United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to outline requirements for equal protection of voting rights in Federal elections and voting rights in State and local elections. Establishes a grant program to provide equal protection of voting rights with regard to States and localities. Creates the Commission on Voting Rights and Procedures to study and report to the President and Congress on specified issues with respect to elections for Federal, State, and local office, including alternative voting methods, ballot designs, ballot uniformity, and absentee voting, in order to develop specific recommendations of best practices in voting and election administration.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Constitutional Amendment - States that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Urges Lebanon, Syria, and Iran to call upon Hezbollah to allow representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit four abducted Israelis, Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, Omar Souad, and Elchanan Tannenbaum, presently held by Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2001
Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to increase benefits to railroad employees and their beneficiaries and to revise financing of the pension part (tier II) of the railroad retirement system. Establishes a Railroad Retirement Trust Fund and a Railroad Retirement Investment Trust to manage and invest Fund assets. Abolishes the Railroad Retirement Supplemental Annuity Account and provides for transfer of its funds to the Fund. Provides for transfer to the Fund of certain portions of the Railroad Retirement Account and of Social Security Equivalent Benefit account funds. Transfers to the disbursing agent from the Dual Benefits Payments Account the amount necessary to make dual benefit payments. Requires the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to calculate the ratio of assets to benefits to determine annual tier II tax rates for employers, employee representatives, and employees. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt the Fund from taxation. Repeals a supplemental annuity tax that railroad employers pay to finance a benefit for long-time rail employees. Provides for adjustments to railroad employers, employee representatives, and employee tier II tax rates.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2001
Amends the Animal Welfare Act to eliminate the provision permitting interstate movement of live fighting birds if the fighting venture is to take place in a State allowing such fights.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 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 to provide for the availability of Medicaid coverage for uninsured individuals under the Medi-Access program. Requires coverage of the following for Medicaid-eligible individuals: (1) early and periodic screening and diagnostic and treatment 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; and (8) reproductive health services.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2001
Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage Act of 2001 - 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 · 20 March 2001
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a congressional gold medal to Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., in recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2001
Armed Forces Housing Improvement Act of 2001 - Makes a member of the armed forces who has a spouse and at least one dependent under 19 residing with such member eligible for military installation housing containing at least three bedrooms, regardless of such member's grade, rank, or rating. Considers housing containing less than three bedrooms inadequate housing for such member. Directs the Secretaries of the military departments to require the military base housing office of each installation to review and revise its housing market analysis and military family housing requirements to accommodate such policy. Prohibits military housing construction funds appropriated before this Act from being obligated until such Secretaries certify to Congress that: (1) such analyses and requirements have been revised; and (2) the unobligated funds will be used to accommodate such policy and implement such analyses and requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2001
Designates the Federal building located at 1 Federal Plaza in New York, New York, and known as the U.S. Court of International Trade as the Ronald H. Brown Federal Building.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2001
Assistant United States Attorneys Retirement Benefit Equity Act of 2001 - Makes applicable to Assistant United States Attorneys the provisions of the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System that apply to Federal law enforcement officers. Directs the Department of Justice to provide notice to incumbent Assistant U.S. Attorneys as to their election rights under this Act and the effects of making or not making a timely election under this Act. Allows such incumbents to elect the option to be treated either: (1) in accordance with the amendments made by this Act; or (2) as if this Act had never been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting through the Great Lakes National Program Office, to make grants for projects that: (1) monitor or evaluate contaminated sediment; (2) remediate contaminated sediment; or (3) prevent further or renewed contamination of sediment. Authorizes the Administrator to conduct research on innovative approaches, technologies, and techniques for the remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern in the Great Lakes.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Predatory Lending Consumer Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act guidelines for certain credit transactions secured by the consumer's principal dwelling (high-cost mortgage). Requires additional disclosures that the consumer is contracting to pay a much higher loan than most people pay. Specifies additional prohibitions against prepayment penalties, except in certain circumstances. Prohibits all balloon payments. Prohibits the terms of a high-cost mortgage from including advance collection of a premium on a single premium basis for specified credit insurance products. Restricts the amount of points and fees which a creditor may finance in connection with a high-cost mortgage. Prohibits certain creditors from financing the prepayment fees or penalties due from the consumer. Prohibits a high-cost mortgage creditor from engaging in specified practices, including requiring arbitration or any other nonjudicial procedure as a method for resolving any controversy or claims arising from the transaction. Declares a consumer's waiver of the right of rescission ineffective if the creditor either advised, or encouraged such waiver, or required it as a precondition for a transaction. Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to mandate that each high-cost mortgage creditor (including the successor creditor) report the debtor's complete payment history to certain consumer reporting agencies in accordance with specified regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
America's Better Classroom Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a limited credit for qualified public school modernization bonds (qualified school construction bonds and qualified zone academy bonds). Amends the General Education Provisions Act to provide for the application of certain labor standards to projects financed under this Act. Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to establish provisions concerning employment and training activities related to the construction or reconstruction of public school facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Truth in Lending Modernization Act of 2001 - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to: (1) apply consumer credit information and disclosure requirements to all credit and lease transactions involving real and personal property in which the total amount financed exceeds $75,000 (currently $25,000); and (2) increase the civil penalties for creditor violations of such requirements. Amends the Truth in Lending Act to: (1) deem ineffective any consumer waiver of the right to rescission of a transaction required (as a condition of the transaction), urged, or discussed by a creditor; and (2) deem unenforceable any contract provision which requires binding arbitration or any other nonjudicial procedure to resolve a dispute if it would deny the consumer any right to bring an action for any liability of the creditor. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to eliminate the Rule of 78s accounting method for calculating refunds of unearned interest on credit transactions consummated after September 30, 1999 (currently, September 30, 1993).
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Consumer Credit Card Protection Amendments of 2001 - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to require specified additional disclosures by a creditor of open-end consumer credit plans regarding: (1) minimum monthly payments; (2) Internet-based applications and solicitations for a credit card account; and (3) credit card applications or solicitations whose annual percentage rates of interest are applicable for an introductory period of less than one year ("teaser rates"). Prohibits: (1) inactivity fees if the consumer maintains an outstanding balance and is charged an attendant finance charge; (2) penalties for on-time payments; (3) fees for extensions of credit in excess of the authorized amount if such extension was made in connection with a creditor-approved transaction; (4) two-cycle billing for certain extensions of credit; and (5) any increase in interest rates or fees on canceled cards above those applicable as of the cancellation date. Sets forth application requirements for credit cards issued to underage consumers. Mandates: (1) advance notice of any interest rate increase applicable to an outstanding credit balance; (2) disclosure of interest rates and fees upon credit advances through third-party checks; and (3) specified disclosures relating to late payment deadlines and penalties. Redefines "credit card" to include specified dual-purpose or multifunction cards.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Equal Credit Enhancement and Neighborhood Protection Act of 2001- Amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to make it unlawful for a creditor to: (1) not provide an applicant with the most favorable credit terms it or an affiliate has available; and (2) adversely target an applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin sex, age, or marital status, with respect to a high cost mortgage. Provides punitive damages for reverse redlining. Applies the provisions of such Act to preapproval requests. Amends the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 to set forth additional disclosure requirements, including the requirement of a depository institution to identify any parent or affiliate company that makes or finances mortgage loans. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to enforce compliance, including imposition of civil money penalties, with respect to mortgage lenders not affiliated with depository institutions. Sets forth related agency procedures, including judicial review of agency-imposed penalties. Provides for an alternative State enforcement action.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Consumer Banking Services Costs Assessment Act of 2001- Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to obtain and report to Congress annually on a representative sample of enumerated retail banking services and products offered by insured depository institutions and credit unions, including related fees and minimum balances, as well as electronic transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Truth in Savings Enhancement Act of 2001 - Amends the Truth in Savings Act (TSA) to authorize State authorities to bring an action in a U.S. district court for injunctive relief to enforce compliance with its disclosure requirements for interest rates and fees on depository institution accounts. Amends the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997 to repeal its repeal of the civil liability provisions of the TSA (thus reinstating civil liability sanctions with respect to non-compliant depository institutions). Revises the statute of limitations for civil actions against non-compliant depository institutions to allow it to run for one year from the later of the date the violation occurred (as under current law) or the date on which the customer first learned, or reasonably should have learned, based on all facts and information available to the public, of the violation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Unsolicited Loan Check Consumer Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prohibit loan solicitations to consumers that are accompanied by a negotiable instrument (unsolicited loan checks), unless such solicitations are in response to a prior consumer request for an extension of credit. Declares that such consumers are not liable for the amount of any negotiable instrument sent in violation of this Act. Prohibits reporting to, or receipt by, any credit agency of information on consumer creditworthiness based upon such unsolicited loan checks.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Credit Card Predatory Practices Prevention Act of 2001 - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prohibit as unfair and deceptive specified creditor practices with respect to a credit card account under an open-end consumer credit plan, including practices involved in: (1) credit card solicitations; and (2) account administration. Provides for notice to the consumer of failure to qualify for credit, and the reasons therefor. Permits State authorities to bring an action to enjoin violations of this Act and enforce compliance.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Federal Payday Loan Consumer Protection Amendments of 2001 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with respect to any transaction (payday loan) in which a short-term cash advance is made to a consumer in exchange for: (1) the consumer's personal check or share draft, in the amount of the advance plus a fee, where presentment or negotiation is deferred by agreement of the parties until a designated future date; or (2) a consumer's authorization to debit the consumer's transaction account, in the amount of the advance plus a fee, where such account will be debited on or after a designated future date. Prohibits an insured depository institution from making: (1) payday loans; and (2) any loan to any lender in order to either finance, refinance, or extend a payday loan. Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to redefine credit to include a payday loan. Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor from making a payday loan if the creditor has reasonable cause to believe that: (1) the personal check or share draft received in exchange for such loan is drawn upon either an insured depository institution or insured credit union; or (2) the account debited in exchange for such loan is a transaction or share draft account at an insured depository institution or an insured credit union. Sets forth civil liabilities for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Consumer Affordable Transaction Account Act of 2001 - Requires each insured depository institution to make available to consumers an "affordable transaction account" containing specified features to be prescribed jointly by the Federal banking agencies, including at least eight free withdrawals per month. Prohibits the imposition of fees upon such account holders which are discriminatory in nature. Authorizes alternative account arrangements. Requires notice of availability of affordable transaction accounts to be posted upon the premises in the same manner as the depository institution posts notice of its other account products. Mandates depository institution compliance with more stringent State law where applicable.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Consumer Automobile Lease Advertising Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to increase from $25,000 to $75,000 the maximum amount of a contractual obligation of a consumer lease to which the Act applies. Prescribes additional lease advertising disclosure requirements. Prescribes requirements for automobile leasing advertising.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to: (1) restrict the application of the windfall elimination provision to individuals whose combined monthly income from the individual's primary insurance amount under such title and the portion of the monthly periodic payment attributable to noncovered service performed after 1956 exceeds $2,000; and (2) provide for a graduated implementation of such provision by specified percentages with respect to incremental amounts above such threshold, up to 100 percent for combined amounts over $3,000.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Authorizes the printing as a House document of an updated version of House Document 101-238 (as revised by the Library of Congress) entitled "Women in Congress, 1917-1990."
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a grants program to help States and local educational agencies recruit, train, and hire 100,000 additional teachers over a seven-year period in order to: (1) reduce class sizes nationally, in grades one through three, to an average of 18 students per classroom; and (2) improve teaching in the early grades so that all students can learn to read independently and well by the end of the third grade.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
States' Right To Innovate in Health Care Act of 2001 - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXII (State Comprehensive Health Care and Cost Containment Demonstration Projects) to allow a limited number of States to apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for a planning grant and a demonstration grant to achieve a cost-effective delivery system of universal, comprehensive health care with simplified administration.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
Small Business Telecommuting Act - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to conduct, in not more than five of the SBA's regions, a pilot program to raise awareness about telecommuting among small business employers and to encourage such employers to offer telecommuting options to employees. Requires the Administrator to make special efforts to conduct outreach to businesses owned by or employing individuals with disabilities, including disabled American veterans, and agencies, groups, or organizations that aid such individuals. Terminates such program after two years.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
Voting Equipment Modernization Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit, for a two year period, taxpayers to check-off one dollar to be paid into the Election Administration Improvement Fund (established by this Act) which shall provide funding to States for carrying out activities to improve the administration of elections for Federal office, including the purchase and maintenance of improved voting equipment and technology.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
Increased Individual Retirement Accounts for All Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the annual limitation on deductible contributions to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to $5,000 and provide a cost-of-living adjustment to such amount; (2) provide for increased "catch-up" contributions for individuals aged 50 or older; and (3) until December 31, 2005, allow a nonrefundable credit to certain individuals for elective deferrals and IRA contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) with respect to pensions. (All the following are amendments to the Code, except where the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, ERISA, is mentioned.) Increases: (1) annual dollar Individual Retirement Account (IRA) contribution limits; and (2) benefit and contribution limits, with indexes for inflation. Revises requirements relating to: (1) plan loans for subchapter S owners, partners, and sole proprietors; and (2) specified top-heavy rules. Provides that elective deferrals shall not be taken into account for purposes of limits on certain plan contributions. Repeals specified coordination requirements for deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations. Revises certain deduction limits for stock bonus and profit sharing trusts and for defined contribution plans. Provides for optional treatment of elective deferrals as after-tax contributions. Allows individuals age 50 or older to make additional contributions to an applicable employer plan (section 401(k) or similar plan). Sets forth requirements relating to equitable treatment for contributions of employees to defined contribution plans. Provides for faster vesting of certain employer matching contributions under the Code and ERISA. Revises: (1) minimum distribution rules; (2) requirements relating to tax treatment of division of section 457 plan benefits upon divorce; and (3) provisions for safe harbor relief for hardship withdrawals from 401(k) plans. Permits, under certain conditions, rollovers: (1) from and to various types of plans; (2) of IRAs into workplace retirement plans; and (3) of after-tax contributions in an exempt trust. Sets forth a hardship exception to the 60-day rule. Sets forth requirements for treatment of forms of distribution available under transferor and transferee plans under the Code and ERISA. Revises restrictions on distributions, including the same desk exception. Allows trustee-to-trustee transfers to purchase permissive service credit with respect to governmental defined benefit plans. Allows employers to disregard rollovers for purposes of cash-out amounts, under retirement plan provisions of the Code. Revises minimum distribution and inclusion requirements for section 457 plans. Repeals, for plan years beginning in 2004 and following years, the current liability full funding limit under the Code and ERISA. Revises maximum contribution deduction rules, and applies them to all defined benefit plans. Allows an employer, in determining the amount of nondeductible contributions for any taxable year, to elect not to take into account any contributions to a defined benefit plan except to the extent they exceed the full-funding limitation. Establishes an excise tax for the failure of a defined benefit plan or an individual account plan (except governmental, church, and other specified plans) subject to minimum funding standards to meet specified notice requirements, under the Code and ERISA, for plan amendments which significantly reduce benefit accruals. Makes certain compensation limitations for defined benefit plans inapplicable to governmental and multiemployer plans. Prohibits combining or aggregating a multiemployer plan with any other plan maintained by the employer for the purpose of applying such limitations. Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to protect the investment of employee contributions to 401(k) plans by providing that specified requirements apply to elective deferrals for plan years beginning after December 31, 1998. Requires that pension benefit statements be furnished annually (once every three years for defined benefit plans) or on request. Establishes an excise tax for certain prohibited allocations of stock in an S corporation ESOP. Revises Code and ERISA requirements relating to timing of plan valuations. Allows applicable dividends of ESOPs to be reinvested without loss of dividend deduction. Repeals a transition rule relating to certain highly compensated employees under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Directs the Secretary to modify specified regulations with respect to certain plan participation by employees of tax-exempt entities. Treats the provision of certain retirement planning services by an employer for an employee as a de minimis fringe benefit to the extent it is not treated as a working condition fringe. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide simplified annual filing requirements for retirement plans with assets below a specified amount, if they cover: (1) one participant (an owner and spouse); or (2) fewer than 25 employees. Directs the Secretary to continue to update and improve the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System, or any successor program. Repeals a multiple use test. Allows certain alternative ways of satisfying nondiscrimination, coverage, and line of business rules. Exempts plans maintained by any governmental entity from certain nondiscrimination rules. Directs the Secretary to modify specified regulations relating to the notice and consent period regarding distributions. Revises ERISA provisions relating to: (1) annual report dissemination; (2) the National Summit on Retirement Savings; (3) missing participants; (4) Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) reduction of premiums for new plans of small employers and of additional premiums for new and small plans; (5) PBGC authority to pay interest on premium overpayment refunds; (6) substantial owner benefits in terminated plans; (7) civil penalties for breach of fiduciary responsibility; and (8) benefit suspension notices. Prescribes time requirements for plan amendments or annuity contract amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2001
Revitalizing Cities Through Parks Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to qualified community organizations to develop as open space municipally owned vacant lots in urban areas.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2001
Provisional Voting Rights Act of 2001 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to establish a procedure under which individuals whose names do not appear on the list of registered voters in an election for Federal office at a particular polling place shall be permitted to cast provisional votes at the polling place. Provides for treatment of votes cast.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2001
Resolution to Expand Access to Community Health Centers (REACH) Initiative - Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that appropriations for consolidated health centers under the Public Health Service Act should be increased by 100 percent over the next five fiscal years in order to double the number of individuals who receive health care services at community, migrant, homeless, and public housing health centers.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Heather French Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance Act - Encourages all Federal, State, and local departments and agencies and other entities and individuals to work toward the national goal of ending homelessness among veterans within a decade. Establishes within the Department of Veterans Affairs the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) support the continuation within the Department of at least one center to monitor the structure, process, and outcome of Department programs addressing homeless veterans; and (2) assign veterans receiving specified services provided in, or sponsored or coordinated by, the Department as being within the "complex care" category. Directs the Secretary to: (1) make grants to Department health care facilities and to grant and per diem providers for the development of programs targeted at meeting certain special needs of homeless veterans; (2) require certain officials to initiate a plan for joint outreach to veterans at risk of homelessness; (3) carry out two treatment trials in integrated mental health services delivery; (4) ensure that each Department primary care facility has a mental health treatment capacity; (5) carry out a program of transitional assistance grants to eligible homeless veterans; and (6) make technical assistance grants to aid nonprofit community-based groups in applying for homeless program grants. Extends through FY 2006 the homeless veterans reintegration program.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to provide coverage for qualified individuals participating in approved cancer clinical trials if a group health plan or an issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan or in the individual market otherwise provides coverage to such an individual. Directs the Secretaries of Health and Human Services (HHS), of Labor, and of the Treasury to: (1) analyze cancer clinical research and its cost implications for managed care; and (2) report to Congress an assessment of any incremental cost to group health plans resulting from this Act and any recommendations regarding action on other diseases. Requires the Secretaries of Labor, of the Treasury, and of HHS to ensure coordinated administration of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Amends the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994 (which is part A of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) to establish provisions for Effective Prevention Program Implementation through a program of technical assistance grants for comprehensive prevention of violence, criminal and delinquent behavior, substance abuse, and other problem behaviors. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to provide such grants to States that meet specified requirements to implement prevention programs that meet a high scientific standard of program effectiveness. Requires: (1) State distribution of program funds through competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs); and (2) LEA use of funds for comprehensive prevention programs.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Reservists Tax Relief Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the deduction, as a trade or business expense, of certain expenses of members of a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces incurred in connection with such service.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Supports the goals of International Women's Day. Recognizes and honors the women who have fought and continue to struggle for gender equality and women's rights. Reaffirms the commitment to ending discrimination and violence against women, to ensuring the safety and welfare of women, and to pursuing policies that guarantee the basic rights of women. Encourages the President to: (1) affirm his commitment to pursue policies to protect the health and rights of women; and (2) issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe International Women's Day.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2001
Innocence Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize a person convicted of a Federal crime to apply to the appropriate Federal court for DNA testing to support a claim that the person did not commit: (1) the Federal crime of which the person was convicted; or (2) any other offense that a sentencing authority may have relied upon when it sentenced the person with respect to such crime. Sets forth: (1) guidelines for the court to use in ordering DNA testing; (2) post-testing procedures; (3) provisions regarding preservation of evidence; (4) criminal penalties for destroying or altering DNA evidence; and (5) provisions regarding post-conviction DNA testing in State criminal justice systems. Prohibits a State from denying an application for DNA testing made by a prisoner in State custody who is under sentence of death if specified conditions apply. Provides grants to prosecutors for DNA testing programs. Establishes the National Commission on Capital Representation. Withholds funds from States not complying with standards for capital representation. Provides for capital defense incentive grants and resource grants. Increases compensation in Federal cases, and sets forth provisions regarding compensation in State cases, where an individual is unjustly sentenced to death. Adds a certification requirement in Federal death penalty prosecutions. Expresses the sense of Congress regarding the execution of juvenile offenders and the mentally retarded.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2001
Federal Living Wage Responsibility Act - Requires the Federal government and any employer under a Federal contract or subcontract exceeding $10,000 to pay each of their respective workers: (1) an hourly wage (or salary equivalent) necessary for such employee to earn, while working 40 hours a week on a full-time basis, the amount of the Federal poverty level for a family of four; and (2) an additional amount, based on the locality in which a worker resides, sufficient to cover the costs to such worker to obtain any fringe benefits not provided by the worker's employer. Exempts employers that are: (1) small business concerns; or (2) nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations, if the ratio of the total compensation of the chief executive officer to that of the full-time equivalent of their lowest-paid employee is not greater than 25 to 1. Directs the Secretary of Labor to enforce this Act. Makes Federal contractors that are part of a pattern or practice of violations of such wage requirements subject to Federal contract suspension, a five-year ineligibility period, and liability for Government costs of obtaining a replacement contractor. Provides for judicial review of the Secretary's determinations, and authorizes the President to suspend the provisions of this Act in times of emergency. Allows an aggrieved worker to bring a civil action against an employer for appropriate relief for a violation of this Act, if the employer has not paid or reinstated the worker as a result of the administrative action.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2001
Clean Diamonds Act - Prohibits the import of diamonds into the United States unless the exporting country is implementing a system of controls on the export or import of rough diamonds that meets specified requirements, consistent with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 adopted on December 1, 2000, or a future international agreement which implements such controls and to which the United States is a signatory. Sets forth both civil and criminal penalties for violations of the requirements of this Act. Prohibits the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Export-Import Bank from engaging in certain transactions in connection with projects or exports to countries violating the requirements of this Act. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should take steps to negotiate an international agreement to eliminate the trade in diamonds used to support conflict in the country or regions in which such diamonds are mined. Provides a waiver for the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2001
Affordable HIV/AIDS Medicines for Poor Countries Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to encourage developing countries (including sub-Saharan African countries) and pharmaceutical companies to make HIV/AIDS pharmaceuticals and medical technologies available to people who live in such countries without charge or at affordable prices. Sets forth certain restrictions and limitations, including that: (1) appropriated funds made available to U.S. agencies may not be obligated to seek the revocation or revision of any intellectual property or competition law or policy of a developing country (including any sub- Saharan African country) that regulates HIV/AIDS pharmaceuticals or medical technologies if such law or policy promotes access to such drugs and technologies by the country's population; and (2) the USTR may not initiate a proceeding in the World Trade Organization (WTO) challenging any law or policy of a developing country (including a sub-Saharan African country) that promotes access by HIV/AIDS pharmaceuticals or medical technologies by the population of the country. Requires the President to direct the U.S. representative to the WTO to urge the WTO and member countries to exempt developing countries (including sub-Saharan African countries) from the application of any provision of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights or any other international agreement relating to intellectual property rights that would prohibit or restrict such countries from establishing or implementing any law or policy that promotes access to HIV/AIDS pharmaceuticals or medical technologies to their population.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2001
Condemns the destruction of pre-Islamic statues in Afghanistan by the Taliban regime. Urges such regime to: (1) stop destroying such statues; and (2) grant international organizations immediate access to Afghanistan to survey the damage and facilitate international efforts to preserve and safeguard the remaining statues.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2001
Community Reinvestment Modernization Act of 2001 - Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to subject to the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (CRA) all nonbank affiliates of bank holding companies that engage in lending or offer banking products or services. Mandates reduction of the CRA rating of a regulated financial institution to reflect predatory or negative credit practices. Places an affirmative obligation upon each securities company, mortgage bank, and insurance company to meet the need for its respective services in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods . Requires bank holding company affiliates of securities, mortgage, and insurance companies to maintain satisfactory CRA ratings. Insurance Disclosure Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish noncommercial insurance data reporting requirements incumbent upon insurers in order to ascertain the availability and affordability of insurance in connection with: (1) census tract; (2) low- and moderate-income neighborhoods; (3) race and gender of policyholders; and (4) location of principal place of agents and their termination by race. Directs the Secretary of HUD to require each insurer that makes an investment in a property or business to submit annually data detailing direct loans and loan purchases in connection with: (1) commercial real estate loans; (2) single-family mortgages; (3) commercial and industrial loans; and (4) other investments. Requires regulated financial institutions to collect data regarding farm and small business loan applications that details: (1) applicant race and gender; (2) minority-owned and women-owned enterprises; (3) the revenue of such applicants; and (4) the actual census tract of the applicants' locale. Sets forth antiredlining requirements for financial holding companies. Revises the requirement that Federal banking agencies prohibit a financial holding company or insured depository institution from commencing certain new financial activities or acquiring control of a company engaged in any financial activity if any subsidiary or affiliate has received a CRA rating of less than "satisfactory record of meeting community credit needs" in its most recent examination. Extends such prohibition to continuing such activities or maintaining control of a company engaged in such activities if any subsidiary or affiliate has received such a less than satisfactory CRA rating.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2001
Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, to provide for coverage under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of marriage and family therapist services generally, particularly services provided in rural health clinics and in hospice programs. Amends SSA title XVIII part D (Miscellaneous) to provide for the exclusion of such services from the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system. Authorizes marriage and family therapists to develop discharge plans for post-hospital services.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2001
Medicare Education and Regulatory Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) concerning: (1) prospective application only of certain regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS); and (2) certain requirements for judicial and regulatory challenges of regulations. Requires the Secretary, with respect to Medicare audits, except when clear and convincing evidence exists of fraud or similar fault, to give a physician, provider of services, or provider of ambulance services (physicians or providers) the option of entering into: (1) an arrangement to offset alleged overpayments against future payments; or (2) a repayment plan with its carrier or fiscal intermediary to recoup such an overpayment. Prohibits the Secretary from taking any action to recoup an overpayment or to impose a penalty during the period in which a physician or provider is appealing a determination that such an overpayment has been made or the amount of the overpayment. Prohibits carriers, absent cause, from demanding the production of records or documentation before paying a Medicare claim. Amends SSA title XI with respect to prohibited extensions of remuneration to a Medicare-eligible individual to influence a choice of provider, practitioner, or supplier. Excludes from the meaning of remuneration any waiver of copayment made in a written, mailed communication with existing patients. Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to: (1) construction of hearing rights related to decisions to deny or not renew a physician enrollment agreement; (2) the post-payment audit process; (3) definitions relating to physicians or providers; and (4) the right to appeal on behalf of deceased beneficiaries. Amends SSA title XVIII to require carriers, fiscal intermediaries, and contractors to conduct education programs (funded from the Medicare Integrity Program) for physicians and providers on billing, coding, cost reporting, and documentation regulations and procedures. Outlines provisions with regard to certain information requests from physicians and providers. Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for the inclusion of regulatory costs in the calculation of the sustainable growth rate with respect to the costs of physicians' services. Prohibits the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) from implementing any new evaluation and management documentation guidelines under Medicare, unless it: (1) has provided for an assessment of the proposed guidelines by organizations representing physicians; (2) has established a plan that contains specific goals, including a schedule, for improving use of such guidelines; (3) has completed a minimum of four pilot projects to test such guidelines; and (4) finds that specified objectives will be met in the implementation of such guidelines.
![Official portrait of Rep. Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH-11]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/j000284_200.jpg)