United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a church to participate or intervene in a political campaign and maintain its tax-exempt status as long as such participation is not a substantial part of its activities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Military Spouse Employment Assistance Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to conduct a program to provide financial assistance, including tuition, to military spouses to assist them in gaining employment. Requires such program to be conducted on a pilot basis during its first three years in order to evaluate program options and effectiveness. Directs the Secretary to: (1) review and maximize Department of Defense (DOD) policies affecting employment opportunities for military spouses; (2) maximize the opportunity for military spouses to be employed in DOD facilities; (3) work with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies to facilitate the use of existing Federal programs and resources to support such employment; (4) seek to develop private-sector partnerships to enhance such opportunities; and (5) prescribe regulations to ensure that private sector entities, in hiring for work to be performed under a DOD contract, provide a preference to qualified military spouses and provide other employment opportunities for such spouses in the same manner as provided for DOD positions.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2001 - Establishes the Federal Agency Sunset Commission to: (1) submit to Congress a schedule for review by the Commission, at least once every 12 years, of the abolishment or reorganization of each agency; (2) review and evaluate the efficiency and public need for each agency using specified criteria; (3) recommend whether each agency should be abolished or reorganized; and (4) report to Congress on all legislation introduced that would establish a new agency or a new program to be carried out by an existing agency. Requires the abolishment of any agency within one year of the Commission's review, unless the agency is reauthorized by Congress. Authorizes the deadline for abolishing an agency to be extended for an additional two years by legislation enacted by a super majority of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare an inventory of Federal programs within each agency for the purpose of advising and assisting Congress and the Commission in carrying out the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
Congratulates: (1) the people of Peru for the successful completion of free and fair elections on April 8 and June 3, 2001; (2) Alejandro Toledo for his election as President and his commitment to democracy; (3) Valentin Paniagua, the current President, for his commitment to a peaceful transition; and (4) the Organization of American States Electoral Observer Mission for promoting representative democracy by working to ensure free and fair elections in Peru. Call for: (1) the United States to expand its cooperation with the Peruvian Government to promote the strengthening of democratic institutions and the rule of law, economic development, and an improved quality of life for citizens of both countries; and (2) such Governments to act in solidarity to promote democracy and respect for human rights and to enhance cooperation to confront common threats. Expresses: (1) sympathy to the Peruvian people for losses suffered as a result of the June 23, 2001 earthquake and support for their efforts to rebuild; and (2) support for relief and reconstruction assistance to Peru from the international community. Urges the President of the United States to encourage relief entities to expedite assistance.
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 · 19 June 2001
Tribal and Local Communities Relationship Improvement Act - Amends the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to make invalid any tribal-State compact entered into after the date of enactment of this Act unless it is approved by the Governor and legislature of the State with which the compact was negotiated (with an exception for compact renewals that do not expand covered gambling operations). Requires similar approval of Indian gaming as regulated under such Act on lands acquired in trust by the Secretary of the Interior after October 17, 1988. Prohibits the conduct of class III gaming on more than one parcel of land of an Indian tribe. Directs the President to establish the Advisory Committee on Minimum Regulatory Requirements and Licensing Standards for Indian Gaming. Requires Committee recommendations to be submitted to specified congressional committees, the National Indian Gaming Commission, and each federally recognized Indian tribe. Establishes the Commission on Native American Policy to complete a study regarding living standards in Indian country, including health, infrastructure, economic development, educational opportunities, and housing.
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
Two Strikes and You're Out Child Protection Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for mandatory life imprisonment (unless a death sentence is imposed) of a person convicted of a Federal sex offense in which a minor is the victim if the person has a prior sex conviction in which a minor was the victim.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2001
Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to issue Cold War service medals to military personnel who served honorably during the Cold War era (September 2, 1945, through December 26, 1991).
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2001
Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001 - Sets forth the overall trade negotiating objectives of the United States for trade agreements (generally similar to the objectives of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (OTCA)), including to: (1) further strengthen the system of international trading disciplines and procedures, including dispute settlement; and (2) foster economic growth, raise living standards, and promote full employment in the United States and to enhance the global economy. Sets forth the principal U.S. negotiating objectives (generally similar to the principal OTCA negotiating objectives) regarding trade barriers and other trade distortions, trade in services, foreign investment, intellectual property, transparency, improvement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other multilateral and bilateral trade agreements, foreign regulatory practices, electronic commerce, reciprocal trade in agriculture, and WTO extended negotiations. Requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to consult closely with Congress during trade negotiations. Sets forth the authority of the President (generally similar to the authority under OTCA) to enter into trade agreements with foreign countries regarding tariff and non-tariff barriers. States that a trade agreement may be entered into (before June 1, 2005; or June 1, 2007, if trade authorities procedures (or fast-track procedures) are extended under this Act) only if it makes progress in meeting the overall and principal trade negotiating objectives, and the President satisfies certain notification and consultation requirements set forth in this Act, including submission of the agreement for assessment by the International Trade Commission. Applies trade authorities procedures to bills implementing trade agreements if they consist of: (1) a provision approving a trade agreement entered into under this Act, and approving any statement of administrative action; and (2) if changes in existing laws or new statutory authority are required to implement such agreements, provisions necessary to implement them, either repealing or amending existing laws or providing new statutory law. Authorizes both Houses of Congress to adopt, within 60 days of each other, a procedural disapproval resolution denying trade authorities procedures to any trade agreement if the President has failed or refused to notify or consult with Congress about it. Exempts from the notice and consultation requirements of this Act any tariff or nontariff agreement which results from negotiations commenced before enactment of this Act, and which: (1) is entered into under the auspices of the WTO regarding the rules of origin work program; (2) is entered into with Chile or Singapore; or (3) establishes a Free Trade Area for the Americas. Requires the appointment of a Congressional Oversight Group to serve as advisor to the U.S. delegation after the President notifies Congress of his intention to enter into the negotiation of any tariff or nontariff trade agreement. Requires the President to submit an implementation and enforcement plan at the same time a final text of any tariff or nontariff trade agreement is submitted to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2001
Establishes the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Oliver L. Brown et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas et al.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2001
Medicare Medical Nutrition Therapy Amendment 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, to provide coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for certain Medicare beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2001
Responsible Stem Cell Research Act of 2001- Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish by contract a National Stem Cell Donor Bank to preserve qualifying human stem cells and make such cells available for biomedical research and therapeutic purposes. Authorizes the Secretary, through the National Institutes of Health, to conduct and support human stem cell research.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2001
Biofuels Air Quality Act - Amends Federal highway provisions (with respect to the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program) to direct the Secretary of Transportation to consider the extent to which a proposed project or program reduces sulfur or atmospheric carbon emissions. Allows States receiving minimum apportionments to use funds under the program for renewable fuel projects (specified below). Modifies provisions regarding renewable fuel projects to expand coverage to include: (1) publicly and nonprofit (currently, limited to privately) owned vehicles or vehicle fleets; and (2) costs of renewable fuel, consisting of any fuel produced from grain, oilseeds, or other biomass (including biodiesel), that is used to replace or reduce the quantity of fossil fuel present in a fuel mixture used to operate motor vehicles, and installation of capital equipment necessary for the conversion of storage and distribution facilities to carry renewable fuels or renewable fuel blends.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2001
Government Neutrality in Contracting Act - Directs the head of any Federal agency that awards or obligates funds for any construction contract, or that awards grants, provides financial assistance, or enters into cooperative agreements for construction projects, to ensure that bid specifications, project agreements, or other controlling documents do not: (1) require or prohibit a bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor from entering into, or adhering to, agreements with labor organization, with respect to that construction project or another related construction project; or (2) otherwise discriminate against such a party because it did or did not become a signatory or otherwise adhere to such an agreement. Allows exemptions to avert an imminent threat to public health or safety or to serve national security. Allows additional exemptions for certain projects. Directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement this Act with respect to the applicable Federal contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2001
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Amends the Organic Act to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish and maintain a list of each person that notifies the Secretary that it is a manufacturer or seller that is: (1) licensed to engage in interstate or foreign commerce of a firearm or ammunition product; or (2) is a trade association representing such manufacturers or sellers. Declares that any lawful conduct carried out by a manufacturer or seller in interstate or foreign commerce of a firearm or ammunition product, or lawful conduct carried out by a trade association in the course of representing such manufacturers or sellers, shall not be the basis for imposing a restriction on such commerce (the award of civil damages, equitable relief, or any other specified limitation) as a result of harm caused by the criminal or other unlawful misuse of such firearm or ammunition product by any other person.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2001
Safe Havens Support Act of 2001 - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to allow a State to use a TANF grant to support an infant safe haven program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2001
Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 to: (1) advance to September 30, 2003 (currently November 18, 2005) the deadline for the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan to manage the growth rate of the basic allowance for housing for military housing areas inside the United States; and (2) require the Secretary, under such plan, to ensure that out-of-pocket housing costs for military personnel entitled to such allowance do not exceed 7.5 percent of housing costs by the end of FY 2002.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2001
Amends Federal aviation law with respect to the air traffic control contract program to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants to an airport sponsor for: (1) the construction or improvement of a nonapproach control tower (effectively eliminating eligibility of Level I air traffic control towers for such grants); and (2) the acquisition and installation of air traffic control equipment to be used in a nonapproach control tower to assist in sustaining or improving the safe and efficient movement of air traffic. Revises eligibility requirements with respect to such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2001
Amends part C (Administrative Simplification) of title XI of the Social Security Act to revise the deadline for initial compliance with standards for information transactions and data elements.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2001
Korea Defense Service Medal Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to issue a campaign medal, to be known as the Korea Defense Service Medal, to each member who served in the Republic of Korea or its adjacent waters after July 27, 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2001
Apprenticeship Enhancement Act of 2001 - Amends the National Apprenticeship Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to ensure that applications relating to apprenticeship programs are processed in a fair and timely manner. Allows aggrieved applicants to file petitions for judicial review of final determinations by the Secretary or applicable designee.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2001
Dollars to the Classroom Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education award grants to States for use by States and local educational agencies (LEAs) to improve classroom services and activities for students. Prescribes requirements for participation of private school children and teachers in activities and services. Prohibits Federal control of State or local educational activities or services receiving such grant assistance. Repeals specified programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and certain other Acts, including: (1) demonstrations of innovative practices; (2) innovative elementary school transition projects; (3) Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program;(4) Technology for Education, including Star Schools, Ready-to-Learn Television, and the telecommunications demonstration project for mathematics; (5) Magnet Schools Assistance; (6) Women's Educational Equity; (7) Innovative Education Program Strategies; (8) Native Hawaiians Education; (9) Alaska Native Education; (10) Fund for the Improvement of Education; (11) Gifted and Talented Education; (12) Arts in Education; (13) Civic Education; (14) Allen J. Ellender Fellowship Program (Close-Up programs); (15) 21st Century Community Learning Centers; (16) Urban and Rural Education Assistance; (17) National Writing Project; (18) Extended Time for Learning and Longer School Year; (19) Comprehensive Regional Assistance Centers; (20) Eisenhower Math and Science Regional Consortia; (21) State and local education systemic improvement; (22) school-to-work opportunities system development and implementation grants; and (23) Education for Homeless Children program. Education Flexibility Partnership Demonstration Act - Authorizes the Secretary to allow all 50 States to participate in the Education Flexibility Partnership Demonstration Act program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2001
Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide for inflation adjustments to the mandatory jurisdiction thresholds of the National Labor Relations Board.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2001
Veterans Medicare Reimbursement Demonstration Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize the Secretaries of Health and Human Services (HHS) and of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a Medicare subvention demonstration project under which the HHS Secretary, acting under a coordinated care health plan model, shall reimburse the VA Secretary from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for Medicare health care services furnished to targeted Medicare-eligible veterans who volunteer for such project. Requires the demonstration project to be conducted at up to ten sites jointly designated by the Secretaries. Directs the VA Secretary to establish and operate coordinated care health plans to provide benefits to the targeted veterans enrolled in the project.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2001
Parental Freedom of Information Act - Amends the General Education Provisions Act to require educational agencies or institutions, as a condition for receiving funds for applicable programs, to: (1) neither deny nor prevent the exercise of parental rights to review and inspect instructional materials used in their children's educational curricula; and (2) obtain parental consent before seeking specified types of information from minors, and before performing non-emergency medical psychological, or psychiatric examination, testing, treatment, or immunization of minors.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2001
Welcomes President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan upon his visit to the United States. Requests that he communicate to the Taiwanese people the support of Congress and the people of the United States. Recognizes his visit as a significant step toward broadening and deepening the friendship and cooperation between the United States and Taiwan.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2001
Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide for a single toll-free telephone number to be available for access by the public to veterans benefits counselors of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (2) ensure that such counselors have all available information about veterans provided by Federal departments and agencies and State governments.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2001
Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prescribe guidelines for rental-purchase transactions, including: (1) the determination of rental-purchase cost; (2) disclosure requirements; (3) proscriptions against confessions of judgment, wage assignments, and waiver of consumer claims or defenses; (4) furnishing of statements of account; (5) point-of-rental disclosures; and (6) rental-purchase advertising disclosures. Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to promulgate implementing regulations. Provides for Federal and State enforcement of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2001
George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, using specified authority under the Agricultural Act of 1949, to provide eligible commodities and financial and technical assistance to establish and expand overseas preschool and school feeding programs, and maternal, infant, and child nutrition programs. Urges the President to engage multilateral and private sector involvement.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2001
Calls for establishment of a Year for National Unity and Family Renewal to invoke the intercession of God to bring about national unity, national reconciliation, and family renewal in the new millennium.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001 - Prohibits any person or entity, in or affecting interstate commerce, from: (1) performing or attempting to perform human cloning; (2) participating in such an attempt; (3) shipping or receiving the product of human cloning; or (4) importing such a product. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Federal Government should advocate for and join an international effort to prohibit human cloning; and (2) the President should commission a study by the National Bioethics Advisory Commission or a successor group of the arguments for and against the use of cloning to produce human embryos solely for research.
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 · 25 April 2001
Amends rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to make it out of order to include in any bill, joint resolution, amendment, or conference report any provision which makes the taking effect of a decrease in Federal income taxes contingent upon another event or circumstance. Allows a point of order against such a provision at any time during pendency of that measure.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Amends the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to eliminate the requirement that a covered military dependent obtain a nonavailability-of-health-care statement for the receipt of health care services related to pregnancy. Amends the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 to waive the requirement of such statement in the case of obstetrics and gynecological care related to the pregnancy of a covered beneficiary using TRICARE Extra (a Department of Defense managed health care program).
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Stop Material Unsuitable for Teens Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to increase from 16 to 18 the age of persons considered to be minors for purposes of the prohibition on transferring obscene materials to minors.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Medical Savings Account Availability Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to medical savings accounts to: (1) repeal restrictions on the number of accounts which may be established; and (2) expand the availability of such accounts to individuals other than the self-employed and employees of small employers.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Citizen Legislature and Political Freedom Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971(FECA) to terminate limitations on Federal election campaign contributions after 2002. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate after December 31, 2001, the designation of income tax payments to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. Terminates the Fund itself and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account after December 31, 2002, and transfers any amounts remaining in the Fund to the general fund of the Treasury. Amends FECA, in the case of a political committee of a national political party, to require reports of all funds transferred to any political committee of a State or local political party, without regard to whether or not the funds are otherwise treated as contributions or expenditures under such Act (soft money). Requires any political committee of a State or local political party to file with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) a copy of any report on disbursements it is required under a State or local law, rule, or regulation to submit to the State or local government. Revises current deadlines for notification of contributions by a campaign committee. Declares that the "best efforts" exception to noncompliance with FECA shall not apply with respect to information regarding the identification of any contributor of more than $200 in the aggregate during a calendar year (thus requiring strict observance of reporting deadlines for all such contributions). Provides that, except with the separate, prior, written, voluntary authorization of each individual involved, it shall be unlawful for described labor organizations to collect from or to assess its members or nonmembers any dues, initiation fee, or other payment if any part of it will be used for political activity in which the labor organization is engaged. Changes the name of the FEC to the Federal Campaign Regulation Commission.
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
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
Military Personnel Recruitment and Retention Enhancement Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of members of the Armed Forces any "qualified bonus." Defines the term "qualified bonus" to mean an enlistment, accession, reenlistment, retention, or other bonus paid to a member of the Armed Forces of the United States in exchange for the agreement of the member to accept a commission as an officer, extend an active service commitment as an officer, enlist, reenlist, or extend an enlistment as an enlisted member in an active or reserve component, or enter into a reserve affiliation agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Military Overseas Voter Empowerment Act of 2001 - Amends the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 to provide that, for purposes of voting for a Federal or State office, a person who is absent from a State in compliance with military or naval orders shall not, solely by reason of that absence be deemed to have: (1) lost a residence or domicile in that State, without regard to whether or not the person intends to return to that State; (2) acquired a residence or domicile in any other State; or (3) become a resident in or a resident of any other State. Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to provide for: (1) extension of registration and balloting rights for absent uniformed services voters to State and local elections; (2) treatment of applications and absentee ballots submitted by absent uniformed services voters; and (3) coverage of recently separated uniformed services voters as absent uniformed services voters. Directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out a demonstration project under which absent uniformed services voters are permitted to cast ballots in the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office for November 2002 through an electronic voting system.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Fair Care for the Uninsured Act of 2001- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual a tax credit in an amount equal to the amount paid for qualified health insurance, subject to stated limitations. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments to the provider of an individual's qualified health insurance equal to such individual's qualified health insurance credit advance amount (the Secretary's estimate of the amount of credit allowable) with respect to such provider. Requires each health insurer, health maintenance organization, and health service organization to participate in a health insurance safety net which shall assure the availability of health insurance to uninsurable individuals. Funds such safety nets through assessments against such insurers and organizations. Permits such insurers and organizations to add the costs of such assessments to the costs of its insurance or coverage. Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow health benefits coverage through individual membership associations (IMAs). Sets forth IMA requirements, including that the IMA be an organization operated under the direction of an association and that IMA health benefits coverage only be provided through contracts with health insurance issuers. Requires IMAs to include a minimum of two health insurance coverage options.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2001
Acknowledges and commends the charter school movement for its contribution to improving our Nation's public school system. Expresses the sense of Congress that a National Charter Schools Week should be established.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2001
21st Century Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act - Increases, for FY 2002 through 2004, the rates of veterans' basic educational assistance. Prohibits any rate increase during such period based on adjustments to the Consumer Price Index.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2001
Education Savings and School Excellence Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to education individual retirement accounts (education IRAs) to: (1) increase maximum annual contribution limits to $2,000 per beneficiary; (2) permit tax-free expenditures for qualified elementary and secondary education expenses at a public, private, or religious school; (3) waive age limitations for contributions on behalf of a special needs beneficiary; (4) limit contribution reductions based on adjusted gross income to individual contributors (permits entity contributions regardless of income); (5) permit annual contributions to be made up to such year's tax filing date (not including extensions); (6) exempt excess contributions from the additional ten percent tax provided such contribution and interest earned are returned within six months after the end of the tax year for which the contribution was made; and (7) coordinate education IRA distributions with the HOPE and Lifetime Earning Credit qualified tuition programs. Collegiate Learning and Student Savings (CLASS) Act - Permits private higher educational institutions, in addition to currently permitted State institutions, to establish qualified tuition programs. Excludes from gross income such program distributions used for qualified higher education expenses. Provides that one rollover per year of amounts from one qualified tuition program to another for the benefit of the same beneficiary shall not be considered a distribution. Includes first cousins as family members for purposes of qualified tuition programs. Revises the definition of "qualified higher education expenses," including the exclusion of sport- or hobby-related courses unless taken as part of a degree program or to improve job skills. Makes the exclusion from gross income of employer provided educational assistance permanent. Repeals the current dollar limitation on the deduction for interest on educational loans provision and replace it with a limitation on such deduction based on modified adjusted gross income. Repeals the 60-month limitation period on the allowance of the interest deduction on such loans. Eliminates the two percent floor on miscellaneous itemized deductions for the qualified professional development expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers. Excludes from gross income certain amounts received under the National Health Corps Scholarship Program, the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program, the National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program, or similar State program.
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 · 29 March 2001
Vaccine Injured Children's Compensation Act of 2001 - Amends provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to: (1) designate the Program as a remedial program under which sovereign immunity does not apply; (2) change the burden of proof requirement for the award of compensation from a preponderance of the evidence to evidence sufficient to justify a belief that the petitioner's claims are well grounded (while giving the benefit of doubt to the petitioner); (3) require any defense raised that an illness, injury, or death was due to unrelated factors to be proved by clear and convincing evidence; (4) authorize as Program compensation expenses necessary for the establishment of a trust to receive Program funds, as well as expenses incurred for family counseling or training necessitated by the vaccine-related injury; (5) allow the award of petitioner's attorneys' fees; (6) increase to up to 72 months the statute of limitations under the Program; (7) allow such period to be extended for an additional 36 months after a petitioner first knew or should have known about his or her eligibility for compensation; (8) toll the statute of limitations until a petitioner reaches age 18 and, if a petitioner is incompetent, until 24 months after a guardian is appointed; and (9) authorize the refiling of a previously failed petition if the petitioner would have met the extended statute of limitations provided under this Act.