United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a special rule allowing a minimum credit against the alternative minimum tax where stock acquired pursuant to an incentive stock option is sold or exchanged at a loss.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2003
Koby Mandell Act of 2003 - Directs the President to establish within the Department of Justice an office which shall assume responsibility for administration of the Rewards for Justice program and its website to ensure that rewards are offered to capture all terrorists involved in harming American citizens overseas, regardless of the terrorists' country of origin or residence. Directs the office to take specified steps, including: (1) establishing a program which will update American victims of overseas terrorism or their families on the status of efforts to capture the terrorists; (2) undertaking a comprehensive assessment to determine the reasons for the absence of indictments of terrorists residing in some regions; (3) monitoring public actions pertaining to terrorists by governments and regimes overseas, such as naming schools, streets, or other public institutions or sites after terrorists who have harmed American citizens; (4) initiating negotiations to secure financial compensation for American citizens (or their families) who were harmed by terrorist acts overseas by an organization that subsequently became part of a governing regime with which the U.S. Government maintains diplomatic or official contacts; and (5) coordinating with other Government agencies to seek the transfer to the United States of terrorists released from incarceration abroad who are eligible for further prosecution in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2003
Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to make grants to States for: (1) coordinating mosquito control programs to prevent and control mosquito-borne diseases; and (2) assisting States in making grants to political subdivisions (localities) to help them develop control programs. Allows the Secretary, acting through the Director, to make grants to localities for the operation of control programs. Requires each locality receiving such a grant to: (1) develop an assessment on the need for a control program and a plan for carrying out such a program; and (2) make available matching funds in an amount not less than 1/3 of the cost of the program, unless the Secretary waives the requirement due to extraordinary economic conditions in the locality. Allows the Secretary to provide training and technical assistance to: (1) States for the planning, development, and operation of assessments and plans regarding control programs; and (2) localities for the planning, development, and operation of control programs. States that such assistance may be provided directly or through awards of grants or contracts to public or private entities. Requires the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to conduct or support research into methods to control the population of insects and vermin that transmit dangerous diseases to humans.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2003
National AMBER Alert Network Act of 2003 - Requires the Attorney General to assign an AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice to act as the national Coordinator of the AMBER Alert communications network regarding abducted children. Requires the coordinator to: (1) seek to eliminate gaps in the network; (2) work with States to encourage the development of additional network elements and to ensure regional coordination; and (3) act as the nationwide point of contact for network development and for regional coordination of alerts on abducted children through the network. Directs the Coordinator to: (1) notify and consult with the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning each child abduction for which an AMBER Alert is issued; and (2) establish minimum standards for the issuance of alerts and for the extent of their dissemination (limited to the geographic areas most likely to facilitate the recovery of the abducted child). Requires the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants to States for the development or enhancement of notification or communications systems along highways for alerts and other information for the recovery of abducted children. Includes among permissible activities the development or enhancement of electronic message boards, and the placement of additional signage, along highways. Directs the Attorney General to provide grants to States for the development or enhancement of programs and activities for the support of AMBER Alert communications plans.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2003
National Right-to-Work Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to repeal those provisions that permit employers, pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement that is a union security agreement, to require employees to join a union as a condition of employment (including provisions permitting railroad carriers to require, pursuant to such an agreement, payroll deduction of union dues or fees as a condition of employment).
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2003
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003 - Prohibits any person or entity, in or affecting interstate commerce, from knowingly: (1) performing or attempting to perform human cloning; (2) participating in such an attempt; (3) shipping or receiving an embryo produced by human cloning; or (4) importing such an embryo. Sets forth criminal and civil penalties. Provides that nothing in this Act restricts areas of scientific research not specifically prohibited above, including research in the use of nuclear transfer or other cloning techniques to produce molecules, DNA, cells other than human embryos, tissues, organs, plants, or animals other than humans. Directs the General Accounting Office to assess the need for amendment of such prohibition, including through: (1) a discussion of new developments, the need for somatic cell transfer to produce medical advances, current public attitudes and prevailing ethical views concerning its use, and potential legal implications of somatic cell transfer research; and (2) a review of any technological developments that may require technical changes to such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2003
Declares Executive Order 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency," to be null and void. Prohibits the use of funds for the promulgation or enforcement of an executive order that creates an entitlement to services provided in a language other than English.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2003
Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2003 - Permits retired members of the armed forces with service-connected disabilities to be paid both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation. Repeals provisions providing for special compensation for certain severely disabled military retirees and certain combat-related disabled uniformed services retirees.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2003
Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to state that churches and other houses of worship shall not lose such designation because of the content, preparation, or presentation of any homily, sermon, teaching, dialectic, or other presentation made during religious services or gatherings. States that such provision shall not affect campaign finance laws under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude stock options and employee stock purchase plans from the definition of wages for purposes of employment taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize qualified law enforcement officers (including certain qualified retired officers) carrying the photographic identification issued by their governmental agency, notwithstanding State or local laws, to carry a concealed firearm. Provides that such authorization shall not supersede State laws that: (1) permit private entities to prohibit the possession of concealed firearms on their property; or (2) prohibit the possession of firearms on State or local government property. Excludes from the definition of "firearm" any machine gun, firearm silencer, or destructive device.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Small Business Expensing Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the expensing of depreciable business assets (section 179) to increase the maximum amount which may be expensed to $75,000 and the phase-out threshold to $325,000.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act - Amends the Internet Tax Freedom Act to permanently ban: (1) taxes on Internet access; and (2) multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Community Choice in Real Estate Act - Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, and the Revised Statutes of the United States, to prohibit the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Secretary of the Treasury, respectively, from determining that real estate brokerage activity or real estate management activity is financial in nature, is incidental to any financial activity, or is complementary to a financial activity. (In effect, prohibits financial holding companies and national banks from engaging, directly or indirectly, in real estate brokerage or real estate management activities.) Exempts from such prohibition: (1) activities of a bank holding company (or any affiliate) that directly relate to managing any real property owned by national banks or their affiliates; and (2) the right, power, or ability of any financial holding company to engage in any activity, or acquire or retain the shares of any company engaged in an activity authorized for financial holding companies on December 6, 2001 ("grandfather clause").
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Investment Tax Incentive Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for reduced capital gain rates for qualified economic stimulus gain. Defines "qualified economic stimulus gain" as the aggregate long-term capital gain (with specified exceptions) from property the holding period for which begins during the 2-year period beginning on the date of the enactment. Provides for the indexing of assets (certain stocks and tangible property) for purposes of determining gain or loss.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Death Tax Permanency Act of 2003 - Amends title IX (Compliance with Congressional Budget Act) of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-16) to repeal the sunset provisions applicable to title V (Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes) of such Act. (Makes estate tax repeal permanent.) States that such amendments shall take effect as if included in section 901 of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Disapproves the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, relating to revisions to payment policies under the Medicare physician fee schedule for calendar year 2003, and the inclusion of registered nurses in the personnel provision of the critical access hospital emergency services requirement for frontier areas and remote locations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 2002
Provides for the transfer of the U.S. Postal Service to a private corporation. Directs the President to transmit to the Congress: (1) a comprehensive plan providing for the transfer of property subject to this Act; and (2) recommendations for legislation as necessary. Establishes the Postal Privatization Commission to: (1) carry out functions relating to the issuance of securities to postal employees; and (2) consult with the President on the transfer.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2002
Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act of 2002 - Amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to allow specified apparel articles that are imported directly into the customs territory of the United States from Haiti to enter free of duty if Haiti has satisfied the requirements of this Act. Declares that such articles include apparel articles that are wholly assembled or knit-to-shape in Haiti exclusively from fabric components and yarns formed in: (1) the United States; (2) a country that is party to a free trade agreement with the United States on January 1, 2002, that enters into a free trade agreement with the United States subject to trade promotion authority, or that has been designated as a beneficiary country; and (4) any country if the fabrics or yarns are designated as not being commercially available in the United States. Specifies the quantity of articles to which such preferential treatment shall extend. Declares that Haiti shall be eligible for such preferential treatment if the President determines and certifies to Congress that Haiti has met specified conditions, including: (1) establishing or making progress toward establishing a market-based economy that protects private property rights, the rule of law, the elimination of barriers to U.S. trade and investment, economic policies to reduce poverty, a system to combat corruption and bribery, and protection of internationally recognized worker rights; (2) not engaging in activities that undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy interests or gross violations of internationally recognized human rights; (3) not providing support for international terrorism; and (4) cooperating in international efforts to eliminate human rights violations and terrorist activities.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2002
Recognizes that a strong domestic steel industry and strong domestic manufacturing base are vital to national defense and economic security. Urges the President to request the International Trade Commission to: (1) expedite its review of the temporary safeguards imposed on March 5, 2002, on certain steel imports, and to report its findings to the President and Congress; and (2) monitor and report, in addition to developments with respect to a domestic industry (including the progress and specific efforts made by workers and firms in the industry to make a positive adjustment to import competition), on the impact of the temporary safeguards on domestic steel consumers and relations with U.S. trading partners.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2002
Congratulates Erika Harold on being crowned Miss America 2003. Honors her for her vision, determination, and integrity, and recognizes her as a strong positive role model for youth in the United States.
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 · 26 September 2002
Encourages all Americans to learn about the importance of bone marrow donation and to become a bone marrow donor by joining the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. Supports the goals of National Marrow Awareness Month, especially efforts to increase the number of minority donors and to educate Americans about bone marrow donation and transplants.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2002
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) affirms that the ties that bind the people of the United States and Europe are as strong today as they have been for the past 50 years; (2) accepts the indivisibility of transatlantic security; (3) recognizes that the United States and Europe strengthen and adapt the transatlantic partnership to deal with challenges at home and abroad; (4) acknowledges that in order to strengthen that partnership there must be a renewed commitment to consultations; and (5) commits to helping to improve the partnership by enhancing the dialogue between the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress through the framework of the Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue. Commends Benjamin Gilman for his distinguished career in Congress and for his dedication to further transatlantic friendship and partnership through dialogue and consultation.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2002
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a special rule allowing a minimum credit against the alternative minimum tax where stock acquired pursuant to an incentive stock option is sold or exchanged at a loss.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2002
Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2002 - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to strike certain expired provisions. Provides for temporary duty suspensions and reductions through December 31, 2005 for: (1) certain chemicals and dyes; (2) acrylic fiber tow; (3) nylon MXD6; (4) cases for certain toys and for certain children's products; (5) bags for certain toys; (6) certain children's products; (7) certain epoxy molding compounds; (8) certain textile machinery; (9) certain filament yarns; (10) a specified fungicide; (11) certain refracting and reflecting telescopes; (12) certain rubber riding boots; (13) a specified ink; (14) certain manufacturing equipment; (15) thermal release plastic film; (16) certain silver paints and pastes; (17) polymer masking material for aluminum capacitors; (18) certain pesticides; (19) necks used in cathode ray tubes; (20) combed cashmere and camel hair yarn; (21) certain carded cashmere yarn; (22) certain rayon filament yarn; (23) certain tire cord fabric; (24) carbon dioxide cartridges; (25) certain custom-made automotive magnets; (26) certain high-performance loudspeakers; (27) bio-set injection RCC; and (28) fixed-ratio gear changers. Extends the existing suspension of duty through December 31, 2005 for: (1) chemicals and dyes; and (2) certain cathode-ray tubes. Grants duty-free treatment through December 31, 2005 to: (1) certain cathode-ray tubes; and (2) certain chemicals. Extends the suspension of duty on certain polyamides through December 31, 2005. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to admit free of duty into the United States: (1) two tramway cars manufactured in Plzen, Czech Republic, for the use of the city of Portland, Oregon; and (2) a replica of the Liberty Bell imported from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry of London, England, by the Liberty Memorial Association of Green Bay and Brown County, Wisconsin, for use by the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Brown County, Wisconsin. Provides duty-free treatment for certain tractor parts suitable for agricultural use, and for a specified chemical and fungicide. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to declare that the duty imposed on vessels (equipment) purchased, or the repair of such vessels, in a foreign country and documented under U.S. laws to engage in the foreign or coasting trade shall not apply, among other things, to the cost of such equipment, repair parts, and materials that are installed on such vessel, if the installation is done by members of the regular crew of such vessel while it is on the high seas. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to provide duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences for certain hand-knotted or hand-woven carpets. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to allow a drawback (refund) of duties paid on certain articles imported into the United States and later shipped to the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Guam, Canton Island, Enderbury Island, Johnston Island, or Palmyra Island. Provides a drawback (refund) of duties paid on unused merchandise which is entered into the United States and, within a specified time period, is later exported or destroyed. Authorizes the President to extend nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make changes with respect to the cellar treatment of domestic and imported natural wine.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2002
Authorizes the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor the victims of the Ukrainian famine-genocide of 1932-1933. Prohibits the U.S. Government from paying any expense for the establishment of the memorial or its maintenance.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2002
Tax Simplification Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the alternative minimum tax. Amends the definitions of dependent and of head of household. Modifies provisions concerning: (1) the dependent care credit; (2) the child tax credit; (3) the earned income credit; and (4) the deduction for a personal exemption for dependents. Accelerates the repeal of the phaseout of personal exemptions and of the overall limitation on itemized deductions. Repeals certain phaseout provisions, including with regard to the child tax credit. Modifies provisions dealing with the capital gains tax (including, allowing the deduction for nonitemizers) and providing for a deduction for points on a home mortgage. Provides for the partial exclusion of dividends and interest. Increases the exclusion for group-term life insurance purchased for employees. Combines the Hope and Lifetime Learning credits. Repeals provisions regarding collapsible corporations. Sets forth special rules dealing with the active business test for certain corporate reorganizations. Provides rules for determining the transferor's basis of intangible property to a corporation. Repeals the ability of partnerships to elect to apply large partnership rules, effective after December 31, 2003. Repeals the personal holding company tax. Grants the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to prescribe the class life of any property, except for residential rental property and nonresidential real property. Repeals the occupational taxes relating to distilled spirits, wine, and beer. Converts the failure to pay one's estimated income tax penalty to an interest charge on the accumulated unpaid balance.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2002
Teacher Tax Relief Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $250 to $500 the maximum above-the-line deduction allowed for classroom supply expenses incurred by elementary and secondary school teachers, effective after December 31, 2001. Expands such deduction to include qualified professional development expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
District of Columbia Student Opportunity Scholarship Act of 2002 - Authorizes the establishment of the District of Columbia Scholarship Corporation as a private, nonprofit corporation to administer, publicize, and evaluate a District scholarship program and determine elementary and secondary student and school eligibility. Establishes a District of Columbia Scholarship Fund, to be administered by the Secretary of the Treasury. Provides for a seven-member Corporation Board of Directors, with six members appointed by the President from House and Senate nominees, and one member appointed by the District Mayor. Authorizes the Corporation to award tuition scholarships and enhanced achievement scholarships to District students in kindergarten through grade 12 with family incomes not exceeding 185 percent of the national poverty line. Allows scholarships to be used for tuition, fees, and appropriate transportation to public, private, or independent schools (or beyond-school-hours enhancement programs) in the District and specified neighboring counties and cities in Maryland and Virginia. Requires the following order of scholarship award priorities to students who: (1) have received such a scholarship in a previous year (in the program's second and subsequent years); (2) District school or kindergarten enrollees; (3) victims of school violence; and (4) other eligible students. Requires use of a lottery whenever amounts are insufficient to provide a scholarship for each student in one of these categories. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the District scholarship program. Provides for expedited judicial review of challenges to such program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2002
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Pledge of Allegiance, including the phrase "One Nation, under God," reflects the historical fact that a belief in God permeated the founding and development of our Nation; (2) the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals's ruling is inconsistent with the U.S. Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence that the Pledge and similar expressions are not unconstitutional expressions of religious belief; (3) such phrase should remain in the Pledge; and (4) the Ninth Circuit should agree to rehear this ruling en banc in order to reverse this constitutionally infirm and historically incorrect ruling.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2002
Amends the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 to designate Israel and Turkey as qualifying industrial zones (granting duty-free treatment to articles imported into the United States from such countries due to similar duty-free treatment provided to articles imported by those countries). Excludes from such duty-free treatment certain import-sensitive articles imported into the United States from such countries, including specified textiles and apparel articles, footwear, handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves, and leather wearing apparel.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician or other individual from knowingly performing a partial-birth abortion, except when necessary to save the life of a mother that is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury. Authorizes the father, if married to the mother at the time of the abortion, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus, if the mother is under 18 years of age, to obtain specified relief in a civil action, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion. Authorizes a defendant accused of an offense under this Act to seek a hearing before the State Medical Board on whether the physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother. Prohibits the prosecution of a woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed for conspiracy to violate this Act or under provisions regarding punishment as a principal or an accessory or for concealment of a felony.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2002
Tribal Government Tax Fairness Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code by establishing that Indian tribal governments shall be treated as States for purposes of chapter 35, relating to taxes on wagering.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth that a plan or other arrangement shall not cease to count as a cafeteria plan solely because qualified benefits under such plan include a health flexible spending arrangement under which not more than $500 of unused health benefits may be carried forward to the next year or paid as compensation. Sets forth rules for determining whether or not such benefits shall be included or excluded from income.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Urges the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend to the Postmaster General that a commemorative postage stamp be issued by the U.S. Postal Service each year in honor of Veterans Day.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2002
Customs Border Security Act of 2002 - Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for the U.S. Customs Service for: (1) noncommercial and commercial operations; and (2) the air and marine interdiction program. Earmarks amounts for: (1) the acquisition and deployment of antiterrorist and illicit narcotics detection equipment along the U.S.-Mexico border, the U.S.-Canada border, and Florida and Gulf Coast seaports; (2) acquisition of technologically superior detection equipment; and (3) the hiring of 285 additional Customs Service officers to address the needs of the offices and ports along the U.S.-Canada border. Authorizes appropriations to carry out a program established by the Child Cyber-Smuggling Center of the Customs Service to prevent child pornography/child exploitation. Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to require certain reimbursements and payments by a centralized hub facility, an express consignment carrier facility, or a small airport or other facility with respect to the processing of letters, documents, records, shipments, merchandise, or any other item valued at an amount under $2,000 (or a higher amount as the Secretary of the Treasury may set by regulation), whether or not such items are informally entered or released at such facilities (except an item entered or released for immediate exportation). Requires a payment of $.66 per individual airway bill or bill of lading in the case of an express consignment carrier facility or centralized hub facility. Sets forth certain payment requirements. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize the Secretary to require, by regulation, the electronic submission of information with respect to commercial importations under the National Customs Automation Program. Sets forth requirements with respect to: (1) the payment of estimated customs duties and fees for entry of merchandise that is electronically filed utilizing the Customs Automated Commercial Environment computer system; (2) immunity for U.S. customs employees that perform searches in good faith; (3) emergency adjustments to offices, ports of entry, or staffing of the Customs Service; (4) mandatory electronic transmission of passenger and cargo manifest information by motor, air, or vessel carriers; and (5) border searches of domestic mail going out of the United States. Authorizes appropriations for reestablishment of Customs Service operations in New York, New York. Directs a General Accounting Office audit of the Customs Service system to monitor textile transshipments. Authorizes appropriations for textile transshipment enforcement operations of the Customs Service. Earmarks certain amounts for the Customs Service to provide technical assistance to help sub-Saharan Africa countries develop and implement effective visa and anti-transshipment systems as required under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; and (2) the U.S. International Trade Commission. Increases the aggregate value of articles exempt from duty acquired abroad by U.S. residents. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise regulatory audit procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2002
Date Certain Tax Code Replacement Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2005; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2005. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Establishes the National Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification to review: (1) the present structure and provisions of the Code; (2) whether the tax systems of other countries could provide more efficient and fair methods of funding government revenue requirements; (3) whether the income tax should be replaced with a tax imposed in a different manner or on a different base; and (4) whether the Code can be simplified, absent wholesale restructuring or replacement. Requires a Commission report to Congress on review results, with recommendations for Code reform and simplification. Terminates the Commission 90 days after such report. Authorizes appropriations (with interim funding). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be approved by Congress in its final form before July 4, 2005, and, if not, Congress should be required to vote to reauthorize the Code.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Federal Government, and any State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance, from discriminating against any health care entity because (in addition to current prohibited reasons) the entity refuses to provide coverage of, or pay for, induced abortions. Expands the definition of "health care entity" to include (in addition to physicians) other health professionals, a hospital, a provider sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance plan, and any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Medicare Beneficiary Freedom To Contract Act of 1997 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act regarding the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries for professional services. Outlines specific requirements for private contracts between Medicare beneficiaries and physicians or health care practitioners for services for which no Medicare claims may be submitted.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) President Bush should be commended for renouncing the U.S. signature from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a step toward protecting American service-members and citizens from the possibility of unwarranted and politically-motivated prosecutions; (2) President Bush should be encouraged to remain steadfast in his intention of protecting such individuals from the unchecked power of the ICC; and (3) Congress should take all steps necessary to grant appropriate authority to the President to defend the American people from the threat of arrest, prosecution, and conviction by the ICC.