United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Commends the people of the Republic of Kenya for conducting free and fair elections, and the Government of Kenya for its successful completion of a peaceful and orderly transition of power. Urges other African countries to look to Kenya as an example of a working democracy in action and to follow the example set by the people of Kenya during this recent election process. Offers the commitment of the House of Representatives to working to ensure democracy is able to grow and flourish as Kenya moves into the challenging future that lies ahead.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2003
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitor Center Act - Authorizes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. to design and construct a visitor center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Directs the Commission on Fine Arts to approve a final design for the center within one year. Requires the center to be operated and maintained by the Secretary of the Interior subject to the Secretary entering into an operation and maintenance agreement with the Memorial Fund. Prohibits the use of any Federal funds for the planning, design, construction, operation, or maintenance of such center.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
Colon Cancer Screen for Life Act of 2003 - Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the use of and reimbursement for colorectal cancer screening tests covered under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (SSA). Amends SSA title XVIII to: (1) increase reimbursement for colorectal cancer screening and diagnostic tests; (2) cover an outpatient office visit or consultation for the purpose of beneficiary education before a colorectal cancer screening test consisting of a screening colonoscopy or in conjunction with the beneficiary's decision to obtain such a screening, regardless of whether such screening is medically indicated with respect to the beneficiary; and (3) waive the deductible for colorectal cancer screening tests.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
Clean Diamond Trade Act - Directs the President to prohibit the importation into, or exportation from, the United States of any rough diamond, from whatever source, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). Prescribes criteria for waiver of such prohibition. Directs the President to require the appropriate Government agency to conduct annual reviews of the standards, practices, and procedures of any entity in the United States that issues Kimberley Process Certificates for the exportation from the United States of rough diamonds to determine whether they accord with the KPCS. Makes the importing authority under this Act the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) and the exporting authority the Bureau of the Census. Declares that the Congress supports the trade policy that the President take appropriate steps to promote and facilitate the adoption of the KPCS by the international community. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violation of this Act. Authorizes the President to direct the appropriate Federal agencies to make available technical assistance, relating to compliance with U.S. trade laws, to countries seeking to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Urges the President to work with Participants to strengthen the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme through the adoption of measures for: (1) sharing statistics on rough diamonds production and trade; and (2) monitoring the effectiveness of the KPCS in stemming trade in diamonds whose importation or exportation is not controlled through the KPCS. Urges the executive branch continue to: (1) keep and publish statistics on imports and exports of rough diamonds; (2) make them available for analysis by interested parties and by Participants; and (3) take a leadership role in negotiating a standardized methodology among Participants for reporting such statistics.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) provide for coverage of Medicare-covered ambulatory services by Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs); and (2) ensure FQHC reimbursement under hospital and skilled nursing facility prospective payment systems. Amends SSA title XI with respect to criminal penalties for acts involving Federal health care programs, particularly illegal remunerations (kickbacks). Exempts from the prohibition against such remunerations any remuneration: (1) between a certain kind of public or nonprofit private health center entity and any individual or entity providing goods, items, services, donations, loans, or a combination, to such health center entity pursuant to an agreement, if such agreement contributes to the ability of the health center entity to maintain or increase the availability, or enhance the quality, of services provided to a medically underserved population served by the health center entity; and (2) between a FQHC (or an entity controlled by such a health center) and a Medicare+Choice organization pursuant to a specified written agreement. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards relating to the exception for health center entity arrangements to specified anti-kickback penalties. Amends SSA title XVIII to revise the payment for certain FQHC services furnished to an individual enrolled with a Medicare+Choice organization under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice), allowing for supplemental reimbursement, among other changes. Amends Medicare+Choice to add additional Medicare+Choice contract requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Amends Federal postal law to extend the U.S. Postal Service's authority to issue special postage stamps to help provide funding for breast cancer research through December 31, 2005.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Calls for the Government of the People's Republic of China to release immediately all prisoners of conscience, including Phuntsog Nyidron, as a gesture of good will and to promote human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Calls for U.S. corporations to make greater contributions to faith-based organizations battling societal challenges. Expresses the sense of Congress that such corporations: (1) are important partners with government in efforts to overcome social problems; and (2) should not adopt policies that prohibit contributions to faith-based organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Reservist and National Guard Opportunities and Protection of Education Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to declare that: (1) whenever a student who is a member of the National Guard or other reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a member of such Armed Forces in a retired status, is called or ordered to active duty, the institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled shall grant the student a military leave of absence from the institution while the student is serving on active duty, and for one year after the conclusion of such service; (2) as a consequence of military leave, upon return, such student is entitled to restoration to his or her previous educational status with regard to academic credits earned, scholarships or grants awarded, or tuition and other fees paid; and (3) the institution is obligated to refund tuition or fees paid prior to the commencement of active duty.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Rural Fire Department Equipment Priority Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize the Federal Excess Personal Property program of the Forest Service to facilitate the reutilization of Department of Defense personal property by firefighting agencies in rural areas. Requires the priority given to such transfers by the Department of Defense to be at least equal to that given for transferring such property to military departments and defense agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Reforestation Tax Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction to a taxpayer who has a qualified timber gain in an amount equal to the qualified percentage of such gain. Allows a deduction, for qualified timber property, for reforestation expenditures and terminates current provisions allowing for the amortization of such expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the deduction of premiums for mortgage insurance. Provides for the phaseout of such deduction based on income.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Access to Cancer Therapies Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend Medicare coverage to all oral drugs prescribed for use as an anticancer agent for a medically accepted indication.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
American Dream Downpayment Act - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to participating jurisdictions for downpayment assistance to low-income, first-time home buyers; and (2) make the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 inapplicable to such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2003
Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2003 - Establishes the Federal Agency Sunset Commission to: (1) submit to Congress a schedule for review by the Commission, at least once every 12 years, of the abolishment or reorganization of each agency; (2) review and evaluate the efficiency and public need for each agency using specified criteria; (3) recommend whether each agency should be abolished or reorganized; and (4) report to Congress on all legislation introduced that would establish a new agency or a new program to be carried out by an existing agency. Requires the abolishment of any agency within one year of the Commission's review, unless the agency is reauthorized by Congress. Authorizes the deadline for abolishing an agency to be extended for an additional two years by legislation enacted by a super majority of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare an inventory of Federal programs within each agency for the purpose of advising and assisting Congress and the Commission in carrying out the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2003
Adoption Information Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to limit grants or contracts for family planning service projects or programs to projects or programs that will provide a pamphlet containing a comprehensive list of adoption centers in that State.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit: (1) Federal civilian and military retirees to pay Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and TRICARE supplemental premiums on a pretax basis; and (2) a deduction (available to itemizers and nonitemizers) for TRICARE supplemental premiums and enrollment fees. Sets an implementation deadline of the first open enrollment period beginning not less than 90 days following enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2003
Former Insurance Agents Tax Equity Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act with respect to the exemption from the self-employment tax for certain termination payments received by former insurance agents. Repeals the requirement that the amount of such a payment not depend to any extent on length of service or overall earnings from services performed for the former insurance company.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Commercial Driver's License Devolution Act of 2003 - Amends Federal transportation law to authorize an individual to operate a commercial motor vehicle solely within the borders of a State (intrastate) if such individual: (1) meets State-prescribed minimum standards for fitness for operating a commercial motor vehicle; and (2) has passed written and driving tests meeting those same standards. Requires States to test the fitness of commercial motor vehicle operators, including with written and driving tests, who operate intrastate.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Common Sense Spending Act - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to extend discretionary spending limits through FY 2008. Repeals requirements for adjustments to discretionary limits for: (1) continuing disability reviews by the Social Security Administration; (2) specified allowances for the International Monetary Fund and international arrearages; (3) any earned income tax credit compliance initiative; (4) adoption incentive payments; and (5) conservation spending. Requires an adjustment to discretionary spending limits equal to the estimated resulting reduction in mandatory budget authority and outlays utilizing accrual methods, if enacted legislation charges Federal agencies for the full cost of accrued Federal retirement and health benefits, and an appropriations Act provides new budget authority to carry out such legislation. Repeals the exemption of appropriations to cover agricultural crop disaster assistance from the application of mandatory adjustments in discretionary spending limits in a sequestration report and subsequent budgets for emergency appropriations for discretionary accounts. (Thus applies such mandatory adjustments in the total amount of emergency appropriations to appropriations covering agricultural crop disaster assistance.) Revises PAYGO requirements to remove receipts from the requirement that any legislation enacted before FY 2009 affecting direct spending (currently, direct spending and receipts) that increases the deficit will trigger an offsetting sequestration. Revises the formula for calculating the amount of deficit increase or decrease by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). States that, with respect to eliminating a deficit increase, accounts shall be assumed to be at the level in the baseline. Revises the definition of baseline to exclude emergency appropriations and legislation. Prohibits such emergency appropriations from being extended in the baseline. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to define: (1) "emergency" as an unanticipated situation that requires new budget authority and outlays (or new budget authority and the outlays flowing therefrom) for the prevention or mitigation of, or response to, loss of life or property, or a threat to national security; and (2) "unanticipated" as an underlying situation that is sudden, which means quickly coming into being or not building up over time, urgent, which means a pressing and compelling need requiring immediate action, unforeseen, which means not predicted or anticipated as an emerging need, and temporary, which means not of a permanent duration. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require that the committee report and any statement of managers accompanying proposed legislation analyze whether a proposed emergency requirement meets such definition of "emergency." Prohibits the consideration of any such legislation that does not meet this "emergency" definition.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Makes all remarried surviving spouses of veterans eligible for burial in a national cemetery. (Currently, such eligibility is permitted only for remarried former spouses whose subsequent marriage was terminated by death or divorce.)
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Directs the Secretary of the Army to issue a combat artillery medal to each person who, while a member of the Army artillery branch, participated in combat after April 5, 1917.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Child Obscenity and Pornography Prevention Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) making a visual depiction that is a digital image, computer image, or computer-generated image of, or that is indistinguishable from an image of, a minor engaging in specified sexually explicit conduct; (2) offering, agreeing, attempting, or conspiring to provide, sell, receive, or purchase a visual depiction of a minor engaging in such conduct; (3) producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing with intent to distribute, or possessing a visual depiction that is, or is virtually indistinguishable from, that of a pre-pubescent child engaging in such conduct; (4) producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing with intent to distribute a visual depiction of any kind, including a drawing, cartoon, sculpture, or painting, that, under specified circumstances, depicts a pre-pubescent child engaging in sexually explicit conduct and that is obscene; (5) showing a minor obscene material or child pornography; (6) providing obscene material, child pornography, or other material assistance to facilitate offenses against minors; or (7) employing or coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct outside of the United States for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. Provides enhanced penalties for recidivists with respect to child pornography, sexual abuse, and transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes. Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to authorize a provider of electronic communication or remote computing services to disclose information indicating a State criminal law child pornography violation to State or local law enforcement officials. Authorizes the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to report facts or circumstances indicating a violation of child pornography prohibitions by such a provider. Amends provisions regarding transactional information that may be obtained through an administrative subpoena issued with respect to the sexual exploitation or abuse of children. Authorizes the interception of communications in the investigation of offenses involving obscene visual representations of young children or sexual abuse of minors.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to direct the chairman of the Budget Committee to maintain a Discretionary Spending Ledger, divided into entries corresponding to Appropriations Committee subcommittees. States that each entry will consist of the Deficit Reduction Safeguard Balance which may be credited with any reductions in new budget authority offered in an amendment to an appropriation bill. Requires such chairman to maintain a Mandatory Spending Ledger, divided into entries corresponding to the House Committees receiving budget allocations, excluding Appropriations. States that each entry will consist of the First Year Deficit Reduction Safeguard Balance and the Five Year Deficit Reduction Safeguard Balance which may be credited with applicable reductions in new budget authority offered in an amendment to a bill. Permits such reductions to be used to offset an increase in other new budget authority or remain within the applicable allocation. Prohibits the entry of a negative amount. Requires the chairman to maintain and make available to Members running tallies of the amendments adopted, reflecting increases and decreases of budget authority in bills as reported.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2003
Volunteer Pilot Organization Protection Act - Amends the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 to exempt from liability a nonprofit volunteer pilot organization that flies for public benefit, its staff members, and its volunteers for harm caused by a volunteer while flying, in furtherance of the purpose of the organization, an aircraft for which the volunteer was properly licensed and individually insured.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2003
Aquatic Invasive Species Research Act - Requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and the U.S. Geological Survey (Administering Agencies) to: (1) enter into a memorandum of understanding regarding the implementation of this Act; and (2) develop and conduct a marine and fresh-water research program to support efforts to assess rates and patterns of the introduction of invasive nonnative species into the Aquatic Ecosystem and efforts to detect, prevent, and eradicate them. Requires the Administering Agencies to: (1) develop standardized protocols for conducting ecological and pathway surveys of nonnative aquatic species; (2) document baseline ecological information of the aquatic ecosystem and pathways; (3) acting through NOAA, administer a program to award grants to academic institutions and other appropriate groups to develop standardized protocols and conduct marine and fresh-water research experiments; and (4) conduct laboratory and field-based marine and fresh-water research experiments on a range of taxonomic groups to identify the relationship between the introduction and establishment of nonnative aquatic species. Requires the United States Geological Survey to develop, maintain, and update a central, national database of the information and make the database widely available to the public. Requires the Administering Agencies to analyze the data collected. Makes the Invasive Species Council responsible for disseminating such information and develop a national strategy for how it will be shared with Federal, State, and local entities. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), acting through the Office of Research and Development, to develop a grant program to fund research, development, demonstration and verification of environmentally sound, cost-effective technologies and methods to control and eradicate aquatic invasive species. Reauthorizes the ship pathway technology demonstration program. Requires the Coast Guard and the EPA to develop a research program to support implementation of ship pathway standards to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species by ships into the Aquatic Ecosystem. Requires the National Science Foundation to establish a grant program for researchers at institutions of higher education and museums to carry our research programs in systematics and taxonomy.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2003
Child Abduction Prevention Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) make the authorized term of supervised release after imprisonment any term of years or life, and to require a term of supervised release of at least five years, for kidnaping and for other sexual crimes against or involving minors; (2) include aggravated child abuse and child torture murders within the scope of the definition of first degree murder; and (3) increase penalties for sexual exploitation and other abuse of children, for transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes, and for kidnaping children. Prohibits: (1) and increases the maximum sentence for traveling in or into the United States to engage in an illicit sexual act with another person (currently, with a juvenile); (2) traveling in foreign commerce and engaging in such sexual conduct; or (3) arranging or facilitating such travel. Establishes as a defense that the defendant reasonably believed the victim had attained age 18. Provides for mandatory life imprisonment of a person convicted of a Federal sex offense against a minor if the person has a prior sex conviction in which a minor was the victim, unless a death sentence is imposed. Establishes criminal liability for attempting to remove a child from the United States with intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental rights. Authorizes the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications in the investigation of kidnaping, sex trafficking, specified sex offenses against children, or transportation for illegal sexual activity. Eliminates statutes of limitations for child abduction and for felony offenses of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and other abuse of children, transportation for illegal sexual activity, or sex trafficking of children or by force. Bars pretrial release for persons charged with such offenses. Requires Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to report each case of a missing child under age 21 (currently, 18) reported to them to the National Crime Information Center. Directs the Attorney General to assign a national AMBER Alert Coordinator who shall establish minimum standards for the issuance of alerts and the extent of alert dissemination. Provides for grants to States for the development or enhancement of: (1) notification or communications systems along highways for alerts for the recovery of abducted children; and (2) programs and activities for the support of AMBER Alert communications plans. Increases authorized appropriations for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Authorizes the use of COPS (Cops on the Beat, community policing) grants to assist a State in enforcing a convicted sex offender registration law.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2003
National Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2003 - Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to establish aquatic invasive species prevention requirements for all vessels operating in U.S. waters. Requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to promulgate regulations for ballast water management standards and certification procedures. Directs the Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force to establish a priority pathway management program that identifies those pathways that pose the highest risk for the introduction of aquatic invasive species unless further managed. Prohibits the importation of live aquatic organisms not in trade without specified screening and approval. Requires the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, with the concurrence of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to construct and maintain a national dispersal barrier program to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in U.S. waterways. Provides for expansion of the Brown Tree Snake Control Program and Aquatic Nuisance Species Program information, education, and outreach activities. Requires the Task Force to establish a national subcommittee on nutria for its control. Requires the Invasive Species Council to coordinate with the Task Force to combat aquatic invasive species. Requires the Task Force to recommend to appropriate Federal agencies additions to the list of aquatic invasive species. Requires the Task Force, the Council, and the Secretary of State to coordinate activities to ensure that international efforts to prevent and manage aquatic invasive species are coordinated with U.S. policies.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish that options without a readily ascertainable fair market value offered by State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations are excluded from gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2003
The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act - Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to make the sunset provisions inapplicable to provisions that expanded and increased the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs under the Internal Revenue Code.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2003
Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to include pancreases procured by an organ procurement organization and used for islet cell transplantation or research to be counted toward organ procurement organization certification. Establishes the Interagency Committee on Islet Cell Transplantation within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Requires the Committee to study related issues, including Federal research funding, the effect of specified policies on transplantation, and data collection. Instructs the Secretary of HHS to request the Institute of Medicine to provide a study of the impact of islet cell transplantation on juvenile diabetes patients, including their health and the treatment's cost-effectiveness. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to establish a demonstration project to assess the efficacy of pancreatic cell islet transplantation for individuals who: (1) have Type I (juvenile) diabetes; and (2) have end-stage renal disease; and (3) are Medicare beneficiaries. Establishes reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2003
Wildfire Response Enhancement Act - Authorizes the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to place an order with any Federal agency for goods or services directly related to fighting wildfires if the goods or services are necessary to properly respond to a wildfire without regard to a provision requiring a prior determination that the goods or services cannot be provided by contract as conveniently or cheaply by a commercial enterprise.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2003
Debbie Smith Act of 2003 - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) survey Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement jurisdictions to assess the amount of DNA evidence from sexual assault crimes that has not been subjected to testing and analysis; (2) review national, State, local, and tribal government protocols on the collection and processing of DNA evidence at crime scenes; and (3) make grants for sexual assault examiner programs, examiner training and certification, acquisition or improvement of forensic equipment, and other training. Amends the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to: (1) ensure that DNA testing and analysis of samples from rape kits and non-suspect cases are carried out in a timely manner; (2) reauthorize grants; (3) make local governments eligible for grants; (4) direct the Attorney General to give priority to a State or local governmental unit that has a significant rape kit or non-suspect case backlog; and (5) expand the scope of DNA samples subject to privacy protections. Amends: (1) the Federal criminal code and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to authorize "John Doe" DNA indictments for sexual abuse (allows describing a person as an unknown individual who has a particular DNA profile if the identity of the accused or defendant is unknown); and (2) the DNA Identification Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to carry out a redesign of the Combined DNA Index System.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2003
PILT and Refuge Revenue Sharing Permanent Funding Act - Provides permanent funding for the following programs: (1) Bureau of Land Management Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT); and (2) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's refuge revenue sharing program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2003
Pension Security Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require individual account plans (IAPs), including those with cash or deferred arrangements under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 401(k), to furnish quarterly pension benefit statements to plan participants and beneficiaries with rights to direct investments. Provides that employers are not exempt from liability for failing in fiduciary duty with respect to IAP investments during blackout periods if such a period's imposition suspends, limits, or restricts participants' and beneficiaries' ability to direct or diversify their assets. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a program to provide informational and educational support for pension plan fiduciaries. Amends ERISA and IRC to set forth diversification requirements for IAPs that hold employer securities readily tradable on an established market. Allows ERISA and IRC prohibited transaction exemptions under specified conditions. Directs the Secretary of Labor to study, and report to specified congressional committees on, the costs and benefits to participants and beneficiaries of requiring independent fiduciary consultants to advise plan fiduciaries in connection with IAPs. Amends the IRC to provide that no amount shall be included in the gross income of any employee solely because the employee may choose between any qualified retirement planning services provided by a qualified investment advisor, and compensation which would otherwise be includible in the gross income of such employee. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit certain insider trading during pension plan transaction suspension periods. Amends the Retirement Protection Act of 1994 to make permanent an exemption from certain funding rules under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) for retirement plans sponsored by companies in the interstate bus transportation industry (thereby having ERISA funding rules apply instead). Directs the Secretaries of the Treasury and of Labor to allow: (1) one-participant retirement plans which meet certain requirements and have assets of $250,000 or less as of the close of the plan year to not file an annual return for that year; and (2) the filing of a simplified annual return for any retirement plan which covers fewer than 25 employees on the first day of a plan year and meets certain other requirements. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to continue to update and improve the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (or any successor program) giving special attention to specified factors. Amends IRC and the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to extend to all governmental plans a moratorium on the application of certain nondiscrimination rules applicable to State and local plans. Amends ERISA to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to modify specified regulations. Directs the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to issue missing participant rules for multiemployer plans. Reduces PBGC premiums for new plans of small employers. Reduces PBGC additional premiums for new and small plans. Authorizes the PBGC to pay interest on premium overpayment refunds. Revises rules for substantial owner benefits in terminated plans. Directs the Secretary of Labor to study and report on model small employer group plans.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2003
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Prohibits any qualified civil liability action from being brought in any State or Federal court and requires pending actions to be dismissed. Defines such an action to: (1) include an action brought against a manufacturer or seller of a firearm, ammunition, or a component of a firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, or against a trade association of such manufacturers or sellers, for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm; and (2) exclude an action brought against persons who transfer a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime; an action brought against a seller for negligent entrustment or negligence per se; an action in which a manufacturer or seller of a firearm willfully violated a State or Federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the firearm and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought; an action for breach of contract or warranty in connection with the purchase of the firearm; or an action for physical injuries or property damage resulting directly from a defect in design or manufacture of the firearm when used as intended.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2003
Training for Realtime Writers Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Education to make competitive grants to eligible entities to promote training and placement of individuals, including individuals who have completed a court reporting training program, as realtime writers to meet requirements for closed captioning in video programming. Sets forth priorities to be given in the award of such grants. Limits grants to a two-year period and a maximum amount of $1.5 million.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2003
Terminally Ill Disability Beneficiary Act of 2003 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to create an exception from the waiting period otherwise required for Social Security disability insurance benefits for beneficiaries suffering from a medically determined terminal illness with not more than six months to live.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2003
Amends the Clean Air Act to allow the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to approve a provision in a State implementation plan controlling or prohibiting the use of a motor vehicle fuel or additive only if such control requires the use of either Federal clean burning gasoline (regarding which the Administrator is directed to establish requirements under this Act, replacing those for fuel currently called "reformulated gasoline") or low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline (as defined in this Act) for use during the high ozone season. Permits previously approved plan provisions effecting such controls to remain in effect for four years after enactment of this Act only if the State reevaluates the provisions and establishes that their benefits in terms of air quality improvement, consistent supply, production costs, and stable prices exceed the benefits of modifying them to require the use of Federal clean burning fuel or low RVP gasoline. Repeals reformulated gasoline oxygen content requirements. Prohibits, effective January 1, 2007, the introduction into commerce of any fuel containing methyl tertiary butyl ether. Requires that, beginning in 2004, gasoline sold in the United States be comprised of a specified percentage of renewable fuel (ethanol or biomass-derived fuel or other fuel used to reduce the quantity of fossil fuel present in gasoline). Provides for adjustment of such percentage in a State and a program of credits for use and exchange by refiners, blenders, and importers. Expresses the sense of Congress in support of the promotion of ethanol as the primary renewable fuel. Directs the Administrator to conduct a study of emissions and air quality changes attributable to this Act's amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2003
Patient Navigator, Outreach, and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize: (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration; (2) the Director of the National Cancer Institute; and (3) the Director of the Indian Health Service to make grants for model programs to provide services for cancer and chronic diseases to individuals of health disparity populations. Requires that these services: (1) be provided in a culturally competent way; (2) include patient navigators to help with finding services and follow-up care; and (3) include ongoing outreach activities. Conditions grants on the presence of a fee schedule consistent with prevailing rates and a fee discount schedule which provides fee adjustments based on ability to pay. Evaluates services according to a peer-reviewed model according to best practices. Limits the grants to five years.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2003
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to entitle certain local educational agencies (LEAs) to specified payment amounts under Impact Aid programs: (1) relating to Federal acquisition of real property; and (2) for basic support for eligible federally-connected children. (Current law makes such LEAs eligible for such payments up to specified maximum amounts.) Revises the formula for calculating additional Impact Aid payments to LEAs for federally-connected children with disabilities who are eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Extends the authorization of appropriations for: (1) construction and school modernization payments for certain LEAs, including ones with high percentages of children living on Indian lands or children of military parents; and (2) facilities maintenance payments for certain schools located on military bases and serving military dependent children.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2003
Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to require the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime to ensure that all sums in the Victims of Crime Fund in a fiscal year are in fact obligated in the subsequent fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2003
Farm and Ranch Risk Management Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual engaged in an eligible farming or commercial fishing business a deduction for any taxable year of up to 20 percent of taxable income attributable to the eligible farming or commercial fishing business which was paid in cash by the taxpayer to a Farm and Ranch Risk Management Account (FARRM Account). Includes distributions from a FARRM account in the taxpayer's gross income, and subjects to a special ten percent surtax any distributions not made within five years of contribution. Establishes a tax on excess contributions, but exempts the taxpayer from the tax on certain prohibited transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2003
Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act of 2003 - Authorizes an individual, during the year following enactment of this Act, to make an irrevocable election for entitlement to basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill if such individual: (1) first became a member of the armed forces or entered active duty before July 1, 1985; (2) has served on active duty without a break in service and continues to serve for some or all of the year before enactment of this Act; (3) has completed requirements of a secondary school diploma or the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program leading to a standard college degree; and (4) is discharged or released from active duty honorably. Requires such individual's basic pay to be reduced, over an 18-month period, until the total reduction is $2,700, as a contribution toward such educational assistance.
![Official portrait of Rep. Green, Mark [R-WI-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000545_200.jpg)