial. Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the National Capital Memorial Commission to determine a location for the memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to include demonstration, education, and other programs concerning cancer survivorship among the activities of the National Cancer Institute (Institute) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Requires the Director of NIH to: (1) expand and coordinate NIH activities related to cancer survivorship; and (2) establish an Office on Survivorship within the Institute. Creates the position of Associate Director for Survivorship. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, to: (1) study the health challenges associated with cancer survivorship and carry out projects and interventions; and (2) make grants for the monitoring and evaluation of cancer care and survivorship.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) greater attention should be paid to the negative impact on economic development of the denial of inheritance rights to women, particularly in Africa; (2) programs that focus on ensuring secure inheritance rights to widows and orphans of HIV/AIDS should be considered; (3) ensuring secure inheritance rights for women should be included in strategies addressing violence against women; (4) the rights of widows and other female heads of households to inherit land and property should be included in the priorities of reconstruction; (5) the Secretary of State should examine the issue of women's inheritance rights in Africa in the State Department's annual human rights report; (6) the U.S. Agency for International Development should consider conducting a study of African countries to document the effect of the denial of women's inheritance rights on economic development; and (7) the Annual Day of Acton on Women's Inheritance Rights should be acknowledged and supported.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2002
Family Violence Prevention Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish an Office of Family Violence within the Department of Health and Human Services. Directs the Office to coordinate intra-departmental family violence programs and develop a Federal family violence prevention Internet website. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for the establishment of five family violence research and education centers through grants or contracts with public and nonprofit private entities. Requires such centers to: (1) include both professional and public education; and (2) be linked to national, State, and local resources. Requires one center to be linked to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and another to the National Institute of Mental Health. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory board to make recommendations concerning the centers' research agenda. Requires the Director to award grants to eligible entities, including healthcare delivery systems or training entities, to develop and disseminate family violence education and training curricula, programs, and strategies.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2002
National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2002 - 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 · 23 May 2002
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 · 22 May 2002
Right of Passage Community Service Act - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to add to the list of national service programs eligible for Federal assistance a community-based Right of Passage after school and summer service corps program. Establishes qualifications for participating students, including that they be between ages 12 and 16 at the time they begin serving. Specifies skills such as leadership and conflict resolution that the program will help students develop. Requires participants to spend at least 160 hours in the program during a period of between two months and one year. Rewards participants upon service completion with a national service education award of $500.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2002 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the Federal minimum wage to: (1) $5.75 an hour beginning 30 days after enactment of this Act; (2) $6.25 an hour during the year beginning on January 1, 2003; and (3) $6.65 an hour beginning January 1, 2004. Makes Federal minimum wage requirements applicable to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Sets forth a transition period during which a specified minimum wage there shall be gradually increased to equal the Federal minimum wage.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2002
Establishes a National Commission on Terrorist Acts Upon the United States. Directs the Commission to: (1) investigate facts and circumstances relating to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; and (2) evaluate lessons learned regarding the abilities of the Federal Government, and, if appropriate, of State and local governments and nongovernmental entities to detect, prevent, and respond to such attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2002
National Drought Preparedness Act of 2002 - Establishes the National Drought Council which shall: (1) develop a national drought policy action plan; (2) evaluate Federal drought-related programs; (3) coordinate and prioritize enhancement of the national drought monitoring network; and (4) provide for the development of a drought information delivery system, drought planning models, and drought preparedness plans. Terminates the Council eight years after enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of the National Drought Council to establish the National Office of Drought Preparedness. Establishes within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the Drought Assistance Fund, which shall be used to: (1) assist State, local, tribal, and critical service entities with drought-related activities; and (2) expand the technology transfer of drought and water conservation strategies. Requires: (1) the Director to publish guidelines for administering a national technical and financial drought assistance program; and (2) the Director, the Secretaries of Agriculture, the Interior, and the Army, and other appropriate Federal agency heads to implement integrated drought preparedness plans. Authorizes States, Indian tribes, local governments, and regional, water providers to develop and implement drought preparedness plans. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the Director of FEMA to reimburse States for qualifying costs incurred in prepositioning wildfire suppression resources.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2002
Social Security Widow's Benefit Guarantee Act of 2002 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) provide for an increase in widow's and widower's insurance benefits; (2) repeal the seven year restriction on eligibility for widow's and widower's insurance benefits based on disability; (3) waive the two-year waiting period for a divorced spouse's benefits upon the other spouse's remarriage; and (4) disregard months ending after a deceased individual's death in applying early retirement rules with respect to the deceased individual for purposes of the limitation on widow's and widower's benefits. Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to provide that an eligible widow or widower who is entitled to a widow's or widower's insurance benefit for any month under OASDI, but is not eligible for benefits under SSI in that month, shall be deemed for purposes of SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to be an individual with respect to whom SSI benefits are paid in that month, if he or she: (1) has been continuously entitled to such widow's or widower's insurance benefits from the first month for which the increase in widow's or widower's insurance benefits resulting from this Act is reflected in such benefits through the month involved; and (2) would be eligible for benefits under SSI in the month involved if the amount of the increase in his or her widow's or widower's insurance benefits were disregarded.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2002
Racial Equity and Fair Treatment Act of 2002 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States and county applicants to pay the Federal share of the costs of improving the administration of support programs for low-income families with children. Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to revise requirements for assessments and work activities for TANF recipients. Requires: (1) interpretation and translation services in certain cases for TANF recipients; (2) an expedited process for discrimination complaints; (3) provision of notice of rights of TANF recipients; (3) training of TANF program personnel in respecting such rights; (4) standardized sanction process; and (5) opportunity for TANF applicants or recipients to appeal adverse decisions. Modifies penalties against individuals for violating mandatory work requirements, creating additional exceptions, including those for child care and discrimination. Prohibits States from diverting potential TANF applicants. Bans States from penalizing the entire family for the misconduct of one family member. Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to repeal provisions for denial of assistance and benefits for certain drug-related convictions. Makes various changes under the TANF program concerning: (1) the five-year time limit on assistance; and (2) treatment of aliens. Permits participation in English-as-a-second language programs as a work activity. Prescribes requirements encouraging racial equality.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2002
Steel Industry Legacy Relief Act of 2002 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish a steel industry retiree benefits protection program administered by the Secretary of Commerce and the Board of Trustees of the Steel Industry Legacy Relief Trust Fund (created by this Act) to provide specified medical benefits to eligible steel retirees and beneficiaries. Prescribes qualifying events (acquisition, closing, election, or bankruptcy transfer) as a result of which the United States shall assume liability for the provision of steel retiree benefits for each eligible retiree and eligible beneficiary certified for participation in the retiree benefits program. Requires transfer to the Trust Fund by a qualified steel company and any applicable acquiring company of all assets which, under the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, were required to be set aside under an employee benefit plan or otherwise for the provision of the steel retiree benefits. Requires contributions to the Trust Fund by such companies.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2002
Women and Children's HIV Protection Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit making a grant to a State under the care grant program unless the State demonstrates that the law or regulations of the State require specified testing and services for pregnant women and newborn infants regarding HIV disease.
![Official portrait of Rep. Clayton, Eva M. [D-NC-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000494_200.jpg)