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United States · Official source
6,804 records where Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Access to Cancer Therapies Act of 2001 - 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 · 26 April 2001
Medicaid Safety Net Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to increase the allowed Federal Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotment in "extremely low-DSH" States from one percent to three percent of the State's Medicaid program costs.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) mandate a single national average standardized payment amount for inpatient hospital services furnished, regardless of whether in an urban or non-urban area, under the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for discharges occurring in FY 2002 and thereafter; and (2) establish a minimum factor of .925 as a floor for area wage adjustment factors used under the PPS for inpatient and outpatient hospital services.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2001
Reforestation Tax Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction to a taxpayer who has a qualified timber gain in an amount equal to the qualified percentage of such gain. Decreases the amortization period for reforestation expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2001
American Hospital Preservation Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by Federal law commonly referred to as the (Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP) Benefits Improvement and Protection Act, to: (1) increase (restore the full) market basket update for inpatient prospective payment services hospitals; and (2) maintain the indirect medical education adjustment percentage at 6.5 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a program for Getting Our Girls Ready for the 21st Century (Go Girl). Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to, and contracts and cooperative agreements with, local educational agencies to provide subgrants to elementary and secondary schools for services that: (1) encourage the ongoing interest of girls in science, mathematics, and technology; and (2) prepare girls to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers in those fields.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Eliminate Colorectal Cancer Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require coverage of colorectal cancer screening according to certain guidelines by a group health plan, a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage, and a health insurance issuer in the individual market. Directs the Secretaries of Labor and of Health and Human Services to ensure coordination in the implementation and enforcement of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Veterans' Emergency Telephone Service Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award a grant to a private, nonprofit entity for the operation of a national, toll-free telephone hotline providing information and assistance to veterans and their families, including crisis intervention counseling, general veterans' benefits information, emergency shelter and food, substance abuse rehabilitation, employment training and related opportunities, and small business assistance programs. Limits such grant to a two-year period, subject to annual approval by the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Gulf War Undiagnosed Illness Act of 2001 - Includes fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, a chronic multisymptom illness, or any other ill-defined illness among the chronic disabilities of a Persian Gulf War veteran for which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may pay disability compensation. Authorizes the Secretary, with respect to medical research projects sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, to provide that medical information derived from the participation of a Persian Gulf veteran in such project may not be used in adjudicating such veteran's entitlement to the receipt of veterans' disability compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Amends Federal aviation law to authorize an air carrier to file with the Secretary of Transportation a request for: (1) authority to discuss with one or more other air carriers or foreign air carriers agreements or cooperative arrangements limiting flights at an airport during a time period when scheduled air transportation exceeds airport capacity; and (2) approval of such agreements or cooperative arrangements with respect to such limits on interstate air transportation. Directs the Secretary to approve such requests if: (1) such discussions and resulting agreements are not adverse to the public interest; (2) they will facilitate voluntary adjustments in air carrier schedules that could lead to a substantial reduction in travel delays and improvement of air transportation service to the public; and (3) such reduction in delays cannot be achieved by any other immediately available means. Prohibits participants in approved discussions from: (1) discussing or entering into agreements regarding rates, fares, charges, or in-flight services; or (2) discussing particular city pairs, or submitting to other air carriers or foreign air carriers information on their proposed service or schedules in a fashion that indicates the involvement of city pairs. Exempts such agreements from U.S. antitrust laws.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Women's Cancer Recovery Act of 2001 - 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 · 4 April 2001
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2001 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or local governments. Directs the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to determine whether State law provides specified rights and responsibilities for public safety officers, including: (1) granting public safety employees the right to form and join a labor organization which excludes management and supervisory employees, and which is, or seeks to be, recognized as the exclusive bargaining agent for such employees; and (2) requiring public safety employers to recognize and agree to bargain with the employees' labor organization. Requires the FLRA to issue regulations establishing collective bargaining procedures for public safety employers and employees in States that do not substantially provide for such public safety employee rights and responsibilities. Directs the FLRA, in such cases, to: (1) determine the appropriateness of units for labor organization representation; (2) supervise or conduct elections to determine whether a labor organization has been selected as an exclusive representative by a majority of the employees in an appropriate unit; (3) resolve issues relating to the duty to bargain in good faith; (4) conduct hearings and resolve complaints of unfair labor practices; and (5) resolve exceptions to arbitrator's awards. Grants a public safety employer, employee, or labor organization the right to seek enforcement of such FLRA regulations and authority through appropriate State courts. Prohibits public safety employers, employees, and labor organizations from engaging in lockouts or strikes. Provides that existing collective bargaining units and agreements shall not be invalidated by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend the wetlands reserve program. Replaces the total program acreage limitation with an annual acreage enrollment limitation through FY 2005. Authorizes program related cooperative agreements for goods and services.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Nurse Reinvestment Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) develop and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the nursing profession, highlight the advantages and rewards of nursing, and encourage individuals from diverse communities and backgrounds to enter the nursing profession; and (2) award grants to designated eligible entities in order to increase the number of nurses. Establishes a fast-track nursing school faculty training program. Establishes a National Nurse Service Corps Scholarship program that provides scholarships to individuals seeking nursing education in exchange for service by such individuals in areas with nursing shortages. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the exclusion from gross income of accounts received under the National Nursing Service Corps Scholarship Program. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for nurse education training payments to qualified entities. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to temporarily increase the matching rate for Medicaid nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act of 2001 - 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 · 4 April 2001
Get Arsenic Out of Our Drinking Water Act - Provides that effective on the date of enactment of this Act, the rule establishing a maximum contaminant level (MCL) and MCL Goal for arsenic in drinking water published by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on January 22, 2001, shall have the force and effect of law.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make a grant to the National 4-H Council for the Federal share of certain youth development activities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Directs Congress to enact legislation by October 2004 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 · 4 April 2001
Hunger to Harvest Resolution: A Decade of Concern for Africa - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should declare "A Decade of Concern for Africa" and commit to increased levels of effective, poverty-focused development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa until significant progress is made toward reversing current levels of hunger and poverty; (2) the President should work with the heads of other advanced industrial and sub-Saharan African countries, and with United States and sub-Saharan African private voluntary and other civic organizations, to increase development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa; (3) Congress should undertake a multi-year commitment with other donors to provide the resources necessary to cut hunger by one-half in that region; (4) such funding should support both bilateral and multilateral poverty-focused development efforts; and (5) the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development should annually submit to Congress a progress report.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime that: (1) constitutes a crime of violence under Federal law or a felony under State or Indian tribal law; and (2) is motivated by prejudice based on the race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim or is a violation of the hate crime laws of the State or tribe. Directs the Attorney General to give priority for assistance to crimes committed by offenders who have committed crimes in more than one State and to rural jurisdictions that have difficulty covering the extraordinary investigation or prosecution expenses. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to assist State, local, and Indian law enforcement officials with such extraordinary expenses. Directs the Office of Justice Programs to: (1) work closely with funded jurisdictions to ensure that the concerns and needs of all affected parties are addressed; and (2) award grants to State and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Prohibits specified offenses involving actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to study and provide sentencing enhancements for adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes. Amends the Hate Crimes Statistics Act to require the crime data to be collected and published by the Attorney General to include data about crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on gender.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act of 2001 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act and Federal law commonly known as the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act to ensure that Indian women with breast or cervical cancer, who are eligible for health services provided under a medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization, are included in the optional Medicaid eligibility category of breast or cervical cancer patients added by the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Helping Children Succeed by Fully Funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to authorize and make appropriations for FY 2002 through 2007 for IDEA part B programs of assistance for education of all children with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Assure Access to Mammography Act of 2001 - Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 to delay until 2003 the inclusion of payment for screening mammography in the Medicare physician fee schedule. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for a change in the payment amount for screening mammography performed in 2002 under Medicare. Provides that, for cost reporting periods between October 1, 2001, and October 1, 2006, in applying the limitations regarding the total number of full-time equivalent residents in the field of allopathic or osteopathic medicine under Medicare for a hospital, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not take into account a maximum of three residents in the field of radiology to the extent the hospital increases the number of radiology residents above the number of such residents for the hospital's most recent cost reporting period ending before October 1, 2001. Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise authorization of appropriations and allocation provisions with regard to interdisciplinary, community-based linkages, with changes establishing a specified authorization of appropriations for FY 2002 and a specified amount to be available for awards of grants and contracts under provisions on allied health and other disciplines. Directs the Comptroller General to study: (1) the relative value units established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Medicare physician fee schedule for physicians' services that are gender-specific; and (2) adjustments to payment amounts under the prospective payment system for inpatient hospital services and for covered skilled nursing facility services that are gender-specific. Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to study the relative value units established by the Secretary under the such fee schedule for screening services that are reimbursed under it.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2001
Medicare Mammogram Access Protection Act of 2001 - Amends Federal law commonly known as the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act to provide for a one-year delay of inclusion of payment for screening mammography in the Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act (SSA)) physician fee schedule. Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for a change in reimbursement under the Medicare program for screening mammographies furnished in 2002. Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to study and report to Congress on the relative value units established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Medicare physician fee schedule for screening services that are reimbursed under such fee schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2001
Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act of 2001 - 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 · 29 March 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow businesses a limited reclamation credit of 20 percent of the basis of each qualified reclamation property placed in service during the taxable year. Defines qualified reclamation property as, among other things, qualified recycling property or qualified remanufacturing property.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce from $18 to $9 (its pre-1991 level) the per-barrel tax on beer.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include a bicycle commuting allowance as a qualified transportation fringe benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2001
Lyme Disease Initiative of 2001 - Directs the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, of Agriculture, of the Interior, and of Defense to: (1) establish specified detection test, improved surveillance and reporting system, and prevention goals to provide for a reduction in the incidence and prevalence of Lyme disease and related tick borne infectious diseases; and (2) establish a five-year plan of activities toward achieving those goals, and carry them out. Establishes the Lyme Disease Taskforce to advise the Secretaries with respect to achieving such goals.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2001
Military Survivors Equity Act of 2001 - Repeals the social security offset applicable to certain annuities paid to surviving spouses under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) for retired members of the armed forces, to the extent that such offset is due to integration with social security benefits when the surviving spouse reaches 62 years of age. Repeals the required reduction in such annuity when such person reaches age 62. Directs the Secretary of Defense to recompute the existing annuities of certain individuals under the SBP to reflect the changes made by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Justice for United States Prisoners of War Act of 2001 - Requires any Federal court in which an action is brought against a Japanese national by a member of the U.S. armed forces seeking compensation for mistreatment or failure to pay wages in connection with labor performed in Japan for such national as a prisoner of war during World War II to: (1) apply the applicable statute of limitations of the State in which the action is pending; and (2) not construe a specified provision of the Treaty of Peace With Japan as a waiver by the United States of such claims. States that it is U.S. policy to ensure that any war claims settlement terms between Japan and any other country that are more beneficial than terms extended to the United States under the above Treaty are extended to the United States with respect to claims under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to secure information relating to chemical or biological tests conducted by Japan on members of the U.S. armed forces held as prisoners of war during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize and revise provisions for the National Writing Project (NWP). Increases the maximum amount for any one contractor under limits on the Federal share of NWP teacher training programs. Repeals the classroom teacher grants program under NWP. Increases and extends through FY 2006 the authorization of appropriations for NWP.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Harold Hughes-Bill Emerson Substance Abuse Treatment Parity Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for parity in the application of treatment limitations and financial requirements to substance abuse treatment benefits under group health plans and individual health insurance coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2001 - States that notwithstanding any other provision of law, the community of American citizens who are residents of the District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall have full voting representation in the Congress. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax exemption to District of Columbia residents for years during which such residents do not have full voting representation in the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Authorizes the President to present, at the Capitol and on behalf of Congress, a congressional gold medal to former Senator Eugene McCarthy in recognition of his service and lifelong dedication to the Nation and to the people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to terminate operation of the Extremely Low Frequency Communication System while maintaining the infrastructure necessary for its resumption.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to limit the late enrollment penalty to a ten percent increase in the monthly part B premium due over a period equal to twice the number of years that the part B beneficiary could have been but was not enrolled under Medicare part B.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Historic Homeownership Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 20 percent (up to a maximum limit of $40,000 for a joint return) of the qualified rehabilitation expenditures made by a taxpayer with respect to the certified rehabilitation of a qualified historic home which has been substantially rehabilitated and which is owned by the taxpayer and used as his or her principal residence. Allows the credit for such expenditures to be taken by a purchaser of the rehabilitated home. Permits, in lieu of the credit, a historic rehabilitation mortgage credit certificate, which may be transferred to a lender in exchange for a reduction in the rate of interest on the loan secured by the building.
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
Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish in the Treasury the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund for the deposit of income, gift, and estate taxes paid by or on behalf of taxpayers: (1) who are designated conscientious objectors opposed to participation in war in any form based upon the taxpayer's deeply held moral, ethical, or religious beliefs or training (within the meaning of the Military Selective Service Act); and (2) who have certified these beliefs in writing. Requires that funds in the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund be allocated annually to any appropriation not for a military purpose. Declares the sense of Congress that any increase in revenue to the Treasury resulting from the creation of the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the purposes of the Fund.
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 · 21 March 2001
Human Rights Information Act - Requires certain Federal agencies to identify, review, and organize all human rights records, for declassification and public disclosure, if the President determines bona fide a request for them by an individual or entity carrying an official mandate to investigate a pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. Prescribes guidelines under which the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel shall review agency determinations to postpone disclosure of any human rights record. Authorizes postponement of such public disclosures on specified grounds. Requires each Federal agency to identify, review, and organize all human rights records regarding activities occurring in Guatemala and Honduras for declassification and public disclosure.
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
Authorizes the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to sponsor free public performances on the East Front of the Capitol grounds at such dates and times as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration jointly approve.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2001
Maritime Policy Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996 to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise trade to a specified vessel. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial Committee, Inc., to construct an addition to the American Merchant Marine Memorial Wall of Honor located at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro, California. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 5) States that the discharge from a vessel of any agricultural cargo residue material in the form of hold washings shall be governed exclusively by the provisions of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships that implement Annex V to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. (Sec. 6) Revises the method for recording and discharging certain maritime liens. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe a tonnage measurement as a small passenger vessel for a named vessel for purposes of applying the optional regulatory measurement. (Sec. 8) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise trade to twenty specified vessels. (Sec. 9) Authorizes exempting two specified vessels from certain inspection requirements for passenger vessels so long as the vessels are owned by nonprofit organizations and operated as nonprofit memorials to merchant mariners. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise trade to three specified vessels. (Sec. 11) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise trade to a specified vessel, under specified circumstances. (Sec. 12) Permits, for a limited period of time, the 10 sailboats participating in the New World Challenge Race to transport guests, who have not contributed consideration for their passage, from and around the ports of San Francisco and San Diego, California, before and during stops of that race. (Sec. 13) Permits a specified vessel to be transferred to or placed under a foreign registry or sold to a person that is not a U.S. citizen and transferred to or placed under a foreign registry.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2001
Country of Origin Meat Labeling Act of 2001 - Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require country of origin information to be provided by retailers of beef, pork, and lamb to consumers at the final point of sale. Exempts food service establishments from such requirement. States that U.S. designation of origin may only be used if the article is exclusively from an animal born raised, and slaughtered in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2001
Coast Guard Personnel and Maritime Safety Act of 2001 - Title I: Personnel Management - Limits the director of the Coast Guard band to the rank of captain (currently, commander). (Sec. 102) Authorizes compensatory absence from duty for Coast Guard military personnel serving at isolated duty stations (currently, at isolated aids to navigation) in certain circumstances. (Sec. 103) Allows a promotion selection board to recommend officers of particular merit for placement at the top of the list of selectees and requires, if approved by the President, placement of those officers (in seniority order) at the top of the list. Requires a survey and report to determine if such placements will improve Coast guard officer retention. Title II: Marine Safety - Amends the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act to revise requirements regarding the waters on which vessels, dredges, and floating plants must carry a radiotelephone. (Sec. 202) Prohibits the application of the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 with respect to specified reports concerning Coast Guard operations and expenditures, summary of marine casualties, user fee activities and amounts, public port conditions, activities of the Federal Maritime Commission, and activities of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research. (Sec. 203) Allows the Coast Guard to borrow a limited amount from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund when the limit of $50 million in unappropriated funds is inadequate to deal with a discharge or threatened discharge. Mandates repayment to the Fund when, and to the extent that, removal costs are recovered from responsible parties. (Sec. 204) Amends Federal law relating to vessels and seamen to: (1) authorize, in certain circumstances, issuance of interim merchant mariner's documents valid for a period not over 120 days; and (2) exempt, with regard to those employed as entertainment personnel with no duties, including emergency duties, related to navigation or safety of the vessel, crew, cargo, or passengers, a passenger vessel that is not engaged in a foreign voyage from a requirement that a vessel employee have a merchant mariner's document. (Sec. 205) Increases fine limits for negligent vessel operation or interfering with safe vessel operation. Title III: Renewal of Advisory Groups - Renames the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee as the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee. Extends the Committee's termination date. (Sec. 302) Extends the termination dates of the Houston-Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee, the Lower Mississippi River Waterway Advisory Committee, the Navigation Safety Advisory Council, the National Boating Safety Advisory Council, and the Towing Safety Advisory Committee. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to accept, by direct transfer without cost, for use by the Coast Guard primarily for expanded drug interdiction activities required to meet national supply reduction goals, up to seven PC-170 patrol craft from the Department of Defense if it offers to transfer such craft. (Sec. 402) Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to require a commercial vessel to give notification at least 24 hours before entering into U.S. waters. Sets forth information to be contained in such notification. Authorizes denial of entry of a vessel into U.S. waters if: (1) the Secretary has not received notification from the vessel; or (2) the vessel is not in compliance with any other applicable law relating to marine safety, security, or environmental protection. Authorizes the Secretary to direct the operation of any vessel in navigable U.S. waters during hazardous circumstances, including the absence of a pilot required by Federal or State law, weather, casualty, vessel traffic, or the poor condition of the vessel. (Sec. 403) Authorizes the Coast Guard to operate and maintain a Caribbean Support Tender (or similar vessel) to provide technical assistance, including law enforcement training, for foreign coast guards, navies, and other maritime services. (Sec. 404) Amends Federal law to extend the expiration date on the prohibition against new maritime user fees. (Sec. 405) Requires the Coast Guard to: (1) continue to offer assistance to organizations dedicated to Great Lakes lighthouse stewardship; and (2) promptly release information regarding the timing of designations of Coast Guard lighthouses on the Great Lakes as surplus property. (Sec. 406) Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act on what actions the Coast Guard has taken to implement the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board in its Report No. MAR-99-01. (Sec. 407) Authorizes conveyance, without consideration, to the Gulf of Maine Aquarium Development Corporation the Naval Reserve Pier property (exclusive of floating docks) in Portland, Maine. Imposes specified requirements. (Sec. 408) Requires the Coast Guard to: (1) study existing local harbor safety coordinating committees in the United States regarding cooperation with interested groups, organizational models, technological assistance, and recurring resources; and (2) test the feasibility of expanding the harbor safety committee concept to small and medium-sized ports not generally served by such a committee by establishing one or more prototype committees. Makes the Federal Advisory Committee Act inapplicable to harbor safety committees established under any provision of law. (Sec. 409) Authorizes the conveyance of all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to each of the following properties: (1) Coast Guard Slip Point Light Station, located in Clallam County, Washington, to Clallam County, Washington; and (2) the parcel of land on which is situated the Point Pin.AE6os Light, located in Monterey County, California, to the city of Pacific Grove, California. Sets forth terms and conditions. (Sec. 410) Authorizes the Commandant of the Coast Guard to enter into agreements and other arrangements with public and private foreign and domestic entities, to establish partnerships for the performance of work at the Coast Guard Yard, located in Baltimore, Maryland. (Sec. 411) Revises provisions concerning boat safety funding.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
National Sea Grant College Program Authorization Enhancement Act - Amends the National Sea Grant College Program Act to make the authorization of appropriations for the National Sea Grant College Program permanent. (Increases FY 2002 and 2003 authorization levels.)
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.