United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2002
Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to the Medicare physician payment update system, to: (1) specify the update to the single conversion factor for 2003; (2) prescribe an update for years beginning with 2004; (3) direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an index that reflects the weighted-average input prices for physicians' services for a year; and (4) require the Secretary to estimate annually a productivity adjustment factor reflecting estimated growth in multifactor productivity attributable to both labor and nonlabor factors. (Thus eliminates the sustainable growth rate (SGR) payment update system).
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2002
Highway Funding Restoration Act - Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to require that obligations for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs for FY 2003: (1) meet a specified minimum level; and (2) be distributed in accordance with that Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2001
Attorney Fee Payment System Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) increase from $4,000 to $5,200 the maximum allowable attorney fee; and (2) cap the amount of attorney assessments at $100. Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) to prescribe a fee payment system for attorneys representing individuals filing claims for past-due benefits in the SSI program. Caps attorney fees at 25 percent of such past-due benefits. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to assess such an attorney up to $100.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2001
Recognizes and commends the efforts of State and local governments and community, religious, and charitable organizations to support military and civilian personnel engaged in the war on terrorism. Encourages the people of the United States: (1) to support such personnel through a united effort to be known as Operation Enduring Support; and (2) as part of such Operation, to support military families, stage patriotic send-off and welcome-home rallies and parades; and volunteer and contribute financial assistance to the Red Cross, United Way, and similar organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2001
Calls for a joint session of Congress in New York City, New York, during the 107th Congress at such date, time, and location as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate may jointly select, for the purpose of conducting such business as the Speaker and the President Pro Tempore may consider appropriate.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should award and present a Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to those public safety officers who were killed and to those select public safety officers who have earned special recognition for outstanding valor above and beyond the call of duty in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2001
Airline Workers Fairness Act - Requires procedures that ensure the fair and equitable resolution of labor integration issues in certain transactions for the combination of air carriers which were pending or had been completed during the period from January 1, 2001 to September 11, 2001, and which did not result in the creation of a single air carrier by September 11, 2001. Requires specified labor protective provisions, which were imposed by the Civil Aeronautics Board in the Allegheny-Mohawk merger, to apply to covered employees of the covered air carrier, in any covered transaction that leads to the combination of crafts or classes that are subject to the Railway Labor Act. Requires the terms of a collective bargaining agreement to govern the process of seniority integration where such agreement provides for application of such labor protective provisions in such process. Provides for enforcement of this Act in Federal district courts.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2001
Authorizes the President to award posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal to the people aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who helped resist the hijackers and caused their plane to crash prematurely on September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2001
Victims of Terrorism Relief Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from income taxes and the additional estate tax any individual who died as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, unless the individual was a perpetrator of the attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Professional Employer Organization Workers Benefits Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish provisions concerning certified professional employer organizations, including: (1) defining such organizations; (2) employment taxes and such organizations; and (3) employee benefits of such organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001 - Amends Federal postal law to provide that any limitation in the Semipostal Authorization Act relating to whether more than one semipostal (a postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service, at a premium, in order to help provide funding for a national public interest) may be offered for sale at the same time, shall not apply to the breast cancer research special stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Extends the Service's authority to issue such stamps through July 29, 2008. Revises the differential amount of the special rate of postage for the breast cancer research stamp to not less than 15 percent of the regular first-class rate (currently, not to exceed 25 percent of first-class). Requires the special rate to be evenly divisible by five.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President and Congress should save Social Security as soon as possible; (2) Social Security surpluses must be vigorously safeguarded and used only for purposes of saving Social Security or reducing the publicly held debt; and (3) the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security, recognizing the immense financial commitment of every American worker in the Social Security system, should present in its recommendations innovative ways to protect that commitment without benefit cuts or payroll tax increases.
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 · 28 June 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. Postal Service should: (1) provide a maximum degree of effective and regular postal services to all communities, including rural areas and small towns where post offices may not be self-sustaining; and (2) take all necessary steps to ensure that post offices are not closed or consolidated.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit rural mail carriers to treat qualified vehicle expenses in excess of reimbursements as miscellaneous itemized deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2001
Gasoline Access and Stabilization Act of 2001 - Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate regulations for reformulated and oxygenated gasoline sold for use in all States that: (1) require such gasoline to comply with a national formula; and (2) prohibit the sale in any State of any such gasoline that does not comply with the formula. Allows reformulated gasoline approved by the Administrator for a State for which a waiver is in effect (allowing application of State emissions control standards) to satisfy this Act's requirements. Allows a State Governor to elect to have an area within the State, or the entire State, treated as a covered area for purposes of reformulated gasoline requirements, without regard to existing opt-in requirements. Prohibits States and localities, after December 31, 2004 (other than the State of California pursuant to a waiver or another State opting-in to California's reformulated gasoline standards pursuant to this Act), from prescribing or enforcing a control of any characteristic of a gasoline or additive that is not identical to EPA regulations. Prohibits, after September 1, 2006, the manufacture or introduction into commerce of motor vehicle diesel fuel that contains a concentration of sulfur exceeding 15 parts per million or fails to meet a cetane minimum index of 40 and a maximum aromatic content of 35 volume percent.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2001
Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001 - Sets forth the overall trade negotiating objectives of the United States for trade agreements (generally similar to the objectives of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (OTCA)), including to: (1) further strengthen the system of international trading disciplines and procedures, including dispute settlement; and (2) foster economic growth, raise living standards, and promote full employment in the United States and to enhance the global economy. Sets forth the principal U.S. negotiating objectives (generally similar to the principal OTCA negotiating objectives) regarding trade barriers and other trade distortions, trade in services, foreign investment, intellectual property, transparency, improvement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other multilateral and bilateral trade agreements, foreign regulatory practices, electronic commerce, reciprocal trade in agriculture, and WTO extended negotiations. Requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to consult closely with Congress during trade negotiations. Sets forth the authority of the President (generally similar to the authority under OTCA) to enter into trade agreements with foreign countries regarding tariff and non-tariff barriers. States that a trade agreement may be entered into (before June 1, 2005; or June 1, 2007, if trade authorities procedures (or fast-track procedures) are extended under this Act) only if it makes progress in meeting the overall and principal trade negotiating objectives, and the President satisfies certain notification and consultation requirements set forth in this Act, including submission of the agreement for assessment by the International Trade Commission. Applies trade authorities procedures to bills implementing trade agreements if they consist of: (1) a provision approving a trade agreement entered into under this Act, and approving any statement of administrative action; and (2) if changes in existing laws or new statutory authority are required to implement such agreements, provisions necessary to implement them, either repealing or amending existing laws or providing new statutory law. Authorizes both Houses of Congress to adopt, within 60 days of each other, a procedural disapproval resolution denying trade authorities procedures to any trade agreement if the President has failed or refused to notify or consult with Congress about it. Exempts from the notice and consultation requirements of this Act any tariff or nontariff agreement which results from negotiations commenced before enactment of this Act, and which: (1) is entered into under the auspices of the WTO regarding the rules of origin work program; (2) is entered into with Chile or Singapore; or (3) establishes a Free Trade Area for the Americas. Requires the appointment of a Congressional Oversight Group to serve as advisor to the U.S. delegation after the President notifies Congress of his intention to enter into the negotiation of any tariff or nontariff trade agreement. Requires the President to submit an implementation and enforcement plan at the same time a final text of any tariff or nontariff trade agreement is submitted to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2001
Medicare Medical Nutrition Therapy Amendment 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 coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for certain Medicare beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2001
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Amends the Organic Act to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish and maintain a list of each person that notifies the Secretary that it is a manufacturer or seller that is: (1) licensed to engage in interstate or foreign commerce of a firearm or ammunition product; or (2) is a trade association representing such manufacturers or sellers. Declares that any lawful conduct carried out by a manufacturer or seller in interstate or foreign commerce of a firearm or ammunition product, or lawful conduct carried out by a trade association in the course of representing such manufacturers or sellers, shall not be the basis for imposing a restriction on such commerce (the award of civil damages, equitable relief, or any other specified limitation) as a result of harm caused by the criminal or other unlawful misuse of such firearm or ammunition product by any other person.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2001
Flood Loss Reduction Act of 2001 - Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 to: (1) repeal requirements for the development and contents of the Upper Mississippi River plan respecting system flood reduction and replace them with requirements for the Secretary of the Army and the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a plan to reduce flood losses in the Upper Mississippi River floodplain, including consideration of structural and nonstructural measures; (2) authorize appropriations to carry out the flood mitigation and riverine restoration program through 2010; and (3) add specified counties in Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa as priority areas to be examined under such program. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to: (1) increase the maximum percentage of Federal contributions allowed with respect to the cost of hazard mitigation measures in any area affected by a major disaster; and (2) increase such Federal share if the State has in effect an approved mitigation plan. Directs the Secretary and the Director of FEMA to: (1) develop, and annually update, rank, and list authorized flood damage reduction and predisaster hazard mitigation projects according to the extent to which projects address repetitive loss structures, include nonstructural features, and restore natural rivers and floodplain; and (2) annually publish such list in the Federal Register.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2001
Breast Implant Research and Information Act - Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to report to all appropriate committees of Congress on the status of the existing breast implant research funded by such Institutes. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the NIH Director to: (1) appoint an official of the Department of Health and Human Services to serve as the NIH coordinator regarding breast implant research; (2) establish either a study section or special emphasis panel for NIH to review extramural breast implant research grant applications to ensure research design and quality, as well as quality intramural research; and (3) conduct or support research to expand the understanding of the health implications of both saline and silicone breast implants. Requires a report from the Commissioner of Food and Drugs concerning postmarket evaluations of saline implant manufacturers' data. Directs the Commissioner to take specified steps to assist women in receiving accurate and complete information about the risks of silicone breast implants.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2001
Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act of 2001 - Provides that neither a person (including any other entity) who donates re-certified fire control or fire rescue equipment, nor a State or local agency that administers the distribution of such equipment, shall be liable for personal injuries, property damage, or death proximately caused after the donation by a defect in such equipment. Waives such liability protection if: (1) the person's or agency's act or omission causing the injury, damage, or loss constitutes malice, gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct; or (2) the person or agency is the manufacturer of such equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2001
Dairy Consumers and Producers Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to include Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania within the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact. Eliminates: (1) the Compact's termination date; and (2) certain restrictive authority respecting non-Compact milk. States that only Ohio may join such Compact. Eliminates and revises specified provisions regarding Compact implementation, duration, restricting authority, and Commodity Credit Corporation compensation. States that Congress consents to the Southern Dairy Compact entered into by Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. States that only Florida, Nebraska, and Texas may join such Compact. Limits price regulatory authority to Class I fluid milk unless otherwise consented to by the Congress. Provides for Commodity Credit Corporation compensation. Sets forth the Southern Dairy Compact. States that Congress consents to: (1) the Pacific Northwest Dairy Compact proposed for California, Oregon, and Washington; and (2) the Intermountain Dairy Compact proposed for Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. Limits price regulatory authority to Class I fluid milk. Provides for Corporation compensation. States that such Compacts shall be the same as the Southern Dairy Compact with specified differences.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2001
Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prescribe guidelines for rental-purchase transactions, including: (1) the determination of rental-purchase cost; (2) disclosure requirements; (3) proscriptions against confessions of judgment, wage assignments, and waiver of consumer claims or defenses; (4) furnishing of statements of account; (5) point-of-rental disclosures; and (6) rental-purchase advertising disclosures. Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to promulgate implementing regulations. Provides for Federal and State enforcement of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2001
Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to use the U.S. voice, vote, and influence to oppose any new IMF loan to any country which the Secretary of Energy determines is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and is acting to restrict oil production to the detriment of the U.S. economy, or is acting in concert with OPEC to do so, unless the provision of the loan is necessary to address a systemic risk to the international financial system.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001 - Prohibits any person or entity, in or affecting interstate commerce, from: (1) performing or attempting to perform human cloning; (2) participating in such an attempt; (3) shipping or receiving the product of human cloning; or (4) importing such a product. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Federal Government should advocate for and join an international effort to prohibit human cloning; and (2) the President should commission a study by the National Bioethics Advisory Commission or a successor group of the arguments for and against the use of cloning to produce human embryos solely for research.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) mandate a single national average standardized payment amount for inpatient hospital services furnished, regardless of whether in an urban or non-urban area, under the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for discharges occurring in FY 2002 and thereafter; and (2) establish a minimum factor of .925 as a floor for area wage adjustment factors used under the PPS for inpatient and outpatient hospital services.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Employee Educational Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permanently extend the exclusion from gross income of employer-provided educational assistance; and (2) restore the exclusion for such assistance on the graduate level.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Fuel Tax Equalization Credit for Substantial Power Takeoff Vehicles Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a $250 credit for each qualified commercial power takeoff vehicle (certain highway vehicles designed to deliver ready mixed concrete or collect refuse or recyclables) owned by a taxpayer at the end of the year. Stipulates that such credit shall not be available for a vehicle used during the year by a governmental entity or a tax-exempt organization.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Recognizes those law enforcement officers who have been injured or killed in the line of duty during the enforcement of methamphetamine-related laws. Praises the cooperation and coordination between Federal, State, and local law enforcement organizations. Honors the families of law enforcement officers who must subject their families to the dangers posed by methamphetamine law enforcement.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to taxation of U.S. shareholders of controlled foreign corporations, to permanently extend the subpart F exemption (which excludes such income from the shareholder's foreign personal holding company income) for active financing (banking, financing, or similar business) income earned on business operations overseas. (Thus permits American financial services firms doing business abroad to defer U.S. tax on their earnings from their foreign financial services operations until such earnings are returned to the U.S. parent company.)