United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to exclude from its definition of "investment company" any collective trust fund maintained by a bank consisting solely of certain church pension plans, companies, or accounts specified in the Internal Revenue Code. Amends the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to exempt such church pension plans, companies, or accounts from regulation under such Acts, including registration requirements. (Thus exempts such church pension plans, companies, or accounts from Federal jurisdiction for securities fraud, manipulation, transparency, and disclosure requirements).
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
True American Heroes Act of 2003 - Authorizes the posthumous award of congressional gold medals to the government workers and others who responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia and perished in the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and to the people aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who helped resist the hijackers on board and caused the plane to crash. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $50 dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the tragic events that occurred at the Pentagon, in New York City, and in Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Civil Rights and Employee Investigation Clarification Act - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to exclude from its disclosure requirements certain communications: (1) made in connection with an employer's investigation of employee workplace misconduct, or of compliance with Federal, State, or local laws and regulations, the rules of a self-regulatory organization, or any pre-existing written policies of the employer; (2) not made for the purpose of investigating a consumer's credit worthiness, credit standing, or credit capacity; and (3) not provided to any person except the employer (or employer's agent), any Federal, State, or local officer, agency, or department, any self-regulatory organization with regulatory authority over the employer's or employee's activities, or as otherwise required by law.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to increase the imprisonment penalty for animal fighting violations from one year to two years. Makes it unlawful to sell, buy, transport, or deliver in interstate or foreign commerce a knife, gaff, or other sharp instrument used in a bird-fighting venture. Revises enforcement provisions. Permits euthanasia for an animal in extreme pain. Includes the Internet or any technology as interstate instrumentality.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Whatever It Takes To Rebuild Act of 2003 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to: (1) authorize the President to make community disaster loans to State governments; (2) eliminate the $5 million limit on the amount of any such loan; and (3) prohibit the President from requiring the payment of any interest or principal on such a loan made to a State or local government which may suffer a substantial loss of tax and other revenues as a result of a major disaster caused by a terrorist attack. Provides that this Act shall apply to any major disaster occurring on or after October 30, 2000. Authorizes the President to make community disaster loans to New York City and the State of New York for tax and other revenue losses as a result of the major disaster caused by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Provides that the total amount of such loans shall be $8.8 billion or such greater amount as is determined by the President to be necessary to cover such losses. Prohibits the President from requiring the payment of any interest or principal on such loans.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Amends provisions relating to the census to eliminate the exception that prevents the use of sampling in determining the population for purposes of the apportionment of Representatives in the Congress among the several States.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2003
Democracy Day Act of 2003 - Requires the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2004 and in each even-number year thereafter (Election Day) to be treated in the same manner as November 11 (Veterans Day) for purposes of any laws relating to Federal employment. Urges private employers to give their employees that day off to enable them to vote. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the impact of such requirement on voter participation.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income amounts received as loan repayments under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program established under the Public Health Service Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2003
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal to Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom in recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions to maintaining the security of all freedom-loving nations. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) strike such gold medal (and authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell duplicate bronze medals); and (2) deposit sums received from the sale of the bronze medals into the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2003
Fair Play-Equal Access in Membership Resolution - Expresses the sense of the Congress that neither the President, the Vice-President, nor any Member of Congress, justice or judge of the United States, or political appointee in the executive branch should belong to a club that discriminates on the basis of sex or race.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act of 2003 - Sets forth a statutory framework under which a substitute check is the legal equivalent of an original check for all purposes, if the substitute check: (1) accurately represents all of the information on the front and back of the original check as of the time the original check was truncated; and (2) bears the legend: "This is a legal copy of your check. You can use it the same way you would use the original check." Prescribes implementation guidelines, including: (1) substitute check warranties; (2) indemnity procedures; (3) expedited recredit claims for consumers and for banks; (4) procedures for claims; (5) measure of damages; (6) statute of limitations; and (7) consumer education materials.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Access for Afghan Women Act of 2003 - Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish a fund to assist women and girls in Afghanistan in the areas of political and human rights, health care, education, training, security, and shelter. Requires the funds to support specified activities, including: (1) direct financial and programmatic assistance to the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Afghanistan to promote its strengthening and enable it to fulfill its mandate; (2) direct financial assistance to the National Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan; and (3) construction of women's educational facilities in Afghanistan. Earmarks a minimum percentage of the economic and humanitarian assistance authorized for Afghanistan for each of FY 2003 though 2005 to be made available for assistance directly to Afghan-led local nongovernmental organizations, including Afghan women-led organizations, with demonstrated experience in delivering services to Afghan women and children to support their programmatic activities and organizational development. Requires an appropriate percentage of such assistance for FY 2006 and each subsequent fiscal year to be made available to such organizations. Prescribes general requirements with respect to Afghanistan for: (1) its governance; (2) post-conflict stability; (3) training for military and police forces; and (4) relief, resettlement, and repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Don't Feed the Bears Act of 2003 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to enforce the National Parks System regulatory prohibitions against the feeding and baiting of wildlife on National Park System lands and in wildlife refuge areas, in particular the intentional feeding of bears for the purpose of enticing them to a particular area to be hunted (bear baiting). Requires the Secretary of the Interior with respect to lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, and the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to National Forest System lands, to adopt and enforce a regulation to prohibit individuals from intentionally feeding bears, including feeding for the purpose of bear baiting.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to require local educational agencies, if they choose to treat certain IDEA funds as local funds, to use them to provide additional funding for programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 2003 - Provides for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
WISEWOMAN Expansion Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to permit the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through a competitive review process, to award grants to States to provide additional specified preventive health services, screenings, education, and referrals under PHSA provisions concerning preventive health measures with respect to breast and cervical cancers. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act - Designates specified National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management district lands in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, and Napa Counties in California as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Requires that such lands be administered by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, whoever has current administrative jurisdiction. Provides for the adjustment of the boundaries of certain of the lands to allow and encourage mechanical fire-suppression activities near wildfire risk areas. Designates specified Bureau of Land Management district lands in California as potential wilderness areas. Requires that the Secretary of the Interior manage such lands as wilderness and carry out ecological restoration activities. Designates specified segments of the Black Butte River in Mendocino County, California as a wild and scenic river. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a fire management plan and a report on the cultural and historic resources of Black Butte River. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture for: (1) the establishment of a program to provide grants for creating wilderness-related jobs and for developing visitors centers, brochures, and kiosks; (2) the development of trails and other facilities to promote wilderness recreation; (3) the support of law enforcement activities; and (4) the support of firefighting activities.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Expresses the appreciation of the House of Representatives for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to seek a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem for the benefit of the people of Cyprus and the region. Expresses its strong disappointment that the Secretary General's efforts to bring his plan for a comprehensive settlement to a referenda by the people of Cyprus has been rejected. Expresses its very strong regret that Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Denktash, rejected the comprehensive settlement offered by the Secretary General and denied the Turkish Cypriot people the opportunity to determine their own future by refusing to offer the settlement proposal to referenda. Declares that the House remains committed, despite the recent setback, to giving any assistance necessary for finding a just and durable settlement for the Cyprus problem and urges the maximum effort by the U.S. Government and others to redouble their efforts to seek a just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem. Encourages both Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to renew their efforts to find a settlement to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Secretary General's framework. Urges the Governments of Turkey and Greece to do everything possible to support the search for a settlement, including actions by the Government of Turkey helping to persuade the Turkish Cypriot leader to reach an agreement which would reunite the island and which would serve the interests of both Cypriot communities. Encourages both sides, upon completion of a comprehensive settlement, to consider putting it to referenda, if necessary, in order that the will of the people of Cyprus can be democratically expressed.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2003
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitor Center Act - Authorizes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. to design and construct a visitor center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Directs the Commission on Fine Arts to approve a final design for the center within one year. Requires the center to be operated and maintained by the Secretary of the Interior subject to the Secretary entering into an operation and maintenance agreement with the Memorial Fund. Prohibits the use of any Federal funds for the planning, design, construction, operation, or maintenance of such center.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2003
Women's Cancer Recovery Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to require certain group health plans, and health insurance issuers providing coverage under a group plan, to ensure specified minimum coverage regarding: (1) the surgical treatment of breast cancer, including mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissections; and (2) secondary consultations by specialists. Prohibits: (1) changing coverage terms and conditions based on a participant's or beneficiary's decision to request less than the minimum coverage; and (2) certain penalties or incentives for providers or specialists. Amends: (1) PHSA to apply similar requirements to health insurance issuers in the individual market; and (2) the Internal Revenue Code to apply those requirements to group health plans. Exempts from the requirements of this Act health insurance coverage in certain States. Provides for coordination of the administration of this Act among the Secretaries of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
One Strike and You're Out Act of 2003 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937, with respect to public housing and section 8 assisted housing, to provide for: (1) criminal activity eviction protections for victims of domestic or date violence; and (2) public housing agency reporting of evictions for domestic and dating violence.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
International Rule of Law and Antiterrorism Act of 2003 - Requires the President to direct: (1) the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) to use the U.S. vote to establish negotiations with the UN to establish a professional UN civilian police corps (UNCPC); (2) the Secretary of State (Secretary) to request that the UN Secretariat prepare a report concerning the UNCPC's establishment; and (3) the Secretary to work with the UN Secretariat and other UN member states to establish standards and training programs for international civilian police. Expresses the sense of Congress that the UNCPC should: (1) be composed of enforcement professionals who are appropriately trained and equipped for civilian policing functions in UN international peace operations and available for rapid deployment to such operations as needed; (2) be able to deploy not later than 15 days after deployment is authorized pursuant to a UN Security Council resolution; (3) be managed by the UN Civilian Police Division (established in October 2000 and mandated to plan and support the work of the UN civilian police officers in UN peacekeeping operations); and (4) be given the appropriate resources to properly do its job. Requires the President to report annually to specified congressional committees on the progress to establish a UNCPC.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to provide for employee leave to care for a domestic partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, or grandparent if such person has a serious health condition. Amends Federal civil service law to apply the same leave allowance to Federal employees.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
Commends Operation Respect (a nonprofit organization engaged in a national effort to transform after-school programs and children's summer camps into more compassionate and respectful environments), its "Don't Laugh At Me" programs, and the program creator, Peter Yarrow, for their contributions to the sound emotional development, personal growth, and physical safety of children throughout the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Medicare Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant Direct Reimbursement Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of surgical first assisting services furnished by certified registered nurse first assistants.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act of 2003 - Requires each participating manufacturer of a covered outpatient drug to make it available for purchase by each pharmacy: (1) in an amount equal to the aggregate amount sold or distributed by the pharmacy to Medicare beneficiaries; and (2) at a price no greater than the manufacturer's average foreign price. Sets forth special provisions with respect to hospice programs.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Homeland Emergency Response Act of 2003 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to revise the responsibilities of the Office for Domestic Preparedness with respect to the preparedness of the United States for acts of terrorism, including to: (1) establish and coordinate an integrated capability for Federal, State, and local governments and emergency responders to plan for and address potential consequences of terrorism; (2) establish standards for a national, interoperable emergency communications and warning system which allows for communications capability between local and other first responders on all levels of government; and (3) evaluate equipment to be used by first responders to respond to incidents of terrorism, including incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a program of assistance to States and certain local governments to enhance the ability of State and local first responders to respond to incidents of terrorism, including incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. Sets forth certain use and distribution requirements for such assistance. Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to require the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide grants for counterterrorism activities of the fire departments in the five localities of greatest vulnerability. Amends the USA Patriot Act to set forth a formula for the allocation of appropriations that exceed stated minimum amounts for grants to States to enhance State and local capability to prepare for and respond to terrorist acts. Authorizes the use of such grants also to enhance security facilities and to support counterterrorism, intelligence, and security activities (including personnel costs). Requires each State to distribute not less than 75 percent of grant amounts to local jurisdictions. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the President in instances where one or more harmful substances are being, or have been, released in an area that has been declared a major disaster area to carry out a program for the protection, assessment, monitoring, and study of the health and safety of first responders in such area (including authorizing the monitoring and treatment of first responders at Ground Zero from the attacks on New York City of September 11, 2001).
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Living Organ Donor Job Security Act of 2003 - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow leave for living organ donation. Includes among authorized leave time spent for: (1) tests for medical suitability of the eligible employee; (2) physical, psychological, and social evaluations of the donor; (3) pre-transplant outpatient services; (4) post-operative inpatient and outpatient transplantation services; (5) travel in connection with such tests, evaluations, and services; and (6) recuperation.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) provide for coverage of Medicare-covered ambulatory services by Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs); and (2) ensure FQHC reimbursement under hospital and skilled nursing facility prospective payment systems. Amends SSA title XI with respect to criminal penalties for acts involving Federal health care programs, particularly illegal remunerations (kickbacks). Exempts from the prohibition against such remunerations any remuneration: (1) between a certain kind of public or nonprofit private health center entity and any individual or entity providing goods, items, services, donations, loans, or a combination, to such health center entity pursuant to an agreement, if such agreement contributes to the ability of the health center entity to maintain or increase the availability, or enhance the quality, of services provided to a medically underserved population served by the health center entity; and (2) between a FQHC (or an entity controlled by such a health center) and a Medicare+Choice organization pursuant to a specified written agreement. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards relating to the exception for health center entity arrangements to specified anti-kickback penalties. Amends SSA title XVIII to revise the payment for certain FQHC services furnished to an individual enrolled with a Medicare+Choice organization under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice), allowing for supplemental reimbursement, among other changes. Amends Medicare+Choice to add additional Medicare+Choice contract requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 for the U.S. payment to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Trust Fund administered by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank). Authorizes additional appropriations for payment to such Fund to meet the additional financing needs of the Enhanced HIPC Initiative, provided the Secretary of the Treasury determines that an agreement by certain multilateral financial institutions regarding modification of the Initiative has been reached. Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary to commence immediately efforts within the Paris Club of Official Creditors, as well as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other appropriate multilateral development institutions, to accomplish certain modifications in the Initiative, including requiring that: (1) the amount of debt stock reduction for a country eligible for debt relief under the Initiative be sufficient to reduce, for a specified period, the net value of outstanding public guaranteed debt of the country and its annual payments due on such debt to not more than specified formulated percentages; and (2) the debt cancellation under such Initiative not be conditioned on any agreement by an impoverished country to implement or comply with policies that deepen poverty or degrade the environment, or that implement user fees on primary education or primary health care, increase the cost to consumers with incomes of less than $2.00 per day for access to clean drinking water, or that undermine internationally recognized worker rights. Makes ineligible for debt relief any country that: (1) supports international terrorism; (2) engages in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights; or (3) has been designated as a "Tier 3" nation pursuant to the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 for its failure to cooperate on international trafficking in persons prevention efforts. Conditions debt cancellation upon the country's agreeing to ensure that the financial benefits of such debt relief are applied to programs to combat poverty and to redress environmental degradation. Amends certain Federal laws to prohibit the provision of foreign assistance or the transfer of certain weapons and technology to countries (or persons) that fail to cooperate with the United States on efforts to combat international terrorism. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on options to expand debt relief to non-HIPC countries.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Amends Federal postal law to extend the U.S. Postal Service's authority to issue special postage stamps to help provide funding for breast cancer research through December 31, 2005.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Calls for the Government of the People's Republic of China to release immediately all prisoners of conscience, including Phuntsog Nyidron, as a gesture of good will and to promote human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Honors and recognizes: (1) the 350th anniversary of the American Jewish community; and (2) the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History (formed by the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, the American Jewish Historical Society, and the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives) and its efforts to plan, coordinate, and execute commemorative events. Expresses support for designation of American Jewish History Month.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Declares that Federal funding for diabetes research should be increased in accordance with the recommendations of the Diabetes Research Working Group so that a cure for juvenile diabetes can be found.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2003
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) revise the basis for calculating the projected lost earnings of a person who sustained a vaccine-related injury; (2) increase the award for a vaccine-related death; (3) allow compensation for expenses for family counseling and establishing guardianship; (4) allow payment of interim attorneys' fees and costs; (5) establish a procedure for paying attorneys' fees; (6) extend from two to six years the statute of limitations for injuries or death from a vaccine set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table; (7) revise the membership and meeting schedule of the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines; and (8) direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a public service announcement campaign about the availability of the Program. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the limit on Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund administrative expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2003
Construction Quality Assurance Act of 2003 - Prohibits the Federal Government or any contractors or subcontractors from participating in the practice of bid shopping with respect to any Government contract exceeding $1 million for the construction or repair of any public building or public work. Defines "bid shopping" as the practice of divulging a contractor's or subcontractor's bid or proposal or requiring a contractor or subcontractor to divulge its bid or proposal to another prospective contractor before the award of a contract or subcontract in order to secure a lower bid or proposal. Requires any invitation for bid or request for proposal issued by the Government to include a clause explicitly prohibiting such practice and specifying penalties, which may include: (1) contract termination and imposition of liquidated damages equal to three times the final bid; and (2) debarment or suspension for multiple violations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2003
Equity for Reservists Pay Act of 2003 - Entitles a Federal employee who is also a member of the reserves and who is absent from his or her civilian employment position under a call or order for active duty service of more than 30 days, to receive an amount equal to the difference in pay between the military compensation received and the civilian compensation that otherwise would have been received during such period. Makes such amounts also payable during: (1) any period of hospitalization or convalescence required as a result of such service; and (2) the 14-day period following such service. Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to reimburse a State or local government for 50 percent of the civilian compensation paid by such government for pay periods when a State or local government employee is performing active duty service of more than 30 days. Increases such rate to 100 percent if the employee's active duty service period extends beyond nine months. Requires such reimbursement during periods of hospitalization or convalescence and for 14 days after service. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that, for purposes of the general business credit, the Active-Duty Reserve Component employee credit is 50 percent of the compensation paid by the employer to the employee during the period of active duty.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2003
Wellstone Memorial Stop Corporate Expatriates Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to apply a prohibition on contracting by the Secretary of Homeland Security with foreign incorporated entities which are treated as inverted domestic corporations to any subsidiaries of such entities. Deletes a provision that would allow the waiver of such prohibition in order to prevent the loss of any jobs in the United States or to prevent the Government from incurring any additional costs that otherwise would not occur (thus allowing such waiver only in the interest of national security).
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Sunnyside, Queens, New York, as the Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for: (1) elimination of the lifetime limit on inpatient mental health services; (2) parity in treatment for outpatient mental health services; (3) coverage of intensive residential services under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and of intensive outpatient services under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance); (4) exclusion of clinical social worker services from coverage under the Medicare skilled nursing facility prospective payment system; and (5) coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Telemarketing Victims Protection Act - Amends the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act to require the Federal Trade Commission to include in rules respecting abusive telemarketing acts or practices a requirement that telemarketers not make any calls during the hours of 5 to 7 p.m.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide emergency protections for retiree health benefits. Prohibits group health plans from making post-retirement reductions of retiree health benefits. Requires group health plans to adopt provisions barring post-retirement reductions in retiree health benefits. Requires group health plans to restore benefits reduced after retirement. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to waive or vary such requirements, if a plan sponsor applies for such exemption, upon finding that compliance would: (1) be adverse to the interests of plan participants in the aggregate; (2) not be administratively feasible; and (3) cause substantial business hardship to the sponsor. Establishes the Emergency Retiree Health Loan Guarantee Program and its Board. Authorizes the Program, through its Board, to guarantee loans provided by private banking and investment institutions to eligible plan sponsors to assist them in meeting obligations under this Act to restore benefits reduced after retirement. Authorizes the Secretary to assess civil penalties for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Directs Congress to enact legislation by October 2005 to guarantee that every person in the United States, regardless of income, age, or employment or health status, has access to health care that: (1) is affordable and that removes financial barriers to needed care; (2) is as cost efficient as possible; (3) provides comprehensive benefits; (4) promotes prevention and early intervention; (5) includes parity for mental health and other services; (6) eliminates disparities in access to quality health care; (7) addresses the needs of people with special health care needs and underserved populations in rural and urban areas; (8) promotes quality and better health outcomes; (9) addresses the need to have adequate numbers of qualified health care practitioners; (10) provides adequate and timely payments; (11) fosters a strong network of health care facilities; (12) ensures continuity of coverage and continuity of care; (13) maximizes consumer choice of health care providers and practitioners; and (14) is easy for patients, providers, and practitioners to use and reduces paperwork.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Army to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (Institute). Repeals statutory authority for the Institute. Prohibits any training or education facility from being established in the Department of Defense (DOD) for Latin American military personnel for ten months. Establishes a joint congressional task force to assess appropriate education and training for DOD to provide to military personnel of Latin American nations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Defense Production Act Reauthorization of 2003 - Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to extend its expiration date and authorization of appropriations through FY 2008. Authorizes the President, under such Act, to: (1) correct the industrial shortfall for radiation-hardened electronics to the extent that such action does not cause the aggregate outstanding amount of all such actions to exceed $200 million; and (2) obtain information in order to perform industry studies assessing capabilities of the U.S. industrial base to support the national defense.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Domestic Violence Screening, Treatment, and Prevention Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) establish, under specified conditions, family violence research and education centers to conduct research and disseminate information concerning family violence; and (2) establish an advisory board to recommend the research agenda for such centers. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to and enter into contracts with public and nonprofit private entities capable of conducting such research. Requires the Secretary to award grants to entities that currently work in the field of family violence and health care to enable them to develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate family violence education and training curricula, programs, and strategies. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families, to award grants for up to four years to State and local governmental and nonprofit entities that currently work in the field of family violence and health care to be used to develop strategies to improve the response of State and local health care systems to domestic violence and to promote education and awareness. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to declare that State health benefits provided may cover domestic violence identification and treatment services. Amends Federal civil service law to require the Office of Personnel Management to require all contracted carriers of health coverage for Federal employees to include coverage for domestic violence identification and treatment services. Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to require: (1) the Secretary, with respect to maternal and child health services block grant funds, to provide preference to State applicants who include training of providers in how to identify and treat the effects of family violence; and (2) States to set aside a reasonable portion of such funds to provide for domestic violence identification and treatment. Requires the Secretary to allot funds to States to provide for a separate program for domestic violence identification and treatment. Amends the PHSA to authorize the Secretary to award grants to federally-qualified health centers to improve the identification and treatment of domestic violence.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to prescribe guidelines for a Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard under which retail electric suppliers submit renewable energy credits to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to: (1) encourage federally-owned utilities, municipally-owned utilities, and rural electric cooperatives that sell electric energy to electric consumers for purposes other than resale to participate in the renewable portfolio standard program; and (2) establish, not later than December 31, 2005, a State renewable energy account program.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Access to Cancer Therapies Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend Medicare coverage to all oral drugs prescribed for use as an anticancer agent for a medically accepted indication.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2003 - Provides for full voting representation in Congress for the residents of the District of Columbia, including two Senators and as many Representatives as a similarly populous State would be entitled to under the law. Treats the District of Columbia as a State. Prescribes a procedure for the first elections under this Act. Entitles the District to one Representative until the taking effect of the next reapportionment.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Resolution to Expand Access to Community Health Centers 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 during FY's 2001 through 2006 in order to double the number of individuals who receive health care services at community, migrant, homeless, and public housing health centers.
![Official portrait of Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/116_rp_ny_12_maloney_carolyn_200.jpg)