United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2001
Low-to-Moderate Income Home Ownership Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a low-to-moderate home ownership credit based upon an applicable percentage of each qualified low-to-moderate income building's qualified basis. Excludes from gross income certain gain from the sale of such housing. Makes the rehabilitation credit applicable to buildings, other than certified historic structures, that are at least 50 years old. (Current law requires a building to have been placed in service before 1936.)
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2001
Job Creation and Economic Revitalization Act of 2001- Amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for FY 2002 for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase the total dollar value of debentures which may be guaranteed under the New Markets Venture Capital Program. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for FY 2002 for the community development loan guarantees. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2002 for grants in connection with the second round of empowerment zones and enterprise communities. Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to increase the authorizations of appropriations for FY 2002 for economic development corporations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2001
First Things First Act-Amends the Internal Revenue Code to raise certain highest marginal income tax rates. Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to: (1) repeal the phaseout of the overall limitation on itemized deductions and restore the phaseout of personal exemptions; and (2) repeal the termination of the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, step-up basis at death, and related items. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the estate tax deduction for family-owned business interests. Establishes the National Priorities Assessment Task Force in the legislative branch. Requires such Task Force to evaluate congressional success in the following areas: (1) the provision of aid and relief to persons injured as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; (2) the security of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds; (3) the provision of a comprehensive prescription drug benefit to Medicare beneficiaries; (4) the provision of Federal funding for school modernization and teacher hiring; and (5) a significant reduction in worst case housing needs.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2001
Terrorist Disaster Relief for Small Businesses Act - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to treat: (1) the terrorist attacks on the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001, as a disaster for which loans to affected small business concerns are authorized; and (2) the entire United States as the affected area. Allows the Administrator to waive certain size standards that would otherwise preclude a business concern from being an eligible recipient of such a loan.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2001
Displaced Workers Assistance Act - Authorizes certain groups of workers who have become totally or partially separated (or threatened with total or partial separation) from employment with the airline industry as a result of reductions in service by an air carrier or closure of an airport due to a terrorist action or security measures to petition the Secretary of Labor for a certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance (similar to trade adjustment assistance under the Trade Act of 1974). Provides certain benefits (employment services, job training, and readjustment allowances) to eligible workers meeting certain eligibility requirements. Provides eligible workers who do not meet certain requirements for State unemployment compensation with a limited readjustment allowance under this Act. Provides for payment of premiums for COBRA health care continuation coverage of eligible workers. Authorizes a State to elect to provide medical assistance under its Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act for eligible workers who are not eligible for COBRA health care continuation coverage, and who are uninsured.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2001
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a congressional gold medal to Sargent Shriver to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Peace Corps, and to recognize his incomparable contribution as its first Director.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2001
Home Equity Loss Prevention and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a personal interest deduction (up to $10,000, adjustable for inflation) for individuals. Repeals restrictions on the deduction for education loans.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2001
Displaced Workers Relief Act of 2001 - Authorizes certain groups of workers who have become totally or partially separated (or threatened with total or partial separation) from employment with the airline industry as a result of reductions in service by an air carrier or closure of an airport due to a terrorist action or security measures to petition the Secretary of Labor for a certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance (similar to trade adjustment assistance under the Trade Act of 1974). Provides certain benefits (employment services, job training, and readjustment allowances) to eligible workers meeting certain eligibility requirements. Provides eligible workers who do not meet certain requirements for State unemployment compensation with a limited readjustment allowance under this Act. Provides for payment of premiums for COBRA health care continuation coverage of eligible workers. Authorizes a State to elect to provide medical assistance under its Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act for eligible workers who are not eligible for COBRA health care continuation coverage, and who are uninsured.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2001
I Love New York Tax Deduction Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase from 50 to 80 percent the business meal and entertain expenses deduction for such expenses in New York City; and (2) permit a 50 percent (up to $500 or $1,000, on a joint return) personal deduction for meal, entertainment, and lodging expenses in New York City.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that in light of the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001: (1) the United States steel industry is vital to the national security interests of the United States; and (2) the United States should place a priority on using steel produced in the United States in order to help rebuild our Nation and support any future military efforts in response to such attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2001
Authorizes the President to award posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal to the people aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who helped resist the hijackers and caused their plane to crash prematurely on September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2001
Alaska Rainforest Conservation Act of 2001 - Designates: (1) specified public lands in the Chugach National Forest, Alaska, as National Wilderness Preservation System components; and (2) specified public lands in the Tongass National Forest, Alaska, as wilderness areas or System components. Provides with respect to specified public lands in the Tongass National Forest, Alaska, for: (1) a wilderness designation study; (2) designation as Land Use Designation II lands; (3) designation as restoration lands; and (4) designation as special management areas. Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate, or study for designation, as wild, scenic, and recreational rivers specified waters in the Chugach and Tongass National Forests, Alaska.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2001
Expresses the sorrow of Congress for the death and injuries suffered by first responders as they tried to save innocent people in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Honors and commends the first responders who participated in evacuating and rescuing the innocent people in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon after the terrorist attacks. Encourages all levels of government to continue to work together to coordinate emergency preparedness effectively by providing the infrastructure, funding, and interagency communication and cooperation necessary to ensure that when another terrorist attack occurs, first responders will be as prepared as possible to respond to the attack effectively.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2001
Victory Bonds Act of 2001 - Instructs the Secretary to issue Victory Bonds in response to the acts of terrorism perpetrated against the United States on September 11, 2001. Mandates that proceeds from the issuance of Victory Bonds be used to raise funds to: (1) assist in recovery and relief operations following the terrorist acts, including humanitarian assistance; and (2) combat terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the children who lost one or both parents or a guardian in the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center and Pentagon tragedies, including the aircraft crash in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, should be provided with all necessary services and benefits, including foster care assistance, adoption assistance, and medical, nutritional, and psychological care. Urges each responsible Federal agency to put the highest priority on providing such assistance, services, and benefits within 60 days of the determination of the death of the child's parent or guardian.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2001
Declares that in the quest to identify, bring to justice, and punish the perpetrators and sponsors of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from South Asia, should be protected. Condemns any acts of violence or discrimination against any Americans.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that a National Day of Remembrance should be established to remember those who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and to honor the people of the United States who displayed heroism and courage during and after such attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2001
Debbie Smith Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out sexual assault nurse examiner programs and to train law enforcement personnel and first responders in the handling of sexual assault cases and the collection and use of DNA samples for forensic evidence. Provides that for a State to be eligible to receive a grant, the chief executive officer of the State shall submit to the Attorney General an application which shall include a certification that the State shall comply with specified quality assurance standards. Sets forth provisions regarding restrictions on the use of funds and expenditure records. Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to issue (and revise periodically) standards for collecting and processing, for use as forensic evidence, samples on which DNA analysis may be carried out. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out DNA analyses of samples from crime scenes for inclusion in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System. Sets forth provisions regarding State eligibility, restrictions on uses of funds, and expenditure records.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2001
Small Business Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2001 - Amends the Small Business Act to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to submit disagreements between the Administration and procurement agencies on matters relating to certain awards or contracts to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (currently, to the Secretary of Commerce or the head of the appropriate department or agency), who shall render decisions regarding such matters not later than ten days after receiving them. Establishes a minimum 60-day period for the submission of offers from small business concerns for a bundled contract that is issued by a Federal agency.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Medically Underserved Access to Care Act of 2001 - Directs a managed care organization offering a managed care plan to establish and maintain adequate arrangements with a sufficient number, mix, and distribution of health care professionals and providers to assure that covered items and services are available and accessible to each plan enrollee in the organization's service area at a variety of sites within reasonable proximity to the enrollee, and in a manner that accounts for enrollee needs and reasonably assures care continuity. Treats as meeting such requirements any managed care organization serving a medically underserved area that has similar arrangements with health care professionals and providers having a history of serving such areas. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program in the Office of Minority Health of the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to enable eligible nongovernmental agencies to develop outreach programs with regard to medically underserved areas. Requires a study to examine the participation of African-American and other minority physicians in managed care organizations and steps that can be taken to increase such participation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Children's Lead Screening Accountability For Early-Intervention Act of 2001 or Children's Lead SAFE Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require State Medicaid plans to provide for reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the number of children who: (1) are under age three and enrolled in the State plan; and (2) have received a blood lead screening test. Requires each contract between the State and an entity responsible for medical assistance under the State plan to provide for: (1) compliance with mandatory blood lead screening requirements consistent with prevailing guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and (2) coverage of qualified lead treatment services. Allows reimbursement for qualified lead treatment services for children with elevated blood lead levels. Provides for enhanced Federal matching contributions for a specified information retrieval system. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a bonus program to improve the blood lead screening rates of States for children under age three enrolled in Medicaid. Amends SSA title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) to give States the option to elect to provide SCHIP coverage for blood lead poisoning screening tests for children. Amends the Head Start Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and to mandate blood lead poisoning screening tests for an infant or child to be eligible to participate in either the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC) or early Head Start and Head Start programs.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Federal Home Loan Bank Membership Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to authorize certain privately insured credit unions to become members of a Federal Home Loan Bank if they meet all eligibility requirements for Federal deposit insurance under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Drug Access Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize a charitable health care entity to receive a drug sample donated by specified individuals or by another such entity for dispensing to a patient of the charitable institution, and to donate a drug sample to another such entity for dispensing to its patients, if: (1) delivery of the sample is completed by mail or common carrier, collection by an authorized agent or employee of the recipient entity, or personal delivery by a licensed practitioner or an agent or employee of the donating entity; (2) the entity receiving the sample executes a written receipt upon its delivery and provides for the return of the receipt to the donating entity; (3) the donated drug sample received by the entity is in its original, unopened packaging with its labeling intact; and (4) before dispensing such sample to a patient, the sample is examined by a licensed practitioner or registered pharmacist to confirm that the sample is not adulterated or misbranded.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001 - Amends Federal postal law to provide that any limitation in the Semipostal Authorization Act relating to whether more than one semipostal (a postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service, at a premium, in order to help provide funding for a national public interest) may be offered for sale at the same time, shall not apply to the breast cancer research special stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Extends the Service's authority to issue such stamps through July 29, 2008. Revises the differential amount of the special rate of postage for the breast cancer research stamp to not less than 15 percent of the regular first-class rate (currently, not to exceed 25 percent of first-class). Requires the special rate to be evenly divisible by five.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Clean Diamond Trade Act - Prohibits the importation of rough diamonds into the United States unless the exporting country is implementing a system of controls on the export or import of rough diamonds that: (1) meets specified requirements, consistent with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 adopted on December 1, 2000, or is functionally equivalent; or (2) meets the requirements of an international agreement which requires such controls and to which the United States is a party. Prohibits the importation of polished diamonds (including jewelry containing diamonds) into the United States unless the exporting country: (1) is implementing a system of controls on the export and import of rough diamonds, except such system shall not be required for countries that do not import rough diamonds; and (2) requires that its own imports of diamonds originate from countries that have implemented a system of controls on the export and import of rough diamonds. Provides a waiver of the requirements of this Act. Urges the President to negotiate an international agreement to eliminate trade in diamonds used to support conflict in the country or regions in which such diamonds are mined.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a gold medal to Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. (posthumously) and his widow Coretta Scott King in recognition of their service to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Calls for the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the U.S. Postal Service to recommend and the Postmaster General to issue a postage stamp commemorating the Fisk Jubilee Singers (a choral group from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee).
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2001
Military Retiree Veterans Health Care Eligibility Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care and medical services, and authorizes the Secretary to provide nursing home care, to military retirees on the same basis as such services are provided to former prisoners of war.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2001
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2001 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities (including employment agencies, labor organizations, and training programs). Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares this Act inapplicable to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's domestic partner. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from: (1) collecting statistics on sexual orientation from covered entities; and (2) compelling covered entities to collect such statistics. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) an order or consent decree for a violation of this Act that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares that this Act is inapplicable to: (1) religious organizations; (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Prohibits the imposition of affirmative action for a violation of this Act. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for remedies to the same extent as under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2001
Bring Our Children Home Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that a contestant may bring an action in district court to determine which of conflicting State court child custody determinations shall prevail. Directs the Attorney General (AG) to establish a registry for all custody orders entered by State courts. Authorizes law enforcement officers of a State or local government to hold, for no more than 24 hours, any child listed as missing for proper disposition under the latest valid custody determination. Requires the Secretary of State to prepare a report on progress made by the United States in negotiating and entering into bilateral treaties relating to international child abduction with countries that are not contracting parties under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require information on each country's efforts to prohibit international child abduction. Requires the AG to prepare a report describing the status of each case involving a request for extradition in cases involving international kidnaping by parents.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2001
Calls for the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the U.S. Postal Service to recommend and the Postmaster General to issue a postage stamp commemorating Langston Hughes (recognized as the greatest African American poet).
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2001
Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act - Sets forth entitlement standards and implementation guidelines for employee use of emergency leave to address domestic or sexual violence. Permits victims of domestic or sexual violence to substitute existing leave in lieu of emergency leave. Authorizes State use of funds under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) to provide nonrecurrent short-term emergency benefits for emergency leave precipitated by domestic or sexual violence . Amends the Internal Revenue Code relating to approval of State unemployment compensation laws to prohibit denial of compensation where an individual is separated from employment due to circumstances resulting from the individual's experience of domestic or sexual violence. Amends the Social Security Act to include training under this Act for unemployment compensation and TANF personnel. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award a grant to a national victim services organization to develop and disseminate a model program for domestic and sexual violence training. Victims' Employment Sustainability Act - Prohibits certain discriminatory employer practices relating to terms or conditions of employment in connection with victims of domestic or sexual violence. Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage based on the status of the applicant or insured regarding abuse or abuse-related claims. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business related credit for 40 percent of an employer's costs for implementing workplace safety and education programs relating to domestic and sexual violence. Authorizes the Attorney General to provide a grant for a clearinghouse and resource center to provide information and assistance to employers, labor organizations, and advocates on behalf of victims of domestic or sexual violence.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2001
Agricultural Credit Act of 2001 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to exclude from "debt forgiveness": (1) loan rescheduling, consolidation, deferral, or reamortization; (2) a write-down due to natural disaster or family medical condition; or (3) a write-down as part of the resolution of a discrimination complaint against the Secretary of Agriculture. Increases the number of occasions of permitted loan or loan guarantee debt forgiveness per borrower from one to two. Includes as an exception to such limitation an operating loan or loan guarantee to an individual whose payments are current under a specified reorganization plan. Permits excess funds obligated for socially disadvantaged farmers to be reallocated for such use in another State (currently limited to intrastate reallocation). Permits direct operating loans and loan guarantees to be made to persons in areas: (1) affected by a natural disaster or designated emergency; or (2) determined to be suffering from an economic emergency. Revises (shared appreciation arrangement) recapture percentage provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2001
Calls upon Secretary of State Colin Powell to lead the U.S. delegation to South Africa for the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance (WCAR). Urges the Bush Administration to: (1) increase U.S. support for WCAR by providing financial assistance commensurate with the U.S. financial commitment to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women and other similar fora; and (2) adopt policy positions at WCAR that seek to advance an enlightened understanding of both the historic and contemporary factors contributing to current-day problems of racism and related intolerance.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Foundations for Learning Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make formula grants to States to assist eligible children to become ready for school through specified kinds of: (1) screening; (2) family support initiatives; (3) consultations and support to providers of early childhood services; (4) services to eligible children and their families; and (5) development of community resources. Requires all services under this Act to be: (1) provided in the most culturally competent manner practicable; (2) free-of-charge for any child of a family whose income is below 200 percent of the poverty line (and, if a charge is imposed on other children it must be on a sliding scale based on ability to pay); (3) provided by or under the supervision of qualified professionals with expertise in early childhood development; and (4) intended to benefit eligible children. Makes eligible under this Act children, aged zero to six, to whom two or more of these characteristics apply: (1) low birth weight; (2) cognitive deficit or developmental disability; (3) parental substance abuse; (4) custodial parent with less than secondary school diploma; (5) parental depression or other mental illness; (6) abuse, maltreatment, or neglect; (7) family income below 200 percent of the Federal poverty line; (8) early behavioral and peer relationship problems; (9) exposure to violence; (10) homelessness; or (11) removal from child care, Head Start, or preschool for behavioral reasons or at risk of being so removed.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Working American Families Access to Health Care Act of 2001 or Medi-Access Act of 2001 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for the availability of Medicaid coverage for uninsured low- to moderate-income working families and uninsured individuals regardless of marital status under the Medi-Access program. Requires coverage of the following for Medicaid-eligible individuals: (1) early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment (EPSDT) services for individuals of all ages; (2) rehabilitative services and assistive technologies for disabled or developmentally delayed children; (3) prescription drugs; (4) drug and alcohol treatment services; (5) inpatient and outpatient mental health and psychiatric services; (6) some chiropractic services; (7) assistive technology devices and services, durable medical equipment, sexually-transmitted disease diagnosis and treatment, and prenatal and post-natal care; (8) reproductive health services; and (9) licensed personal assistive services provided by a home health aide or similarly trained individual for the physically or mentally disabled who need assistance with daily living chores.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Declares that Congress mourns the loss of life caused by several days of civil unrest in July 2001 in Kingston, Jamaica. Urges the Government of Jamaica to encourage a process of reconciliation to help resolve the crisis and to conduct an investigation of the events leading up to the civil unrest that is fair, open, timely, and transparent and that provides every segment of the Jamaican population an opportunity to be heard. Urges the President to: (1) provide, upon the request of the Jamaican Government, technical advice that would help such Government in its investigation of the events leading up to the unrest; (2) continue to cooperate with such Government to halt the illegal transport of firearms and ammunition from the United States to Jamaica; and (3) support the continuation of the democratic process and rule of law in Jamaica.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2001
Underserved Adult and Adolescent Immunization Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for FY 2002 through 2005 for project grants for preventive health services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give priority to adults and adolescents who are medically underserved and at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases. Specifies that the purposes for which such amounts appropriated are available include (with respect to immunizations for adults and adolescents) payment of the costs of storing vaccines, outreach activities, and other program expenses necessary for the establishment or operation of immunization programs. Directs the Secretary to: (1) coordinate with public and private entities, and develop and disseminate guidelines, to ensure that immunizations are routinely offered to adults and adolescents by public and private health care providers; (2) cooperate with public and private entities to obtain information for required annual evaluations; (3) increase (relative to FY 2001) the extent to which the Secretary collects data on the incidence, prevalence, and circumstances of diseases and adverse events that are experienced by adults and adolescents that may be associated with immunizations; (4) ensure that the entities with which the Secretary cooperates include managed care organizations, community based organizations that provide health services, and other health care providers; and (5) provide for projects to identify racial and ethnic minority groups and other health disparity populations for which immunization rates for adults and adolescents are below such rates for the general population, and to determine the factors underlying such disparities.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2001
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) eating dinner together is an important step toward preventing drug, alcohol, and cigarette use by children; and (2) a National Family Day, A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children, should be established to encourage parents and children families to eat together regularly as a family.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Smaller Schools, Stronger Communities Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to local educational agencies to develop and implement plans to create smaller learning communities.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Fisheries Recovery Act of 2001 - Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act regarding avoiding and minimizing bycatch and bycatch mortality. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to report on progress made in implementing requirements regarding standardized reporting methodology and bycatch reduction. Requires a fishery management plan to close an area to a gear or practice that has been shown to adversely affect essential fish habitat unless the Regional Fishery Management Council (council) determines that closure is not necessary and the Secretary finds that the gear or practice will have a minimal adverse impact on habitat and minimal bycatch. Requires observers on commercial fishing vessels to collect data necessary for the conservation and management of the fishery, subject to specified requirements Modifies: (1) the definition of "overfishing" and "overfished" to include jeopardizing the ecological integrity and sustainability of marine ecosystems; (2) conservation and management measure requirements; and (3) fishery management plan requirements to add ecosystem considerations. Requires each fishery management plan to have a fishery impact statement. Directs the Secretary to develop at least one pilot fisheries ecosystem plan. Requires each council to prepare and submit to the Secretary a Fisheries Ecosystem Plan for each major marine ecosystem within its jurisdiction. Reauthorizes appropriations to carry out the Act. Amends the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act to earmark specified funds for direct industry assistance grants and for activities of the National Marine Fisheries Service that are directly related to implementation of the Magnuson Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Minority Emergency Preparedness Act of 2001 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a minority emergency preparedness demonstration program to research and promote the capacity of minority communities to provide data, information, and awareness education by providing grants to or executing contracts or cooperative agreements with eligible nonprofit organizations to establish and conduct such programs. Allows such an organization to use a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement to: (1) conduct research into the status of emergency preparedness and disaster response awareness in African American and Hispanic households, particularly in those States and regions most impacted by natural and manmade disasters and emergencies; and (2) develop and promote awareness of emergency preparedness education programs within minority communities, including development of culturally competent educational and awareness materials that can be used to disseminate information to minority organizations and institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Provides that the program under which Federal agencies may agree to repay student loans of their employees shall apply to employees of the legislative branch (with the exception of Senators, Members of Congress, including Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner to Congress), except that: (1) requirements relating to the exclusion of any employee who occupies a position that is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character shall not apply; and (2) the minimum required period of service shall be one year (rather than three) for a legislative branch employee selected to receive benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Native American Small Business Development Act - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize a Small Business Development Center in an eligible State to apply for an additional Small Business Administration grant to be used solely to provide services to assist with outreach, development, and enhancement on Indian lands of small business startups and expansions owned by Indian tribe members, Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians (members and Natives). Defines an eligible State as one in which at least one percent of its population is comprised of such members and Natives. Limits each grant to $300,000 in a fiscal year. Requires a State receiving such a grant to request the advice of local tribal councils on how best to provide assistance to such members or Natives and where to locate satellite centers to provide such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Federal Employees' Benefits Equity Act of 2001 - Sets forth provisions governing the computation of annuities under the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees' Retirement System for certain law enforcement officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, members of the Supreme Court Police and the Capitol Police, and their survivors.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Abusive Tax Shelter Shutdown Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth general and special rules defining economic substance. Doubles the penalty for certain tax accuracy related underpayments. Penalizes the promoter of tax avoidance strategies which have no economic substance in an amount equal to 100 percent of the gross income derived. Modifies provisions concerning penalties for aiding and abetting understatement of tax liability, including adding provisions directed specifically at individuals who advise, represent, or procure certain tax shelters failing to meet legal requirements. Revises provisions concerning the failure to maintain lists of investors in potentially abusive tax shelters to set the penalty for certain violations at 50 percent of gross proceeds. Creates a new penalty, the penalty for failure to include tax shelter information with a return. Requires the registration of certain tax shelters without corporate participants. Revises provisions concerning the determination of the basis of corporations to state as a general rule that, with respect to property acquired by the issuance of stock or as paid-in surplus and transfers to corporations, if there would be (but for this paragraph) an importation of a net built-in loss, the basis of specified property acquired in such transaction shall be its fair market value immediately after such transaction. Revises provisions concerning partnerships with respect to: (1) the treatment of contributed property with a built-in loss; (2) the adjustment of partnership property on the transfer of a partnership interest if there is a substantial built-in loss; and (3) the adjustment to the basis of undistributed partnership property if there is a substantial basis reduction.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2001
Rent-To-Own Reform Act of 2001 - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prohibit seller-imposed interest, finance charges, or other fees in a rent-to-own transaction that exceed maximum interest, fees, or finance charges that may be charged for a credit sale or retail installment sale for the same or similar item under the laws of the seller's State. Prescribes guidelines for authorized seller termination charges. Grants a rent-to-own transaction: (1) the same warranty and guaranty protections as apply to a consumer credit sale or retail installment sale; and (2) specified statutory protections under the Truth in Lending Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.. Mandates specified seller disclosures on goods in a rent-to-own transaction, including payment terms. Prohibits specified seller practices. Grants the Federal Trade Commission enforcement powers. Subjects a seller to civil liability to the consumer for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2001
Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, to provide for coverage of outpatient vision rehabilitation services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2001
Establishes a Department of Peace, which shall be headed by a Secretary of Peace appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Sets forth the mission of the Department, including to: (1) hold peace as an organizing principle; (2) endeavor to promote justice and democratic principles to expand human rights; and (3) develop policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, nonviolent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict. Establishes in the Department the Intergovernmental Advisory Council on Peace, which shall provide assistance and make recommendations to the Secretary and the President concerning intergovernmental policies relating to peace and nonviolent conflict resolution. Transfers to the Department the functions, assets, and personnel of various Federal agencies. Establishes a Federal Interagency Committee on Peace. Establishes Peace Day. Urges all citizens to observe and celebrate the blessings of peace and endeavor to create peace on such day.
![Official portrait of Rep. Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH-11]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/j000284_200.jpg)