United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2002
Amends Federal transportation law with respect to urbanized area formula grants for capital projects and the planning and improvement costs of equipment, facilities, and associated capital maintenance items for use in mass transportation. Makes a special rule for FY 2003 authorizing the Secretary of Transportation to make such grants from FY 2003 funds to finance the operating cost of equipment and facilities for use in mass transportation in an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 as determined under the 2000 Federal decennial census of population, if: (1) the urbanized area had a population under 200,000 in the 1990 census; (2) a portion of the area was a separate urbanized area with a population under 200,000 in the 1990 census; or (3) the area was not designated as a urbanized area in the 1990 census. Limits such amounts: (1) for the first two described areas to the amount apportioned in FY 2002 to such areas; and (2) for urbanized areas that, for the first time, exceeded 200,000 in population according to the 2000 census, to the amount apportioned for FY 2003.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2002
Acknowledges the American Road and Transportation Builders Association for its 100th Anniversary. Commends the many achievements of the transportation construction industry and encourages the Association to continue its tradition of excellence in service to the transportation construction industry and to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2002
Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Caregivers Age 55-to-65 Years of Age). Makes eligible for both part A and part B Medicare benefits during a specified period certain individuals 55 or older who are caring on a full-time basis for family members who are Medicare beneficiaries requiring substantial supervision due to severe cognitive impairment or are unable to perform at least two activities of daily living. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine and to provide for payment and collection of a monthly premium. Creates in the Treasury the Medicare Caregiver Trust Fund to hold collected premiums. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide an annual long-term care credit of $3000 per applicable person for whom a taxpayer is an eligible caregiver. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to carry out research, demonstration, and education programs toward improving the delivery of appropriate health and support services for patients with fatal chronic illnesses. Requires the Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Director of the National Institutes of Health to expand activities with respect to fatal chronic illness. Requires the Secretary to develop pilot programs for the treatment for fatal chronic illness. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the delivery of appropriate treatment services to patients with fatal chronic illness under health care programs of the Department of Veterans Services.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2002
Darlene's Law - Amends the Public Health Services Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and maintain the National Organ Donor Registry. Provides for an opt-in organ donation checkoff on income tax forms. Sets forth notice and disclosure requirements. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer the name and taxpayer identification number of individuals opting for organ donation to the Registry, exempting such disclosure from otherwise applicable prohibitions on the non-tax use of tax form information. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to qualified organ procurement organizations to establish programs coordinating organ donation activities with hospitals to increase the rate of organ donation for such hospitals. Directs the Secretary to establish an interagency task force on organ donation and research. Requires the Secretary to: (1) award peer-reviewed grants for studies and demonstration projects to increase organ donation and recovery rates, including removing financial disincentives; (2) establish an organ donation public awareness program; (3) support model curricula in relevant issues; (4) develop scientific evidence to support increased donation and improve recovery, transportation, and preservation of organs and tissues; and (5) support research to develop a uniform vocabulary, apply information technology, and enhance the skills and technologies used in organ procurement.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2002
Senior Nutrition Act of 2002 - Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to make a person who is at least 60 years old eligible for the commodity supplemental food program (program) if such person: (1) is eligible for the food stamp program; or (2) has a household income that is not more than 185 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. Authorizes permanent program appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2002
Honors Corinne "Lindy" Claiborne Boggs for her extraordinary service to the people of Louisiana and the United States on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Congressional Women's Caucus. Recognizes that her role in its founding has improved the lives of families throughout the United States. Commends her bipartisan spirit as an example to all elected officials.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2002
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to make available to Amtrak a loan guarantee in the amount of $270 million for Amtrak capital expenditures and operating expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2002
Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) under which each individual who is entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) or eligible to enroll under Medicare part B (Supplemental Medical Insurance) is entitled to obtain qualified prescription drug coverage. Outlines standard coverage benefit packages for FY 2005. Includes for the standard package a monthly premium of $25, an annual deductible of $100, a coinsurance of 20 percent and an annual out-of-pocket spending limit of $2,000. Directs the Secretary to negotiate fair prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Provides for accelerated generic drug competition. Amends SSA title XVIII part C (Medicare+Choice) with respect to: (1) inclusion of the costs of certain military services to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries in the calculation of Medicare+Choice payment rates; (2) specialized Medicare+Choice plans for special needs beneficiaries; and (3) continuous open enrollment and disenrollment at any time. Revises requirements for Medicare: (1) part A concerning rural health care, inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility services, and hospices; (2) part B concerning physicians services and other services; and (3) part A and B concerning home health services and direct graduate medical education. Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) with respect to certain Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotment adjustments and the Q-I1 program. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to add requirements for interstate Internet sellers of prescription drugs. Establishes within the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health the Office of Rare Diseases. Amends the Public Health Services Act with respect to promotion of the pharmacist profession.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2002
John F. Kennedy Center Plaza Authorization Act of 2002 - Amends the John F. Kennedy Center Act to direct the Secretary of Transportation to undertake activities necessary to plan, design, engineer, and construct a Plaza (other than buildings) adjacent to the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, including improved bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular access to and round the Center. Authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Center to undertake activities on the Plaza necessary to facilitate the project, including construction of buildings on the Plaza. Allows the Board to acknowledge private contributions used in construction only in the interior, not on the exterior, of the buildings. Grants the Mayor of the District of Columbia, as necessary to meet project requirements and needs, exclusive authority to: (1) modify the permanent system of District highways; (2) convey any interest in real estate (including air rights or air space) owned or controlled by the District; and (3) enter into memoranda of agreement with the Board and any Federal or other governmental agency. Declares that upon project completion the responsibility for maintenance and oversight of roadways, sidewalks, and green spaces shall remain with the owner of the affected property. Declares that the Board shall continue to own, operate, and maintain the buildings and green spaces established on the Plaza. Authorizes the Secretary to realign national highways related to Project changes and improve direct access and egress between Interstate Route 66 and the Center.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician or other individual from knowingly performing a partial-birth abortion, except when necessary to save the life of a mother that is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury. Authorizes the father, if married to the mother at the time of the abortion, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus, if the mother is under 18 years of age, to obtain specified relief in a civil action, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion. Authorizes a defendant accused of an offense under this Act to seek a hearing before the State Medical Board on whether the physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother. Prohibits the prosecution of a woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed for conspiracy to violate this Act or under provisions regarding punishment as a principal or an accessory or for concealment of a felony.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to include demonstration, education, and other programs concerning cancer survivorship among the activities of the National Cancer Institute (Institute) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Requires the Director of NIH to: (1) expand and coordinate NIH activities related to cancer survivorship; and (2) establish an Office on Survivorship within the Institute. Creates the position of Associate Director for Survivorship. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, to: (1) study the health challenges associated with cancer survivorship and carry out projects and interventions; and (2) make grants for the monitoring and evaluation of cancer care and survivorship.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2002
Federal Air Traffic Controllers Annuity Computation Act of 2002 - Allows Federal air traffic controllers to elect to have their Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuities computed under provisions similar to CSRS annuity computation provisions applicable to law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nuclear materials couriers.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2002
Mammography Quality Standards Reauthorization Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend funding for the mammography facilities certification program through FY 2007. Permits the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue a temporary certificate to facilities seeking reaccreditation and awarded an accreditation extension for specified reasons, including inability of accrediting body to complete the process in time and unforeseen situations which cause the facility to be unable to meet the reaccreditation timeframes, but do not compromise the quality of mammography. Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate the Mammography Quality Standards Act, including the demonstration program's frequency of inspections, accessibility of services, and the role of States as both accreditation and certification bodies. Directs the Secretary to contract with the Institute of Medicine to study health professional training in the area of mammography.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Recognizes and honors the American Zoo and Aquarium Association and its member institutions of zoological parks and aquariums for their dedicated service in animal welfare, conservation education, conservation research, and wildlife conservation programs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2002
Rejection of Social Security Privatization Act of 2002-States that Congress hereby commits: (1) to preserve the guaranteed, lifelong, inflation-protected benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to retirees, disabled workers and their families, and the survivors of deceased workers; and (2) therefore to reject the President's plans to partially privatize Social Security, as well as other proposals to privatize Social Security, and any and all proposals that would threaten the ability of the Social Security Trust Funds to sustain the lifelong, guaranteed, inflation-protected benefits provided under SSA.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2002
Ronald C. Sheffield Federal Property Protection Act of 2002 - Revises provisions regarding the appointment of special police of the General Services Administration (GSA). Establishes in GSA an Office of the Federal Protective Service (FPS) which shall be headed by a Commissioner. Authorizes the GSA Administrator to designate Office employees as officers and agents for duty in protecting Federal property and persons on such property. Empowers such officers and agents to: (1) enforce Federal laws and regulations; (2) carry firearms; (3) make arrests without a warrant; (4) serve warrants and subpoenas; and (5) conduct investigations. Allows the Administrator to enter into agreements with Federal agencies and State and local governments to obtain authority for officers and agents to enforce Federal, State, and local laws concurrently with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers. Authorizes the Administrator of GSA to fix the rates of basic pay for officers and agents so as to enable them to be appropriately compensated in comparison to personnel performing comparable duties in other law enforcement organizations in the local labor market. Requires the Commissioner to prescribe minimum standards of suitability for employment to be applied in the contracting of security personnel. Expresses the sense of Congress that the number of full-time employees designated as FPS officers and agents should be maintained at 750. Authorizes the Administrator to determine and fix the maximum age limit for entry as an FPS Officer. Sets forth provisions governing Federal retirement, annuities, mandatory separation, and overtime of such officers. Entitles such officers to the same pay and benefits as law enforcement officers are provided under the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2002
Railroad Safety Reform Act of 2002 - Amends Federal transportation law to revise: (1) the hours of duty limitations with respect to train employees, signal employees, dispatching service employees, and power directors; and (2) certain sleeping quarters limitations with respect to train employees (including signal employees), and individuals employed to maintain the right of way of a railroad carrier. Requires the carrier to provide, among other things, a separate bedroom for each employee or individual. Requires each Class I and Class II railroad carrier to submit to the Secretary of Transportation a fatigue management plan designed to reduce fatigue experienced by railroad employees and the likelihood of accidents and injuries caused by such fatigue. Sets forth certain limitations on duty hours of transport vehicle drivers. Revises certain employee protection requirements prohibiting a railroad carrier from discharging or discriminating against an employee. Prohibits the carrier from threatening, intimidating, or disciplining for, or preventing an employee from notifying such carrier of certain railroad accident/injury-related or hazardous condition information. Makes it unlawful for any person to interfere with a railroad safety investigation, or to influence the testimony of any person or prevent a person from attending such investigation. Sets forth both civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Revises grade crossing safety requirements to require each railroad carrier to: (1) establish a toll-free telephone service to report grade crossing problems; (2) notify trains operating near a grade crossing of any problems there; and (3) ensure placement of signs at each grade crossing displaying toll-free telephone information. Prescribes requirements for: (1) all passenger railroad cars to have emergency windows; (2) installation of passenger railroad signals; and (3) internal and compartmentalized fuel tanks on passenger locomotives. Sets forth certain railroad safety rulemaking and enforcement provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2002
Air Traffic Controller Retirement Reform Act of 2002 - Amends Federal provisions concerning the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees' Retirement System to include under the definition of "air traffic controller" or "controller" a civilian employee of the Department of Transportation or Defense holding a supervisory, managerial, executive, technical, semiprofessional, or professional position for which experience as a controller is a prerequisite (thereby continuing to treat such service as controller service for Federal retirement benefits purposes).
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2002
Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2002 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act with respect to determining entitlement to and the amount of any monthly benefit, including any lump-sum death payment, payable under OASDI on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of any individual. Deems such an individual to have been paid (according to a specified formula) during each month during which the individual was engaged for at least 80 hours in providing care to a dependent relative without monetary compensation for up to five years of such service. Makes this Act inapplicable in the case of any monthly benefit or lump-sum death payment if a larger benefit or payment would be payable without its application.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Federal Government, and any State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance, from discriminating against any health care entity because (in addition to current prohibited reasons) the entity refuses to provide coverage of, or pay for, induced abortions. Expands the definition of "health care entity" to include (in addition to physicians) other health professionals, a hospital, a provider sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance plan, and any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Expresses profound gratitude to airline flight attendants for their daily service to make air travel safe and honors their courage and dedication. Expresses support for the flight attendants who displayed heroism on September 11, 2001, and to all flight attendants who continue to display heroism each day.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2002
Social Security Widow's Benefit Guarantee Act of 2002 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) provide for an increase in widow's and widower's insurance benefits; (2) repeal the seven year restriction on eligibility for widow's and widower's insurance benefits based on disability; (3) waive the two-year waiting period for a divorced spouse's benefits upon the other spouse's remarriage; and (4) disregard months ending after a deceased individual's death in applying early retirement rules with respect to the deceased individual for purposes of the limitation on widow's and widower's benefits. Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to provide that an eligible widow or widower who is entitled to a widow's or widower's insurance benefit for any month under OASDI, but is not eligible for benefits under SSI in that month, shall be deemed for purposes of SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to be an individual with respect to whom SSI benefits are paid in that month, if he or she: (1) has been continuously entitled to such widow's or widower's insurance benefits from the first month for which the increase in widow's or widower's insurance benefits resulting from this Act is reflected in such benefits through the month involved; and (2) would be eligible for benefits under SSI in the month involved if the amount of the increase in his or her widow's or widower's insurance benefits were disregarded.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2002
Expresses regret and sympathy to the families of the four Canadian soldiers who lost their lives and others who suffered injury on April 17, 2002, in a friendly-fire incident in southern Afghanistan and to the Government and people of Canada. Reaffirms appreciation for Canada's strong support and commitment to the war against terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2002
Steel Industry Legacy Relief Act of 2002 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish a steel industry retiree benefits protection program administered by the Secretary of Commerce and the Board of Trustees of the Steel Industry Legacy Relief Trust Fund (created by this Act) to provide specified medical benefits to eligible steel retirees and beneficiaries. Prescribes qualifying events (acquisition, closing, election, or bankruptcy transfer) as a result of which the United States shall assume liability for the provision of steel retiree benefits for each eligible retiree and eligible beneficiary certified for participation in the retiree benefits program. Requires transfer to the Trust Fund by a qualified steel company and any applicable acquiring company of all assets which, under the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, were required to be set aside under an employee benefit plan or otherwise for the provision of the steel retiree benefits. Requires contributions to the Trust Fund by such companies.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2002
Honors the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's hockey and wrestling teams and the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs women's hockey team for winning the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association championships.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Amends provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act set forth in the Medicine Equity and Drug Safety Act of 2000 to: (1) direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations permitting pharmacists and wholesalers to import Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prescription drugs from Canada (currently, from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa, the countries in the European Union and the European Free Trade Association, or other countries designated by the Secretary); and (2) exclude an infused or intravenously injected drug or a drug that is inhaled during surgery. Prohibits discrimination in the sale of prescription drugs by manufacturers to pharmacists or wholesalers, requiring: (1) terms as favorable as those provided to foreign purchasers; and (2) full access to drugs permitted to be imported. Continues the requirement that exported donated prescription drugs may only be reimported by the manufacturer. Permits the Secretary to waive the prohibition against importing a prescription drug or device on a case-by-case basis, particularly those from Canada that are FDA-approved and for limited personal use. Requires a study and report by the: (1) Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences on the regulatory compliance of importers of drugs; and (2) Comptroller General on how drug prices were affected.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Recognizes the devastating impact of fragile X on thousands of people in the United States and their families. Calls for increased research. Supports National Fragile X Research Day and associated activities.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, should conduct or support research on the effectiveness of medical screening techniques for ovarian cancer, including the use of proteomic patterns in blood serum in combination with other techniques. Requires a report to Congress and the inclusion of such technique in Federal health care programs and group and individual health plans if it proves effective.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Airport Streamlining Approval Process Act of 2002 - Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take action to encourage the construction of airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a coordinated review process for such projects, which shall provide that all environmental reviews, analyses, opinions, permits, licenses, and approvals that must be issued or made by a Federal agency or airport sponsor for such a project will be conducted concurrently in cooperation with specified Federal and State environmental agencies. Authorizes the Secretary, at the request of an airport sponsor for a congested airport, to approve a restriction on use of a runway to be constructed at the airport to minimize potentially significant adverse noise impacts from the runway, if certain criteria are met. Authorizes the Secretary, in specified circumstances, to allow an airport sponsor carrying out such a project to make payments, out of airport revenues (including local taxes on aviation fuel), for measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of the project, including aircraft noise. Permits the FAA Administrator to accept funds from an airport sponsor to hire additional staff or obtain the services of consultants in order to facilitate the timely processing, review, and completion of environmental activities associated with an airport development project. Repeals the requirement that the Secretary approve a project grant application only if the chief executive officer of the State in which the project will be located certifies that there is reasonable assurance that the project will be located, designed, constructed, and operated in compliance with applicable air and water quality standards. Revises the approval criteria without the requirement of an environmental impact statement for an airport development project that does not involve the location of an airport or runway, or a major runway extension, at an existing airport. Allows such a project without an environmental impact statement if completing the project would allow airport operations involving aircraft complying with the noise standards prescribed for "stage 3" aircraft (currently "stage 2" aircraft).
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Authorizes the President to award to Dr. Dorothy Height, on behalf of Congress, a congressional gold medal in recognition of her many contributions to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Rural Community Hospital Assistance Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) provide for establishment of the rural community hospital (RCH) program; (2) remove certain barriers to establishment of distinct part units by RCH and Medicare critical access hospital (CAH) facilities; and (3) revise the CAH program, making various specified payment-related changes.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2002
National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization Act of 2002 - Amends Federal transportation law to reauthorize appropriations for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Authorizes appropriations to the NTSB for necessary expenses of the NTSB Academy. Requires a NTSB employee, in any case in which he or she determines that an accident has occurred during the operation of an aircraft, to notify the aircraft's owner or operator of the right to appeal such determination to the NTSB. Requires the NTSB, in cases where it has relinquished investigative priority with respect to an aircraft accident or a railroad accident, to assist, to the maximum extent possible, the agency to which it has relinquished investigative priority in assisting families with respect to the accident. Sets forth certain responsibilities of the Chairman of the NTSB and the NTSB after being notified of a rail passenger accident resulting in a major loss of life, including to: (1) publish information on the person responsible for acting as a point of contact within the Federal Government for the families of passengers involved in the accident; (2) designate an independent nonprofit organization to provide emotional care and support to such families; and (3) facilitate the recovery and identification of fatally injured passengers and communicate with the families as to the roles of the Government agencies, the organization, and the rail passenger carrier involved, with respect to the accident and post-accident activities. Requires a rail passenger carrier to submit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the NTSB a plan for addressing the needs of the families of passengers involved in a rail passenger accident resulting in a major loss of life.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Amends the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 to make as one of its purposes encouraging the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) to develop, assess, and implement effective outreach methods and tools to ensure that at least 50 percent of all microenterprise assistance authorized under such Act for developing countries be used to assist the poorest of the poor, that is, those persons living in the bottom 50 percent below the poverty line or whose average daily living expenses are equal to, or less than, the equivalent of one dollar per day. Directs the Administrator of AID to take certain actions to increase the involvement of the Peace Corps in microenterprise initiatives to assist the poorest of the poor. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require that, in carrying out sustainable poverty-focused microenterprise development grant assistance programs under the Act, 50 percent of all microenterprise resources be targeted to very poor entrepreneurs. Declares that, in order to maximize the sustainable development impact of microenterprise development grant assistance authorized under the Act, the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering such assistance shall establish a monitoring system that, among other things, adopts the widespread use of proven and effective poverty assessment tools to identify the poorest of the poor and ensure that they receive needed microenterprise credits, loans, and assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2002 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit certain employee group health plans or related insurances providing both medical-surgical and mental health benefits from imposing mental health treatment limitations or financial requirements unless comparable limitations and requirements are imposed upon medical-surgical benefits. States that the foregoing shall not be construed as requiring a group health plan (or related insurances) to: (1) provide any mental health benefits; (2) prevent the medical management of mental health benefits; or (3) require the provision of specific mental health services, except to the extent that failure to provide such services would result in a disparity between the coverage of mental health and medical-surgical benefits. Exempts specified small employers from such requirements. Requires that, in the case of a group health plan that offers a participant or beneficiary two or more benefit package options, the coverage requirements shall be applied separately with respect to each such option. Provides that, in the case of a plan or insurance providing in-network mental health benefits, out-of-network mental health benefits need not be provided at parity to medical-surgical benefits, as long as in-network mental health benefits are provided at parity with medical-surgical benefits and the plan or insurance provides reasonable access to in-network providers and facilities. Requires a General Accounting Office study of such requirements' effects upon health insurance costs, access, and quality and a cost estimation of extending such requirements to the treatment of substance abuse and chemical dependency.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2002
Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) assess port vulnerability; and (2) prepare a National Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Plan for deterring catastrophic emergencies. Requires the Plan to: (1) coordinate Federal, State, and local efforts; (2) identify security resources; and (3) include a system of surveillance and notice to ensure earliest possible identification of emergencies. Requires Federal Maritime Antiterrorism Coordinators to develop, update, and integrate Area Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Plans, as needed. Requires owners or operators of vessels or facilities to prepare an antiterrorism plan for deterring a catastrophic emergency. Requires the Secretary or Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to establish certain antiterrorism measures, including: (1) response plans for vessels; (2) transportation security cards; (3) maritime antiterrorism teams to protect vessels, ports, facilities, and cargo in U.S. waters; (4) a cargo identification and screening system; (5) requirements for the advance electronic transmission of passenger and crew manifests from arriving commercial vessels; (6) the assessment of antiterrorism measures maintained at specified foreign ports; (7) requirements for all commercial vessels entering the territorial sea of the United States to provide specified information as a condition of entry; (8) authorization of the use of qualified armed Coast Guard personnel as sea marshals on facilities or vessels; and (9) requirements for specified vessels operating in U.S. navigable waters to be equipped with a position indicating transponder. Extends the jurisdiction of the United States to include all waters of the territorial sea of the United States as described in Presidential Proclamation 5928. Extends the coverage of the Deepwater Port Act to natural gas.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2002
Better Screening Test for Women Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for FY 2003 through 2007 for the National Cancer Institute to support clinical research concerning early detection for breast cancer, including treatments as well as the link between such detection and reduction of mortality rates.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should condemn the practice of execution by stoning and should call upon the international community to recognize such practice as a gross violation of human rights. Calls for the President to: (1) formally communicate this sense of Congress to governments imposing such punishment; and (2) urge Nigerian President Obasanjo to suspend the sentence of death by stoning imposed on Safiya Hussaini and take steps to ensure that Nigeria acts in accordance with international human rights standards.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2002
Water Quality Financing Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants to nonprofit organizations to provide technical and information assistance for rural and small treatment works. Requires establishment of procedures for the competitive award of grants. Extends funding for State- and interstate-managed pollution control programs. Revises State water pollution control revolving fund provisions concerning: (1) agreements for treatment works capitalization grants; (2) project eligibility; (3) loan payments, subsidization, and administrative expenses; (4) technical and planning assistance for small treatment works; (5) funding allotments; (6) priorities and intended use plans; and (7) Federal oversight review procedures. Increases the limit on amounts authorized for grants for development of management plans and construction of publicly owned treatment works to serve Indians. Waives application of the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act to various water pollution-related reporting requirements, thereby leaving them in place. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the private activity bond volume cap bonds issued as part of an issue whose proceeds are to be used to provide water or sewage facilities. Revises arbitrage bond rules to exclude from consideration as proceeds of an issue any amounts derived from a Federal grant or related State contribution made in connection with a FWPCA or Safe Drinking Water Act State revolving loan fund.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2002
Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code by determining that acquiring corporations in"corporate expatriation transactions" shall be considered domestic corporations. Defines a "corporate expatriation transaction" as, with certain exceptions, one in which a "nominally foreign corporation" acquires substantially all of the properties held by a domestic corporation and in which, immediately after the transaction, more than 80 percent of the stock of the acquiring corporation is held by former shareholders of the domestic corporation. Lowers the 80 percent threshold to 50 percent when the acquiring "nominally foreign corporation" lacks substantial business activities in the foreign country in which it was created and organized compared to the total activities of the "expanded affiliated group" and the stock is publicly traded, with the principal market of trading being the United States. Defines the terms "nominally foreign corporation" and "expanded affiliated group." Applies similar rules to partnership transactions. Establishes that a series of related transactions relevant to the Act shall be handled as a single transaction.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2002
Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to repeal the Medicare caps on certain outpatient physical therapy services.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2002
Amends the Social Security Act to establish $28 as the national minimum payment for a diagnostic or screening pap smear laboratory test furnished in 2002 for which a claim is billed under the Health Care Financing Administration Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). (Currently such payment must be determined according to a specified formula).
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2002
Amends the Federal Law Enforcement Pay Reform Act of 1990 to revise the special pay adjustments for (percentage differentials payable to) Federal law enforcement officers in specified consolidated metropolitan statistical areas.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2002
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims' Housing Act - Increases a specified authorization of appropriations under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to be used to provide housing assistance for individuals or families victimized by domestic violence, stalking, or adult or child sexual assault.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2002
Dave Thomas Adoption Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow for penalty-free withdrawals from individual retirement plans if used to pay adoption expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2002
Highway Funding Restoration Act - Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to require that obligations for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs for FY 2003: (1) meet a specified minimum level; and (2) be distributed in accordance with that Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2002
Employee Pension Freedom Act of 2002 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to set forth requirements for disclosure, diversification, account access, and accountability under defined contribution plans that are individual account plans (401(k) and similar plans). Requires pension plan administrators to provide certain benefit information to participants or beneficiaries periodically. Requires plan sponsors (employers) and plan administrators to provide all material investment information to participants and beneficiaries, in an accurate form, as required to be disclosed to investors under applicable securities laws, and treats misleading investment information as a violation. Requires individual account plans that permit participants or beneficiaries to exercise control over their account assets to grant them the right to allocate all their nonforfeitable accrued benefits which are readily tradable employer securities to any investment option provided under the plan. Reduces, from three years to one year, the maximum vesting period for individual account plans (so that an employee who has completed at least one year of service has a nonforfeitable right to all of the employee's accrued benefit derived from employer contributions). Requires individual account plan fiduciaries to give 30 days notice to plan participants and beneficiaries before a lockdown limiting their control over their account assets, and limits the maximum duration of any such lockdown to ten business days. Requires each fiduciary of an individual account plan to be bonded or insured in an amount sufficient to ensure coverage of financial losses due to failures to meet certain ERISA requirements. Requires joint boards of trustees, representing interests of employers and those of employee participants and beneficiaries, to hold in trust the assets of single-employer plans which are individual account plans with some or all assets derived from employee contributions. Makes liable anyone who participates in or conceals certain breaches of fiduciary duty. Provides that rights or claims under ERISA may not be waived, with specified exceptions. Establishes an Office of Pension Participant Advocacy in the Department of Labor. Directs the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to study and report to specified congressional committees on the feasibility of and options for developing an insurance system for individual account plans.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2002
Recognizes that America has lost one of its most dedicated and hardest working advocates for adoption, and honors Rex David "Dave" Thomas in his devotion to family, life, and business. Expresses the House's deep and heartfelt condolences to the family of Dave Thomas on their loss.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2001
Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish a minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services furnished under the Medicare program.
![Official portrait of Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/o000006_200.jpg)