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United States · Official source
3,632 records where Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-3] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2003
Designates the U.S. Postal Service facility (the Nyack Post Office) located at 48 South Broadway, Nyack, New York, as the Edward O'Grady, Waverly Brown, Peter Paige Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2003
Honors the accomplishments of Seeds of Peace for promoting understanding, reconciliation, acceptance, coexistence, and peace among youth from the Middle East and other regions of conflict around the world. Offers Seeds of Peace as a model of hope that living together in peace and security is possible.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2003
Celia Cruz Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 300,000 one dollar silver coins and 500,000 half dollar clad coins emblematic of Celia Cruz (known as the "Queen of Salsa") and her legacy. Establishes surcharges of ten dollars per coin for the dollar coin and three dollars per coin for the half dollar coin, which shall be paid to the Celia Cruz Foundation.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2003
Prohibits appropriated foreign assistance funds (including direct loans, credits, insurance, and guarantees of the U.S. Export-Import Bank) from being expended to finance directly any assistance or reparations to Cuba, Libya, North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, or Syria.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2003
Directs the President to establish separate campaign medals to recognize service by members of the armed forces in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2003
Space Exploration Act of 2003 - Requires the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to set forth as goals for the future activities of NASA's human space flight program, the development and flight demonstration, within 8, 10, 15, and 20 years, respectively, of a reusable space vehicle capable of carrying humans between: (1) low Earth orbit and Earth-Sun and Earth-Moon libration points; (2) low Earth orbit and an Earth-orbit crossing asteroid; (3) lunar orbit and the surface of the moon, as well as deployment of a human-tended facility on the lunar surface; and (4) low Earth orbit and Martian orbit and between Martian orbit and the surface of Mars, as well as deployment of a human-tended facility on the surface of a Martian moon. Requires the Administrator to establish: (1) an Office of Exploration to be responsible for planning, budgeting, and managing activities undertaken by NASA to accomplish these goals; (2) a process for conducting competitions for innovative, cost-effective mission concepts to accomplish the goals; and (3) an independent panel to conduct a merit-based competitive review of the proposals submitted under each competition and to submit a rank-ordered evaluation of such proposals to the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to provide to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate for each competitively selected proposal its implementation plan and the results of an independent external review of the initial proposal and of each annually updated implementation plan.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2003
Requires the payment of a one-time bonus of $1,500 to each active-duty and reserve member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard who served or serves for any period of time in a combat zone designated in connection with Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2003
Requests the President to transmit to the House of Representatives the report prepared for the Joint Chiefs of Staff entitled "Operation Iraqi Freedom Strategic Lessons Learned" and documents in his possession on the reconstruction and security of post-war Iraq.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2003
Daniel Patrick Moynihan Global Affairs Institute Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award a grant to Syracuse University to establish an endowment fund to support a Daniel Patrick Moynihan Global Affairs Institute. Requires the University, to be eligible for such grant, to designate the global affairs institute within the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs as the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Global Affairs Institute.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2003
Increases from $6,000 to $12,000 the death gratuity paid upon the active-duty death of a member of the armed forces. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude any such death gratuity from gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 4 September 2003
Designates the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 315 Empire Boulevard in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, as the James E. Davis Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
Safeguard Against Privacy Invasions Act - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prohibit the transmission of a spyware program to a covered computer by means of the Internet, unless the user of the computer expressly consents to such transmission in response to a clear and conspicuous request or through an affirmative request for such transmission. Requires the FTC to establish requirements for such a transmission that requires affirmative action on the part of the user of the covered computer to agree to a license, contract, or other agreement, including setting forth on a World Wide Web page license or contract terms, the mechanism for agreeing to them, and the name and valid physical street address of the person or entity transmitting the spyware program. Directs the FTC to prohibit the use of any spyware program for collecting any personally identifiable information from the covered computer unless notice of such use is provided. Provides for enforcement of the provisions of this Act, including criminal penalties, through the Federal Trade Commission Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to include podiatrists as physicians in order to cover their services under the Medicaid program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
Declares the sense of the House of Representatives that the Governments of Syria, Lebanon, and Iran shall be held responsible for the well-being of Elchanan Tannenbaum, who is being held hostage in Lebanon by the terrorist organization Hizballah. Declares the sense of the House of Representatives that the Governments of Syria, Lebanon, and Iran shall immediately and unconditionally: (1) provide a complete medical accounting of Elchanan Tannenbaum's present state of health to the International Committee of the Red Cross; (3) take all necessary measures to provide the International Committee of the Red Cross with ongoing access to Elchanan Tannenbaum; and (4) take all necessary measures to secure the release of Elchanan Tannenbaum from captivity.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
Requests the President to issue a proclamation commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Constantino Brumidi, who painted and decorated the interior of the U.S. Capitol.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2003
COBRA Coverage Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit for employer-provided COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) continuation coverage for covered employees and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2003
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as of October 2, 2004, to give a higher priority in the provision of hospital care and medical services under the veterans' patient enrollment system to veterans who are eligible for treatment as a low-income family under the United States Housing Act of 1937 for the area in which the veterans reside, regardless of whether such veterans are otherwise treated as single person families or families under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2003
Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from taking any action proposed under the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs: (1) unless the Secretary has notified Congress of the intention to take such action; and (2) until the later of the expiration of a 60-day period, or 30 days of continuous congressional session, after such notification.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2003
Reiterates the condemnation of the House of Representatives of the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 18, 1994, and honors its victims. Urges the Government of Argentina to fulfill its international obligations and its promise to the Argentine people by pursuing the local and international connections to this act of terrorism, wherever it may lead, and to properly punish all those involved. Welcomes Argentine President Nestor Kirchner's political will to pursue the investigation of the bombing of the AMIA to its ultimate conclusions. Calls on the President of the United States to: (1) raise this issue in bilateral discussions with Argentine officials; and (2) underscore the U.S. concern regarding the past delay in the resolution of this case. Recommends that the President of the United States create more mechanisms for intra-regional information sharing and, where needed, joint counter-terrorism operations. Encourages the President of the United States to provide democratic governments in South America and Central America with the necessary financial resources as well as equipment and training for intelligence and security forces. Recommends that the U.S. Representative to the Organization of American States seek support from the countries composing the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism to assist, if needed, in the investigation of this terrorist attack. Calls on all governments in the Western Hemisphere to pursue an anti-terrorism campaign based on unity of purpose, dedication of resources, constant vigilance, and cooperation. Calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to: (1) respond favorably to the Argentine arrest warrant for five Iranian citizens believed to be responsible for the 1994 attack on the AMIA; and (2) cease any and all assistance to terrorist organizations, and renounce any and all involvement with terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2003
John Marshall Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury: (1) to mint and issue not more than 400,000 silver one dollar coins emblematic of Chief Justice John Marshall and his contributions to the United States in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of his birth; and (2) in cooperation with the Legacy Fund of the Library of Congress, to develop and implement a marketing program to promote and sell the coins. Directs that all sales of coins minted under this Act include a ten dollar per coin surcharge, to be paid by the Secretary to the Supreme Court Historical Society for purposes of: (1) supporting historical research about the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and related topics; (2) supporting fellowship programs, internships, and docents at the Supreme Court; and (3) collecting and preserving related antiques, artifacts, and other historical items.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2003
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize the New York City Watershed Protection Program through 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2003
Names the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in the Bronx, New York, as the James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2003
Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a group health plan, and a health insurance issuer providing group coverage, from: (1) excluding or restricting benefits for prescription contraceptive drugs, devices, and outpatient services if the plan provides benefits for other outpatient prescription drugs, devices, or outpatient services; (2) denying eligibility based on use or potential use of such items or services; (3) providing monetary payments or rebates to a covered individual to encourage acceptance of less than the minimum protections available; (4) penalizing, reducing, or limiting a professional's reimbursement because the professional prescribed such drugs or devices or provided such services; or (5) providing incentives to a professional to induce the professional to withhold drugs, devices, or services. Amends the Public Health Service Act to apply those prohibitions to coverage offered in the individual market.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2003
Great Lakes Restoration Financing Act of 2003 - Establishes the Great Lakes Advisory Board to: (1) develop a biennial comprehensive Great Lakes management plan; (2) coordinate Great Lakes restoration efforts; and (3) implement a public awareness campaign. Establishes a scientific working group to evaluate the scientific integrity of the Great Lakes restoration effort and assist the Board in its decisionmaking. Requires the management plan to be submitted to the President, appropriate congressional committees, the governor of each Great Lakes State, and the Great Lakes mayors. Includes as possible Great Lakes ecosystem goals: (1) the cleanup of toxic hot spots; (2) the elimination of invasive species; (3) pollution decrease; (4) the restoration and conservation of wetlands and critical coastal habitat; (5) the elimination of dead zones caused by hypoxia and harmful algal bloom; (6) the sustainable use and management of Great Lakes water resources; and (7) public participation in Great Lakes restoration. Requires each Great Lakes State to have in effect a State Great Lakes Management Plan, approved by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and updated every two years, in order to be eligible for assistance apportionments authorized under this Act. Provides apportioned funding to Great Lakes States for restoration activities. Authorizes the Administrator to appoint a special master to direct the remediation of an area of concern.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2003
Calls on the Government of Saudi Arabia to ensure that its review of its education curriculum is thorough, objective, and public. Urges the Government of Saudi Arabia to reform its education curriculum so as to promote tolerance, develop civil society, and encourage functionality in the global economy. Expresses extreme disappointment with the slow pace of education reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Applauds the public statements by Crown Prince Abdullah; and urges him to implement policies that are consistent with his statements. Urges the U.S. Department of State and other appropriate Federal agencies to work closely with the Government of Saudi Arabia on efforts to address issues related to education curriculum, textbooks, and teacher training. Supports expanding and creating more cultural, academic, visitor, and other exchanges between the United States and Saudi Arabia, subject to appropriate security checks. Requests the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization to encourage UNESCO to examine the educational system in Saudi Arabia and monitor the progress of the efforts to reform the education curriculum.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2003
National Uniformity for Food Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to prohibit any State or political subdivision from establishing or continuing in effect as to any food in interstate commerce any requirement for food that is not identical to specified FDCA provisions. Prohibits any State or political subdivision from establishing or continuing in effect any notification requirement for a food that provides for a warning concerning the food's safety that is not identical to FDCA provisions. Allows current State notification or food safety requirements to continue for 180 days after the enactment of this Act, during which such State may petition for an exemption or a new national standard. Allows a State to petition for an exemption and for a national standard regarding any requirement under the FDCA, as amended by this Act, or the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act relating to food regulation. Allows a State to establish a requirement that would otherwise violate FDCA provisions relating to national uniform nutrition labeling or this paragraph if the requirement is needed to address an imminent hazard to health that is likely to result in serious adverse health consequences and if other requirements are met.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2003
Ferry Transportation Enhancement Act of 2003 - Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to authorize appropriations for FY 2004 through 2009 for construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities. Amends Federal highway law to make ferry maintenance (currently, only terminal) facilities eligible for Federal funding. Amends Federal transportation law to include ferries within the Federal clean fuels program. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) establish a Ferry Joint Program Office to coordinate Federal programs affecting ferry boat and facility construction, maintenance, and operation, and to promote ferry service as a component of the Nation's transportation system; (2) maintain a national ferry database containing ferry routes, vessels, passengers and vehicles carried, funding sources, and related information; and (3) make grants to an institution of higher education to establish a National Ferry Transportation Institute for research, development, training programs, etc. relating to U.S. ferry transportation systems.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2003
Student Loan Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise student aid requirements for consolidation loans. Repeals a prohibition against refinancing consolidation loans. Allows borrowers to select lenders of consolidation loans. Requires lenders and institutions to provide certain information on consolidation loans to applicants. Revises interest rates on consolidated and reconsolidated loans.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2003
Providing Our Support to Troops Act of 2003 - Allows personal correspondence or certain parcels to be mailed free of postage if such matter is: (1) sent from within an area served by a U.S. post office; (2) addressed to an active-duty member of the armed forces or a civilian authorized to use postal services at military installations who holds a position or performs a function in support of military operations; and (3) addressed either to such an individual at a military post office established in an overseas area where the armed forces are engaged in operations involving armed conflict against a hostile foreign force, or to an individual who is hospitalized for a disease or injury resulting from service in such an area. Prohibits the free mailing privilege for any mail matter containing any advertising.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2003
New York Fair Fishing Act of 2003 - Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to add the State of New York as a member of the New England Fishery Management Council.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2003
State Regulation of Marriage Is Appropriate Act - Amends Federal law to repeal the statutory definition of "marriage" as meaning only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and of "spouse" as referring only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2003
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a gold medal to Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. (posthumously) and his widow, Coretta Scott King, in recognition of their service to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2003
Overtime Compensation Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from promulgating any regulation that has the effect of exempting from FLSA overtime compensation requirements (which limit maximum hours at regular compensation) any employee who is not otherwise exempted under regulations in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. Provides that such prohibition does not bar the Secretary from reducing the number of employees who are exempt from such overtime compensation requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2003
Living Equitably: Grandparents Aiding Children and Youth Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out demonstration programs to provide: (1) intergenerational family housing in connection with the supportive housing program; and (2) section 8 rental assistance to grandparent-headed or relative-headed covered families. Makes such covered families eligible for the following programs: (1) family unification assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937; (2) cottage housing opportunity units under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act; and (3) fair housing initiatives program education, and outreach under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987. Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to provide Department of Housing and Urban Development personnel with training respecting covered family issues.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2003
Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to extend Federal preemption to State law enacted after January 1, 2004, that declares explicitly that it is intended to supplement the FCRA and grant greater protection to consumers than is provided under Federal law. (Thus repeals the protection from Federal preemption granted to more stringent State consumer protection laws). Sets forth measures to address identity theft prevention, including: (1) credit card issuer responsibility to investigate cardholder change of address; and (2) truncation of credit and debit card account numbers. Places an affirmative duty upon a consumer reporting agency to: (1) make notification of fraud alert; (2) provide a summary of rights to identity theft victims; and (3) block information resulting from identity theft. Directs the Federal banking agencies to establish procedures for depository institutions to identify possible instances of identity theft. Instructs the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules for coordination of consumer complaint investigations. Requires a consumer reporting agency to take specified actions to reconcile discrepancies pertaining to a consumer address. Prohibits furnishing information to a consumer reporting agency that is known to include identity theft activity. Repeals limitations attached to mandatory free annual credit report disclosures that are furnished upon consumer request. Requires a consumer reporting agency, when fulfilling a consumer request for all information in the consumer's file, to include a summary of how any individual consumer credit score was derived and how it might be improved. Excludes from FCRA consumer disclosure requirements certain communications pertaining to employee misconduct investigations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2003
Creates the Independent Commission on Intelligence about Iraq. Gives the Commission responsibility for: (1) evaluating executive branch intelligence collection, assessment, and representations concerning the threats posed by Iraq; (2) evaluating the effectiveness of collaborative arrangements between the United States and others in assessing such threats; (3) examining the extent to which Congress has imposed restrictions that have hampered the efforts of the intelligence community; (4) reviewing the work of other investigations; and (5) reporting its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to Congress and the President.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2003
Recognizes and honors Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer of the U.S. Navy.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2003
Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Delivery Program) (VPDBDP) under which each individual who is entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) or enrolled under Medicare part B (Supplemental Medical Insurance) is entitled to obtain qualified prescription drug coverage. Authorizes the individual to elect to enroll: (1) in a MedicareAdvantage (MA) plan (replacing the current Medicare+Choice plans under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice)); or (2) if a fee-for-service enrollee not in an MA plan, in a Medicare Prescription Drug (MPD) plan. Makes separate provision for: (1) enrollees in a MedicareAdvantage medical savings account (MSA) plan; and (2) enrollees in MedicareAdvantage private fee-for-service plans. Makes the Administrator of the Center for Medicare Choices (CMC), established under this Act, responsible for administration of the VPDBDP. Outlines standard coverage benefit packages for FY 2006. Includes for the standard package an annual deductible of $ 275 , and requires insurers to cover 50 percent of enrollees drug costs up to the initial coverage limit of $ 4,500 . Requires enrollees to cover all costs over $ 4,500 until out-of-pocket expenses reach $3,700 (catastrophic threshhold), after which an enrollee would be responsible only for a ten-percent co-pay . Prescribes a formula for adjustment of such deductible and annual limits for inflation. Establishes a bidding process for negotiating the terms and conditions of MPD plan sponsors. Provides for full premium subsidy and reduction of cost-sharing for individuals with incomes below 135 percent of the Federal poverty level. Establishes a Prescription Drug Account in the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. Sets out a new Medicare prescription drug discount card and assistance program under the Medicare program. Directs the Secretary to develop or adopt standards for electronic prescribing transactions. Directs the Secretary to establish within the Department of Health and Human Services the CMC, which shall be separate from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, including an Office of Beneficiary Assistance (containing a Medicare Ombudsman) and a Medicare Competitive Policy Advisory Board. Revises Medicare requirements with regard to: (1) part A concerning rural health care, inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility services, hospices, and the Federal rate for hospitals in Puerto Rico; (2) part B concerning physicians services and other specified services, as well as demonstration projects for coverage of chiropractic services, Medicare health care quality, Medicare complex clinical case management payment, and Medicare fee-for-service care coordination; and (3) part A and B concerning home health services, as well as a demonstration program for substitute adult day care services. Revises requirements with respect to regulatory procedures, the Medicare appeals process, contracting with Medicare administrative contractors, provider education, a Medicare Provider Ombudsman, beneficiary outreach demonstration programs, prepayment review, recovery of overpayments, enforcement, and establishment of a Consumer Ombudsman Account in the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund. Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) with regard to: (1) the 30-month of Food and Drug Administration approval for any new drug in certain circumstances; and (2) forfeiture of the 180-day marketing exclusivity period by the first new drug applicant to a subsequent applicant. Amends the FFDCA to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations permitting pharmacists, wholesalers, and individuals to import prescription drugs from Canada into the United States, subject to specified conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2003
Salute to Veterans and the Armed Forces Act of 2003 - Allows the full payment of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, without deduction from either (current law), without the enactment of qualifying offsetting legislation. Repeals: (1) special compensation programs for certain severely disabled and combat-disabled military retirees; and (2) provisions requiring a dependency and indemnity compensation offset from surviving spouse annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan. Increases the amount of basic educational assistance for members of the Selected Reserve. Directs the Secretary of Defense, for fiscal years after 2005, to provide a percentage increase in the higher learning cost index for determining basic educational assistance amounts. Directs the Secretary to pay a bonus to members who, at any time during service under Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, satisfied eligibility requirements for the receipt of special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger. Directs the Secretary of Homeland to provide such bonus to qualifying Coast Guard members. Authorizes additional appropriations for veterans' improved access to medical care. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make interim payments under claims for veterans' benefits when the final decision regarding the payment of such benefits is delayed following remand by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims or the Board for Veterans' Appeals to the Secretary for expedited consideration. Prohibits with respect to veterans: (1) increases in medication copayments; and (2) the imposition of health care enrollment fees. Requires the: (1) Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Labor to provide appropriate information concerning veterans' benefits and employment opportunities; and (2) Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prepare an annual plan for the conduct of veterans' outreach activities. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to place the maximum individual income tax rate at 38.6 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2003
National Heroes Credit Protection Act - Amends the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 to require any consumer credit information entity that receives from a creditor a negative report of nonpayment or late payment with respect to the account of a person in military service to enter a notation that the account is delinquent or paid slowly due to military service. Requires any future potential creditor that receives a credit report that includes such a notation to disregard any negative information so noted.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2003
Chiropractic Medicare Freedom and Benefit Protection Act - Amends part D (Miscellaneous Provisions) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) revise the definition of chiropractor, specifying the scope of chiropractic services that may be furnished under Medicare, namely, those which are clinically necessary care when examination by a chiropractor demonstrates objective evidence of a subluxation; and (2) provide for payment of chiropractic services as physicians' services.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2003
Downed Animal Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations to provide for the humane treatment, handling, and disposition of nonambulatory livestock by a covered entity, including a requirement that nonambulatory livestock be humanely euthanized. Provides that an entity shall: (1) not move nonambulatory livestock while such livestock is conscious; and (2) humanely euthanize such livestock. Prohibits an establishment covered by the Federal Meat Inspection Act to pass nonambulatory livestock through inspection. Defines "covered entity," and "humanely euthanize."
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2003
Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act - Requires hospitals, as a condition of receiving Federal funds, to provide emergency contraception to a woman who is a victim of sexual assault.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2003
Recognizes the achievements of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. Expresses support for designation of an Equal Justice Day in honor of the Committee's work and the many hours of pro bono service offered by lawyers and law firms throughout the country.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2003
Estate Tax Repeal for Family-Owned Farms and Businesses Act of 2003 - Amends estate tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to repeal section 2057 (Family-Owned Business Interests). Allows for purposes of such tax, in the case of an electing estate of a decedent with specified family-owned business interests, the taxable estate value to be determined by deducting from the value of the gross estate the adjusted value of such qualified family-owned business interests of the decedent. Provides for the treatment of family-owned business interests and spousal property.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2003
College Loan Assistance Act of 2003 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise student aid requirements for student loans and Pell Grants. Allows refinancing of student consolidation loans under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. Reduces the amount of a cap on interest rate under the FFEL program. Extends authority for the Pell Grant program. Increases the maximum amount of an individual Pell Grant award to $7,000 for each of academic years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Prohibits eligible lenders or the Secretary of Education from collecting origination fees from borrowers, under the FFEL or the Federal direct loan program, for any loan made on or after the first July 1 after the date of enactment of the Student Loan Relief Act of 2003 (sic).
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2003
Elder Justice Act - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XXII (Elder Justice) to establish: (1) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) an Office of Elder Justice; (2) within HHS an Intra-Agency Elder Justice Steering Committee to coordinate HHS elder justice programs and policy; (3) the Elder Justice Coordinating Council to make recommendations for the coordination of activities to HHS, the Department of Justice, and other relevant Federal, State, local, and private agencies and entities; and (4) the Advisory Board on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation. Outlines provisions with respect to uniform collection, maintenance, and dissemination of national data relating to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Authorizes the HHS Secretary to award various grants, including grants for: (1) prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; (2) five Centers of Excellence nationwide that shall specialize in research, clinical practice, and training relating to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; (3) six diverse communities to examine various types of elder shelters and to test various models for establishing safe havens; (4) nonprofit organizations and faith-based organizations to encourage such organizations to establish or continue volunteer programs that focus on the issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, or that provide related services; and (5) various multidisciplinary elder justice activities. Provides for: (1) reporting to law enforcement of crimes occurring in Federally-funded long-term care facilities; (2) revising the quality of long-term care; and (3) increasing consumer information about long-term care. Amends: (1) SSA titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) to establish programs to prevent abuse of skilled nursing facility and nursing facility residents; (2) the Public Health Service Act to increase the number of health care professionals with geriatric training; (3) the Older Americans Act of 1965 with respect to the long-term care ombudsman program; (4) part A (General Provisions) of SSA title XI to establish in HHS the Office of Adult Protective Services; and (5) SSA titles XVIII and XIX to assure safety of residents when nursing facilities close. Establishes in the Department of Justice an Office of Elder Justice. Amends the: (1) Federal criminal code to provide for a cause of action for elder abuse and neglect; and (2) Internal Revenue Code to provide for a long-term care facility worker employment tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Designates the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 339 Hicksville Road in Bethpage, New York, as the Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act - Redefines the term "law enforcement officer" under provisions of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to include: (1) Federal employees not otherwise covered by such term whose duties include the investigation or apprehension of suspected or convicted individuals and who are authorized to carry a firearm; and (2) such employees of the Internal Revenue Service whose duties are primarily the collection of delinquent taxes and the securing of delinquent returns. Requires that such service which is performed by an incumbent law enforcement officer be treated: (1) on or after the enactment date of this Act, for all purposes, as service performed as a law enforcement officer, irrespective of how such service is treated under the following; and (2) before, on, or after such date, for purposes of CSRS and FERS, as service performed as such an officer, but only if an appropriate written election is submitted to the Office of Personnel Management five years after such date or before separation from Government service, whichever is earlier. Provides that nothing under current law respecting mandatory separation from Government service under CSRS or FERS shall cause the involuntary separation of an officer before the end of the three-year period beginning on such date.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Iran Freedom and Democracy Support Act - Declares it to be U.S. policy to: (1) support democracy and freedom in Iran; (2) support an internationally-monitored referendum by which the Iranian people can peacefully change the system of government in Iran; and (3) help the Iranian people achieve a free press and a free, democratic society. Directs the Broadcasting Board of Governors to: (1) require the head of Radio Farda to develop programming in consultation with Iranian exiles who support such a referendum and with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the Department of State; and (2) ensure that a significant percentage of Radio Farda programming discusses democratic change in Iran. Requires the MEPI and ECA to provide grants for the translation and distribution of materials on democracy for the Iranian people. Authorizes the MEPI and ECA to award grants to fund programs and activities to promote a democratic referendum in Iran. Prohibits the importation of any textile or food article from Iran until the President certifies that Iran has shown substantial progress in respecting human rights, ceased its support for international terrorism, and terminated its nuclear weapons program. Authorizes the reduction in amounts available for U.S. contributions to international financial institutions that provide assistance to Iran in an amount equal to such assistance, and the reallocation of such contributions to the U.S. Agency for International Development for child survival and HIV/AIDS programs, until the President provides the certification referenced above. Requires the President to report to Congress on the presence of al Qaeda elements in Iran.