Rep. Hutchinson, Asa [R-AR-3]

An amendment, numbered 8 printed in the Congressional Record, that is identical to the text of H.R. 2183 except that it increases limits on PAC contributions to political parties from $15,000 to $20,000 a year and clarifies that candidates may attend state political party fundraisers in their home state.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment no. 12 printed in H.Rept. 106-311 to ban the use of soft money by national political parties and candidates; index the contribution limits to inflation; and expand the disclosure of campaign finance information.

United States · United States Congress

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House report 106-498 to permit a court to exceed the $250,000 cap on punitive damages if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with specific intent to cause the type of harm for which the action was brought.

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An amendment to express the sense of the Congress that the National Weather Service must take into account the life threatening nature of weather patterns in Wind Zone IV, otherwise known as tornado alley, before making any determination on the closure of any of its local weather service offices.

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An amendment no. 14 and printed in Part A of H.Rept. 106-186 to make it unlawful to transfer any firearm to a juvenile if the transferor has reason to believe it will be used in a school zone or in a serious violent felony.

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An amendment in the nature of a substitute to amend the Constitution by establishing a lifetime limitation on service of House Members of three two-year terms and two six-year terms for Members of the Senate. The amendment would stipulate that, upon ratification by the states, incumbents would be considered to have served one term. The amendment specifies that there is no time limit for ratification. The text of the amendment is identical to language recommended by voters in the State of Arkansas.

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An amendment no. 25 and printed in the Congressional Record to create general rules relating to civil forfeiture proceedings and require the United States to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture.

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An amendment numbered 11 printed in the Congressional Record to strike title VIII, Citizens Protection, cited as the "Citizens Protection Act of 1998."

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An amendment no. 2 and printed in Part A of H.Rept. 106-186 to authorize block grant funding for restorative justice programs.

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An amendment numbered 2 printed in part B of House Report 106-549 to provide $15 million in unobligated funds in the COPS program available for policing initiatives to combat methamphetamine production and trafficking.

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Rural Telecommunications Enhancement Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2001

Rural Telecommunications Enhancement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans and grants to eligible (non-federal public or private) entities to finance the improvement, expansion, construction, acquisition, and operation of facilities to furnish or improve broadband transmission service in rural areas.

Wage Equity Act of 2001

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2001

Wage Equity Act of 2001 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include among the conditions of approval of an H-2A (visa) temporary agricultural worker petition the requirement that an employer may not be required to pay workers more than the greater of: (1) the prevailing wage for seasonal agricultural workers in the occupation in the area of intended employment; or (2) the greater of Federal or State minimum wage.

Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2001

United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001

Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2001 - 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.

Antitrust Modernization Commission Act of 2001

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001

Antitrust Modernization Commission Act of 2001 - Establishes the Antitrust Modernization Commission to study and report to Congress and the President on issues and problems relating to the modernization of the antitrust laws. Directs the Commission to: (1) solicit divergent views of all parties concerned with the operation of such laws; and (2) evaluate the advisability of proposals and current arrangements with respect to such issues and problems.

Congratulating President-elect Alejandro Toledo on his election to the Pre sidency of Peru, congratulating the people of Peru for the return of democracy to Peru, and expressing sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Peru on June 23, 2001.

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001

Congratulates: (1) the people of Peru for the successful completion of free and fair elections on April 8 and June 3, 2001; (2) Alejandro Toledo for his election as President and his commitment to democracy; (3) Valentin Paniagua, the current President, for his commitment to a peaceful transition; and (4) the Organization of American States Electoral Observer Mission for promoting representative democracy by working to ensure free and fair elections in Peru. Call for: (1) the United States to expand its cooperation with the Peruvian Government to promote the strengthening of democratic institutions and the rule of law, economic development, and an improved quality of life for citizens of both countries; and (2) such Governments to act in solidarity to promote democracy and respect for human rights and to enhance cooperation to confront common threats. Expresses: (1) sympathy to the Peruvian people for losses suffered as a result of the June 23, 2001 earthquake and support for their efforts to rebuild; and (2) support for relief and reconstruction assistance to Peru from the international community. Urges the President of the United States to encourage relief entities to expedite assistance.

First-time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2001

First-time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to exempt from prohibited transaction rules any home equity participation arrangement under which the trustee of a qualified plan, at the direction of the eligible participant, shall acquire an ownership interest (not to exceed $10,000, and repayable in full upon resale or other transfer) in any dwelling unit which within a reasonable period of time is to be used as the principal residence for a first-time homebuyer.

To extend the authorization of the Drug-Free Communities Support Program for an additional 5 years, to authorize a National Community Antidrug Coalition Institute, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2001

Amends the National Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Drug-free Communities Support Program and the Advisory Commission on Drug-free Communities through FY 2007. Authorizes additional grants and renewal grants to eligible coalitions and grant recipients. Authorizes supplemental grants for coalition mentoring activities. Authorizes the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to make a grant to an eligible organization to provide for establishment of a National Community Antidrug Coalition Institute to: (1) provide education, training, and technical assistance for coalition leaders and community teams; (2) develop and disseminate evaluation tools, mechanisms, and measures to better assess and document coalition performance measures and outcomes; and (3) bridge the gap between research and practice by translating knowledge from research into practical information.

Conduit Contribution Prevention Act of 2001

United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2001

Conduit Contribution Prevention Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to increase civil money and criminal penalties for knowing and willful violations of the prohibition against making or accepting contributions in the name of another. Sets both civil and criminal fines at not less than 300 percent of the amount involved in the violation and not more than the greater of $50,000 or 1,000 percent of such amount. Mandates imprisonment for two years, or the aforementioned criminal fine, or both, for criminal violations. Limits criminal penalties to violations involving an amount aggregating $1,000 or more during a calendar year. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate related sentencing guidelines. Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of the Federal Election Commission to refer to the Attorney General any instance of probable cause that a violation of such prohibition has occurred. Revises the current ban on contributions by foreign nationals to encompass all disbursements by foreign nationals, including any disbursement to a political committee of a political party and any disbursement for an independent expenditure.

Models of Safety and Health Excellence Act of 2001

United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2001

Models of Safety and Health Excellence Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish voluntary protection programs to promote and recognize the achievement of worksites that demonstrate excellence in workplace health and safety. Authorizes the Secretary, in limited situations, to alter program application requirements to include nonstandard worksites such as short-term construction sites and mobile worksites. Directs the Secretary to encourage: (1) program participants to share occupational safety and health expertise with other employers; (2) the participation of small business in the programs, through outreach and assistance initiatives and program requirements that address the needs of small businesses. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for development of equivalent programs in State-plan States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA). Sets forth program requirements for applications, on-site evaluations, information, and reevaluations. Exempts worksites participating in the program from inspections or investigations under OSHA, except inspections or investigations arising from employee complaints, fatalities, catastrophes, or significant toxic releases. Requires decisions regarding acceptance into, and continued participation in, the program to be based on the applicant's superior safety and health performance, as determined by, and in the sole discretion of, the Secretary or the Secretary's authorized representatives.

Rural Health Care Improvement Act of 2001

United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2001

Rural Health Care Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for: (1) revision in the Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment adjustment for rural hospitals equalizing DSH payment amounts; (2) a single, standardized amount under the Medicare inpatient hospital prospective payment system (PPS); (3) treatment of certain physician pathology services; (4) elimination of the 15 percent reduction in payment rates under the Medicare PPS for home health services; (5) a permanent increase in the Medicare payment amount for home health services furnished in a rural area; and (6) exclusion of certain rural health clinic services and federally qualified health center services from the PPS for covered skilled nursing facility services. Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to establish: (1) a capital infrastructure revolving loan program under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services may make described loans to any rural entity for projects for capital improvements from the loan and loan guarantee fund under PHSA; (2) a high technology acquisition grant and loan program under which the Secretary may award grants and make loans to any eligible entity for any costs incurred by the eligible entity in acquiring eligible equipment and services for improving the quality of health care in rural areas; and (3) a program of grants to eligible entities under which the Secretary shall award such grants to public or nonprofit private entities to establish telehealth resource centers for the health care needs of individuals in rural areas. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income for income tax purposes any payments received under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.

To amend the Agricultural Market Transition Act to gradually reduce the loan rate for peanuts, to repeal peanut quotas for the 2004 and subsequent crops, and to require the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase peanuts and peanut products for nutrition programs only at the world market price, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2001

Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to: (1) reduce quota peanut price support levels through crop year 2003; (2) extend marketing assessment services through 2003; and (3) make nonrecourse loans available to all peanut producers at 85 percent of estimated market value as of crop year 2004. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to eliminate peanut quotas as of crop year 2004. Amends the National School Lunch Act to authorize the purchase at world market price of additional (excess of poundage quota) peanuts for the school lunch and other specified food and nutrition programs. States that such peanuts shall not be considered domestic edible use peanuts under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 or the Agricultural Market Transition Act.

Medicare Medical Nutrition Therapy Amendment Act of 2001

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.

Sugar Program Reform Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2001

Sugar Program Reform Act - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act with respect to the sugar program to: (1) reduce sugarcane loan rates through crop year 2004; (2) revise the sugar beet loan rate; (3) eliminate nonrecourse loans; and (4) eliminate sugar price supports after crop year 2002. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to repeal sugar and crystalline fructose marketing quota and allotment provisions. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the President, beginning after the 2000-2001 quota year, to use all available authority to ensure that U.S. market raw sugar shall be available at not more than the higher of the world sugar price or the U.S. loan rate.

Preserve Charitable Giving Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2001

Preserve Charitable Giving Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to allow exceptions for charitable, eleemosynary, or other beneficent purposes from workplace no-solicitation or no-access rules (by providing that such an exception shall not be grounds for finding an unfair labor practice).