United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2004
States that the House of Representatives: (1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist bombing attacks in Madrid that occurred on March 11, 2004; (2) expresses its condolences to the families of the individuals murdered in the terrorist attacks, expresses its sympathies to the individuals injured in the attacks, and conveys its hope for the rapid and complete recovery of all such injured individuals; (3) expresses its condolences to the people and Government of the Kingdom of Spain for the losses they have suffered; and (4) expresses its solidarity with Spain and all other countries which stand united against terrorism and which work together to bring to justice the perpetrators of these and other terrorist attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2004
States that Congress: (1) condemns the detention of Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and calls for his immediate and unconditional release; (2) condemns the violations of freedom of speech, religion, movement, association, and the lack of due process afforded to individuals in Vietnam; and (3) urges the Government of Vietnam to consider the implications of its actions for the broader relationship with the United States, including the United States-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement. Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should: (1) make the immediate release of Father Ly a top concern; (2) reiterate its deep concern regarding the violation of Father Ly's and other prisoners' human rights, and continue to urge the Government of Vietnam to comply with international standards for freedom and human rights; and (3) make it clear to the Government of Vietnam that the detention and human rights violations of Father Ly and other persons create obstacles to improved bilateral relations with the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2004
Declares that Congress: (1) supports Israel's construction of a security fence to prevent Palestinian terrorist attacks; and (2) condemns the United Nations General Assembly's decision to request the International Court of Justice to render an opinion on the legality of the fence.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2004
Urges that: (1) a commemorative postage stamp be issued in honor of the centennial anniversary of Rotary International and its effort to eradicate polio; (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the U.S. Postal Service recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued; and (3) the Rotary Clubs of the United States be commended for 100 years of volunteer service.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2004
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to provide grants to: (1) assist local governments in participating (including through administrative and judicial appeals) in decisions related to specified actions if they are likely to significantly affect the people represented by such governments; and (2) reimburse such governments for participation costs incurred. Specifies among such actions ones in which: (1) an Indian group is seeking Federal recognition and is likely to assert trust status over land within the government's jurisdiction; (2) an acknowledged Indian tribe is requesting such trust status; and (3) an Indian group or tribe is claiming interest in land based on a law specifically applicable to land or natural resource transfers from, by, or on behalf of Indians.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2004
Mandatory IDEA Full-Funding Act - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to revise and reauthorize part B programs of education of all children with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for part B for FY 2005 through 2011 and thereafter. (Provides phased-in increases of funding designed to reach a promised 40 percent Federal share of funding by FY 2011.) Makes appropriations in specified amounts for part B for FY 2005 through 2011 and thereafter. Provides an exception to local educational agency (LEA) maintenance of effort requirements under part B. Repeals certain provisions relating to LEA treatment of Federal funds as local funds under part B.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2004
Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 - Adjusts the basic Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity amount for surviving spouses, age 62 and older, of former military personnel to: (1) 35 percent of the retired pay of the decedent (current law), for months before October 2005; (2) 40 percent for months after September 2005 and before October 2008; (3) 45 percent for months after September 2008 and before October 2014; and (4) 55 percent for months after September 2014 . Adjusts similarly percentage amounts with respect to survivors of reserve personnel and survivors of persons who die while on active duty. Provides a corresponding phased elimination of the SBP supplemental annuity authorized to be provided to such surviving spouses. Requires periodic recomputation of: (1) annuity amounts beginning in October 2005; and (2) retired pay reductions for supplemental survivor annuities. Provides a one-year open enrollment period for SBP participation, commencing October 1, 2005, for those currently not participating, those electing to increase current coverage, and those wishing to participate in the supplemental SBP. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to require appropriate premiums for SBP participation.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2004
Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that, if the violator of the terms and conditions of any Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license, permit, or certificate is either a broadcast station licensee or permittee or an applicant for a broadcast license, permit, or certificate, and such violator is determined by the FCC to have broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane language, the amount of forfeiture penalty shall not exceed $275,000 for each violation or day of such violation, to a maximum of $3 million for any single act or failure to act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2004
Resolves that the Federal Communications Commission should: (1) reverse its Enforcement Bureau's decision of In the Matter of Complaints Against Various Broadcast Licensees Regarding the Airing of the "Golden Globe Awards" of October 3, 2003, which found that no violation of the decency laws or regulations had occurred as a result of the airing of indecent language during the televised broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards; (2) return to vigorously enforcing the indecency and profanity statute pursuant to its declaratory order of In the Matter of a Citizen's Complaint Against Pacifica Foundation StationWBAI, which was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court; (3) make every reasonable and lawful effort to protect children from indecent and profane programming; (4) resolve expeditiously all indecency and profanity complaints and consider reviewing such complaints at the full Commission level; (5) aggressively investigate and enforce all indecency and profanity allegations; and (6) reassert its responsibility as defender of the public interest with respect to profane and indecent utterances in broadcast media.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2003
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users - Reauthorizes the Federal-aid surface transportation program through FY 2009. Reauthorizes appropriations from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) for: (1) specified highway (including highway safety) programs; (2) research and technology; (3) motor carrier safety; and (4) transportation research. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a National Commission on Future Revenue Sources to Support the HTF. Establishes: (1) a National Commission on the Future of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate Defense Highways; and (2) a Commission on Intelligent Transportation Systems Procurement Policy. Requires States with an urbanized area population of over 200,000 to obligate specified funds for congestion relief. Federal Public Transportation Act of 2004 - Sets forth revised provisions governing public transportation funding and the Secretary's authority to make specified grants, including grants for capital projects, planning, and transit and for commercial driver's license program improvements. Directs the Secretary to establish programs involving: (1) long-term bridge performance; (2) innovative highway safety technologies; (3) freight planning capacity building; (4) freight transportation research; (5) future strategic highway research; (6) surface transportation congestion solutions research; and (7) commercial remote sensing products and spatial information technologies. Intelligent Transportation Systems Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary to conduct an ongoing intelligent system transportation program to research, develop, and operationally test and advance nationwide deployment of intelligent transportation systems as a component of the U.S. surface transportation systems. Incorporates Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration planning provisions. Reauthorizes the hazardous materials transportation program. Makes the guaranteed funding levels provided under this Act dependent on identifying additional budgetary resources.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2003
Wireless 411 Privacy Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit a provider of commercial mobile services, or any affiliate or agent of such provider (provider), from including the wireless telephone number of any current subscriber in any wireless directory assistance service (WDAS) database unless the provider: (1) provides a conspicuous, separate notice to the subscriber of the right not be listed in any WDAS; and (2) obtains express prior listing authorization from such subscriber, and that authorization has not been withdrawn. Allows a provider to include the wireless telephone information of any new subscriber in a WDAS only if the provider provides: (1) a conspicuous, separate notice to the subscriber, at the time of entering into a service agreement and at least once a year thereafter, of the right not to be listed in any WDAS; and (2) the subscriber with convenient mechanisms to decline or refuse to participate in any WDAS. Allows a provider to connect a calling party from a WDAS to a commercial mobile service subscriber only if: (1) the subscriber is provided prior notice of the calling party's identity and is permitted to accept or reject each call; (2) the subscriber's wireless telephone number information is not disclosed to the calling party; and (3) the subscriber is not an unlisted commercial mobile service subscriber. Prohibits a provider from charging a subscriber for the exercise of any rights under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2003
Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area in Illinois. Designates the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition as the management entity for the Area. Allows the Coalition, using funds made available under this Act, to prepare a management plan for the Area and reports, studies, interpretive exhibits and programs, historic preservation projects, and other activities recommended in the plan. Prohibits the Coalition from using Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property. Directs the Coalition to submit to the Secretary of the Interior a management plan reviewed by participating units of government within the Area's boundaries which shall, among other things: (1) contain a comprehensive program for conservation, interpretation, funding, management, and development and historical, cultural, and natural resources and recreational and educational opportunities of the Area; and (2) include a business plan detailing the functions of the local coordinating entity and of activities included in recommendations contained in the plan. Requires the Secretary to approve or disapprove the proposed plan not later than 90 days after receiving it. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to the Coalition for the development and implementation of the management plan. Requires the Coalition to provide assistance and encouragement to State and local governments, private organizations, and persons to protect and promote the Area's resources and values.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2003
Deplores the development by Iran of a nuclear weapons program and the failure of the Government of Iran to report material, facilities, and activities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in contravention of its obligations under the safeguards convention it signed in connection with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (Treaty). Concurs with the conclusion of the Department of State that Iran is pursuing a program to develop nuclear weapons. Calls on the President to use all appropriate means to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, with particular attention to the needs of the IAEA for information and access, including information concerning gas centrifuges and the conduct of uranium conversion experiments. Calls on Russia to suspend all nuclear cooperation with Iran until Iran fully complies with a specified IAEA resolution, with particular attention to spent fuel. Calls on the IAEA to declare Iran in violation of the Treaty. Calls on the United Nations Security Council to consider immediately the passage of a Security Council resolution or the taking of other actions that may be necessary to impose diplomatic and economic sanctions against Iran if it fails to meet its obligations to the IAEA. Calls on the Government of Iran to cease all efforts to acquire nuclear fuel cycle capabilities and to end the enrichment and processing of uranium until it is able to provide specific, verifiable assurances that it is not engaged in a clandestine nuclear weapons program.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2003
Designates the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 201 South Chicago Avenue in Saint Anne, Illinois, as the Marine Capt. Ryan Beaupre Saint Anne Post Office.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2003
Designates the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 210 Main Street in Malden, Illinois, as the Army Staff Sgt. Lincoln Hollinsaid Malden Post Office.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2003
Constitutional Preservation Resolution - Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Supreme Court should base its decisions on the Constitution and the laws of the United States, and not on the law of any foreign country or international law or agreement not made under the authority of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2003
Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management to provide Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage to the following eligible beneficiaries: (1) a member or former member entitled to military retired or retainer pay; (2) an unremarried former spouse who was married to a member for at least 20 years, during which such member performed at least 20 years of retirement-creditable military service; (3) a dependent of a deceased qualifying member or former member; (4) a dependent of a living member or former member; and (5) a family member. Directs the Secretary to reimburse such eligible persons for pharmacy benefits received from a pharmacy that is not a TRICARE (Department of Defense managed health care plan) network pharmacy in the same manner as the Secretary would reimburse such person for such benefits received from a TRICARE network pharmacy. Requires such persons, in order to receive such reimbursement, to submit a certification from their physician stating that the person does not have access to a TRICARE network pharmacy due to physical or medical constraints. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to waive the monthly part B premium (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled) with respect to: (1) an individual who is entitled to military retired or retainer pay based upon service that began before December 7, 1956; and (2) the spouse, widow, or widower of such individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2003
Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from implementing any recommendation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) Commission during the one-year period beginning on the date of submission of the Commission's recommendations to the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 2003
Nuclear Waste Financing Act of 2003 - Requires that, beginning in FY 2005, and through the end of FY 2010, the receipts, proceeds, and recoveries realized by the Secretary of Energy relating to contracts for transportation and disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel shall be credited to the Nuclear Waste Fund as offsetting collections. Prescribes implementation procedures, including adjustments to the levels of budgetary resources from offsetting collections and preservation of the corpus of the Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2003
States that no Indian tribe shall have jurisdiction over, or shall exercise governmental power within, any land that is not located in the same State as the reservation, trust lands, or other tribal lands that constituted the principal residence and location of that Indian tribe on the enactment of this Act, unless such land is: (1) contiguous to the lands that constituted the principal residence and location of the Indian tribe as of the enactment; or (2) has been taken into trust. Provides that an Indian tribe that had no such reservation, trust lands, or other tribal lands shall not have jurisdiction over, or exercise governmental power within, any land located outside of the State in which that Indian tribe was principally located as of such enactment, until and unless land has been taken into trust on behalf of that Indian tribe.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 2003
Commends the President for continued efforts to engage the Government of the People's Republic of China. Joins the President in encouraging the People's Republic of China to meet its commitments as a member of the World Trade Organization and the international community. States that the Chinese economy would benefit from a market-determined exchange rate to avoid market and trade distortions. Joins the President in continuing to encourage China's efforts to modernize its financial system which includes the establishment of a more flexible exchange rate and compliance with its trade agreement obligations. Urges the Administration to continue its efforts to facilitate moves towards a market-based valuation of the renminbi, relaxation of capital controls, and reform of its banking sector. Encourages U.S. government efforts to promote innovation, reduce costs, and level the international playing field in the manufacturing sector.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2003
Security and Freedom Ensured Act of 2003 (SAFE Act) - Amends the USA PATRIOT Act to modify provisions regarding roving wiretaps under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to require that: (1) an order approving an electronic surveillance specify either the identity of the target or the place to be wiretapped; and (2) surveillance be conducted only when the suspect is present at the place to be wiretapped. Revises provisions governing search warrants authorized under the USA PATRIOT ACT to: (1) limit the authority to delay notice of the issuance of such a search warrant to circumstances where providing immediate notice of the warrant will endanger the life or physical safety of an individual, result in flight from prosecution, or result in the destruction of or tampering with the evidence sought under the warrant; and (2) require such delayed notification to be issued within seven days (currently, within a "reasonable period") after execution, with extensions by the court for additional periods of up to seven calendar days each time that the court finds reasonable cause to believe that notice of the execution of the warrant would have such consequences. Requires the Attorney General, on a semiannual basis, to transmit to Congress and make public a report concerning all requests for delays of notice and for extensions of such delays. Amends FISA to require, with respect to access by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations, that there be specific and articulable facts giving reason to believe that the person to whom the records pertain is a foreign power or agent. Provides that libraries shall not be treated as wire or electronic communication service providers under provisions granting counterintelligence access to provider subscriber information, toll billing records information, or electronic communication transactional records. Redefines "domestic terrorism" to mean activities that involve acts dangerous to human life that constitute a Federal crime of terrorism (currently, that violate criminal laws).
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 2003
Designates the U.S. Postal Service facilities located at 7715 and 7748 S. Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as the James E. Worsham Post Office and the James E. Worsham Carrier Annex Building.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2003
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to convert the dairy forward pricing program from a pilot program to a permanent program.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2003
Calls for the Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to: (1) stop interfering in the exercise of religious and political freedoms within the United States, such as the right to practice Falun Gong; (2) cease using diplomatic missions in the United States to spread falsehoods about Falun Gong; (3) release prisoners of conscience; (4) end the harassment, detention, physical abuse, and imprisonment of individuals who are exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of religion, of expression, and of association as stated in the PRC Constitution; and (5) demonstrate its willingness to abide by international standards of such freedoms by ceasing to restrict them. Calls on the President to take such actions as: (1) issuing a formal protest about repeated Chinese Government human rights violations to the Chinese Foreign Ministry; and (2) working more closely with Chinese human rights activists to identify Chinese authorities who have been personally responsible for acts of violence and persecution in China. Urges the Attorney General to investigate reports that Chinese consular officials in the United States have committed illegal acts while attempting to intimidate or inappropriately influence Falun Gong practitioners or local elected officials, and determine an appropriate legal response. Calls on local government officials in the United States to recognize and support organizations and individuals that share the goals of the local community, including Falun Gong practitioners, and report to Congress, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State any incidents of pressure or harassment by Chinese agents.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2003
Recognizes the American Concrete Institute (ACI) for 100 years of service to the people of the United States as the technical society for the concrete industry. Encourages the designation of an ACI Centennial Day.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2003
Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003 - Rape Kits and DNA Evidence Backlog Elimination Act of 2003 - Amends: (1) the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to reauthorize the Act; (2) the DNA Identification Act of 1994 (Identification Act) to expand the scope of DNA samples to be included in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS); and (3) the Violence Against Women Act to authorize grants to increase the availability of legal assistance to victims of dating violence. DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2003 - Amends the Identification Act to require that CODIS include only information on DNA identification records and analyses that are prepared by laboratories that: (1) have been accredited by a nationally recognized nonprofit professional association of forensic scientists within two years; and (2) undergo external audits at least every two years that demonstrate compliance with specified standards. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants for: (1) DNA training and education; (2) sexual assault forensic examination programs; (3) research and development; (4) using DNA technology to identify missing persons; and (5) tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions. Expands and reauthorizes the Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program. Innocence Protection Act of 2003 - Sets forth conditions under which a Federal prisoner may obtain post-conviction DNA testing of specific evidence. Directs the Attorney General to award grants to States to improve the quality of legal representation in State capital cases.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2003
Directs the Secretary of Defense, in the case of a member of the armed forces serving outside the United States in Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom who is granted rest and recuperative leave and provided authorized travel and transportation allowances, to pay the member for transportation, or provide transportation for the member, not only between the overseas duty location and the currently authorized locations (a vacation site or a location in the United States), but, at the request of the member, between the currently authorized locations and the member's permanent duty station or home. Makes such allowance retroactive from September 20, 2003.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2003
Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) expand the Central Command Rest and Recuperation Leave program for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom to provide travel and transportation allowances to permit each member of the armed forces granted leave under the program to travel between the deployment location and the member's permanent station or home; and (2) report to Congress evaluating the feasibility and cost of permanently so expanding travel and transportation allowances available to members under future rest and recuperation leave programs.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2003
Calls on the Government of Japan to formally acknowledge and apologize for its World War II war crimes and for Japanese companies that used prisoners of war as slave labor during World War II to compensate those former prisoners (or their survivors) for their labor and for any brutality the companies inflicted.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2003
District of Columbia Personal Protection Act - Amends the District of Columbia Code to provide that the D.C. Council's regulatory authority regarding firearms, explosives, and weapons in the District shall not be construed to permit the Council, the Mayor, or any governmental or regulatory authority of the District to prohibit, constructively prohibit, or unduly burden the ability of persons otherwise permitted to possess firearms under Federal law from acquiring, possessing in their homes or businesses, or using for sporting, self-protection or other lawful purposes, any firearm neither prohibited by Federal law nor regulated by the National Firearms Act. Denies the District any authority to enact laws or regulations that discourage or eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms. Amends the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 to repeal the definition of a machine gun as any firearm which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily converted or restored to shoot semiautomatically, more than 12 shots without manual reloading. (Thus repeals the ban on semiautomatic weapons.) Repeals the District's: (1) registration requirement for possession of firearms; (2) prohibition on registration of pistols (handguns); (3) prohibition on possession of handgun ammunition; (4) requirement that, under certain conditions, firearms in the possession of certain individuals must be kept unloaded, disassembled, or with the trigger locked; (5) related firearm registration requirements such as applicant qualifications and filing deadline. Maintains the current ban on the possession and control of a sawed-off shotgun, machine gun, or short-barreled rifle. Eliminates criminal penalties for possessing an unregistered firearm. Amends Federal law to eliminate criminal penalties for carrying a pistol whether loaded or unloaded in one's dwelling house, place of business, or on land possessed by such person.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2003
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to Monsignor Ignatius McDermott (founder of Haymarket Center, the largest drug abuse treatment center in Chicago) in recognition of his contribution to the drug treatment community and his accomplishments as a priest and humanitarian.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2003
American Manufacturing Jobs Retention Act of 2003 - Amends Federal defense procurement provisions and the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to prohibit the head of a military department or executive agency, in the case of a contract for the procurement of goods and services, from considering a covered prospective contractor as a responsible source unless such contractor employs at least 50 percent of its employees in the United States. Defines a prospective contractor as covered if at least ten percent of its annual gross receipts during the preceding year were attributable to Government contracts.
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
Renewable Fuels and Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish, for a limited period of time: (1) as a credit against the gasoline and diesel fuel excise tax, a credit equal to the sum of the alcohol fuel mixture credit plus the biodiesel mixture credit; and (2) a biodiesel fuels credit business credit.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2003
Expresses congressional concern over the detrimental effects of currency manipulation by foreign governments on the U.S. economy, especially the manufacturing sector. Calls on the President to: (1) vigorously enforce U.S. trade laws dealing with such practices; (2) encourage the harmonization of an international exchange rate policy of freely floating exchange rates based on market forces; and (3) review all tools available to counteract currency manipulation. Urges that: (1) the executive branch take certain steps to enable the dollar and other major currencies to move toward their equilibrium rates; (2) the Secretary of the Treasury include in each semiannual report on international economic and exchange rate policies the currency manipulation practices of foreign governments; and (3) the U.S. Trade Representative take action under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to combat such practices should negotiations fail to produce meaningful results.
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 · 16 September 2003
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003 - Extends Federal highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, and transit programs for six months, and authorizes appropriations, through March 31, 2004. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) apportion funds made available for Federal-aid highway programs under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) to each State according to the ratio of the State's FY 2003 obligation authority to the FY 2003 obligation authority for all States; and (2) ensure that each State is apportioned funds for the Interstate maintenance program, the National Highway System program, the bridge program, the surface transportation program, the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program, the recreational trails program, the Appalachian development highway system program, and the minimum guarantee. Sets forth provisions: (1) for reducing future apportionments, and for recovering funds not apportioned, under a law reauthorizing the Federal-aid highway program that is enacted after enactment of this Act; (2) prohibiting States from obligating any Federal-aid highway program funds after March 31, 2004, until the earlier of the date of enactment of a multi-year law reauthorizing such program or June 30 2004; and (3) directing the Secretary of Transportation, on the earlier of such enactment date or June 1, 2004, to distribute to each State any remaining amounts of obligation authority for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs by allocation as provided in an Act making appropriations for the Department of Transportation for FY 2004 Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and TEA-21, respectively, to set related discretionary spending limits and obligation limitations for FY 2004.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2003
Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable income tax credit of up to $500 for the purchase of a qualified hearing aid for an individual who is either: (1) age 55 or older; or (2) is claimed as a dependent of the taxpayer.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2003
Recognizes the 30th anniversary of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program and reaffirms a commitment to support the use of science in governmental decisionmaking through such Program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2003
Right to Life Act - States that Congress declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being. Defines "human person" and "human being" as including each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including, but not limited to, the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2003
National Science Education Incentive Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permit an eligible science, engineering, math, or technology teacher a limited credit for undergraduate tuition; and (2) permit an elementary and secondary science, mathematics, engineering, and technology credit (SMET) credit for qualified contributions of property or service to qualified elementary and secondary schools.
United States · United States Congress · 3 September 2003
Exempts from the requirement to pay subsistence charges while hospitalized in a military facility an officer or former officer, or an enlisted member or former enlisted member not entitled to retired or retainer pay or equivalent pay, who is hospitalized in a military facility because of an injury incurred: (1) as a direct result of armed conflict; (2) while engaged in hazardous service; (3) in the performance of duty under conditions simulating war; or (4) through an instrumentality of war.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
Consumer's Relocation Protection Act of 2003 - Authorizes States to exercise authority over motor carriers that engage in the intrastate transportation of household goods. Authorizes a State attorney general to bring a civil action against such a carrier in U.S. district court for injunctive relief and for a civil penalty. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) prescribe practices and procedures that ensure the fair and equitable treatment of individual shippers that utilize brokers of household goods; (2) establish a working group of State attorneys general, State consumer protection administrators, and Federal and local law enforcement officials; (3) establish a complaint handling system to log individual shipper informal complaints, an annual complaint database, and a procedure for public access to such data; and (4) require an annual report from each motor carrier and freight forwarder providing household goods transportation. Establishes civil and criminal penalties for holding household goods hostage (defined as refusing to relinquish a shipment upon payment of not more than 100 percent of a binding estimate for shipment plus the charges for additional services performed). Sets additional requirements for registration of motor carriers of household goods. Requires every motor carrier providing transportation of household goods to: (1) conduct a physical survey of the goods to be transported and provide the shipper with a written estimate of charges; and (2) prepare a written inventory of all articles tendered by an individual shipper and accepted by the carrier. Sets civil penalties for brokers violating this Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. Johnson, Timothy V. [R-IL-15]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/j000285_200.jpg)