United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2001
Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act of 2001 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to define "high speed data service" as a service capable of transmitting electronic information at a rate generally not less than 384 kilobits per second in at least one direction. Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and each State from regulating the rates, charges, terms or conditions for, or entry into the provision of, any high speed data service or Internet access service, or to regulate the facilities used in the provision of such service. Prohibits the FCC from requiring an incumbent (established) local exchange carrier to: (1) provide unbundled access to any network elements used in the provision of any high speed data service, other than those elements described in FCC regulations; or (2) offer for resale at wholesale rates any high speed data service. Requires each incumbent local exchange carrier to provide: (1) Internet users with the ability to subscribe to and have access to any Internet service provider that interconnects with such carrier's high speed data service; (2) any Internet service provider with the right to acquire necessary facilities and services to facilitate such interconnection; and (3) any Internet service provider with the ability to collocate equipment in order to achieve such interconnection. Includes high speed data service or Internet access service within the definition of "incidental interLATA services" permitted for a Bell operating company.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
American Wetland Restoration Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize the Secretary of the Army to issue mitigation bank (specified wetland resource restoration, creation, or enhancement projects or projects consisting solely of preservation of wetlands chartered by the Secretary for purposes of providing mitigation credits to offset wetland losses authorized by permits allowing activities in U.S. waters) charters. Authorizes a mitigation bank, upon receipt of its charter, to offer mitigation credits for sale and to provide compensatory mitigation for activities requiring authorization under the Act or provide required injunctive relief in an enforcement action by the Secretary or the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to establish standards and criteria applicable to the use of on-site mitigation, in lieu fees, and other off-site mitigation as compensatory mitigation that are similar to those applicable to a mitigation bank. Allows a State that operates an approved program regulating the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters to administer a wetland mitigation banking program in accordance with State procedures if such banking program is approved by the Administrator as part of the State's dredged or fill material program.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Harmful Nonnative Weed Control Act of 2001- Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to provide financial assistance through States to eligible weed management entities to control or eradicate harmful, nonnative weeds on public and private land. Requires the allocation of certain funds to States and Indian tribes to carry out projects approved by States and Indian tribes for such purposes. Reserves five percent of such funds for allocation to Indian tribes. Prohibits such assistance from being used to carry out projects to control or eradicate submerged or floating aquatic noxious weeds or animal pests. Allows an Indian tribe, if the funds allocated to tribes are not sufficient to provide such assistance to each weed management entity of a tribe, to seek additional funding by participating as a local stakeholder in the establishment of such an entity. Permits any activity involving real property to be carried out only with the consent of the landowner.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Minimum Wage State Flexibility Act of 2001 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to allow a State to preempt the Federal minimum wage if the State: (1) sets a minimum wage rate or rates that are not less than $5.15 per hour; and (2) applies that rate or those rates to as many workers in the State as would otherwise be covered by the Federal minimum wage rate.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Ombudsman Reauthorization Act of 2001 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to revise provisions regarding the Ombudsman. Expands the duties of the Ombudsman to include: (1) assisting citizens in resolving problems with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of the Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response; (2) proposing changes in EPA administrative practices to mitigate such problems; and (3) conducting investigations, making findings of fact, and making nonbinding recommendations concerning such problems. Describes additional administrative and investigative powers of the Ombudsman. Reauthorizes appropriations for the Ombudsman through FY 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit the use of appropriated funds for: (1) any system to implement the Act that does not require and result in the immediate destruction of all information submitted by or on behalf of any person who has been determined not to be prohibited from owning a firearm; and (2) the implementation or collection of any tax or fee by any Federal officer, agent, or employee, or by any State or local officer or agent acting on behalf of the United States, in connection with such implementation. Authorizes any person aggrieved by a violation of this Act to bring an action in Federal district court and, if successful, to receive damages, punitive damages, and such other remedies as the court may determine to be appropriate, including a reasonable attorney's fee.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
States' Rights and Second and Tenth Amendment Restoration Act of 2001 - Amends the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997 to repeal a specified provision (commonly referred to as the Lautenberg amendment) establishing a gun ban for individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a refundable credit of up to $500 to elementary and secondary school teachers for qualified teaching expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Endangered Species Criminal and Civil Penalties Liability Reform Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit a person from being liable for any criminal or civil penalty for a violation committed while conducting an otherwise lawful activity and not for the purpose of a prohibited taking, unless: (1) the Secretary of the Interior provides the person with notice of the violation; and (2) the person fails to terminate and correct the activity constituting the violation by not later than 30 days after the date of the notice. Requires each conservation plan developed to include provisions under which persons who have entered into, and are in compliance with, the conservation plan may not, without their consent, be required to undertake any additional mitigation measures for species covered by the plan if the measures would require payment or compliance with use, development, or management restrictions on any land, waters, or water related rights, in addition to payments or compliance, respectively, otherwise required under the terms of the plan. Makes it an affirmative defense, in any enforcement action or citizen suit in which it is alleged that a defendant acted or failed to act with respect to a member of an endangered or threatened species, that the defendant could not reasonably have known that the fish or wildlife or plant concerned is a member of an endangered or threatened species. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into "safe harbor" agreements with non-Federal persons to benefit the conservation of endangered or threatened species by creating, restoring, or improving habitat or by maintaining currently unoccupied habitat; and (2) provide a grant of up to $10,000 to any individual private landowner to assist the landowner in carrying out such an agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Endangered Species Fair Regulatory Process Reform Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to direct the Secretary of the Interior, upon publication of a proposed rule determining that a species is endangered or threatened, to make public all information on which the determination is based, including information that does not support such determination (with certain Federal disclosure exceptions). Requires an independent scientific peer review before implementing a finding that any species is endangered or threatened, or that any species currently listed in such manner should be removed. Prohibits the Secretary from making any such determination unless it is supported by data obtained by species observation in the field. Directs the Secretary to make such determinations and revisions by a rule made on the record after opportunity for an agency hearing. Prohibits the Secretary from adding to or removing a species from such lists unless such action is supported by substantial evidence. Requires the Secretary to prepare and publish with a final rule an analysis of the economic impact of such rule. Prohibits the Secretary from releasing any experimental population on or affecting private property except by a rulemaking. Requires the Secretary to approve or disapprove an application for an incidental take permit within 90 days.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Endangered Species Land Management Reform Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit a Federal agency from taking an action affecting privately owned property that results in the diminishment of the value of any portion of that property by an amount equal to or greater than half of the value of that portion unless compensation is offered. Provides for any agency that takes such an action to: (1) compensate the property owner for the diminution in value of any portion of that property resulting from the action; or (2) at the owner's option, buy that portion of the property by paying fair market value of the portion, based on the property's value before the diminution and without regard to the presence on the property of an endangered or threatened species, or the use of the property by such a species. Requires a property owner seeking compensation to make a written request for compensation to the agency whose action would limit otherwise lawful use of the property. Permits such owner to elect arbitration through alternative dispute resolution or seek compensation due in a civil action. Establishes in the Treasury the Species Conservation Fund to consist of such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund. Provides for amounts in the Fund to be available, without further appropriation, to carry out projects on privately owned land to conserve endangered or threatened species and their habitats, including for acquiring real property, waters, or interests. Sets a limitation on mitigation requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act - Prohibits either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture from taking any action which would permanently close or render or declare as unserviceable any aircraft landing strip located on Federal land under the respective jurisdiction, unless: (1) the head of the aviation department of each State in which the aircraft landing strip is located has approved such action; (2) notice of the proposed action has been published in the Federal Register; (3) a 90-day public comment period on the action has been provided; and (4) any comments received during the comment period have been taken into consideration by the Secretaries, as the case may be, and the appropriate State aviation department heads. Directs the Secretaries to: (1) adopt a nationwide policy for governing backcountry aviation issues related to the management of Federal land under their jurisdiction; and (2) require regional managers to adhere to it. Declares that a policy affecting air access to an aircraft landing strip located on Federal land (including any national policy required under this Act) shall not take effect unless certain conditions are met, including its statement that the FAA has the sole authority to control aviation and airspace over the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Medicare Geographic Adjustment Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, with respect to decisions of the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board to reclassify a disproportionate share hospital (DSH) for purposes of the adjustment factor used to adjust the diagnostic related statistical group (DRG) prospective payment rate for area differences in hospital wage levels. Makes any such Board decision to reclassify a DSH for purposes of the adjustment factor for FY 2001 or any subsequent fiscal year apply for purposes of adjusting payments made on a prospective basis for variations in costs attributable to wages and wage-related costs for prospective payment system-reimbursed items and services.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Timber Tax Simplification Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the application of capital gain treatment to outright sales of timber whether or not the owner retains economic interest.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2001
Motor Vehicle Franchise Contract Arbitration Fairness Act of 2001 - Provides that whenever a motor vehicle franchise contract provides for the use of arbitration to resolve a controversy arising out of or relating to the contract, arbitration may be used to settle the controversy only if both parties consent in writing after such controversy arises. Requires the arbitrator to provide the parties with a written explanation of the factual and legal basis for the award.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2001
Welcomes the safe return of Arnie Alford, Steve Derry, Jason Weber, and David Bradley from captivity by terrorists in Ecuador and congratulates them for their perseverance in the face of adversity. Extends sympathy to the family of Ron Sander, who was killed by terrorists, and salutes his courage. Supports the U.S. commitment to bringing the killers and the kidnappers to justice. Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States must redouble its efforts to prevent future kidnappings.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act of 2001 - Divides the current U.S. Court of Appeals for the ninth circuit into: (1) the ninth circuit, composed of Arizona, California, and Nevada, consisting of 20 judges, and holding regular sessions in San Francisco and Los Angeles; and (2) the twelfth circuit, composed of Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, and Washington, consisting of eight judges, and holding regular sessions in Portland and Seattle. Assigns circuit judges of the former ninth circuit to either of the two new circuits based upon their official station, with senior judges permitted election of assignment.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Health Insurance Affordability and Equity Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited credit for qualified health insurance costs paid for by an individual during a period when the individual was not covered by qualified health insurance and was not eligible to participate in any employer provided group health plan. Provides for the deduction of the qualified health insurance costs of employees and the self-employed.
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
Pacific Salmon Recovery Act - Requires the Secretary of Commerce, subject to appropriations, to provide financial assistance for salmon conservation and habitat restoration activities to: (1) Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California, and Idaho (qualified States); and (2) tribal governments in such States and Alaska Native villages or regional or village corporations that are involved in salmon management and recovery or conservation activities and have the organizational capability to maximize the benefits of assistance provided under this Act (qualified tribal governments). Allocates 85 percent of assistance per fiscal year equally among such States and 15 percent among qualified tribal governments. Requires qualified States, to receive assistance under this Act, to submit a Salmon Conservation and Salmon Habitat Restoration Plan to the Secretary. Directs qualified tribal governments, to receive such assistance, to enter into memoranda of understanding with the Secretary regarding use of the assistance. Requires funds allocated to qualified States to be used for local and regional projects. Permits the use of assistance outside the jurisdiction of the recipient if the assisted activity will provide conservation benefits to naturally produced salmon in streams of concern to the recipient. Requires States to match, in the aggregate, financial assistance provided under this Act. Directs States seeking assistance under this Act to establish citizens advisory committees or other similar fora for the public to participate in obtaining and using assistance under this Act. Requires qualified tribal governments to hold public meetings to receive recommendations on the use of such assistance. Includes: (1) Lahontan cutthroat trout and bull trout within the definition of "salmon" for purposes of applying this Act in Oregon; and (2) bull trout within such definition for purposes of applying this Act in Washington and Idaho. Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 to extend the authorization of appropriations for capitalizing the Northern and Southern Funds under the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement through FY 2004. Directs the President, for U.S. citizens who served as employees of the International Pacific Salmon and North Pacific Fisheries Commissions who worked in Canada during the course of such employment, to: (1) calculate the difference in amount between the valuation of the Commissions' annuity for each employee's payment in U.S. and Canadian currency for past and future annuity payments; and (2) compensate such employees for past and future benefits resulting from the exchange rate inequity.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2001
State Water Sovereignty Protection Act - Directs the United States, whenever it seeks to appropriate water or acquire a water right within a State, to be subject to all procedural and substantive laws of that State relating to its water rights and uses. Gives consent to join the United States in any State proceeding relating to the allocation or use of a water right. Subjects management and control of water within a State to the laws of such State. Delegates to the respective States the authority to regulate water. Allows the United States to exercise management and control of water within a State only in compliance with that State's laws. Subjects the United States to the imposition of costs and fees in a proceeding to the same extent as a private party.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2001
Investor and Capital Markets Fee Relief Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to reduce mandatory transaction fees pertaining to: (1) exchange-traded securities; (2) off-exchange trades of exchange-registered and last-sale-reported securities; (3) stock repurchase statements; and (4) proxy solicitations and statements in corporate control transactions. Replaces the fee structure for off-exchange trades of last-sale-reported securities with a fee structure for off-exchange trades of exchange-registered and last-sale-reported securities. Provides that the fees so collected shall: (1) be deposited and credited as offsetting collections to the account providing appropriations to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and (2) not be deposited and credited as general revenue of the Treasury. Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to: (1) reduce registration fees; and (2) reflect the provisions of this Act. Amends the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 to terminate the mandatory application filing fee. Sets forth requirements for pay parity for SEC employees.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Accountability for Presidential Gifts Act - Directs the Archivist of the United States to maintain a current inventory of all presidential gifts. Requires the head of a Federal office or agency to report any information regarding a presidential gift to the Archivist. Requires the Archivist to: (1) make inventory information available to the public; and (2) report to specified congressional committees on each proposed disposition of a presidential gift other than a gift from a relative or a gift having a value of less than $250.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Marriage Tax Elimination Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide that the basic standard deduction on a joint return shall be equal to 200 percent of the dollar amount of an individual who is not married. Provides a schedule for making, by 2005, the maximum taxable income in the lowest married bracket equal to double the maximum taxable income in the lowest single filer bracket. Increases the earned income credit phaseout amount on a joint return by $2,000. Revises IRC provisions relating to limitation based on tax liability and the definition of such liability to provide that the aggregate amount of credits allowed as nonrefundable personal credits shall not exceed the sum of: (1) the taxpayer's regular tax liability for the taxable year reduced by the foreign tax credit; and (2) the tax imposed by the alternative minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
Economic Recovery and Growth Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to reducing or repealing, among other things: (1) tax rates for individuals; (2) alternative minimum tax; (3) capital gains; (4) estate and gift tax; (5) marriage penalty; (6) Federal communications excise tax; (7) taxes for farmers, ranchers, fishermen; and (8) occupational taxes relating to alcoholic beverages. Increases, extends, or expands tax benefits with respect to, among other things: (1) pensions and individual retirement accounts (IRAs); (2) child tax credit; (3) education IRAs and qualified tuition programs; (4) adoption expenses credit; (5) charitable contributions; (6) social security benefits; (7) expense treatment for small businesses; (8) self-employed health insurance cost deduction; and (9) research credit.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
Transportation Tax Equity and Fairness Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the special fuel excise tax on railroads and inland waterway transportation. Subjects diesel fuel used in trains to the additional tax for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) with respect to pensions. (All the following are amendments to the Code, except where the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, ERISA, is mentioned.) Increases: (1) annual dollar Individual Retirement Account (IRA) contribution limits; and (2) benefit and contribution limits, with indexes for inflation. Revises requirements relating to: (1) plan loans for subchapter S owners, partners, and sole proprietors; and (2) specified top-heavy rules. Provides that elective deferrals shall not be taken into account for purposes of limits on certain plan contributions. Repeals specified coordination requirements for deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations. Revises certain deduction limits for stock bonus and profit sharing trusts and for defined contribution plans. Provides for optional treatment of elective deferrals as after-tax contributions. Allows individuals age 50 or older to make additional contributions to an applicable employer plan (section 401(k) or similar plan). Sets forth requirements relating to equitable treatment for contributions of employees to defined contribution plans. Provides for faster vesting of certain employer matching contributions under the Code and ERISA. Revises: (1) minimum distribution rules; (2) requirements relating to tax treatment of division of section 457 plan benefits upon divorce; and (3) provisions for safe harbor relief for hardship withdrawals from 401(k) plans. Permits, under certain conditions, rollovers: (1) from and to various types of plans; (2) of IRAs into workplace retirement plans; and (3) of after-tax contributions in an exempt trust. Sets forth a hardship exception to the 60-day rule. Sets forth requirements for treatment of forms of distribution available under transferor and transferee plans under the Code and ERISA. Revises restrictions on distributions, including the same desk exception. Allows trustee-to-trustee transfers to purchase permissive service credit with respect to governmental defined benefit plans. Allows employers to disregard rollovers for purposes of cash-out amounts, under retirement plan provisions of the Code. Revises minimum distribution and inclusion requirements for section 457 plans. Repeals, for plan years beginning in 2004 and following years, the current liability full funding limit under the Code and ERISA. Revises maximum contribution deduction rules, and applies them to all defined benefit plans. Allows an employer, in determining the amount of nondeductible contributions for any taxable year, to elect not to take into account any contributions to a defined benefit plan except to the extent they exceed the full-funding limitation. Establishes an excise tax for the failure of a defined benefit plan or an individual account plan (except governmental, church, and other specified plans) subject to minimum funding standards to meet specified notice requirements, under the Code and ERISA, for plan amendments which significantly reduce benefit accruals. Makes certain compensation limitations for defined benefit plans inapplicable to governmental and multiemployer plans. Prohibits combining or aggregating a multiemployer plan with any other plan maintained by the employer for the purpose of applying such limitations. Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to protect the investment of employee contributions to 401(k) plans by providing that specified requirements apply to elective deferrals for plan years beginning after December 31, 1998. Requires that pension benefit statements be furnished annually (once every three years for defined benefit plans) or on request. Establishes an excise tax for certain prohibited allocations of stock in an S corporation ESOP. Revises Code and ERISA requirements relating to timing of plan valuations. Allows applicable dividends of ESOPs to be reinvested without loss of dividend deduction. Repeals a transition rule relating to certain highly compensated employees under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Directs the Secretary to modify specified regulations with respect to certain plan participation by employees of tax-exempt entities. Treats the provision of certain retirement planning services by an employer for an employee as a de minimis fringe benefit to the extent it is not treated as a working condition fringe. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide simplified annual filing requirements for retirement plans with assets below a specified amount, if they cover: (1) one participant (an owner and spouse); or (2) fewer than 25 employees. Directs the Secretary to continue to update and improve the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System, or any successor program. Repeals a multiple use test. Allows certain alternative ways of satisfying nondiscrimination, coverage, and line of business rules. Exempts plans maintained by any governmental entity from certain nondiscrimination rules. Directs the Secretary to modify specified regulations relating to the notice and consent period regarding distributions. Revises ERISA provisions relating to: (1) annual report dissemination; (2) the National Summit on Retirement Savings; (3) missing participants; (4) Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) reduction of premiums for new plans of small employers and of additional premiums for new and small plans; (5) PBGC authority to pay interest on premium overpayment refunds; (6) substantial owner benefits in terminated plans; (7) civil penalties for breach of fiduciary responsibility; and (8) benefit suspension notices. Prescribes time requirements for plan amendments or annuity contract amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
Death Tax Elimination Act - Repeals the estate tax, gift tax, and the tax on generation-skipping transfers, effective January 1, 2011. Provides for annual reductions of the tax until such date. Increases the unified estate and gift tax credit to $1.3 million. Repeals the estate and gift tax provisions applicable to family-owned businesses. Amends provisions concerning the special rules for allocation of the generation-skipping tax (GST) exemption to provide, as a general rule, that: (1) if any individual makes an indirect skip during such individual's lifetime, any unused portion of such individual's GST exemption shall be allocated to the property transferred to the extent necessary to make the inclusion ratio for such property zero; and (2) if the amount of the indirect skip exceeds such unused portion, the entire unused portion shall be allocated to the property transferred. Declares that, if a trust is severed in a qualified severance, the trusts resulting from such severance shall be treated as separate trusts thereafter. Revises valuation rules for gifts for which a gift tax return was filed or deemed allocation made. Provides that, if an allocation of the GST exemption to any transfers of property is deemed to have been made at the close of an estate tax inclusion period, the value of the property shall be its value at such time. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe circumstances and procedures under which extensions of time will be granted to make an allocation of GST exemption or an election not to apply specified allocation requirements to certain lifetime direct skips, indirect skips, or transfers to a particular trust. Increases the permissible number of partners or shareholders in a closely held business for purposes of eligibility for an extension of estate tax payments.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2001
Budget Responsibility and Efficiency Act of 2001 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to revise the Federal and congressional budget processes by establishing a two-year budgeting and appropriations cycle and timetable. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Conforms provisions of the Rules of the House of Representatives, provisions governing the President's budget, and requirements for certain strategic and performance plans and reports to the biennial framework. Provides a point of order against any measure that contains a specific authorization of appropriations unless such authorization is for each fiscal year in a biennium. Requires the President's budget submission for FY 2004 to identify budget accounts for which an appropriation should be made for each fiscal year of the FY 2004-2005 biennium. Directs congressional committees, during the 108th Congress, to work with the Comptroller General to develop plans to transition program authorizations to a multi-year schedule. Sets forth additional transition requirements. Makes this Act applicable to budget resolutions and appropriations for the biennium beginning with FY 2006.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2001
Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from taking any action or using any funding to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed rule entitled "Hours of Service of Drivers" published by FMCSA in the Federal Register on May 2, 2000. Authorizes the Secretary and FMCSA to proceed through all stages of the rulemaking (other than adoption of a final rule) for the proposed rule, including issuing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking. Declares that a final rule shall not take effect until 180 days after it is sent to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal specified occupational taxes relating to distilled spirits, wine, and beer. Revises recordkeeping requirements for wholesale and retail liquor dealers. Makes it unlawful for any liquor dealer (except one selling beer exclusively) to purchase distilled spirits from any person other than a specified wholesale liquor dealer.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2001
Tax Fairness for Agricultural Employers Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase (from $20,000 to $50,000) the maximum amount of wages that a farmer can pay for agricultural labor without being subject to the Federal unemployment tax on that labor; and (2) provide for an annual inflation adjustment to such maximum amount of wages.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Amends the Federal Power Act to condition the emergency powers of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to order temporary delivery of electric energy upon a full guarantee that the appropriate Federal or State government will compensate or reimburse the supplier subject to such order.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Secure Access to Firearms Enhancement (SAFE) Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms in different States by persons who are not prohibited by Federal law from possessing a firearm and who are: (1) carrying a valid State license or permit for carrying a concealed firearm; or (2) otherwise entitled to carry a concealed firearm in their State of residence.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Prohibits Federal funds from being used for any governmental program that restricts the use of any privately owned water source, unless such source is specifically found to pose a risk to human health.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Housing Bond and Credit Modernization and Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the required use of certain principal repayments on mortgage subsidy bond financings to redeem bonds; (2) modify the purchase price limitation under mortgage subsidy bond rules based on median family income; and (3) define the term "area median gross income" for low-income housing credit projects.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2001
Social Security Right To Know Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to require a certain annual report by the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Funds on the operation and status of such Funds to include information on: (1) the unfunded long-term projected liability of the Social Security system and any change in such amount from the preceding year as well as the deficit or surplus that the system will run in the last year of the long-term projection period, with any aggregate assets or liabilities held by the Trust Funds in that final projected year; and (2) the economic model and relevant data used to make such projections. Requires Social Security account statements to contain: (1) a comparison of the annual Social Security tax inflows to the amount paid annually in benefits; and (2) a statement of whether the ratio will result in a cash flow deficit, what year such deficit will commence as well as the first year in which funds in the Trust Funds will cease to be sufficient to cover the deficit, and the percentage of benefits due at that time that could be paid from annual tax inflows. Requires account statements also to explain the average rate of return that a taxpayer can expect to receive on old- age insurance benefits as compared to the total amount of Social Security taxes a taxpayer expects to pay. Makes Social Security Administration Continuous Work History Sample data publicly available for statistical research purposes subject to certain limitations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2001
Chiropractic Patients' Freedom of Choice Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare reimbursement for all physicians' services furnished by doctors of chiropractic within the scope of their license.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2001
Medicare Education and Regulatory Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) concerning: (1) prospective application only of certain regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS); and (2) certain requirements for judicial and regulatory challenges of regulations. Requires the Secretary, with respect to Medicare audits, except when clear and convincing evidence exists of fraud or similar fault, to give a physician, provider of services, or provider of ambulance services (physicians or providers) the option of entering into: (1) an arrangement to offset alleged overpayments against future payments; or (2) a repayment plan with its carrier or fiscal intermediary to recoup such an overpayment. Prohibits the Secretary from taking any action to recoup an overpayment or to impose a penalty during the period in which a physician or provider is appealing a determination that such an overpayment has been made or the amount of the overpayment. Prohibits carriers, absent cause, from demanding the production of records or documentation before paying a Medicare claim. Amends SSA title XI with respect to prohibited extensions of remuneration to a Medicare-eligible individual to influence a choice of provider, practitioner, or supplier. Excludes from the meaning of remuneration any waiver of copayment made in a written, mailed communication with existing patients. Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to: (1) construction of hearing rights related to decisions to deny or not renew a physician enrollment agreement; (2) the post-payment audit process; (3) definitions relating to physicians or providers; and (4) the right to appeal on behalf of deceased beneficiaries. Amends SSA title XVIII to require carriers, fiscal intermediaries, and contractors to conduct education programs (funded from the Medicare Integrity Program) for physicians and providers on billing, coding, cost reporting, and documentation regulations and procedures. Outlines provisions with regard to certain information requests from physicians and providers. Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for the inclusion of regulatory costs in the calculation of the sustainable growth rate with respect to the costs of physicians' services. Prohibits the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) from implementing any new evaluation and management documentation guidelines under Medicare, unless it: (1) has provided for an assessment of the proposed guidelines by organizations representing physicians; (2) has established a plan that contains specific goals, including a schedule, for improving use of such guidelines; (3) has completed a minimum of four pilot projects to test such guidelines; and (4) finds that specified objectives will be met in the implementation of such guidelines.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2001
Child Support Fairness and Tax Refund Interception Act of 2001 - Amends title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of the Social Security Act to provide for the use of the tax refund intercept program to collect past-due child support on behalf of children who are not minors.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2001
American Land Sovereignty Protection Act - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980 to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from nominating any Federal lands for inclusion on the World Heritage List unless: (1) commercially viable uses of nominated lands and lands within ten miles will not be adversely affected; (2) the Secretary has reported to Congress on the lands' natural resources and the impact of inclusion on existing and future uses of such lands; and (3) such nomination is specifically authorized by law. Requires the Secretary to object to the inclusion of any property in the United States on the list of World Heritage in Danger unless the Secretary: (1) has reported to Congress on the necessity for such inclusion, the associated natural resources, and the impact of inclusion on existing and future uses of such property; and (2) is specifically authorized to assent to the inclusion by a joint resolution of Congress. Prohibits any Federal official from nominating any lands in the United States for designation as a Biosphere Reserve. Nullifies any such designation before enactment of this Act unless the Biosphere Reserve: (1) is specifically authorized by a law enacted after enactment of this Act and before December 31, 2003; (2) consists solely of federally owned lands; and (3) is subject to a management plan that ensures that the use of intermixed or adjacent non-Federal property is not limited or restricted as a result of that designation. Prohibits any Federal official from nominating, classifying, or designating any Federal land for a special or restricted use under any international conservation agreement unless specifically authorized by law. Provides that any such nomination, classification, or designation of private or State or local lands shall have no force or effect without the owner's consent or specific authorization by State or local law, respectively.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2001
Alternative Minimum Tax Repeal Act of 2001 - Amends the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) state that the tentative minimum tax on any taxpayer other than a corporation for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2010, shall be zero; and (2) provide for reductions in such tax until such time.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) no treaty that denies or abridges any constitutionally enumerated right or any powers reserved by the Constitution to the States or to the people shall be of any legal force or effect; (2) no treaty shall authorize any foreign power or international organization to oversee, supervise, monitor, control, or adjudicate citizens' legal rights, privileges, or immunities subject to the domestic jurisdiction of the United States or the States and that any decision of any international body to the contrary shall be disregarded by U.S. and State courts; (3) no treaty shall have any force or effect as law within the United States except as provided for by appropriate legislation duly enacted by Congress; and (4) no executive agreement or other agreement between the U.S. Government and the government of any other nation shall have any force or effect as law within the United States but shall be subject to the same procedures and limitations on treaties as set forth in the Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2001
Long-Term Care and Retirement Security Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a deduction (based on years of continuous coverage) for eligible long-term care insurance premiums for a taxpayer, spouse, and dependents, including accelerated deduction percentages for persons who are 55 years old; and (2) long-term care insurance to be offered under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements. Allows an income-adjusted (limited) credit for eligible individuals with long-term care needs. Sets forth specified requirements for qualifying long-term care insurance contracts.
![Official portrait of Rep. Otter, C. L. (Butch) [R-ID-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/o000166_200.jpg)