United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician or other individual from knowingly performing a partial-birth abortion, except when necessary to save the life of a mother that is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury. Authorizes the father, if married to the mother at the time of the abortion, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus, if the mother is under 18 years of age, to obtain specified relief in a civil action, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion. Authorizes a defendant accused of an offense under this Act to seek a hearing before the State Medical Board on whether the physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother. Prohibits the prosecution of a woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed for conspiracy to violate this Act or under provisions regarding punishment as a principal or an accessory or for concealment of a felony.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2002
Equity in Education Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify that church employees and persons treated as church employees under the Code are eligible for the exclusion for qualified tuition reduction programs of charitable educational organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2002
Revises penalties for violations of the rules regulating the use of fire by visitors of public lands if such violation results in damage to public or private property. Changes the maximum $1,000 fine to a minimum $1,000 fine with respect to public lands under the Bureau of Land Management. Changes penalties with respect to National Park and National Forest Systems from a maximum $500 fine and six months imprisonment to a minimum $1,000 and maximum 12 months imprisonment. Makes money collected from fines imposed for violation of fire rules under this Act available for the purpose of conducting hazardous fuels reduction activities under the National Fire Plan.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2002
Child Health Care Affordability Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals a tax credit ($500 or $3,000 per dependent, depending upon the medical care, to be adjusted for inflation) for dependents' unreimbursed medical care expenses. Coordinates such credit with the medical deduction and the employment-related dependent care credit to avoid double benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2002
Official Time Reporting Act - Requires each Federal agency to submit to each House of Congress, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Office of Management and Budget, at the time the budget is submitted by the President to Congress, a report on the use of official time within that agency during the last ending fiscal year. Requires the report to include: (1) the number of hours of official time and the number of employees used for labor organization activities; (2) the dollar value of the time and resources used for such activities; and (3) the benefits and disadvantages of using official time for such activities.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2002
Educator Appreciation and Classroom Help Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a $1,000 tax credit for "eligible" primary and secondary school teachers and home school teachers. Defines "eligible" teachers. Eliminates the two-percent floor on miscellaneous itemized deductions from applying to various costs incurred by eligible elementary and secondary school teachers for certain courses to enhance teaching skills. Expands the deduction for eligible elementary and secondary school teachers for unreimbursed costs of classroom supplies to up to $2,000 (currently the maximum allowed deduction is $250) and allows home school educators a deduction of up to $2,000 for supplies.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Recognizes General Bernard A. Schriever, United States Air Force (retired), for his service to the Air Force and in the development of the U.S. ballistic missile program.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the inclusion of any social security or tier I railroad retirement benefits in gross income. Appropriates non-appropriated Treasury amounts for the social security and railroad retirement funds to equal the amounts not transferred as a result of such repeal. Expresses the sense of the Congress that tax increases will not be used to provide such revenue.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the tax increase on Social Security benefits enacted by the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth that a plan or other arrangement shall not cease to count as a cafeteria plan solely because qualified benefits under such plan include a health flexible spending arrangement under which not more than $500 of unused health benefits may be carried forward to the next year or paid as compensation. Sets forth rules for determining whether or not such benefits shall be included or excluded from income.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2002
Honors and commends the Lao Veterans of America, Laotian and Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War who served with or assisted the United States Armed Forces, and their families for their historic contributions to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2002
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. States that neither this Constitution or the constitution of any State, nor State or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2002
Tribal Labor Relations Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to exempt any business owned and operated by an Indian tribe and located on Indian lands from being considered as an employer for purposes of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2002
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2002 - Provides that, for purposes of the Federal Communications Commission's regulation relating to station antenna structures in the amateur radio services, any private land use rules applicable to such structures shall be treated as a State or local regulation and subject to the same requirements and limitations of such a regulation.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2002
Date Certain Tax Code Replacement Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2005; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2005. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Establishes the National Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification to review: (1) the present structure and provisions of the Code; (2) whether the tax systems of other countries could provide more efficient and fair methods of funding government revenue requirements; (3) whether the income tax should be replaced with a tax imposed in a different manner or on a different base; and (4) whether the Code can be simplified, absent wholesale restructuring or replacement. Requires a Commission report to Congress on review results, with recommendations for Code reform and simplification. Terminates the Commission 90 days after such report. Authorizes appropriations (with interim funding). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be approved by Congress in its final form before July 4, 2005, and, if not, Congress should be required to vote to reauthorize the Code.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Federal Government, and any State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance, from discriminating against any health care entity because (in addition to current prohibited reasons) the entity refuses to provide coverage of, or pay for, induced abortions. Expands the definition of "health care entity" to include (in addition to physicians) other health professionals, a hospital, a provider sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance plan, and any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) President Bush should be commended for renouncing the U.S. signature from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a step toward protecting American service-members and citizens from the possibility of unwarranted and politically-motivated prosecutions; (2) President Bush should be encouraged to remain steadfast in his intention of protecting such individuals from the unchecked power of the ICC; and (3) Congress should take all steps necessary to grant appropriate authority to the President to defend the American people from the threat of arrest, prosecution, and conviction by the ICC.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2002
Accountability of Tax Dollars Act of 2002 - Requires executive agencies that are not otherwise required to submit annual audited financial statements (excluding Government corporations) to submit such statements to Congress and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. (Allows the Director to waive such requirement for the first two fiscal years after enactment of this Act.) Exempts agencies from preparing such a statement for any fiscal year for which the total amount of budget authority available to the agency is less than $25 million.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2002
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Vice President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China should be made aware of congressional concern for the Panchen Lama and the need to resolve the situation in Tibet through dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives. Calls on the Chinese Government to: (1) release the Panchen Lama and allow him to pursue his traditional role at Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Tibet; and (2) negotiate with the Dalai Lama or his representatives to find a solution for genuine autonomy that respects the rights of all Tibetans.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2002
Workers' Bill of Rights - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to add provisions relating to: (1) an employer's recognition of a labor organization as representative of workers for collective bargaining and other purposes; (2) limitation on dues collection; (3) membership right to vote on a contract before a strike is called; (4) penalties for causing recognition of an unelected labor organization; (5) secret ballot election; (6) the lifting of a bar against an election once an existing contract has been in effect for one year or more; (7) majority deauthorization of union security agreements; and (8) enforcement of limits on dues agreements. Amends the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 to include coverage of employers, or groups or associations of employers, that receive Federal funds. Gives employees who are not union members, but who are core dues payers, the same right as any union member to participate in any vote that concerns a strike or wages, benefits, or working conditions. Revises provisions relating to availability of information. Allows a trusteeship (for authorization control of a union) to be authorized only after a fair hearing either before the executive board or another body provided by the constitution and bylaws of the labor organization. Requires a labor organization to show by clear and convincing proof that the continuation of the trusteeship is necessary for an allowable purpose. Amends the Clayton Act to provide that nothing shall make it lawful for any two or more labor organizations to enter into an agreement that restrains an employee's ability to select a collecting bargaining representative.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2002
Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act - Amends Federal law to direct the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to establish a program to: (1) deputize qualified volunteer pilots of passenger aircraft as Federal flight deck officers; and (2) provide training, supervision, and equipment for such officers. Directs the Under Secretary to authorize flight deck officers to carry firearms and to use force, including lethal force, when they judge the security of an aircraft is at risk. Shields air carriers from liability for damages in Federal or State court arising out of the actions or omissions of a flight deck officer defending a plane from criminal violence or air piracy. Shields flight deck officers from liability except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2002
America's Wilderness Protection Act - Releases all areas with wilderness study area status on this Act's enactment date from such status on the earlier of: (1) the date the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the area is not suitable for wilderness designation; (2) ten years after this Act's enactment; or (3) the date the area is designated as wilderness by Congress. Releases any area that is given wilderness study area status after this Act's enactment from such status on the earlier of: (1) the date such Secretary determines that the area is not suitable for wilderness designation; (2) ten years after the date the area was given such status; or (3) the date that the area is designated as wilderness by Congress. Provides for the reversion of any area that is released from wilderness study area status to the land use status such area had immediately before and prohibits it from being studied again regarding wilderness designation.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2002 - Makes changes to the health care liability system, including compensation for injured patients and other issues arising out of health care law suits. Requires a suit to be brought within three years of the date of injury or one year after the claimant discovers or should have discovered the injury, whichever occurs first. Sets forth requirements and permissible recovery amounts for compensating patient injury, including: (1) the full amount of economic loss without limitation; (2) noneconomic damages as specified; and (3) a fair share rule. Requires the court to supervise payment-of-damage arrangements, limiting contingency fees. Permits the introduction of evidence of collateral source benefits. Limits the availability of punitive damages, requiring clear and convincing evidence of malicious intent to injure or a deliberate failure to avoid substantially certain, unnecessary injury. Prohibits their award for products that comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, absent material and knowing misrepresentation by those submitting required approval or clearance information to the FDA. Authorizes periodic payment of future damages to claimants. Excludes suits for vaccine-related death or injury from the requirements of this Act if otherwise covered under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Preempts State law unless such law imposes greater protections for health care providers and organizations from liability, loss, or damages. .
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Wilderness Study Area Release Act - Releases all lands designated as wilderness study areas more than 15 years before enactment of this Act from such status and makes them available for use in accordance with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960. Requires any wilderness study area so designated after the enactment of this Act to remain in such status until the earlier of the following, after which any area not designated as wilderness shall be released and made available under such Act: (1) five years after the date of such designation; (2) the area is determined not to meet wilderness area criteria; (3) the area is determined to meet such criteria; or (4) the area is designated as a wilderness area by an Act of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Honors the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Nation's first charter school. Commends the charter school movement and charter schools, teachers, parents, and students across the Nation for their ongoing contributions to education and improving and strengthening the Nation's public school system. Supports the goals of National Charter Schools Week.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2002
Federal Agency Protection of Privacy Act - Requires Federal agencies: (1) when publishing a general notice of proposed rulemaking for any proposed rule or for an interpretative rule involving the internal revenue laws, to prepare, make available for public comment, and publish an initial analysis describing the rule's impact on the privacy of individuals; and (2) when promulgating the final rule, to prepare, make publicly available, and publish a final privacy impact analysis that includes a summary of the significant issues raised by and changes made pursuant to public comments on the initial analysis. Requires the head of an agency promulgating a rule that may have a significant privacy impact on individuals or on a substantial number of individuals to use specified techniques to assure that individuals have been given an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking. Requires each agency to: (1) carry out a periodic review of promulgated rules that have such impact to determine whether each such rule can be amended or rescinded in a manner that minimizes such impact while remaining in accordance with applicable statutes; (2) carry out such review in accordance with a plan that provides for the review of each rule every ten years after the rule was published as a final rule; and (3) publish annually a list of the rules to be reviewed. Sets forth provisions governing judicial review of agency compliance with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 2002
Tax Exemption for Military Student Loan Repayment Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income repayments by the Department of Defense of certain student loans owed by members of the uniformed services.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Syria Accountability Act of 2002 - Prohibits the President from exporting any item on the United States Munitions List or Commerce Control List of dual-use items in the Export Administration Regulations, providing any U.S. assistance to U.S. businesses with respect to investment or other activities, or conducting Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Trade Development Agency programs in or with respect to Syria. Directs the President to impose two or more specified sanctions against Syria. Requires maintenance of such prohibition and sanctions until the President certifies that Syria meets specified requirements, including that it: (1) does not support international terrorist groups; (2) has withdrawn all of its military personnel from Lebanon; (3) has ceased the development and deployment of ballistic missiles and biological and chemical weapons; (4) is no longer in violation of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 661 and subsequent relevant resolutions; (5) has made substantial progress in negotiations aimed at a peace agreement with Israel and a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon; and (6) is respecting the sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon as required under UN Security Council Resolution 520. Authorizes the President to provide development assistance to Syria and Lebanon if these six requirements are met.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2002
American Servicemember and Citizen Protection Act of 2002 - Urges the President to formally rescind the signature approving the Statute of the International Criminal Court made on behalf of the United States and to take necessary steps to prevent the Court's establishment. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for the establishment or operation of the Court. Declares that any action taken by or on behalf of the Court: (1) against any member of the U.S. armed forces shall be considered an act of aggression against the United States; or (2) against any U.S. citizen or national shall be considered an offense against the law of nations. Sets forth both civil and criminal penalties against any person who knowingly violates the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2002
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each House. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2002
Amends: (1) title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend the abstinence education funding through FY 2007; and (2) SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to extend grants to States for the transitional medical assistance program through FY 2003.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2002
Medicare Rural Access Preservation Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), with respect to covered outpatient department (OPD) services furnished in sole community hospitals during 2003 or 2004, to require that the payment due be increased by the difference between the two amounts whenever the prospective payment system (PPS) amount is less than the pre-BBA amount (the amount determined before enactment of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997). Increases by 20 percent the Medicare payment for home health care furnished in a frontier area during 2003 through 2006. Permits hospitals to increase temporarily above 15 the number of acute care inpatient beds, provided the hospital will maintain an annual average daily inpatient census of not more than 12 beds. Increases by 15 percent the Medicare payment for hospice care furnished in a frontier area during 2003 through 2006. Prohibits the Secretary of Human Services and a fiscal intermediary from taking action to deny payment for hospice care for an individual on the basis that the individual is not terminally ill if the individual dies within six months of the date admitted into the hospice program. Directs the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to evaluate the standards used by fiscal intermediaries in denying a physician certification that an individual is terminally ill.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Social Security Program Protection Act of 2002 - Amends Social Security Act provisions to direct, with certain limitations, the Commissioner of Social Security to fully reimburse Social Security beneficiaries for any part of their benefit that was misused by a representative payee. Defines misuse of benefits. Establishes that a representative payee that is not a Federal, State or local government agency will be held liable for misuse of funds and for lying or withholding information relevant to his right to be a representative. Forbids a prospective representative of a beneficiary from serving if he has been convicted of any offense under Federal or State law resulting in imprisonment for more than one year unless the Commissioner deems it appropriate. Forbids a fugitive felon from serving as a representative. Identifies attorneys who have received certain sanctions as ineligible to be representatives. Establishes that certain individuals fleeing prosecution or confinement shall not be allowed benefits unless the Commissioner finds good cause to allow them. Forbids benefits from being distributed to individuals violating probation or parole under State or Federal law. Forbids payment of benefits to individuals removed from the United States. Sets cap of $100 on assessments owed by attorney representatives upon receiving payments for past-due benefits. Sets cap of 25% of the amount of payment of past-due benefits for a payment from the Commissioner to an attorney representative. Defines "disabled beneficiary." Extends availability of federal and state work incentive services to additional individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Amends the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 to make as one of its purposes encouraging the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) to develop, assess, and implement effective outreach methods and tools to ensure that at least 50 percent of all microenterprise assistance authorized under such Act for developing countries be used to assist the poorest of the poor, that is, those persons living in the bottom 50 percent below the poverty line or whose average daily living expenses are equal to, or less than, the equivalent of one dollar per day. Directs the Administrator of AID to take certain actions to increase the involvement of the Peace Corps in microenterprise initiatives to assist the poorest of the poor. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require that, in carrying out sustainable poverty-focused microenterprise development grant assistance programs under the Act, 50 percent of all microenterprise resources be targeted to very poor entrepreneurs. Declares that, in order to maximize the sustainable development impact of microenterprise development grant assistance authorized under the Act, the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering such assistance shall establish a monitoring system that, among other things, adopts the widespread use of proven and effective poverty assessment tools to identify the poorest of the poor and ensure that they receive needed microenterprise credits, loans, and assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Abandoned Hardrock Mines Reclamation Act of 2002 - Establishes in the Treasury an interest-bearing Abandoned Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund. Requires any person producing hardrock minerals from a mine within an unpatented mining claim or a mine on land that was patented under the general mining laws to pay into such fund a percentage-based reclamation fee. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to use the Fund for the reclamation and restoration affecting eligible areas. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to issue an abandoned or inactive mined land waste remediation permit to a remediating party (the United States, States, local governments, or Indian tribes) for discharges associated with remediation activity at abandoned or inactive mined land under certain conditions. Authorizes and sets forth guidelines for issuance of permits by the Administrator and application requirements. Authorizes enforcement actions against parties who fail to comply with permit conditions. Makes remediation plans under permits issued under this Act eligible for nonpoint source management grants.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Makes title IX (relating to sunset provisions) of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 inapplicable to title III (relating to marriage penalty relief) of such Act, thus making title III permanent.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Powder-Crack Cocaine Penalty Equalization Act of 2002 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to eliminate the disparity in sentencing between crack and powder cocaine, with regard to trafficking, possession, importation, and exportation of such substances, by changing the applicable amounts for powder cocaine to those currently applicable to crack cocaine.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2002
Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise the payment for certain Federally qualified health center (FQHC) services furnished to an individual enrolled with a Medicare+Choice organization under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice), allowing for supplemental reimbursement, among other changes. Amends Medicare+Choice to add additional Medicare+Choice contract requirements. Amends SSA title XI with respect to criminal penalties for acts involving Federal health care programs, particularly illegal remunerations (kickbacks). Exempts from the prohibition against such remunerations any remuneration: (1) between a FQHC (or an entity controlled by such a health center) and a Medicare+Choice organization pursuant to a specified written agreement; and (2) between a certain kind of public or nonprofit private health center entity and any individual or entity providing goods, items, services, donations, loans, or a combination, to such health center entity pursuant to an agreement, if such agreement produces a community benefit that will be used by the health center entity to maintain or increase the availability or accessibility, or enhance the quality, of services provided to a medically underserved population served by the health center entity. Amends Medicare to provide for coverage of additional FQHC services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards relating to the exception for health center entity arrangements to described anti-kickback penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2002
Housing Affordability for America Act of 2002 - Amends specified housing-related Acts with respect to: (1) home investment partnerships; (2) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance for single and multifamily housing, and health care facilities; (3) supportive housing for elderly and disabled families; (4) section 8 rental housing assistance; (5) public housing; (6) Hope VI revitalization assistance; (7) homeless housing programs; (8) Native American housing; (9) housing impact analysis; (10) community development block grants; (11) housing counseling programs; (13) housing opportunities for persons with AIDS; and (14) Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) guarantee fees.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2002
Congratulates Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, on its 90th anniversary and wishes it continued success in its efforts on behalf of all people.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2002
Requires the death gratuity paid upon the active-duty death of a member of the armed forces to be increased at the same time and by the same percentage that military retired and retainer pay is increased for a cost-of-living adjustment.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2002
Fallen Heroes Flag Act of 2002 - Allows the Representative (Member of Congress, including Delegate or Resident Commissioner to Congress) of the immediate family of a deceased fire fighter, law enforcement officer, emergency technician, or other rescue worker who died in the line of duty to provide the family, at their request, with a Capitol-flown flag, together with a certificate, signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Representative providing the flag, which contains an expression of sympathy for the family.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Forest Service and other Federal land management agencies should, among other specified actions, fully implement the Western Governors Association's Collaborative ten-year Strategy for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment to reduce the overabundance of forest fuels that place these resources at high risk of catastrophic wildfire; (2) the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior should immediately prepare for public review a national prescribed fire strategy for public lands; and (3) such strategy should be incorporated into any regulatory land use planning programs that propose the use of prescribed fire as a management practice.
![Official portrait of Rep. Schaffer, Bob [R-CO-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000112_200.jpg)