United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2003 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to set forth the due process rights, including procedures, that shall be afforded a law enforcement officer (officer) who is the subject of an investigation or disciplinary hearing. Declares that an officer shall not be: (1) prohibited from engaging in political activity or be denied the right to refrain from engaging in such activity, except when on duty or acting in an official capacity; and (2) prohibited from being a candidate for an elective office or from serving in such elective office solely because of the officer's status as an officer, with exceptions. Requires that: (1) each agency adopt and thereafter comply with a written complaint procedure that meets specified requirements; and (2) an investigation based on a complaint from outside the agency commence not later than 15 days after receipt of the complaint by the agency employing the officer against whom the complaint has been made, or any other agency charged with investigating such complaint. Directs that any officer who is the subject of an investigation be notified of the investigation 24 hours before the commencement of questioning. Establishes rights of officers before and during questioning, including the right to counsel. Requires questioning to be conducted at reasonable hours. Prohibits an officer from being compelled to submit to the use of a lie detector.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
Program Reform Commission Act of 2003 - Establishes an independent Program Reform Commission to: (1) identify unnecessary Federal programs; (2) review such programs; (3) conduct public hearings on agency recommendations regarding unnecessary programs; and (4) report to Congress recommendations for termination, modification, or retention of each program reviewed. Requires each Federal agency to include in budget documents submitted in FY 2005 a list of programs within that agency that are unnecessary, together with recommendations for appropriate action. Expresses the sense of Congress that, following submission of the Commission's report, the House of Representatives and the Senate should promptly consider legislation that would enact changes in Federal statutes necessary to implement the Commission's recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
Corporate Subsidy Reform Commission Act of 2003 - Establishes an independent Corporate Subsidy Reform Commission to: (1) identify Federal programs and laws that provide inequitable Federal subsidies; (2) review such subsidies; (3) conduct public hearings on agency recommendations regarding inequitable subsidies; and (4) report to Congress recommendations for termination, modification, or retention of each subsidy reviewed. Requires each Federal agency to include in budget documents submitted in FY 2005 a list of programs or laws within that agency that provide inequitable Federal subsidies, together with recommendations for appropriate action. Expresses the sense of Congress that, following submission of the Commission's report, the House of Representatives and the Senate should promptly consider legislation that would enact changes in Federal statutes necessary to implement the Commission's recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2003 - 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, acting through the Director of the Institute, 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 study the health challenges associated with cancer survivorship and carry out projects and interventions. Requires the Secretary to make grants for the monitoring and evaluation of cancer care and survivorship.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2003
Directs the President to review certain steel tariff exclusions granted to foreign companies and to revoke: (1) any exclusion that would have been denied pursuant to an objection if the objection had been timely filed; and (2) any exclusion that was obtained by materially false or misleading information regarding the availability of a competing domestic product.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2003
Quit Smoking Incentive and Opportunity Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited credit for the qualified tobacco use cessation expenses (approved cessation products and counseling) of a taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or any dependent of the taxpayer.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2003
Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) the U.S. military should not become involved in the Liberian civil war, either alone or as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force; and (2) a regional effort, especially including the countries neighboring Liberia, would be the most effective way to end the tragic conflict in Liberia and such effort should be encouraged.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2003
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal honoring Wilma G. Rudolph (three-time gold medal winner in the 1960 Olympics) in recognition of her outstanding and enduring contributions to humanity and to women's athletics.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2003
State Defense Force Improvement Act of 2003 - Recognizes State defense forces as integral military components of the Nation's homeland security effort, while reaffirming that such forces remain entirely State regulated, organized, and equipped and recognizing that they will be used for homeland security purposes exclusively at the local level under State law. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to coordinate homeland security efforts with, and provide assistance (including the use of Department of Defense (DOD) property, equipment, and facilities) to, a State defense force, upon request. Makes participation by a State defense force in a DOD training program at the discretion of the State. Requires a State to reimburse DOD for training assistance costs. Makes the State liable for any injuries or damages incurred by a defense force member while engaged in training activities or State active duty.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2003
John Marshall Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury: (1) to mint and issue not more than 400,000 silver one dollar coins emblematic of Chief Justice John Marshall and his contributions to the United States in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of his birth; and (2) in cooperation with the Legacy Fund of the Library of Congress, to develop and implement a marketing program to promote and sell the coins. Directs that all sales of coins minted under this Act include a ten dollar per coin surcharge, to be paid by the Secretary to the Supreme Court Historical Society for purposes of: (1) supporting historical research about the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and related topics; (2) supporting fellowship programs, internships, and docents at the Supreme Court; and (3) collecting and preserving related antiques, artifacts, and other historical items.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2003
Calls upon the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend and the Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp to promote public awareness of Down syndrome.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2003
Government Accountability and Streamlining Act of 2003 - Requires the Comptroller General, to the extent practicable, to prepare for public bills and joint resolutions (measures) reported by congressional subcommittees or committees, and submit to such subcommittees or committees, determinations of whether: (1) new Federal entities, programs, or functions are authorized by the measure; and (2) an existing entity or program carries out functions that are similar to those authorized by the measure and such existing entity or program may more effectively and efficiently perform the functions and carry out the purposes of the measure than the proposed entity or program. Requires such statements to accompany reports on legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2003
Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act of 2003 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to distribute to States at least 80 percent of the funds authorized to be appropriated under this Act from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund to pay the reasonable costs incurred under cooperative agreements of: (1) certain corrective actions and compensation programs; (2) directly related administrative expenses; or (3) enforcement of State or local requirements regulating underground storage tanks (USTs). Allows undistributed funds to be used for enforcing UST regulations. Requires the Administrator or a State with an approved program to require compliance inspections of USTs at least once every two years. Directs the Administrator to publish operator training guidelines and States to develop and implement a training strategy consistent with stated requirements. Authorizes the use of funds made available for the petroleum response program to carry out corrective actions with respect to methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) releases. Requires implementation reports by any Federal or State agency responsible for USTs. Authorizes a State or the Administrator to prohibit the delivery of regulated substances (motor fuels) to non-compliant tanks. Provides temporary relief for certain tanks in remote locations. Includes underground storage tank systems and release response activity (as well as underground storage tanks) that are under Federal jurisdiction under the UST control and abatement requirements. Requires implementation reports by any Federal agency responsible for USTs which list the USTs and describe compliance actions. Requires the Administrator and Indian Tribes to correct UST releases on Indian lands. Permits States to establish requirements more stringent than the Federal requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2003
Air Line Pension Act of 2003 - Sets forth special funding requirements for certain pension plans maintained by commercial passenger air carriers (plans), notwithstanding any contrary provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Provides for such plans, if they have a funded percentage of less than 80 percent as of January 1, 2003, the following: (1) modifications of funding rules, including funded percentage, assumed interest rate for determining current liability, and estimation of current liability; (2) a moratorium on the deficit reduction contribution, under specified conditions; (3) a one-time amortization of 2008 unfunded current liability; and (4) recognition of a waiver in the deficit reduction contribution. Provides for such plans, if they are maintained for benefit of the carrier's employees pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement and if they terminated during calendar year 2003, the following: (1) restoration by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to the plan's pre-termination status and transfer of control of plan assets and liabilities to the employer, unless the collective bargaining agreement provides that the plan should not be restored; (2) exclusion of any expected increase in current liability due to benefits accruing during each plan year; (3) amortization of unfunded amounts under the restoration payment schedule; (4) inapplicability of certain contribution requirements to a restored plan until a plan year beginning on the initial post-restoration valuation date, with modified required annual payments; and (5) resetting of funding standard account balances. Limits PBGC liability with respect to certain plans under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2003
National Uniformity for Food Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to prohibit any State or political subdivision from establishing or continuing in effect as to any food in interstate commerce any requirement for food that is not identical to specified FDCA provisions. Prohibits any State or political subdivision from establishing or continuing in effect any notification requirement for a food that provides for a warning concerning the food's safety that is not identical to FDCA provisions. Allows current State notification or food safety requirements to continue for 180 days after the enactment of this Act, during which such State may petition for an exemption or a new national standard. Allows a State to petition for an exemption and for a national standard regarding any requirement under the FDCA, as amended by this Act, or the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act relating to food regulation. Allows a State to establish a requirement that would otherwise violate FDCA provisions relating to national uniform nutrition labeling or this paragraph if the requirement is needed to address an imminent hazard to health that is likely to result in serious adverse health consequences and if other requirements are met.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that if a taxpayer is a member of an affiliated group of corporations which files a consolidated return, the tax attributes concerning reduction of tax attributes and exclusion from gross income by reason of discharge of indebtedness shall be the aggregate tax attributes of such group.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2003
Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003 or the CLEAR Act of 2003 - States that: (1) State and local law enforcement personnel are fully authorized to investigate, apprehend, or remove aliens in the United States (including interstate transportation of such aliens to detention centers) in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws; and (2) a State that does not have a statute permitting enforcement of Federal immigration laws within two years of enactment of this Act shall not receive certain Federal incarceration assistance. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to illegal aliens to: (1) establish criminal penalties and forfeiture for aliens unlawfully present in the United States; (2) increase specified criminal and civil penalties for illegal entry and failure to depart violations; and (3) provide for payment of funds from certain civil penalties to State and local law enforcement agencies for apprehension of such aliens. Provides for the listing of immigration violators in the National Crime Information Center database. Requires States and localities to provide the Department of Homeland Security with specified information about apprehended illegal aliens. Eliminates certain Federal incarceration assistance for noncompliance. Directs the Attorney General to make grants to local police agencies for equipment and facilities related to housing and processing illegal aliens. Amends the Act to provide for Federal custody and State or local compensation of State or locally apprehended illegal aliens. Establishes a process for State and local claims against the Federal Government for failure to cooperate in enforcing immigration laws. Directs the Secretary or the Attorney General to establish immigration-related training for State and local personnel. Provides: (1) personal liability immunity for Federal, State, or local personnel enforcing immigration laws within the scope of their duties; and (2) civil rights money damage immunity for Federal, State, or local agencies enforcing immigration laws unless their personnel violated criminal law in such enforcement. States that the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security shall continue to operate the Institutional Removal Program, which shall be expanded to all States.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2003
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a gold medal to Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. (posthumously) and his widow, Coretta Scott King, in recognition of their service to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2003
Directs the Secretary of the Army, through the Chief of Engineers, to conduct a rulemaking proceeding for issuance of a general permit in Michigan to allow beach maintenance and grooming for the Great Lakes Systems and Lake Saint Clair in the area below the ordinary high-water mark and above the water's edge.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2003
Amends the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 (IPPCTPA) to limit the number of participants in the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program who have a degree from an institution of higher education to no more than 20 percent. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the nonimmigrant alien eligibility qualifications for program participants. Sets a minimum age of 21 (retaining the current age 35 maximum), and requires that the individual has: (1) been unemployed for at least six months; and (2) has resided for at least six months in Northern Ireland or one of designated border counties of the Republic of Ireland. Reduces from 36 to 24 months the temporary period of the visit to the United States for participation in the program. Denies any such person eligibility to apply for an immigrant visa, or for permanent residence, or for a nonimmigrant visa under such Act until he or she has resided and been physically present in the country of nationality or last residence for an aggregate of a least one year following departure from the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive this requirement if: (1) departure from the United States would impose exceptional hardship upon the alien's spouse or child (if such spouse or child is a U.S. citizen or a lawfully resident alien); (2) the alien cannot return to the country of his or her nationality or last residence because he or she would be subject to persecution on account of race, religion, or political opinion; or (3) the admission of the alien is in the U.S. public or national interest. Extends the authority of the IPPCTPA through FY 2008. Requires the Secretary to report each program year to Congress (currently, the third program year and the three subsequent years) on the number of aliens admitted who have overstayed their visas.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2003
Safe Aviation and Flight Enhancement Act - Amends Federal aviation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations requiring all commercial aircraft to carry both a cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data recorder equipped with two combination cockpit voice and digital flight data recording systems. Mandates that one system be located as close to the cockpit as practicable, and that the other be a deployable recorder system mounted as far rear on the airframe as practicable. Sets forth minimum recorder capabilities. Directs the Secretary to: (1) purchase and make available, at no cost, to an air carrier such fixed recorder systems and deployable recorder systems as may be necessary for the air carrier to comply with regulations; and (2) reimburse aircraft manufacturers owned or controlled by a U.S. citizen for engineering, certification, and installation costs incurred in developing and installing fixed recorder and deployable recorder systems in compliance with regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2003
Remarried Widows' and Widowers' Benefits Act of 2003 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to allow remarried widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses to become or remain entitled to widow's or widower's insurance benefits if the prior marriage was for at least ten years.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2003
Water Resources Development Act of 2003 - Authorizes and provides for specified water resources development and conservation projects. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to carry out: specified projects for flood damage reduction and environmental restoration in California and Colorado; a project for hurricane and storm damage reduction in Louisiana; a project for environmental restoration and protection in Maryland; projects for navigation and environmental restoration in Texas; and a bridge replacement project in Virginia. Directs the Secretary to conduct studies of specified flood damage reduction, streambank and shoreline protection, navigation, environmental improvement, and aquatic ecosystem restoration projects, and authorizes the Secretary to carry out those projects determined to be feasible, in Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington. Authorizes the Secretary to establish centers to provide specialized planning expertise for water resources projects to enhance and supplement the capabilities of districts of the Army Corps of Engineers. Sets forth provisions for: (1) coordination and scheduling by the Secretary for consolidating Federal, State, and local agency environmental assessments, project reviews, and issuance of permits for construction or modification of nonfederal water supply, wastewater infrastructure, flood damage reduction, environmental restoration, or navigation projects that require the Secretary's approval; and (2) expediting environmental reviews of water resources projects subject to studies for development of feasibility or general reevaluation reports. Modifies provisions authorizing specified water projects in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Deauthorizes specified projects or portions of projects in California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. Sets forth provisions modifying, requiring, or setting forth additional requirements for specified project studies. Provides for: (1) maintenance of navigation channels; (2) watershed management; (3) dam safety; (4) flood mitigation; and (5) additional assistance for authorized projects. Authorizes the Secretary to undertake certain additional measures with respect to specified projects in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arkansas and Missouri, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon and Washington, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania and New York, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2003
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should provide notice of the withdrawal of the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2003
Fair Tax Treatment for Insurance Agents' Termination Payments Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to consider a qualified termination payment received from an insurance company by a former insurance salesman for such company as a sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than 12 months.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2003
Puerto Rico Karst Conservation Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire land in or immediately adjacent to the Karst Region of Puerto Rico for the purpose of protecting and managing the tropical forest areas of the Region, with particular emphasis on water quality and protection of the aquifers. Authorizes the Secretary to use funds from the Puerto Rico Karst Conservation Fund (established by this Act) as well as funds under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978, the Forest Legacy Program, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Requires these lands to be managed in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978. Makes all lands in such region eligible for inclusion in the Forest Legacy Program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2003
General Aviation Small Business Relief Act of 2003 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration to make grants to general aviation small business concerns in amounts equal to direct losses sustained since September 11, 2001, as a result of any Federal ground stop order(s) related to the terrorist attacks. Authorizes loans to assist such a business that has suffered, as a result of such attacks, substantial economic injury that is not incidental to the business's revenue and that is not compensated for by insurance or otherwise. Extends the due date for excise tax deposits for general aviation small business concerns.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Parent's Right to Know Act of 2003 - Prohibits making available any funds appropriated for carrying out title X of the Public Health Service Act (Population Research and Voluntary Family Planning Programs) to any family planning project under specified provisions of that title if any service provider in the project knowingly provides contraceptive drugs or devices to a minor, unless: (1) the minor is emancipated; (2) by court direction; (3) the provider has given actual written notice to the custodial parent or guardian five days in advance; or (4) the minor has written consent of a custodial parent or guardian.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2003 - Declares that the sunset provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 shall not apply to Title V: Estate, Gift, and Generation-skipping Transfer Tax Provisions of such Act. (Makes the repeal of estate and generation-skipping taxes under the Internal Revenue Code, and certain reductions of the gift tax, permanent.)
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2003
Pharmaceutical Market Access Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations allowing qualifying individuals to import covered products (in addition to pharmacists and wholesalers, whom current law authorizes to import such products). Amends provision pertaining to record keeping regarding imported covered products. States that the Secretary shall not have to store records in cases in which qualifying individuals have imported a covered product. Amends provisions regarding the testing of imported covered products. Declares that specified tests, including ones involving authenticity and degradation of products, shall not be required unless the importer is a wholesaler. Requires such tests to be conducted by the importer unless a product is a prescription drug subject to the provisions of this Act pertaining to counterfeit-resistant packaging. (Currently either the importer or the manufacturer may conduct such tests). Eliminates the sunset date current law establishes for the provisions pertaining to the importation of covered products. Classifies prescription drugs as misbranded if they do not incorporate specified counterfeit -resistant technologies in packaging.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
American ParaProfessional Learning Equity Act of 2003 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, to revise standards for some paraprofessionals by providing an alternative standard of quality applicable to those hired before January 8, 2002 (existing paraprofessionals, as opposed to new ones hired after such date). Requires each local educational agency (LEA) receiving assistance under ESEA title I part A (I-A) to ensure that, by January 8, 2006, all such existing paraprofessionals working in I-A funded programs either have satisfied standards applicable to new paraprofessionals (as required for both groups under current law) or have met a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through an evaluation of: (1) performance of job duties that occur in the presence of students; and (2) knowledge of, and ability to assist in, instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or readiness for these) at the grade level of the students to be instructed. Requires each State educational agency (SEA) receiving I-A assistance to develop, by January 8, 2005, procedures and criteria for such evaluations. Requires each evaluation to be conducted by an employee of a different LEA than the one the paraprofessional works for, or by an SEA employee. Requires SEAs to train or approve each employee who conducts such evaluations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
National Monument Fairness Act - Revises Federal law with respect to a presidential proclamation that, during one calendar year, either creates a national monument that is more than 50,000 acres or that adds more than 50,000 acres to an existing national monument. Prohibits the issuance of such a proclamation until 30 days after the President has transmitted the proposed proclamation to the Governor of the State or States in which such acreage is located, soliciting written comment. Makes any such proclamation ineffective two years after its issuance unless Congress has approved it by law. Provides that land subject to a proclamation issued after the enactment of this Act that ceases to be effective shall revert to the land use status it had before the proclamation was issued. Requires the President: (1) to solicit public participation and comment in the development of a monument proclamation; (2) to consult with the Governor and entire congressional delegation of the State or territory in which such lands are located at least 60 days before any national monument proclamation; and (3) before issuing it, to consider any information, including public comments, made available in the development of existing plans and programs for the management of the lands under consideration. Requires any management plan for a national monument developed subsequent to a proclamation made under this Act to comply with the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 2003
Federal No Frills Prisons Act of 2003 - Prohibits the use of Federal funds to provide the following amenities or personal comforts in the Federal prison system: (1) in-cell television viewing; (2) viewing of a motion picture rated R, X, or NC-17; (3) instruction or training equipment for specified fighting arts, bodybuilding, or weightlifting; (4) an in-cell coffee pot, hot plate, or heating element; or (5) an electric or electronic musical instrument.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act - Directs the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor to prepare and publish a monthly Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI) that indicates changes over time in expenditures for consumption which are typical for individuals aged 62 years or older. Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for the use of such new CPI in the computation of cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits under such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act - Amends Federal transportation law to prohibit a State from prescribing or enforcing any regulation that allows a restricted property-carrying unit (any trailer, semi-trailer, container, or other property-carrying unit longer than 53 feet, except for a fire-fighting unit) to operate on the National Highway System (including the Interstate System), unless the operation of such unit is authorized by the State on June 1, 2003, and in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including seasonal operations) on or before that date. Prohibits a State from allowing the operation of a commercial motor vehicle combination on the National Highway System (except a vehicle or load that cannot be dismantled or divided easily, and that has been issued a special permit under State law) with more than one property-carrying unit (excluding the truck tractor) whose property-carrying units are more than: (1) the maximum combination trailer, semi-trailer, or other type of length limitation allowed by State law on June 1, 2003; or (2) the length of the property-carrying units of those commercial motor vehicle combinations, by specific configuration, in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including continual seasonal operation) in such State on or before June 1, 2003. Permits a commercial motor vehicle combination authorized in a State to continue to operate on System highways provided it is in compliance with State law, including routing-specific and configuration-specific designations and all other restrictions in force in the State on June 1, 2003. Amends Federal highway law to prohibit a State from allowing the operation of a vehicle or combination (other than a longer combination vehicle) exceeding Interstate weight limits on the Interstate System unless its operation was lawful: (1) on July 1, 1956; (2) in the case of the overall gross weight of any group of two or more consecutive axles, on the date of enactment of the Federal-Aid Highway Amendments of 1974; or (3) under a special permit pursuant to State (grandfather) law. Subjects such vehicles and combinations to all routing-specific, commodity-specific, and weight-specific designations in force in such State on June 1, 2003. Sets forth requirements with respect to: (1) the operation of vehicles and loads which cannot be easily dismantled or divided (nondivisible loads) on the Federal-aid highway system as they relate to Interstate weight limitations; and (2) waiver of weight limitations for vehicles that operate on the Federal-aid highway system during periods of national emergency. Declares that Interstate weight limitations on vehicles and combinations (other than longer combination vehicles) that operate on the Interstate System shall also apply to such vehicles and combinations that operate on non-Interstate segments of the National Highway System, unless: (1) such segments are subject to lower State weight limits; or (2) a State allows the operation of any vehicle or combination on an existing non-Interstate segment of the National Highway System that could be so operated lawfully on June 1, 2003. Requires establishment of a model schedule of fines for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
Farming Flexibility Act of 2003 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 with respect to oilseed base acres to: (1) deem the planting, prevented planting, or production of fruits or vegetables to be the same as the planting, prevented planting, or production of oilseeds for purposes of oilseed base acre calculations; and (2) permit fruit or vegetable production on oilseed base acres, except that direct payments and counter-cyclical payments for oilseeds shall be reduced by an acre for each acre planted to a fruit or vegetable.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Prohibits the Constitution or any State constitution, or State or Federal law from being construed to require that marital status or its legal incidents be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2003
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to President Jose Maria Aznar of Spain in recognition of his contributions to maintaining the security of all freedom-loving nations. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to strike such medal and authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2003
Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Service Act of 2003 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from permitting any license for a commercial television broadcast station to be granted, transferred, or assigned to any party if such action would result in that party owning, operating, controlling, or having a cognizable interest in stations which have an aggregate national audience reach exceeding 35 percent. Requires any party currently having licenses in excess of such limit to divest as necessary to comply with such limit within one year.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2003
Encouraging Work Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the work opportunity credit permanent. Modifies such credit by: (1) repealing the requirement that a "qualified ex-felon" be a member of a low-income (as specified) family; (2) increasing the maximum age for eligibility of food stamp recipients to 40 years; (3) redefining the term "vocational rehabilitation referral"; (4) adding "long-term family assistance recipients" (as defined) to the definition of "targeted groups"; and (5) increasing the maximum allowable credit for employment of long-term family assistance recipients. Repeals the separate welfare-to-work credit.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2003
Pledge Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal judicial code to deny jurisdiction to any court established by Act of Congress to hear or determine any claim that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance violates the first amendment of the Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 100,000 $5 gold coins and 500,000 $1 silver coins, which shall be emblematic of the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia (the first permanent English settlement in America). Provides for a $35 per coin surcharge for the $5 dollar coins and $10 per coin for the $1 dollar coins. Directs that: (1) half of the surcharges be used to support programs to promote the understanding of the legacies of Jamestown (to be paid to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation); and (2) half be used to sustain the ongoing mission of preserving Jamestown, to enhance national and international educational programs relating to Jamestown, to improve infrastructure and archeological research activities relating to Jamestown, and conduct other programs to support the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown (to be distributed by the Secretary in equal shares to the Secretary of the Interior, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation).
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 - Permits the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System lands, and the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, to plan and conduct hazardous fuels reduction projects (fuels projects) on specified types of Federal lands. Directs the Secretary concerned to give priority to fuels projects that provide for the protection of communities and watersheds. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to make grants: (1) to improve the commercial value of forest biomass to produce electric energy, sensible heat, transportation fuels, or substitutes for petroleum-based products; and (2) to offset the cost of projects to add value to biomass. Amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to permit the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service, to provide assistance to State foresters and officials for the purpose of expanding State forest capacities and activities to address watershed issues on non-Federal forested lands and potentially forested lands. Directs the Secretary concerned to establish an accelerated program to plan, conduct, and promote comprehensive and systematic information gathering on bark beetles. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the healthy forests reserve program within the Forest Service for the purpose of protecting, restoring, and enhancing degraded forest ecosystems to promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species as well as improve biodiversity and enhance carbon sequestration. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a comprehensive plan to inventory, monitor, characterize, assess, and identify forest stands and potential forest stands in specified locations. States that issues to be addressed shall include: (1) the early detection, identification, and assessment of environmental threats; and (2) the loss or degradation of forests.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt from certain child labor restrictions the employment, inside or outside of businesses where machinery is used to process wood products, of individuals between ages 14 and 18 who are members of religious sects that do not permit formal education beyond the eighth grade. Permits such youth employment if the individual: (1) is supervised by an adult relative or by an adult member of the same religious sect or division; (2) does not operate or assist in the operation of power-driven woodworking machines; (3) is protected from wood particles or other flying debris within the workplace by a barrier appropriate to such potential hazard or by maintaining a sufficient distance from machinery in operation; and (4) is required to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to excessive levels of noise and sawdust.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act , the Internal Revenue Code, and Medicare supplemental policy provisions to prohibit health plans and insurers, with respect to protected genetic information, from discriminating in enrollment, eligibility, contribution rates, and premium rates based on such information. Makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or training program to discriminate because of protected genetic information.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2003
Authorizes the President to present a gold medal in recognition of Jackie Robinson's contributions to the Nation. Calls for designation of a national day recognizing Robinson's accomplishments.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2003
Self-Employed Health Care Affordability Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit as a net earnings deduction the health insurance costs of a self-employed individual.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2003
Small Business Paperwork Amnesty Act - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to direct agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns unless there is potential for serious harm to the public interest, the detection of criminal activity would be impaired, the violation is not corrected within six months, the violation is a violation of internal revenue law or a law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt, or the violation presents a danger to the public health or safety. Permits an agency to determine that a fine should not be imposed for a violation that presents a danger to public health or safety if the violation is corrected within 24 hours. Makes this Act inapplicable to any violation by a small business of a requirement regarding the collection of information by an agency if the small business previously violated any requirement concerning the collection of information by such agency.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2003
Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to replace provisions regarding the purchase of prison-made products by Federal departments with provisions establishing a Government-wide procurement policy relating to purchases from Federal Prison Industries (FPI), which shall generally require the use of competitive procedures. Requires that an analysis of the probable impact of a proposed expansion of sales within the Federal market by FPI on private sector firms and their non-inmate workers be made whenever FPI proposes to authorize the sale of a new specific product or service or to expand production of a current product or service. Authorizes FPI to enter into a contract with a Federal contractor to produce products as a subcontractor or supplier in the performance of a Federal procurement contract. Establishes within the Bureau of Prisons: (1) the Enhanced In-Prison Educational and Vocational Assessment and Training Program; and (2) the Cognitive Abilities Assessment Demonstration Program. Directs: (1) the Chief Operating Officer of FPI to develop proposals to have FPI donate products and services to eligible entities that provide goods or services to low-income individuals who would likely otherwise have difficulty purchasing such products or services; (2) the Director of the Bureau to afford to inmates opportunities to participate in programs and activities designed to help prepare such inmates to obtain employment upon release; (3) the Attorney General to establish the Federal Reentry Center Demonstration Project; and (4) the Comptroller General to undertake to have an independent study conducted on the effects of eliminating FPI's mandatory source authority.
![Official portrait of Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000533_200.jpg)