United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2005
Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2005 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services: (1) to develop and implement a National Arthritis Action Plan; and (2) acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to conduct, support, and promote the coordination of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases research. Requires the Secretary to award grants to: (1) support arthritis-specific research projects at the Centers for Prevention Research by the CDC; (2) support State comprehensive arthritis control and prevention programs and public health surveillance, prevention, and control activities; and (3) assist in the implementation of a national strategy for arthritis control and prevention. Requires the Secretary to coordinate a national education and outreach program on arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Requires the Secretary to establish an Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases Interagency Coordinating Committee to: (1) improve coordination of Federal research activities related to arthritis and rheumatic diseases; and (2) convene a summit to provide a detailed overview of such current Federal research. Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand and intensify juvenile arthritis research. Allows the Secretary, acting through the Director of the CDC, to award grants to support juvenile arthritis data collection. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the CDC, to support the development of a National Juvenile Arthritis Patient Registry. Requires the Secretary to promote and support pediatric rheumatology training, including by allowing the Secretary to establish a loan repayment program. Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the economic impact of arthritis in the workplace.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2005
Amends the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to detain for examination, testing, or the taking of evidence: (1) any horse at any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction which is sore or which the Secretary has probable cause to believe is sore; and (2) any horse or other equine which the Secretary has probable cause to believe is being shipped, transported, moved, delivered, received, possessed, purchased, sold, or donated in violation of such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2005
Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to provide for employee leave to care for a same-sex spouse as determined under applicable State law, domestic partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, or grandparent (as well as for a spouse, child, or parent), if such person has a serious health condition. Amends Federal civil service law to apply the same leave allowance to Federal employees.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2005
Marine One Made in America Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from entering into a contract for the procurement of a helicopter under the VH-3D presidential helicopter replacement program unless the contract requires the helicopter to be wholly manufactured in the United States from parts wholly manufactured in the United States. Provides that if a contract entered into after December 31, 2004, and before the date of enactment of this Act does not meet such requirements, the Secretary shall terminate such contract.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2005
Medicare's Equitable Drugs for Seniors Act of 2005 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal provisions prohibiting the Secretary of Health and Human Services from: (1) interfering with the negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and prescription drug plan sponsors; and (2) requiring a particular formulary to institute a price structure for the reimbursement of covered Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) drugs. Grants the Secretary instead, in order to ensure that beneficiaries enrolled under prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans pay the lowest possible price, authority similar to that of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other Federal agencies and departments that purchase prescription drugs in bulk to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of covered Medicare part D drugs, consistent with the requirements and in furtherance of the goals of providing quality care and containing costs under such part.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2005
Federal Propaganda Prohibition Act of 2005 - Requires an Executive agency, not later than 30 days after entering into a contract for public relations, media relations, advertising, or public opinion research services, to submit in writing to specified congressional committees the contractor's name, the amount and the purpose of the contract, a summary of the contract, other relevant information, and, upon request: (1) a copy of the covered contract; (2) any contract modifications; and (3) any materials produced under the contract. Prohibits an officer or employee of the U.S. Government from making or authorizing an expenditure or obligation of funds for publicity or propaganda within the United States unless authorized by law. Imposes penalties. Requires each advertisement or other communication paid for by an Executive agency to include a prominent notice that the advertisement or other communication is paid for by that agency.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2005
Honors Cesar E. Chavez for his commitment to improving the plight of farm workers and the poor and for inspiring Americans to work nonviolently for justice. Encourages all Americans to commit to working for justice through nonviolence and to remind themselves of the work of the people who put food on the tables of America.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2005
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) develop and implement a plan to begin the immediate withdrawal of U.S. Armed Forces from Iraq; (2) develop and implement a plan for reconstructing Iraq's civil and economic infrastructure; (3) convene an emergency meeting of Iraq's leadership, Iraq's neighbors, the United Nations, and the Arab League to create an international peacekeeping force in Iraq and to replace U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq with Iraqi police and Iraqi National Guard forces; and (4) provide the Iraqi people the opportunity to completely control their internal affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2005
Little Rock Central High School Desegregation 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue coins commemorating the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Requires the design of such coins to be emblematic of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School and its contribution to civil rights in America. Specifies the sale price of such coins and applicable surcharges. Requires surcharges collected from sales to be used equally for: (1) the Jefferson National Parks Association for support of the activities and mission of Little Rock Central High National Historic Site; and (2) site improvements.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2005
Pharmaceutical Market Access Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations permitting pharmacists, pharmacies, wholesalers, and individuals to import qualifying drugs from certain countries into the United States. Sets forth registration requirements for exporters. Requires the Secretary to: (1) educate consumers with regard to the availability of qualifying drugs for import for personal use; (2) inspect the facilities and records of importers and registered exporters to ensure compliance with this Act; and (3) establish a registration fee program to collect an annual fee from registered exporters. Deems a prescription drug to be misbranded unless the packaging of such drug complies with the requirements for counterfeit-resistant technologies. Prohibits: (1) failing to register in accordance with this Act; and (2) importing or offering to import a prescription drug in violation of a suspension order. Declares that selling or importing a patented drug in the United States that was first sold abroad by or under authority of the owner or licensee of the patent is not patent infringement. Prohibits drug manufacturers from discriminating against a person that engages in the importation of a prescription drug, including by charging higher prices or denying supplies of the drug. Allows the Secretary to suspend or terminate the registration of an exporter for failing to maintain substantial compliance with all registration conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2005
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to grant lawful permanent resident status to certain nationals of Montserrat previously granted temporary protected status in the United States (and specified family members). Authorizes aliens previously ordered excluded, deported, or removed, or ordered to depart voluntarily, to apply for adjustment of status under this Act. Requires the Secretary to provide work authorization and related documentation to principal aliens seeking the benefits of this Act. Directs the Secretary to provide specified administrative review procedures for such aliens and their qualifying family members. States that the granting of adjustment of status for principal aliens under this Act shall not reduce the number of available immigrant visas.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2005
Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2005 - Expresses the sense of Congress that military retired pay should not be reduced because a military retiree is also eligible for veterans' disability compensation awarded for a service-connected disability. Allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability (currently, only a disability rated at 50 percent or more). Repeals provisions phasing in the full concurrent receipt of such pay through December 31, 2013. Makes eligible for the full concurrent receipt of both veterans' disability compensation and either military retired pay or combat-related special pay those individuals who were retired or separated from military service due to a service-connected disability.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2005
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a National Tartan Day should be established to recognize Scottish-Americans' outstanding achievements and their contributions to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2005
Calls for the President to grant a pardon, posthumously, to Jack Johnson, the first African-American professional boxer to hold the title of Heavyweight Champion of the World.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Redesignates the: (1) Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps; and (2) Secretary of the Navy as the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps. Makes similar redesignations with respect to Department Assistant Secretaries and the General Counsel.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Emergency Loan Abuse Prevention Act of 2005 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reduce certain special allowance payments to holders of student loans. Appropriates, for each fiscal year after enactment of this Act, an additional amount to increase the maximum Pell grant for that fiscal year. Makes such amount equal to the amount by which expenditures for such special allowances are reduced by this Act for that fiscal year, as determined by the Congressional Budget Office.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
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 · 4 January 2005
College Fire Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to make competitive demonstration grants to private or public colleges or universities, fraternities, or sororities for up to half the cost of installing fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression or prevention technologies, in student housing and dormitories owned or controlled by such entities. Requires grant priority to be given eligible entities that demonstrate the greatest financial need. Reserves the following portions of grant funds made available for each fiscal year: (1) at least ten percent for eligible entities that are historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities; and (2) at least ten percent for eligible entities that are social fraternities and sororities. Provides that any application for assistance under this Act, any negative determination on the part of the Secretary with respect to such application, or any statement of reasons for the determination, shall not be admissible as evidence in any proceeding of any court, agency, board, or other entity (except a proceeding to enforce an agreement entered into between the Secretary and an eligible entity under this Act).
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to carry out a demonstration program of student loan forgiveness for child welfare workers employed by child protection agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Social Security Fairness Act of 2005 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to repeal: (1) pension offset provisions applicable to husband's and wife's insurance benefits, widow's and widower's insurance benefits, and mother's and father's insurance benefits with respect to OASDI payments; and (2) windfall elimination provisions with respect to computation of the primary insurance amount of an individual.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly benefit of $1,000 to certain honorably-discharged veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946 (or to their survivors). Includes service in the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service. Exempts benefits paid under this Act from taxation. Provides for benefits for World War II Merchant Mariners under title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act - Amends Federal postal service law to direct the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) (established by this Act) to establish a modern system for regulating rates and classes for market-dominant products (all first-class mail, special services, periodicals, standard mail, media mail, library mail, and bound printed matter). Directs the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service to establish rates and classes for products in the competitive category of mail (priority mail, expedited mail, mailgrams, international mail, and parcel post). Authorizes the Postal Service to conduct market tests of experimental products. Directs the PRC to establish rules to ensure that workshare discounts (presorting, barcoding, etc.) do not exceed the cost that the Postal Service avoids as the result of private sector workshare activity. Establishes in the Treasury a revolving Postal Service Competitive Products Fund which shall be available to the Postal Service without fiscal year limitation for the payment of: (1) costs attributable to competitive products; and (2) all other costs incurred by the Postal Service, to the extent allocable to competitive products. Requires the Postal Service to: (1) compute its assumed Federal income tax (which would be the taxable income of a corporation) on competitive products income for such year; and (2) transfer from the Competitive Products Fund to the Postal Service Fund the amount of that assumed tax. Prohibits the Postal Service from: (1) establishing anti-competitive rules or regulations; (2) compelling the disclosure, transfer, or licensing of intellectual property to any third party; or (3) obtaining information from a person that provides any product, and then offering any product or service that uses or is based in whole or in part on such information, without the person's consent. Makes the Secretary of State responsible for foreign policy related to international postal services and other international delivery services. Replaces the Postal Rate Commission with the Postal Regulatory Commission. Directs the Postal Service to report to the President, Congress, and: (1) PRC on universal postal service in the United States; and (2) Postal Service Board of Governors on the postal processing and distribution network. Repeals the authority of the Postal Service to impose fines on air carriers transporting mail beyond U.S. borders for unreasonable or unnecessary delays and other delinquencies. Directs the Postal Service to prescribe regulations for the safe transportation of hazardous materials in the mail. Provides civil penalties, plus cleanup costs, for violations. Revises postal pension funding requirements under the Civil Service Retirement System. Establishes the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Every Vote Counts Amendment - Constitutional Amendment - Provides for the popular election of the President and Vice President under a new electoral system. (Abolishes the electoral college.)
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2004
Congratulates: (1) the Boston Red Sox for winning the 2004 Major League Baseball World Series and for their incredible performance during the 2004 Major League Baseball season; and (2) the eight Major League Baseball teams that played in the postseason. Recognizes the achievements of the Boston Red Sox players, manager, coaches, and support staff whose hard work, dedication, and spirit made this all possible. Commends: (1) the St. Louis Cardinals for a valiant performance during the 2004 season and the World Series; (2) the fans and management of the St. Louis Cardinals for allowing the Red Sox fans from Boston and around the Nation to celebrate their first title in 86 years at their home field.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2004
Act to Save America's Forests - Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to revise eligibility criteria for members of the land and resource management scientific committee. Revises the committee termination date. Directs the Chief of the Forest Service, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to each prepare a continuous inventory of forest land administered by each agency head and to document whole-system measures that will be taken as a result of the inventory. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for conservation and restoration of native biodiversity in forested areas. Prohibits clearcutting or other even-age logging operations on any stand or watershed on certain Federal land, National Forest System land, and National Wildlife Refuge System land. Provides for Federal enforcement and a private right of action. Designates special areas which shall be subject to restrictions on road construction and logging in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas,Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Requires the Secretaries concerned to appoint a committee of independent scientists to recommend additional special areas. Restricts road construction and logging on Federal land in ancient forests, special areas, roadless areas, and watershed protection areas. Provides for Federal enforcement and a private right of action. States that this Act shall not apply to Federal wilderness areas designated under the Wilderness Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2004
Crosby-Puller Combat Wounds Compensation Act - Continues hazardous duty pay, aviation career incentive pay, career enlisted flier incentive pay, hardship duty pay, imminent danger pay, the travel or transportation per diem for duty outside the United States or in Hawaii or Alaska, and the family separation allowance for members of the Armed Forces who are wounded or injured in combat zones and removed from the area for treatment until such time as the member: (1) is found physically fit to perform the duties of the member's office, grade, rank, or rating; (2) is discharged or separated; or (3) dies. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the time limitation on the income tax exclusion for combat zone compensation resulting from hospitalization due to wounds, disease, or injury incurred in such combat zone.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 2004
Providing Reliable Officers, Technology, Education, Community Prosecutors, and Training In Our Neighborhoods Act of 2004 or PROTECTION Act - Modifies provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 regarding public safety and community policing ("cops on the beat" program, COPS) to authorize the Attorney General to use COPS grants to: (1) increase prosecutor presence and to enhance law enforcement access to new technologies; (2) pay overtime to existing career law enforcement officers for community policing; and (3) promote higher education among in-service State and local law enforcement officers by reimbursing them for certain educational costs. Includes among permitted additional grant projects: (1) specialized integrity and ethics training; and (2) innovative proactive crime control and prevention programs involving school officials and religiously-affiliated organizations. Authorizes the Attorney General to use up to five percent of appropriated funds for technical assistance and training to States, local governments, Indian tribal governments, and other entities. Repeals provisions of the Act regarding termination of grants for hiring officers. Allows grants to be used to assist: (1) police departments in employing specified professional, scientific, and technological advancements; (2) State, local, or tribal prosecutors' offices in implementation of community-based prosecution programs that build on local community policing efforts; and (3) in paying overtime to existing career law enforcement officers. Reserves specified funds for local governmental units with a population of less than 50,000. Authorizes the Attorney General to use no more than 50 percent of grant renewal funds to award grants targeted for police officer retention.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 2004
Preservation of Federalism in Banking Act - Amends the Revised Statutes of the United States to set forth State law preemption standards for national banks and their subsidiaries. Declares that any State: (1) consumer law of general application (including any law relating to unfair or deceptive acts or practices and any consumer fraud law) shall also apply to any national bank; and (2) law applicable to State banks shall also apply to any national bank if it was enacted pursuant to, or consistent with, Federal law permitting the States to exceed or supplement Federal law requirements. Prohibits construction of Federal law governing visitorial powers, or otherwise limiting or restricting the supervisory, examination, or regulatory authority to which any national bank is subject, as limiting or restricting the authority of a State attorney general to enforce: (1) any applicable Federal or State law; or (2) on behalf of residents of such State, any applicable provision of any Federal or State law against a national bank, or seek relief and recover damages for such residents from any violation of any such law by any national bank. Prohibits construction of Federal law governing nondepository institution subsidiaries of national banks as preempting the applicability of State law to any State-chartered nondepository institution subsidiary of a national bank, except to the extent the preemption is explicitly provided by an Act of Congress. Directs the Comptroller of the Currency to record and monitor each complaint received from a consumer regarding a national bank or any subsidiary of a national bank as well as the resolution of the complaint.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 2004
Disabled Federal Employees Protection Act - Prohibits the termination of employment of a disabled Federal employee due to a conversion to contractor performance of any activity or function of an executive agency under Office of Management and Budget Circular A-76 or any other Federal policy, directive, or regulation. Exempts certain nonprofit agencies for the blind or severely handicapped from this prohibition if the terminated Federal employee is offered an equivalent position in the Federal Government or with the nonprofit agency.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2004
Protection of Family Farmers Act of 2004 - Amends the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 to extend for 18 additional months (until July 1, 2005) the period for which chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code (Adjustments of Debts of a Family Farmer) is reenacted. States that such extension shall take effect on January 1, 2004.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 2004
States that Congress: (1) commends the Caribbean governments for their efforts after the devastation caused by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne from August to September, 2004; (2) commends the efforts of the Caribbean-American community to provide relief to family and friends; (3) supports U.S. efforts to assist in coordinating international relief efforts, particularly in Grenada, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Bahamas; and (4) urges the international community to take all necessary steps to provide emergency relief and reconstruction efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2004
Justice for All Act of 2004 - Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, Louarna Gillis, and Nila Lynn Crime Victims' Rights Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to grant crime victims specified rights, including: (1) the right to be protected from the accused, to be heard at any public proceeding involving release, plea, or sentencing, and to be treated with fairness and respect; (2) the right to timely notice of any public proceeding involving the crime or any release or escape of the accused and to proceedings free from unreasonable delay; (3) the right to confer with the Government attorney; and (4) the right to full and timely restitution. Debbie Smith Act of 2004 - Amends the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to name the program of grants to States for DNA analysis of samples from convicted individuals as the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, to expand the program to include grants to local governments, and to authorize appropriations through FY 2009. Amends: (1) the DNA Identification Act of 1994 (Identification Act) to expand the scope of DNA samples to be included in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS); and (2) the Violence Against Women Act to authorize grants to increase the availability of legal assistance to victims of dating violence. DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2004 - Amends the Identification Act to prescribe audit and certification standards for laboratories from which DNA identification records and analyses may be included in CODIS. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) make DNA analysis training grants, sexual assault forensic exam program grants, DNA research and development grants, grants to promote DNA identification of missing persons, and grants to tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions; and (2) appoint a National Forensic Science Commission. Authorizes appropriations for DNA programs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation through FY 2009. Innocence Protection Act of 2004 - Sets forth conditions under which a Federal prisoner asserting innocence may obtain post-conviction DNA testing of specific evidence and, if test results would establish the applicant's innocence, a new trial or resentencing. Requires the preservation of biological evidence if a defendant is under a sentence of imprisonment. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish the Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program; and (2) award grants to improve the quality of legal representation of indigent defendants, and the ability of prosecutors to represent the public, in State capital cases.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2004
Airport Noise Curfew Act of 2004 - Establishes the Airport Noise Curfew Commission to study and make recommendations to Congress regarding the establishment of curfews on nonmilitary aircraft operations over populated areas of the United States during normal sleeping hours.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2004
Every Vote Counts Amendment - Constitutional Amendment - Provides for the popular election of the President and Vice President under a new electoral system. (Abolishes the electoral college.)
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2004
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Thanks, pays tribute to, and expresses gratitude to all of those who assisted in the significant hospitality, logistical, and security efforts to successfully execute the 2004 national political conventions in Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City, New York.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 2004
9/11 Commission Recommendations Implementation Act of 2004 - Establishes a National Intelligence Director to manage the National Intelligence Program. Empowers the Secretary of Defense with lead responsibility for directing and executing paramilitary operations, whether clandestine or covert. Establishes a National Counterterrorism Center for strategic analysis concerning transnational terrorist organizations with global reach. Requires the President to direct the head of each appropriate Federal department or agency to identify and prioritize actual or potential terrorist sanctuaries throughout the world. Requires a national strategy to destabilize identified sanctuaries. Authorizes the President to support the Government of: (1) Pakistan in its efforts against extremists; and (2) Afghanistan to extend its authority over such country. Directs the Secretary of State to establish programs to promote greater familiarity with American society and values among the general public and select audiences in Muslim countries. Directs the President to: (1) strengthen counterproliferation efforts against weapons of mass destruction; and (2) track the financing of terrorist organizations and prevent money laundering for their benefit. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) integrate U.S. border screening systems with Federal security sites within the U.S. transportation system and sites containing vital national facilities; (2) complete a biometric entry and exit screening system for persons entering and departing the United States; (3) develop a plan for the allocation of limited transportation security resources; and (4) improve aviation screening. Requires: (1) the sharing of information for purposes of protecting the national security; (2) the establishment of a board to oversee Federal adherence to civil liberties; (3) that all U.S. emergency response agencies adopt the Incident Command System and unified command procedures; (4) the promotion of private sector emergency preparedness; (5) both Houses of Congress to pass separate intelligence appropriations bills; (6) a specialized and integrated national security workforce at the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and (7) regular adequacy assessments of the strategies and planning of the United States Northern Command to defend the United States against military threats.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 2004
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) opposes the inclusion in future free trade agreements of provisions that would have the effect of restricting, undermining, or discouraging the enactment or implementation of legislation authorizing the importation of prescription drugs; and (2) urges the President to renegotiate the Singapore, Australia, Morocco, and Central America free trade agreements to eliminate provisions that would have such effect.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Petition Act - Requires the prompt review by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, of the long-standing petition by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe for Federal recognition. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the prompt review of the petition for Federal recognition will not unnecessarily delay the review of pending fully documented petitions for Federal recognition as an Indian tribe awaiting active consideration as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Stealth Lobbyist Disclosure Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat as a tax-exempt political organization for purposes of the disclosure and other requirements applicable to such organizations (with certain modifications) any coalition or association that is identified as a client on any registration filed under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 and that is not a political organization. Requires any such coalition or association to notify the Secretary of the Treasury of: (1) its existence within 72 hours after one of its lobbyists makes an initial contact; and (2) any change in membership within 72 hours. Requires such notice to include a general description of the business or activities of each member of the coalition or association and the amount reasonably expected to be contributed by each member toward coalition or association activities of influencing legislation. Imposes a penalty tax for failure to give required notices. Exempts from the disclosure requirements imposed by this Act: (1) public charities and other tax-exempt organizations which have substantial exempt activities other than lobbying; and (2) members of a coalition or association who contribute less than $2,000 per year for lobbying activities.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Federal Regulatory Improvement Act of 2004 - Revises the purpose of the Administrative Conference of the United States to include: (1) promoting more effective public participation and efficiency in the rulemaking process; (2) reducing unnecessary litigation in the regulatory process; (3) improving the use of science in the regulatory process; and (4) improving the effectiveness of laws applicable to the regulatory process. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through FY 2007.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Stealth Lobbyist Disclosure Act of 2004 - Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to redefine the term "client" with respect to coalitions and associations on whose behalf a lobbyist must file a registration. Provides that, in the case of a coalition or association that employs or retains other persons to conduct lobbying activities, each of the individual members of the coalition or association, and not the coalition or association itself as under current law, is the client for whom a registration must be filed. Makes an exception for certain tax-exempt associations and for certain members of a coalition or association if the amount reasonably expected to be contributed by such member toward specific legislation-influencing activities of the coalition or association is less than $1,000 per any semiannual period.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
E-mail Privacy Act of 2004 - Amends Federal criminal code provisions concerning interception of electronic communications to modify the definition of "intercept" to include the acquisition of the contents of the communication through the use of any electronic, mechanical, or other device, at any point between the point of origin and the point when it is made available to the recipient. Limits the service provider exception to the prohibition on unlawful access to stored communications to access to the extent necessary incident to the rendition of the service, the protection of the rights or property of the service provider, or compliance with provisions regarding disclosure of customer communications or records.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2004
Women's Business Sustainability Extension Act of 2004 - Amends the Small Business Act (SBA) to set forth FY 2004 funding priorities for the women's business center program. Authorizes the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to reallocate unused sustainability grant funds as supplemental grants to women's business centers. Authorizes the Administrator to access and use client contact information of women's business centers solely to conduct internal program evaluations and financial and programmatic audits. Requires women's business centers to notify each client of such access and use. Requires the Administrator to include program evaluation findings in annual reports to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2004
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) at the 56th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission the United States should remain firmly opposed to commercial whaling, and take other specified related steps; and (2) the United States should make full use of all appropriate diplomatic mechanisms, relevant international laws and agreements, and other appropriate means to implement these goals.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Night Out. Requests that the President: (1) focus appropriate attention on neighborhood crime prevention, community policing, and reduction of school crime by delivering speeches, convening meetings, and directing the administration to make crime reduction an important priority; and (2) coordinate the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the USA Freedom Corps, the Citizen Corps, the National Senior Service Corps, and AmeriCorps to participate by supporting local efforts, neighborhood watches, and local officials, including law enforcement personnel, to provide homeland security and combat terrorism in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2004
Smuggled Tobacco Prevention Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require all packages of tobacco products to carry a unique legibly printed serial number by which the Secretary of the Treasury can identify the manufacturer or importer and the location and date of manufacture or importation. Requires tobacco products sold on Indian reservations to be labeled as such. Requires a person to post a bond with the Secretary in order to export tobacco products. Requires a tobacco wholesaler to have a permit and to maintain certain records. Requires export warehouse proprietors to file certain reports with the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into certain tobacco related information exchange agreements with foreign countries. Establishes new criminal offenses relating to the distribution of tobacco products. Raises the $1,000 civil penalty for violations relating to tobacco products to $10,000. Amends the Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act to: (1) expand the applicability of such Act from cigarettes only to tobacco products (cigars, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco, and roll-your-own tobacco); (2) define a "contraband tobacco product" as a quantity of tobacco product that is equivalent to or more than 2,000 cigarettes (currently, 60,000) which bear no evidence of the payment of applicable State tobacco taxes and that is possessed illegally; and (3) establish new unlawful acts. Allows a State tobacco tax authority to bring a civil action in U.S. district court for the collection of State cigarette taxes. Prohibits retaliation against employees (whistleblowers) who provide information in contraband tobacco cases. Provides for administrative and judicial remedies for such whistleblowers.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2004
New United States Global HIV Prevention Strategy to Address the Needs of Women and Girls Act of 2004 - States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) pursue an HIV prevention strategy for each country for which the United States provides assistance to combat HIV/AIDS that emphasizes the needs of women and girls; and (2) support a variety of culturally appropriate HIV prevention programs for each country for which the United States provides HIV/AIDS assistance, and to ensure that unnecessary requirements on fund use are not imposed. Directs the President to establish a comprehensive and culturally appropriate HIV prevention strategy for each country for which the United States provides assistance to combat HIV/AIDS. Requires each strategy to encompass health and HIV prevention education beyond the ABC model "Abstain, Be faithful, use Condoms" as a means to reduce HIV infections, particularly among women and girls. Amends the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 to eliminate the "abstinence-until-marriage" reference with respect to the sense of Congress' HIV/AIDS funding allocation.
United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2004
States that Congress: (1) reiterates its strongest condemnation of the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina; (2) honors the victims of this heinous act and expresses its sympathy to the victims' relatives; (3) underscores U.S. concern regarding the case's continuing delay; (4) urges the Government of Argentina to continue to provide the resources necessary for its judicial system and intelligence agencies to investigate all areas of the AMIA case; (5) calls upon the international community to cooperate with the AMIA investigation; (6) encourages the President to direct U.S. law enforcement agencies to cooperate with the Government of Argentina to expand the investigation into this bombing and suspected terrorist support activities in the Tri-Border area of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil; (7) encourages the President to direct the U.S. Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) to seek OAS support for the creation of a special task force of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism to assist in the AMIA investigation, and urge OAS member countries to designate Hizballah as a terrorist organization; (8) stresses the need for international pressure on Iran and Syria to extradite for trial individuals and government officials accused of planning or perpetrating the AMIA attack; and (9) desires a relationship between the United States and Argentina which is built in part on mutual abhorrence of terrorism and commitments to peace, stability, and democracy in the Western Hemisphere.
![Official portrait of Rep. Delahunt, William D. [D-MA-10]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000210_200.jpg)