United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2001
September 11th Heroes Stamp Act of 2001 - Directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue a semipostal (first-class postage stamp sold at a premium) with the proceeds from its sale going to provide assistance, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to the families of emergency relief personnel who were killed or disabled as a result of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) on September 11, 2001, the passengers and crew of hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 possibly averted the use of such aircraft in a further terrorist attack on the United States by attempting to overpower the hijackers; (2) the United States owes its gratitude to the passengers and crew of Flight 93 and extends its condolences to the victims' families and friends; and (3) a memorial plaque to the victims should be placed on the grounds of the Capitol, and a copy of the plaque and this resolution sent to a designated survivor of each victim.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2001
Aviation Security Enhancement Act of 2001 - Amends Federal aviation law to require the screening of passengers and property that will be carried in a cabin of an aircraft to be carried out by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees. (Currently, screening is carried out by employees or agents of an air carrier, interstate air carrier, or foreign air carrier). Directs the Administrator of the FAA to expand its Federal Air Marshal program to increase the number of air marshals on domestic and international flights of U.S. air carriers. Directs the Administrator of the FAA to modify certain Federal aviation regulations to require each Air Carrier Certificate holder to include in its carry-on baggage program a requirement that, with specified exceptions related to children or disabled persons, each air passenger be limited to one piece of carry-on baggage that meets specified size dimensions. Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA to impose a fee of not more than $3.00 per domestic flight segment to carry out the requirements contained in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2001
Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 with respect to the reward paid to an individual under the Department of State's reward program for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual in connection with acts of international terrorism against U.S. persons or property or with certain narcotics-related offenses. Increases from $5 million to $25 million the reward paid in connection with the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Increases the amount of funds that may be appropriated for such program to no more than $50 million.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the children who lost one or both parents or a guardian in the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center and Pentagon tragedies, including the aircraft crash in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, should be provided with all necessary services and benefits, including foster care assistance, adoption assistance, and medical, nutritional, and psychological care. Urges each responsible Federal agency to put the highest priority on providing such assistance, services, and benefits within 60 days of the determination of the death of the child's parent or guardian.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2001
Debbie Smith Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out sexual assault nurse examiner programs and to train law enforcement personnel and first responders in the handling of sexual assault cases and the collection and use of DNA samples for forensic evidence. Provides that for a State to be eligible to receive a grant, the chief executive officer of the State shall submit to the Attorney General an application which shall include a certification that the State shall comply with specified quality assurance standards. Sets forth provisions regarding restrictions on the use of funds and expenditure records. Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to issue (and revise periodically) standards for collecting and processing, for use as forensic evidence, samples on which DNA analysis may be carried out. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out DNA analyses of samples from crime scenes for inclusion in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System. Sets forth provisions regarding State eligibility, restrictions on uses of funds, and expenditure records.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2001
Declares that Congress: (1) reaffirms the inherent right of self-defense against armed attack, as embodied in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, for all nations, including Israel; (2) recognizes that preemptive measures used to prevent terrorist attacks on civilian populations are a recognized and legitimate use of state power in conformance with the inherent right of self-defense of all nations including Israel; and (3) supports Israel in its legitimate exercise of internationally recognized rights of self-defense.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2001
Social Security Act Improvements for the Terminally Ill Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five- month waiting period in the disability insurance program for terminally ill individuals. Authorizes disability benefits for any eligible individual whose underlying impairment results in death within six months after what would have been the start of the waiting period.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2001
Social Security Protection Act - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to require: (1) a sequestration of discretionary non-defense spending for FY 2002 equal to the size of any actual budget deficit for FY 2001; and (2) a final sequestration report by the Office of Management and Budget setting forth the receipts, outlays, and surplus or deficit for FY 2001 and the sequestration percentage necessary in FY 2002.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Cybermolesters Enforcement Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for: (1) transportation of a person under age 18 with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; and (2) travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a person under age 18. Authorizes the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications in the investigation of crimes involving: (1) transporting, receiving, distributing, selling, or possessing child pornography; or (2) coercing or enticing an individual to travel to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which a person can be charged with a criminal offense, transportation of a minor with the intent that the minor engage in such sexual activity, or travel for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act with a minor that would constitute a felony if that activity took place within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Includes child pornography within the definition of "contraband" the transport, concealment, or possession of which is prohibited.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Growers' Tax Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to take compulsory or involuntary commercial plant conversion compensation (citrus canker tree replacement, plum pox virus compensation, or Pierce's disease payments) into account as income or gain ratably over the ten-year period beginning with the taxable year in which the taxpayer receives or accrues the compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001 - Amends Federal postal law to provide that any limitation in the Semipostal Authorization Act relating to whether more than one semipostal (a postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service, at a premium, in order to help provide funding for a national public interest) may be offered for sale at the same time, shall not apply to the breast cancer research special stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Extends the Service's authority to issue such stamps through July 29, 2008. Revises the differential amount of the special rate of postage for the breast cancer research stamp to not less than 15 percent of the regular first-class rate (currently, not to exceed 25 percent of first-class). Requires the special rate to be evenly divisible by five.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act of 2001 - Requires a manufacturer of a motor vehicle sold or introduced into commerce in the United States to disclose to the vehicle owner, a repair facility, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the information necessary to diagnose, service, or repair the vehicle. Sets forth protections for trade secrets. States that manufacturer noncompliance with this Act constitutes an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice affecting commerce within the purview of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Authorizes a vehicle owner or repair facility to bring a civil action in Federal district court for violations of this Act without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties. Instructs the FTC to prescribe a uniform methodology for manufacturer disclosure in writing, and on the Internet. Prohibits the FTC from prescribing rules that interfere with the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency regarding motor vehicle emissions control diagnostics systems.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Tribal-State Tax Fairness Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, within 60 days after receiving a petition from the government of a State within which a tribal retail enterprise is located alleging the non-collection, non-remittance, or both, of a covered State tax (a tax imposed on the purchase of tobacco products or motor fuel) by such enterprise: (1) to determine whether the enterprise is properly collecting and remitting such State tax; and (2) if it is not, to notify and direct the tribal enterprise to collect such tax and remit it to the Secretary on a monthly basis. Provides for the determination of the amount to be so remitted (which differs depending on the existence or absence of a tribal-State agreement).Requires the Secretary to return remitted amounts to the State within 30 days. Provides for the mediation of disputes between tribes and States under tribal-State agreements, with enforcement provisions. Provides for judicial review of determinations made by the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President and Congress should save Social Security as soon as possible; (2) Social Security surpluses must be vigorously safeguarded and used only for purposes of saving Social Security or reducing the publicly held debt; and (3) the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security, recognizing the immense financial commitment of every American worker in the Social Security system, should present in its recommendations innovative ways to protect that commitment without benefit cuts or payroll tax increases.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2001
Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to make permanent the increases in assistance pursuant to the dependent care tax credit. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make such credit refundable.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) a National Character Counts Week should be established to promote character education; and (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to embrace the elements of character identified by their local schools and communities such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, and honesty.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2001
Declares that Congress considers the Palestinian Authority to be in violation of the principles embodied in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child for its use of children as soldiers and for inciting children to acts of violence and war. Urges: (1) the Palestinian Council to declare its commitment to the Convention and to adopt legislation to implement the Convention as soon as possible; (2) the President to withhold any future U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority until it stops the use of children in armed conflict; and (3) the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive director of each international financial institution to use the U.S. voice and vote to oppose assistance to the Palestinian Authority until it discontinues its use of children as soldiers. Requests reports by the Secretary of State on: (1) the degree to which Palestinian children are encouraged by the Palestinian Authority to participate in organized violent or terrorist acts and the degree to which the Palestinian education system, religious structures, and media play a role; and (2) Palestinian Authority efforts to prevent the involvement of children in such acts.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Social Security Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to repeal: (1) pension offset provisions applicable to husband's and wife's insurance benefits, widow's and widower's insurance benefits, and mother's and father's insurance benefits with respect to Old-Age and Survivors insurance benefit payments; and (2) windfall elimination provisions with respect to computation of the primary insurance amount of an individual.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits a person from serving more than two full consecutive terms as a Senator or four full consecutive terms as a Representative.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month should be established to raise public awareness about the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the serious problems associated with it.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2001
Forty Percent Funding of IDEA in Four Years Act - Forty-in-Four Act - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to require specified minimum levels of Federal grant payments to States for assistance for education of all children with disabilities in order to increase funding under the Act, by five percent increments per fiscal year, from 20 percent of the national current average for per pupil expenditure in FY 2002 to 40 percent in FY 2005 and afterwards.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Temple Mount Preservation Act of 2001 - Bars the use of appropriated funds for assistance to the Palestinian Authority (or its instrumentalities) unless the President certifies to Congress that no excavation of the Temple Mount in Israel is being conducted, other than that authorized by the Israeli Antiquities Authority. Provides a waiver of such prohibition if it is certified to Congress that it is in the national security interests of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of the People's Republic of China should cease its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Calls for the U.S. Government to urge the Chinese Government to: (1) release from detention all Falun Gong practitioners and end the torture and other cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment of such practitioners and other prisoners of conscience; and (2) abide by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by allowing Falun Gong practitioners to pursue their personal beliefs.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Gun Crime Prosecution Act of 2001 - Requires the U.S. Attorney for each judicial district to: (1) appoint one additional Assistant U.S. Attorney for that district to be responsible for prosecuting only offenses under Federal law involving firearms or ammunition; and (2) require such Assistant Attorney to give priority to crimes of violence committed by individuals who have previously been convicted of such a crime and to offenses by individuals who have previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Plant Pathogen Genome Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a joint research program within the Agricultural Research Service and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service's National Research Initiative Grants Program to: (1) sequence the genomes of plant pathogens that have a significant agricultural, environmental, or health impact; (2) determine the function of individual genes and associated metabolic pathways for such sequenced plant pathogens; (3) enhance bioinformation capabilities in plant pathogen genomics; and (4) ensure that the information developed is accessible to the broader scientific, agricultural, and industrial communities.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Training for Closed Captioners Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to provide grants to no more than 20 eligible entities (approved and accredited court reporting programs) to promote the training of students to become realtime closed captioners. Limits to $1 million the amount of a grant provided to an entity in a fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2001
Homemaker Employment Assistance and Lifeskills Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make formula matching grants to States with approved plans for programs of vocational education, training, employment counseling, and related services for single parents, displaced homemakers, and individuals entering nontraditional employment. Requires States to assign at least one individual from the State vocational education agency to administer such programs and make competitive subgrants to eligible entities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2001
Wage Equity Act of 2001 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include among the conditions of approval of an H-2A (visa) temporary agricultural worker petition the requirement that an employer may not be required to pay workers more than the greater of: (1) the prevailing wage for seasonal agricultural workers in the occupation in the area of intended employment; or (2) the greater of Federal or State minimum wage.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2001
Combat Merchant Mariners Veterans Benefits Act of 2001 - Provides that: (1) qualifying service in the U.S. merchant marine during a period of war for a total period equal to at least 12 months shall be considered active duty in determining eligibility for veterans' benefits; and (2) such service may be verified by entries in a continuous discharge book, a certificate of discharge to merchant seamen, a certificate of substantially continuous service, or other documentation available from the Secretary of Transportation or the head of any other Federal agency.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission Act - Establishes the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission to: (1) study and recommend Government activities to honor Benjamin Franklin on the tercentenary of his birth, including the minting of a Benjamin Franklin tercentenary coin and the issuance of a Benjamin Franklin tercentenary postage stamp; (2) serve as the contact point for State, local, international, and private sector initiatives regarding tercentenary activities; and (3) seek to enter into an arrangement for the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to serve as the secretariat of the Commission and house the Commission's administrative offices.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Amend title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to: (1) increase from $255 to $300 the maximum amount of the lump-sum death benefit; and (2) allow for payment of such a benefit, in the absence of an eligible surviving spouse or child, to the legal representative of the estate of the deceased individual, if any.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that there should be established a National Community Health Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2001 - Establishes the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund in the Treasury to promote the development, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable and safe low-income housing.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
High-Speed Rail Investment Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited tax credit to holders of qualified Amtrak bonds. Sets forth definitions, State contribution requirements, and other rules. Requires approval, by the Secretary of Transportation, of qualified Amtrak projects funded by such bonds.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2001
Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 2001 - Sets forth provisions concerning group health plans and health insurers and the provision of certain advice and care, including: (1) emergency care; (2) obstetric and gynecological care; (3) specialists care; (4) prescription drugs; (5) participation in approved clinical trials; and (6) health plan information. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to, among other things: (1) provide for review and appeal of health plan decisions; (2) provide penalties for health plans failing to provide benefits; (3) provide for patient protection standards; (4) repeal the limitation on the number of Archer Medical Savings Accounts and increase the deduction for contributions to such accounts; and (5) set forth rules governing association health plans.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2001
Retirement Security Advice Act of 2001 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to allow prohibited transaction exemptions under specified conditions to: (1) a fiduciary adviser's providing certain investment advice to an employee benefit plan or to a participant or beneficiary of such plan; (2) sale, acquisition, or holding of securities or other property (including any lending of money or other extension of credit associated with these) pursuant to such advice; and (3) direct or indirect receipt of fees or other compensation by the fiduciary adviser or an affiliate in connection with providing such advice.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2001
Students' Rights Resolution of 2001 - Declares that Congress recognizes: (1) the right, as established by the Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court, of all Americans to freely exercise their religion; (2) the constitutional right of students in public schools to participate in a daily period of time to be used for silent prayer, meditation, or reflection and to recite the Pledge of Allegiance; and (3) the right of religious groups to have equal access to school facilities without discrimination on account of religious character or speech. Expresses the sense of Congress that public schools should act to protect these constitutional rights by establishing a period of time for silent prayer, meditation, or reflection, establishing a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and accommodating religious groups by granting equal access rather than discriminating on account of their religious character or speech.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2001
Unemployment Tax Repeal Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the requirement to include unemployment compensation in gross income and the provision concerning the voluntary withholding on unemployment benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2001
Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2001 - Directs that in determining the meaning of any Act of Congress or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various U.S. administrative bureaus and agencies, the words "person," "human being," "child," and "individual" shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive (as defined in this Act) at any stage of development.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2001
Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to: (1) reduce quota peanut price support levels through crop year 2003; (2) extend marketing assessment services through 2003; and (3) make nonrecourse loans available to all peanut producers at 85 percent of estimated market value as of crop year 2004. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to eliminate peanut quotas as of crop year 2004. Amends the National School Lunch Act to authorize the purchase at world market price of additional (excess of poundage quota) peanuts for the school lunch and other specified food and nutrition programs. States that such peanuts shall not be considered domestic edible use peanuts under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 or the Agricultural Market Transition Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2001
Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends Federal law to provide that, with regard to an employee in fire protection activities: (1) heart disease, lung disease, specified cancers and infectious diseases shall be presumed to be proximately caused by the employee's employment; (2) the disability or death of an employee in fire protection activities due to such a disease shall be presumed to result from personal injury sustained while in the performance of such employee's duty; and (3) such presumptions may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2001
Savings for Working Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit any qualified financial institution, qualified nonprofit organization, or Indian tribe to establish one or more qualified individual development account programs. Defines such an account as an account established for an eligible individual (income based) as part of a qualified individual development account program (matched individual and entity savings accounts for qualifying educational, first-time home purchase, or business expenses). Sets forth provisions concerning such accounts, including: (1) the structure and administration of account programs; (2) procedures for opening and maintaining an account and qualifying for matching funds; (3) withdrawal procedures; and (4) disregarding account funds for purposes of certain means-tested Federal programs. Provides matching funds through a tax credit for a participating entity's program investment.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2001
Permanent Death Tax Repeal Act of 2001 - Amends title IX (Compliance with Congressional Budget Act) of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-16) to repeal the sunset provisions applicable to title V (Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes) of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2001
Increases from $300 to $500 the authorized allowance for burial and funeral expenses for deceased veterans who: (1) at the time of death were in receipt of veterans' disability compensation or veterans' pension benefits; or (2) were veterans of any war or were discharged or released from active military service for a service-connected disability and for whom there is no next of kin or sufficient resources to cover funeral and burial costs. Increases from $300 to $500 the plot allowance for a veteran who dies in a Department of Veterans Affairs facility or a facility providing Department-contracted care.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit: (1) Federal civilian and military retirees to pay Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and TRICARE supplemental premiums on a pretax basis; and (2) a deduction (available to itemizers and nonitemizers) for TRICARE supplemental premiums and enrollment fees.
![Official portrait of Rep. Platts, Todd Russell [R-PA-19]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/p000585_200.jpg)