United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Clean Diamond Trade Act - Prohibits the importation of rough diamonds into the United States unless the exporting country is implementing a system of controls on the export or import of rough diamonds that: (1) meets specified requirements, consistent with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 adopted on December 1, 2000, or is functionally equivalent; or (2) meets the requirements of an international agreement which requires such controls and to which the United States is a party. Prohibits the importation of polished diamonds (including jewelry containing diamonds) into the United States unless the exporting country: (1) is implementing a system of controls on the export and import of rough diamonds, except such system shall not be required for countries that do not import rough diamonds; and (2) requires that its own imports of diamonds originate from countries that have implemented a system of controls on the export and import of rough diamonds. Provides a waiver of the requirements of this Act. Urges the President to negotiate an international agreement to eliminate trade in diamonds used to support conflict in the country or regions in which such diamonds are mined.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Teachers for Tomorrow Act of 2001 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish new programs for teacher student loan forgiveness, under the guaranteed loan program and the direct loan program. Requires three consecutive complete school years of full-time teaching in a public elementary or secondary school as: (1) a secondary school teacher of a subject area relevant to the borrower's academic major; or (2) an elementary school teacher who has demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and other curriculum areas. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from a teacher's gross income any student loan amounts discharged under both the current HEA programs and those added by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
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 · 2 August 2001
Omnibus Mercury Emissions Reduction Act of 2001 - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to establish standards for mercury and mercury compound emissions applicable to: (1) electric utility steam generating units; (2) coal- and oil-fired boiler units of a specified capacity; (3) chlor-alkali plants that use the mercury cell production process; and (4) dust from Portland cement plants. Sets forth permit requirements. Requires the Administrator to authorize methods of emissions control. Establishes mercury emission baselines for electric utility and coal- and oil-fired boiler units. Requires the regulations to ensure that recovered mercury is disposed of in a manner that ensures that: (1) mercury hazards are not transferred between environmental media; and (2) there is no release of mercury into the environment. Directs the Administrator to establish a program of long-term disposal research and publicize emission data for each facility. Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the Administrator to publish a list of mercury-containing items to be separated and removed from the waste streams that feed solid waste facilities. Requires mercury-content labeling by manufacturers. Requires persons that transfer solid waste that may contain a listed mercury-containing item to submit separation and removal plans. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations concerning measurement of mercury emissions from solid waste combustion flue gases. Requires permits for solid waste incineration units to specify inspection, entry, monitoring, compliance certification, and reporting requirements. Directs the Administrator to require incineration units that exceed the maximum emission rate to install measures that will result, within three years, in a rate below the specified maximum. Prohibits, three years after this Act's enactment, the sale of mercury-containing products unless the manufacturer has been granted an exemption. Requires reports on reductions of mercury emissions from medical and hazardous waste incinerators, military uses of mercury, the sources and extent of emissions in North America, sedimentation trends in water bodies of concern, and fish consumption advisories. Directs the Administrator to establish a program to evaluate and address mercury-related health effects on high-risk populations. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator to establish an advisory committee to report on the progress made in complying with this Act's amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Commends and congratulates Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the tenth anniversary of her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Recognizes her contributions and work toward bringing peace and democracy to Burma. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President and Secretary of State should continue to encourage the Government of Burma to restore basic human rights to the Burmese people, to eliminate the practice of human trafficking, to address the manufacture of heroin and methamphetamine, to continue releasing political prisoners, to recognize the results of the 1990 democratic elections, and to allow Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy to enjoy unfettered freedom of speech and freedom of movement; and (2) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2001
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to allow children enrolled (under SSA title XXI) in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to be eligible for benefits under the pediatric vaccine distribution program.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2001
Holocaust Victims Insurance Relief Act of 2001 - Directs the Archivist of the United States to establish and maintain a Holocaust Insurance Registry to consist of information on holders and issuers (and related liable entities) of Holocaust-era insurance policies that were: (1) in effect after January 30, 1933, and before December 31, 1945; and (2) issued to a policyholder domiciled in any area of Europe that was occupied or controlled by Nazi Germany or any ally or sympathizer during such period. Requires: (1) insurers to file such information in an electronic format with the Secretary of Commerce by a specified deadline; (2) the Secretary to assess a civil penalty for each day an insurer fails to comply; and (3) notify each State's commissioner of insurance of the identity of any insurer that has failed to file such information or to satisfy any penalty.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2001
Late Term Abortion Restriction Act - Prohibits knowingly performing an abortion after the fetus has become viable, unless, in the medical judgment of the attending physician, the abortion is necessary to preserve the woman's life or to avert serious adverse health consequences to her. Subjects a physician who violates this Act to a civil penalty.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2001
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2001 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities (including employment agencies, labor organizations, and training programs). Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares this Act inapplicable to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's domestic partner. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from: (1) collecting statistics on sexual orientation from covered entities; and (2) compelling covered entities to collect such statistics. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) an order or consent decree for a violation of this Act that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares that this Act is inapplicable to: (1) religious organizations; (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Prohibits the imposition of affirmative action for a violation of this Act. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for remedies to the same extent as under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2001
Nursing Home Quality Protection Act of 2001 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for: (1) reinstitution of the Boren Amendment payment methodology repealed in 1997; (2) increased nurse staffing; (3) increased sanctions (including refunds and withholding of Federal funds) for substandard care furnished in nursing facilities; (4) a Nursing Facility Quality Improvement Account in the Treasury for deposit of all substandard care refunds and withheld amounts; (5) grants to States for improvement of the quality of care furnished in nursing facilities in the State; (6) increased public disclosure of information on the Internet regarding nursing facilities; (7) background checks on covered nursing facility employees; (8) the applicability of protections afforded under survey and certification process provisions to all nursing facility residents, not just those entitled to Medicaid payments or in an institution meeting certain requirements; and (9) financial accountability of nursing facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2001
Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act - Sets forth entitlement standards and implementation guidelines for employee use of emergency leave to address domestic or sexual violence. Permits victims of domestic or sexual violence to substitute existing leave in lieu of emergency leave. Authorizes State use of funds under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) to provide nonrecurrent short-term emergency benefits for emergency leave precipitated by domestic or sexual violence . Amends the Internal Revenue Code relating to approval of State unemployment compensation laws to prohibit denial of compensation where an individual is separated from employment due to circumstances resulting from the individual's experience of domestic or sexual violence. Amends the Social Security Act to include training under this Act for unemployment compensation and TANF personnel. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award a grant to a national victim services organization to develop and disseminate a model program for domestic and sexual violence training. Victims' Employment Sustainability Act - Prohibits certain discriminatory employer practices relating to terms or conditions of employment in connection with victims of domestic or sexual violence. Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage based on the status of the applicant or insured regarding abuse or abuse-related claims. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business related credit for 40 percent of an employer's costs for implementing workplace safety and education programs relating to domestic and sexual violence. Authorizes the Attorney General to provide a grant for a clearinghouse and resource center to provide information and assistance to employers, labor organizations, and advocates on behalf of victims of domestic or sexual violence.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2001
Encourages all participants in the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance (WCAR) to seize this opportunity to tackle the scourges of racism, xenophobia, sexism, religious intolerance, slavery, and other forms of discrimination. Recognizes that efforts to address these prejudices should occur within a global framework and without reference to specific regions, countries, or present-day conflicts. Urges: (1) the participants to utilize WCAR to mitigate, rather than aggravate, racial, ethnic, and regional tensions; and (2) WCAR to focus on concrete steps that may be taken to address gross human rights violations that were motivated by racially and ethnically based animus and on devising strategies to help eradicate such intolerance. Commends the efforts of the Government of South Africa in hosting WCAR.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2001
Commends and congratulates the people of Ukraine on the tenth anniversary of Ukrainian independence. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Ukrainian President and Parliament should continue efforts to maintain the balance of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government and ensure that their cooperation is aimed at furthering democratic reforms and strengthening civil society based on the rule of law; and (2) the United States should continue to assist in building an independent Ukraine through encouraging and supporting democratic and market-economy transformations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2001
Recruit and Reward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 2001 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish the National Math and Science Teacher Scholarships pilot program to recruit and train future secondary school mathematics and science teachers. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to higher education institutions with graduate programs in teacher training to make such scholarships to outstanding students enrolled in such programs who are committed to pursuing careers in secondary school mathematics and science teaching. Makes institutions eligible only if they are ranked by the Secretary in the top 25 percent of schools in their States with the highest percentage of graduates passing the State teacher qualification assessment for new teachers. Gives priority to institutions with one or more of the following: (1) a year-long internship program in a professional development school; (2) mentoring programs for novice teachers in their first three years; (3) a history of placing graduates in rural and urban schools; and (4) a high retention rate of teachers that the institution places in teaching positions. Requires scholarship recipients to agree to teach in an urban or rural public secondary school for at least three full academic years, or repay the pro rata amount of awards received, plus interest, for any failure to fulfill such obligation, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2001
United States-Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Human Dignity Act - Amends Federal law to prohibit the affixation of the "Made in the USA" label to a product (including textile fiber product) from the Northern Mariana Islands unless: (1) each worker producing such product was paid a minimum wage equal to or greater than the wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; (2) the product was manufactured in compliance with all Federal laws relating to labor rights and working conditions; and (3) the factory or other business producing the product does not employ individuals under conditions of indentured servitude. Applies to the Northern Mariana Islands: (1) the minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; and (2) the Immigration and Nationality Act. Prohibits any product of the Northern Mariana Islands from entering the customs territory of the United States duty-free or not subject to quota as a product of an insular possession unless specified requirements relating to fair labor practices and country of origin are met. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize the inspection by the Customs Service of any vessel from a foreign port or from a place in any U.S. territory or possession arriving at a port or place in the Northern Mariana Islands. Requires a study of the extent of human and labor rights violations in the Northern Mariana Islands.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should establish an international education policy to enhance national security, significantly further U.S. foreign policy and economic competitiveness, and promote mutual understanding and cooperation among nations. Includes among policy objectives: (1) producing citizens with a high level of international experience; (2) promoting greater diversity of locations, languages, and subjects involved in teaching, research, and study abroad; (3) increasing participation in internships abroad; (4) invigorating citizen and professional international exchange programs; (5) supporting visas and employment policies that promote increased numbers of international students; (6) encouraging programs that begin foreign language learning in the United States at an early age; (7) promoting educational exchanges and research collaboration with American educational institutions abroad; and (8) promoting partnerships among government, business, and educational institutions and organizations to provide adequate resources for implementing this policy.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Law Enforcement Tribute Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, local governments, and Indian tribes to carry out programs to honor, through permanent tributes, men and women of the United States who were killed or disabled while serving as law enforcement or public safety officers.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Posthumous Citizenship Restoration Act of 2001 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend until two years after the later of the date of enactment of this Act or the date of the person's death the deadline for the Attorney General to approve a request to grant posthumous citizenship to individuals who die while on active-duty military service.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Equitable Care for All Veterans Act - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modify the funding allocation formula for the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care system known as the Veterans Resource Allocation (VERA) system to provide for the incorporation of regional differences in the cost of providing health care to veterans as part of the criteria used to determine the national means differential used. Directs the Secretary to evaluate the effects of such modifications on the regional allocation of funds available to the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care and, if the modifications do not result in a substantive shift in such allocations, to terminate VERA. Directs the Secretary, if required to terminate VERA, to develop a new formula for the allocation of funds to the Department's national service regions, known as Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), that takes into account specified requirements, including additional costs incurred by a VISN because the age of veterans, or the number of veterans requiring complex care, in that VISN exceeds the median for all VISNs. Authorizes additional appropriations to be allocated to VISNs that have experienced funding reductions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Veterans Equal Treatment Act - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) discontinue the funding allocation formula for the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care system known as the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation system at the end of the fiscal year in which this Act is enacted; and (2) develop a new formula for the allocation of funds to the national service regions, known as Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), that takes into account specified requirements, including additional costs incurred by a VISN because the age of veterans, or the number of veterans requiring complex care, in that VISN exceeds the median for all VISNs Authorizes additional appropriations to be allocated to VISNs that have experienced funding reductions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Helping Out to Rescue and Save Equines Act - Prohibits the interstate transport of horses (other than downed animals) for the purpose of slaughter or horse flesh for human consumption. Sets forth related inspection, confiscation, and penalty provisions, including rescue facility grants.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Social Security Fairness Act of 2001 - 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 Old-Age and Survivors insurance benefit payments; and (2) windfall elimination provisions with respect to computation of the primary insurance amount of an individual.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to provide that aliens and non-immigrants shall be eligible for State and local public assistance for primary and preventive care.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of: (1) the National Institutes of Health to expand, intensify, and coordinate programs for the conduct and support of research with respect to blood cancer, particularly with respect to leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma; (2) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a related public information program, to be carried out in collaboration with private health organizations that have national education and patient assistance programs on blood-related cancers.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Save Money for Prescription Drug Research Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a deduction for any physician gift expense paid or incurred by any prescription drug manufacturer.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Declares that Congress mourns the loss of life caused by several days of civil unrest in July 2001 in Kingston, Jamaica. Urges the Government of Jamaica to encourage a process of reconciliation to help resolve the crisis and to conduct an investigation of the events leading up to the civil unrest that is fair, open, timely, and transparent and that provides every segment of the Jamaican population an opportunity to be heard. Urges the President to: (1) provide, upon the request of the Jamaican Government, technical advice that would help such Government in its investigation of the events leading up to the unrest; (2) continue to cooperate with such Government to halt the illegal transport of firearms and ammunition from the United States to Jamaica; and (3) support the continuation of the democratic process and rule of law in Jamaica.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month should be established to raise public awareness about the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the serious problems associated with it.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2001
Patient Privacy Act of 2001 - Amends part C (Administrative Simplification) of title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) to repeal: (1) the requirement of unique health identifiers for each individual, employer, health plan, and health care provider; and (2) penalties for wrongful disclosure of unique health identifiers. Prohibits the expenditure of Federal funds to develop or implement any database or other system of records containing personal medical information of any U.S. citizen, or to collect medical records for the purpose of storing them in a database or other system of records, with specified exceptions including part A (Hospital Insurance) or part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program under SSA title XVIII and the Medicaid program under SSA title XIX.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2001
Safety and Fuel Economy (SAFE) Act - Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to prescribe a new Federal motor vehicle safety standard to improve the crash safety of automobiles and light trucks in collisions. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations that require motor vehicle manufacturers to disclose CRAGG index ratings to purchasers of new motor vehicles after model year 2005. Establishes the CRAGG (Crash Aggressivity) index as one that: (1) measures a motor vehicle's aggressivity; (2) takes into account its stiffness, structure height, and mass; and (3) substantially improves the present crash safety of automobiles and light trucks by reducing their aggressivity. Defines "aggressivity" as the degree to which the front of a motor vehicle in a collision with another motor vehicle inflicts damage to the other vehicle and causes injury to its occupants. Sets forth average fuel economy standards for passenger automobiles and light trucks manufactured after model years 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2001
States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act - Transfers marijuana from schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to schedule II of such Act. Declares that, in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use under applicable State law, no provision of the Controlled Substances Act shall prohibit or otherwise restrict: (1) the prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use; (2) an individual from obtaining and using marijuana from a physician's prescription or recommendation of marijuana for medical use; or (3) a pharmacy from obtaining and holding marijuana for the prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use under applicable State law. Prohibits any provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act from prohibiting or restricting a State entity from producing or distributing marijuana for the purpose of its distribution for prescription or recommendation by a physician in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed by a physician for medical use.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Salmon Planning Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) providing for peer review of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) biological opinion regarding the Operation of the Federal Columbia River power system, issued December 21, 2000, and any subsequent modification of it (opinion) and submission of a report on the results. Directs: (1) the Secretary of Commerce to publish a determination of whether implementation of the salmon recovery measures in the opinion are sufficient to achieve recovery, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, of the salmon and steelhead populations; and if not, whether partially removing the four lower Snake River dams (the dams) are necessary to restore Snake River salmon and steelhead populations; (2) the Secretary of the Interior to publish a determination of whether partially removing the dams are necessary to meet treaty obligations; and (3) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish a determination of whether partially removing the dams are necessary to meet Federal Water Pollution Control Act requirements. Directs the Comptroller General to study the potential effects of partially removing the dams. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Corps of Engineers, to partially remove the dams if the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Interior, or the EPA Administrator finds that such action is necessary to meet the aforementioned requirements. Directs the Secretary of the Army to undertake such preliminary engineering, design, construction, and other activities as necessary to remove the dams.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Fisheries Recovery Act of 2001 - Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act regarding avoiding and minimizing bycatch and bycatch mortality. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to report on progress made in implementing requirements regarding standardized reporting methodology and bycatch reduction. Requires a fishery management plan to close an area to a gear or practice that has been shown to adversely affect essential fish habitat unless the Regional Fishery Management Council (council) determines that closure is not necessary and the Secretary finds that the gear or practice will have a minimal adverse impact on habitat and minimal bycatch. Requires observers on commercial fishing vessels to collect data necessary for the conservation and management of the fishery, subject to specified requirements Modifies: (1) the definition of "overfishing" and "overfished" to include jeopardizing the ecological integrity and sustainability of marine ecosystems; (2) conservation and management measure requirements; and (3) fishery management plan requirements to add ecosystem considerations. Requires each fishery management plan to have a fishery impact statement. Directs the Secretary to develop at least one pilot fisheries ecosystem plan. Requires each council to prepare and submit to the Secretary a Fisheries Ecosystem Plan for each major marine ecosystem within its jurisdiction. Reauthorizes appropriations to carry out the Act. Amends the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act to earmark specified funds for direct industry assistance grants and for activities of the National Marine Fisheries Service that are directly related to implementation of the Magnuson Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Provides that the program under which Federal agencies may agree to repay student loans of their employees shall apply to employees of the legislative branch (with the exception of Senators, Members of Congress, including Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner to Congress), except that: (1) requirements relating to the exclusion of any employee who occupies a position that is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character shall not apply; and (2) the minimum required period of service shall be one year (rather than three) for a legislative branch employee selected to receive benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of the People's Republic of China should cease its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Calls for the U.S. Government to urge the Chinese Government to: (1) release from detention all Falun Gong practitioners and end the torture and other cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment of such practitioners and other prisoners of conscience; and (2) abide by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by allowing Falun Gong practitioners to pursue their personal beliefs.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Save Our Homes Act - Amends the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 to: (1) mandate itemization and disclosure of the annual percentage rate of mortgage loans and other loans secured by residential real property originated by the lending institution, including the amount of fees and points imposed in connection with loan origination, grouped according to census tract, income level, racial characteristics, age, and gender; and (2) prohibit regulatory exemptions of depository institutions from such reporting requirements. Amends the Truth in Lending Act to: (1) set forth annual percentage rates that define a high-cost mortgage and the attendant rule relating to mortgage discount points in order to apply high-cost loan protections to home purchase loans, and to lower the threshold for high-cost loans; (2) include certain mortgage broker intermediaries within the statutory definition of "creditor"; (3) subject a creditor to liability for mortgage broker violations of this Act; and (4) proscribe designated practices for a high-cost mortgage. Declares unenforceable under both Federal and State law a high-cost mortgage document in which blanks are left to be filled in after the contract is signed. Excludes from participation in mortgage-backed security pools high-cost or conforming home loans in violation of this Act. Prescribes a formula for determining an alternative maximum amount of civil liability for credit or mortgage broker violations involving high-cost mortgages and conforming loans.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Training for Closed Captioners Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to provide grants to no more than 20 eligible entities (approved and accredited court reporting programs) to promote the training of students to become realtime closed captioners. Limits to $1 million the amount of a grant provided to an entity in a fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Abusive Tax Shelter Shutdown Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth general and special rules defining economic substance. Doubles the penalty for certain tax accuracy related underpayments. Penalizes the promoter of tax avoidance strategies which have no economic substance in an amount equal to 100 percent of the gross income derived. Modifies provisions concerning penalties for aiding and abetting understatement of tax liability, including adding provisions directed specifically at individuals who advise, represent, or procure certain tax shelters failing to meet legal requirements. Revises provisions concerning the failure to maintain lists of investors in potentially abusive tax shelters to set the penalty for certain violations at 50 percent of gross proceeds. Creates a new penalty, the penalty for failure to include tax shelter information with a return. Requires the registration of certain tax shelters without corporate participants. Revises provisions concerning the determination of the basis of corporations to state as a general rule that, with respect to property acquired by the issuance of stock or as paid-in surplus and transfers to corporations, if there would be (but for this paragraph) an importation of a net built-in loss, the basis of specified property acquired in such transaction shall be its fair market value immediately after such transaction. Revises provisions concerning partnerships with respect to: (1) the treatment of contributed property with a built-in loss; (2) the adjustment of partnership property on the transfer of a partnership interest if there is a substantial built-in loss; and (3) the adjustment to the basis of undistributed partnership property if there is a substantial basis reduction.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2001
Rent-To-Own Reform Act of 2001 - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prohibit seller-imposed interest, finance charges, or other fees in a rent-to-own transaction that exceed maximum interest, fees, or finance charges that may be charged for a credit sale or retail installment sale for the same or similar item under the laws of the seller's State. Prescribes guidelines for authorized seller termination charges. Grants a rent-to-own transaction: (1) the same warranty and guaranty protections as apply to a consumer credit sale or retail installment sale; and (2) specified statutory protections under the Truth in Lending Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.. Mandates specified seller disclosures on goods in a rent-to-own transaction, including payment terms. Prohibits specified seller practices. Grants the Federal Trade Commission enforcement powers. Subjects a seller to civil liability to the consumer for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2001
Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, to provide for coverage of outpatient vision rehabilitation services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2001
Establishes a Department of Peace, which shall be headed by a Secretary of Peace appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Sets forth the mission of the Department, including to: (1) hold peace as an organizing principle; (2) endeavor to promote justice and democratic principles to expand human rights; and (3) develop policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, nonviolent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict. Establishes in the Department the Intergovernmental Advisory Council on Peace, which shall provide assistance and make recommendations to the Secretary and the President concerning intergovernmental policies relating to peace and nonviolent conflict resolution. Transfers to the Department the functions, assets, and personnel of various Federal agencies. Establishes a Federal Interagency Committee on Peace. Establishes Peace Day. Urges all citizens to observe and celebrate the blessings of peace and endeavor to create peace on such day.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2001
Higher Education Assistance Improvement Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to increase funds available for the provision of student financial assistance. Increases the maximum individual Pell grant amount to: (1) $7,500 for academic year 2002-2003; and (2) $7,900 for academic year 2003-2004. Increases amounts authorized to be appropriated for FY 2002 and 2003 under the HEA student assistance provisions: (1) Federal TRIO programs; (2) Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP); (3) supplemental education opportunity grants; (4) graduate assistance in areas of national need; and (5) Thurgood Marshall legal educational opportunity program. Expresses the sense of Congress that appropriations for the following higher education programs should be increased by specified amounts for FY 2002 and as necessary for FY 2003: (1) Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP); (2) Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CAMPIS); (3) work-study; (4) National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment programs; (5) Perkins loans; and (6) Javits fellowships. Expands eligibility under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL), Federal direct loan, and Federal Perkins loan programs by: (1) eliminating certain new borrower restrictions; (2) expanding eligible service; and (3) eliminating delays in service benefit. Directs the Secretary of Education to repay or cancel certain amounts of loan obligations under those HEA student loan programs.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2001
Public Pension Parity Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exclude from gross income any amount received by an individual as a qualified governmental pension which does not exceed the maximum excludable social security benefits of the taxpayer for such year reduced by the social security benefits received during such year which were excluded from gross income; and (2) prohibit applying clause (1) to any qualified governmental pension received during the taxable year unless the taxpayer (or the spouse or former spouse of the taxpayer) performed the service giving rise to such pension. Defines the term "maximum excludable social security benefits."
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Microbicide Development Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of the Institute with respect to research on the development of microbicides to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of such Centers with respect to research on microbicides to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of NIH and the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to expand and intensify research and related activities of the Institute with respect to postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to provide for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis and their families. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Federal Employee Health Benefits Glaucoma Screening Act - Requires that a contract made or a health benefits plan approved under the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program provide coverage for screening for glaucoma for individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma, individuals with a family history of glaucoma, and individuals with diabetes.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Working Lands Stewardship Act of 2001 - Amends specified agricultural Acts to: (1) revise and increase funding for the farmland protection program; (2) provide market development grants and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who forgo development of certain lands; (3) expand State marketing programs, including set-asides for development of local and regional markets and research; (4) increase funding for farmer-to-consumer marketing assistance; (5) provide for a program to promote the purchase of locally grown produce; (6) increase funding for programs for socially disadvantaged farmers; (7) extend and increase funding for the environmental quality incentives program, including set-asides for livestock, pesticide reduction, and water conservation; (8) provide watershed quality incentive contracts; (9) provide loans for manure reuse activities and facilities; (10) extend and increase funding for the wildlife habitat incentives program, including set-asides for imperiled native species, and acquisition of easements and water rights; (11) extend and increase acreage for the wetlands reserve program; (12) establish a wetlands reserve enhancement program; (13) extend and increase funding for the conservation reserve program, including an acreage set-aside for environmentally-sensitive lands and buffer strips, and enrollment of grasslands and rangelands; (14) authorize incentive payments for private grazing land conservation; (15) establish a grassland reserve program; (16) expand the National Organic Program to include organic farming transition assistance; (17) establish an organic certification reimbursement program; (18) extend and increase funding for the forest stewardship program, including set-asides for new land management practices, and watershed forestry initiative activities; (19) authorize appropriations for urban and community forestry activities; (20) provide funding for specified conservation technical assistance and administration and outreach, including establishment of training centers in specified cities; and (21) establish a demonstration program to promote ecosystem- and watershed-based conservation.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Medicaid Intensive Community Mental Health Treatment Act of 2001 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide States with the option of covering intensive community mental health treatment under the Medicaid program.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Mental Illness Consumer-Run Services Support Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to public and private nonprofit entities to establish ten regional centers to assist State and local governments, and health maintenance and other organizations develop complimentary peer-support and other nonprofessional services for persons with persistent mental illnesses. Gives preference to consumer-run organizations with appropriate background and experience.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Professional Educators Tax Relief Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of up to $1,000 in the case of professional school personnel (including librarians) for any of the grades kindergarten through 12.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow as capital expenditure deductions certain replanting, removal, and preproductive costs of crops for human consumption lost to freezing temperature, disease, drought, casualty, or pests.
![Official portrait of Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000627_200.jpg)