United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2002
Sex Tourism Prohibition Improvement Act of 2002 - Amends Federal criminal code provisions prohibiting traveling in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in an illicit sexual act with a juvenile to prohibit: (1) traveling into the United States for such purpose; (2) traveling in foreign commerce and engaging in such sexual conduct; or (3) arranging, inducing, procuring, or facilitating such travel.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2002
Amends the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, as amended by other specified Federal law, to extend until June 1, 2002, the reenactment of chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code (Adjustment of Debts of a Family Farmer with Regular Annual Income) (thereby extending family farmer bankruptcy relief). Makes this Act effective as of October 1, 2001 (the previous expiration date).
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Permanent Investment in American Workers and Workplace Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code as it relates to a special allowance for certain property acquired after September 10, 2001. Strikes the deadline of September 11, 2004 for acquiring such property, thereby permanently extending the bonus depreciation available under the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002.
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 · 12 March 2002
Fuel Price Stability Act of 2002 - Amends Clean Air Act reformulated gasoline provisions to allow the Governor of Illinois, Indiana, or Wisconsin to allow the sale or dispensing in a covered area (one of certain ozone nonattainment areas) in such State of conventional gasoline or reformulated gasoline that is not certified for such area if: (1) the gasoline is certified by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for sale in any other region of the country; and (2) the Governor finds that reduced availability of reformulated gasoline certified for the area has resulted, or is likely to result, in a significant price increase for such gasoline in that area.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2002
Homeland Security Information Sharing Act - Directs the President to: (1) prescribe procedures for Federal agencies for sharing homeland security information with State and local personnel and for declassifying such information; and (2) ensure that such procedures apply to each element of the intelligence community and that the requisite technology is available. Requires each intelligence community element, under procedures prescribed by the Director of Central Intelligence and the Attorney General, to share homeland security information, with credibility assessments, with State and local personnel. Directs that: (1) such procedures include existing information sharing systems; and (2) each element of the Federal intelligence and law enforcement communities, as well as specified congressional committees, have access to each information sharing system and the information within it. Directs the President to prescribe procedures under which Federal agencies may share classified homeland security information with appropriate State and local personnel, including through security clearance investigations, non-disclosure agreements, and increased use of information-sharing partnerships.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2002
Schoolchildren's Health Protection Act - Amends the General Education Provisions Act to prohibit Federal education funding (from programs for which the Secretary or Department of Education has administrative responsibility) to any State or local educational agency that provides to an unemancipated minor, at an elementary or secondary school, postcoital emergency contraception (e.g. the "morning-after pill") or a prescription for such contraception.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2002
Pension Security Act of 2002 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require individual account plans, including those with cash or deferred arrangements under IRC section 401(k), to furnish quarterly pension benefit statements to plan participants and beneficiaries with rights to direct investments. Requires individual account plan administrators to give 30 days notice (except in specified circumstances) to plan participants and beneficiaries before a period (lockdown, blackout) in which their ability to divest or diversify assets control over their account assets will be limited. Provides that, during such lockdown periods, employers are not exempt from liability for failing in fiduciary duty with respect to individual account plan investments; but states that this loss of exemption from liability is not triggered by any limitations or restrictions on employee ability to divest or diversify assets, if such limitations or restrictions are disclosed to participants and beneficiaries through summary plan description or materials describing specific investment alternatives under the plan. Amends ERISA and IRC to prohibit individual account plans from acquiring or holding employer securities with respect to which there is any restriction on divestment by a participant or beneficiary after the participant has completed three years of plan participation. Exempts employee stock ownership plans (ESOPS) from this prohibition. Allows ERISA 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. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit certain insider trading during pension plan transaction suspension periods.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2002
Expresses Congress' profound sorrow of the death of the Honorable Henry Reuss and extends its condolences to his family, especially his wife Margaret. Expresses its profound gratitude to the Honorable Henry Reuss and his family for the service that he rendered to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2002
Declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the scheduled tax relief provided for by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, passed by a bipartisan majority in Congress, should not be suspended or repealed; (2) suspending, repealing, or delaying provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 is a tax increase; (3) increasing taxes in the midst of a recession would not be helpful to the Nation's economy or American workers; and (4) instead of increasing taxes, Congress should be working with the President to promote long-term economic growth through a fair tax code that puts the least possible burden on taxpayers.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2002
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, passed by a bipartisan majority, should be implemented as scheduled; (2) delaying or repealing provisions of such Act is a tax increase; and (3) Congress should work with the President to ensure a fair tax code that puts the least burden on the taxpayers.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2001
Amends the Clean Air Act to allow the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to approve a provision in a State implementation plan controlling or prohibiting the use of a motor vehicle fuel or additive only if such control requires the use of either Federal clean burning gasoline (regarding which the Administrator is directed to establish requirements under this Act, replacing those for fuel currently called "reformulated gasoline") or low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline (as defined in this Act) for use during the high ozone season. Permits previously approved plan provisions effecting such controls to remain in effect for four years after enactment of this Act only if the State reevaluates the provisions and establishes that their benefits in terms of air quality improvement, consistent supply, production costs, and stable prices exceed the benefits of modifying them to require the use of Federal clean burning fuel or low RVP gasoline. Repeals reformulated gasoline oxygen content requirements. Prohibits, effective January 1, 2006, the introduction into commerce of any fuel containing methyl tertiary butyl ether. Requires that, beginning in 2003, gasoline sold in the United States be comprised of a specified percentage of renewable fuel (ethanol or biomass-derived fuel or other fuel used to reduce the quantity of fossil fuel present in gasoline). Provides for adjustment of such percentage in a State and a program of credits for use and exchange by refiners, blenders, and importers. Expresses the sense of Congress in support of the promotion of ethanol as the primary renewable fuel. Directs the Administrator to conduct a study of emissions and air quality changes attributable to this Act's amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2001
American Traveler's Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that, in the case of an individual, there shall be allowed a limited tax credit (up to $1,000, or $2,000, in the case of a joint return) for qualified personal travel expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer on or after the date of the enactment of this Act and before September 1, 2002.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2001
Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 - Directs the Attorney General, during each of FY 2002 through 2006, to increase the number of Immigration and Naturalization (INS) investigators and inspectors. Waives INS personnel limits. Authorizes appropriations for INS, Border Patrol, and consular personnel, training, facilities, and security-related technology. Provides for machine-readable visa fees. Directs U.S. law enforcement and intelligence entities to share alien admissibility- and deportation-related information with INS and the Department of State. Directs the President to develop a law enforcement and intelligence sharing plan for INS and the Department of State. Provides: (1) source and privacy protections; and (2) criminal penalties for information misuse. Directs: (1) INS to fully integrate its databases and data systems; and (2) the President to develop and implement an interoperable law enforcement and intelligence data system (with name-matching and linguistic capacity) for visa, admissibility, or deportation determination purposes. Directs the President to establish the Commission on Interoperable Data Sharing, which shall: (1) monitor information misuse protections under the alien screening plan; and (2) provide oversight of the interoperable data sharing system. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to direct the Secretary of State (Secretary), upon issuance of an alien visa, to provide INS with an electronic version of the alien's visa file prior to the alien's U.S. entry. Sets forth technology standard and interoperability requirements respecting development and implementation of the integrated entry and exit data system and related tamper-resistant, machine-readable documents containing biometric identifiers. Requires visa waiver country certification that it has a program to issue to its nationals qualifying machine-readable passports that are tamper-proof and contain biometric identifiers. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a Terrorist Lookout Committee at each U.S. mission; and (2) provide consular staff with visa screening training. Prohibits the admission of an alien from a country designated to be a state sponsor of international terrorism unless the Secretary has determined that such individual does not pose a U.S. risk or security threat. Conditions participation in the visa waiver program upon a country's timely reporting to the United States of its stolen blank passports. Provides for data system entry of lost or stolen U.S. or foreign passport identification numbers. Directs the President to study the feasibility of establishing a North American National Security Program (United States, Canada, Mexico), including consideration of alien preclearance and preinspection. Amends the Act to: (1) require commercial aircraft or vessels arriving at, or departing from, the United States to provide immigration officers with specified passenger, other occupant, and crew manifest information; and (2) direct the President to conduct a feasibility study regarding such provisions' extension to commercial land carriers. Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to revise and specify vessel prearrival message requirements. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Attorney General to develop an electronic means of verifying and monitoring the foreign student and exchange visitor information program, including aspects of: (1) documentation and visa issuance; (2) U.S. admission; (3) institution notification; (4) documentation transmittal; and (5) registration and enrollment. Requires an institution to notify INS respecting student failure to enroll. Increases student data collection requirements. Specifies information required for foreign student visa applications. Provides for INS and Department of State review of institutions authorized to enroll or sponsor foreign students and exchange visitors. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to extend the deadline for presentation of biometric border crossing identification cards. Directs the Secretary and INS to study alternative approaches to for encouraging or requiring Mexico, Canada, and visa waiver countries to develop an intergovernmental network of interoperable international electronic data systems. Directs the Department of State to retain every nonimmigrant visa application in judicially and administratively admissible form for a period of seven years from the date of application.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2001
Prompt Utilization of Wireless Spectrum Act of 2001 - Approves the settlement reached in NextWave Personal Communications Inc., and NextWave Power Partners Inc., v. Federal Communications Commission and the United States of America. Authorizes and appropriates funds to pay the settlement which requires NextWave's complete relinquishment of any and all claims related to designated licenses or the covered spectrum within 10 days of final bankruptcy settlement approval. Earmarks a portion of such settlement as a nonrefundable advance tax payment. Sets forth provisions governing the subsequent disposition of such licenses through the implementation of auction 35, including bid, payment, ability to withdraw and/or receive refunds, expedited judicial review, and limitations on administrative or judicial review of Commission decisions, determinations, and orders.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2001
Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Response Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add provisions directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services, building upon core public health capabilities, to carry out health-related activities to prepare for and respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. Requires collaboration with States and local governments to ensure a national bioterrorism and public health emergency preparedness plan. Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services the position of Assistant Secretary for Emergency Preparedness. Expands the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a coordinated network of public health laboratories. Provides for: (1) the education of health care personnel regarding recognition and identification of bioweapons; and (2) grants to train health professionals and register volunteers. Requires the maintenance of a national stockpile or stockpiles of drugs, vaccines and other biological products, medical devices, and other supplies adequate to meet the health security needs of the United States in the event of a bioterrorist attack or other public health emergency. Provides for countermeasure research, development, and evaluation. Provides for the waiver of certain Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP requirements during national emergencies. Provides for enhanced regulatory control of dangerous biological agents and toxins. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the protection of the food and drug supply against intentional adulteration. Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect the water supply against terrorist and other intentional acts.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 2001
Terrorism Risk Protection Act - Confers responsibility upon the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to implement a financial assistance program for commercial property and casualty insurers when industry-wide insured losses from acts of terrorism exceed $1 billion. Expresses the sense of Congress that acts of terrorism resulting in insured losses greater than $100 billion would necessitate further action by the Congress to address such additional losses. Sets forth repayment mechanisms under the financial assistance plan which provide for: (1) an assessments schedule; and (2) a terrorism loss repayment surcharge plan based upon imposing a policyholder premium surcharge on commercial property and casualty insurance. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) should develop appropriate definitions for acts of terrorism and appropriate standards for making determinations regarding such acts; (2) each State should adopt those definitions and standards for purposes of regulating insurance coverage in that State; (3) the Secretary should advocate and promote the development of definitions and standards appropriate for purposes of this Act; and (4) after such consultation, the Secretary should adopt definitions for acts of terrorism and standards for determinations appropriate for this Act. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the NAIC should develop appropriate guidelines for commercial insurers and pools regarding maintenance of reserves against the risks of acts of terrorism; and (B) each State should adopt such guidelines for purposes of regulating commercial insurers doing business in that State. Expresses the sense of Congress that the States should require that the price of terrorism insurance coverage, including the costs of any terrorism related assessments or surcharges under this Act, be separately disclosed. Declares that a Federal cause of action shall be the exclusive remedy if assessments or surcharges are required due to insured losses resulting from acts of terrorism. Limits damages in actions regarding insurance claims and attorneys' fees. Prohibits the award of punitive damages, or of non-economic damages in excess of the defendant's direct proportion of responsibility for the plaintiff's physical harm. Instructs the President to establish a commission to study and report to Congress on the potential effects of an act of terrorism on the life insurance industry in the United States and the markets served by such industry.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 2001
Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to set the conversion factor (update) for payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule for 2002 at 0.9 percent less than the conversion factor for 2001. Declares that this conversion factor and a specified update adjustment factor for a year after 2002 shall be applied as if this Act had not been in effect. Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to study and report to Congress on replacing or modifying the use of the sustainable growth rate as a factor in determining the update for such payments such that the factor used more fully accounts for changes in the unit costs of providing physicians' services.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2001
Urges the President to undertake efforts to end restrictions on the freedoms and human rights of the enclaved people of Cyprus. Expresses the intention of Congress to remain actively interested until such rights and freedoms are restored, respected, and safeguarded.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2001
Recognizes and commends the efforts of State and local governments and community, religious, and charitable organizations to support military and civilian personnel engaged in the war on terrorism. Encourages the people of the United States: (1) to support such personnel through a united effort to be known as Operation Enduring Support; and (2) as part of such Operation, to support military families, stage patriotic send-off and welcome-home rallies and parades; and volunteer and contribute financial assistance to the Red Cross, United Way, and similar organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2001
Immigration Reform and Accountability Act of 2001 - Replaces (in the Department of Justice) the Immigration and Naturalization Service with the Agency for Immigration Affairs, to be headed by the Associate Attorney General for Immigration Affairs. Establishes within the Agency: (1) the Bureau of Immigration Services and Adjudications; and (2) the Bureau of Immigration Enforcement. Sets forth Agency and Bureau offices and authorities. Provides for the transfer of all necessary personnel and allocation of appropriations. Establishes in the Treasury the Immigration Reorganization Transition Account. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Bureaus are equally important and should be adequately funded; and (2) adjudication and enforcement functions should operate at levels not below those in existence prior to enactment of this Act. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish an Internet-based system for accessing Immigration and Nationality Act benefit filings; (2) conduct an on-line filing and improved processing feasibility study; and (3) establish a Technology Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2001
Anti-Hoax Terrorism Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal criminal code to set penalties for knowingly engaging in conduct that: (1) is likely to impart the false impression that activity that violates prohibitions regarding biological weapons, chemical weapons, nuclear materials, or weapons of mass destruction is occurring or will occur; and (2) causes an emergency response by governmental agencies. Makes any persons who engage in such conduct jointly and severally liable to any party incurring expenses incident to the investigation of such conduct, including the cost of any military or civilian agency response to protect public health or safety. Directs the court to order a defendant who has been convicted of such an offense to reimburse any party incurring such expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2001
Praises the U.S. people for their patriotism and generosity in donating their money, time, and blood to support the victims of the terrorist attacks against the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001, and their families. Commends charitable organizations for their hard work in providing assistance to the victims and their families, and urges them to use the money collected for the purposes for which it was donated. Condemns individuals and groups that fraudulently use contributions for objectives unrelated to the purpose for which such contributions were made.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2001
Late Fee Emergency Relief Act of 2001 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to limit the late fee and annual percentage rate increase imposed upon a consumer credit obligation in the case of any consumer whose principal residence is located in a postal zip code designated by the Postmaster General as a biological, chemical, or radiological attack-related mail disruption area. Requires the Postmaster General to: (1) designate such an area promptly for a 30-day period following any such mail disruption; and (2) disseminate monthly to specified agencies and publish in the Federal Register the postal zip codes designated as mail disruption areas.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2001
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001 - Establishes a counterterrorism fund. Condemns discrimination against Arab and Muslim Americans. Increases funding for the technical support center at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Authorizes the Attorney General to request military assistance to enforce laws related to any weapon of mass destruction. Requires the Director of the U.S. Secret Service to develop a national electronic crime task force. Grants the President authority to confiscate any property of any foreign person, country, or organization involved with an attack on or armed hostilities with the United States. Amends Federal criminal law to provide for authority to intercept wire, oral, and electronic communications relating to computer fraud and abuse offenses. Permits disclosure to specified Federal personnel of Federal grand jury matters pertaining to intelligence or counterintelligence. Allows sharing of electronic, wire, and oral interception information by Federal law enforcement and other specified Federal officials. Permits the similar sharing of foreign intelligence information. Requires the FBI Director to expedite the hiring of translators to support counterterrorism investigations and operations. Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 with respect to roving surveillance authority and duration of surveillance of non-U.S. persons who are agents of a foreign power. Permits the seizure of voice mail messages pursuant to search warrants. Allows subpoenas for records of electronic communications to include temporarily assigned network addresses. Permits electronic communication and remote computing service providers to make emergency disclosures to a governmental entity of customer electronic communications to protect life and limb. Authorizes Federal district courts to allow a delay of required notices of the execution of a warrant if immediate notice may have an adverse result. Prohibits use of a pen register or trap and trace devices in any investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities that is conducted solely on the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Authorizes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (or designee) to apply for an court order requiring production of certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations. Amends Federal criminal law to: (1) require a trap and trace device to restrict recording or decoding so as not to include the contents of a wire or electronic communication; (2) apply a court order for a pen register or trap and trace devices to any person or entity providing wire or electronic communication service in the United States whose assistance may facilitate execution of the order; (3) allow a trap and trace device to identify the source (but not the contents) of a wire or electronic communication; and (4) provide for nationwide service of search warrants for electronic evidence. Amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to extend trade sanctions to the territory of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban. Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for administrative discipline of Federal officers or employees who violate prohibitions against unauthorized disclosures of information gathered under this Act. Provides for civil actions against the United States for damages by any person aggrieved by such violations. Terminates specified provisions of this Act on December 31, 2005. International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 - Sunsets this Act after the first day of FY2005 if Congress enacts specified legislation to that effect. Prescribes special measures for jurisdictions, financial institutions, or international transactions of primary money laundering concern, including a proscription against United States correspondent accounts with foreign shell banks. Establishes Federal jurisdiction over foreign money launderers, money that is laundered through a foreign bank, and foreign and domestic bank records related to anti-money laundering programs. Provides for forfeiture of money laundering funds in U.S. interbank accounts. Authorizes Federal application for restraining orders to preserve the availability of property subject to a foreign forfeiture or confiscation judgment. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to issue regulations to ensure that concentration accounts of financial institutions are not used to prevent association of the identity of an individual customer with the movement of funds of which the customer is the direct or beneficial owner. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations prescribing minimum standards for financial institutions regarding customer identity in connection with the opening of accounts. Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require consideration of the effectiveness of a company or companies in combating money laundering during reviews of proposed bank shares acquisitions or mergers. Urges U.S. negotiations for international cooperation in investigations of money laundering, financial crimes, and the finances of terrorist groups. Establishes civil liability immunity for disclosures by a financial institution that reports suspicious activities. Mandates that financial institutions institute anti-money laundering programs. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to authorize the inclusion of suspicions of illegal activity in written employment references . Mandates that securities brokers and dealers report suspicious financial transactions. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to share monetary instruments transactions records with any U.S. intelligence agency upon request. Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to require a consumer reporting agency to furnish all information in a consumer's file to a government agency authorized to conduct investigations of or intelligence activities related to international terrorism. Places within the ambit of mandatory records and reports on monetary instruments transactions any person who engages as a business in the transmission of funds, including through an informal value transfer banking system or network (e.g., hawala) of people facilitating the transfer of value domestically or internationally outside of the conventional financial institutions system. Makes the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network a bureau in the Department of the Treasury. Directs the Secretary to establish a highly secure network in the Network that allows financial institutions to file certain reports and receive alerts and other information regarding suspicious activities warranting immediate and enhanced scrutiny. Increases the civil and criminal penalties for money laundering. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to provide for uniform protection authority for Federal Reserve facilities, including law enforcement officers authorized to carry firearms and make warrantless arrests. Amends Federal law to require reports relating to coins and currency of more than $10,000 received in a nonfinancial trade or business. Establishes as a bulk cash smuggling offense the knowing concealment and attempted transport (or transfer) across U.S. borders of currency and monetary instruments in excess of $10,000, with intent to evade specified currency reporting requirements. Requires courts to order, as part of a criminal sentence, forfeiture of all property involved in certain currency reporting offenses. Amends the Federal criminal code to revise the prohibition of unlicensed (currently, illegal) money transmitting businesses. Increases the criminal penalties for counterfeiting domestic and foreign currency and obligations. Authorizes: (1) the Attorney General to waive certain Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) personnel caps with respect to ensuring security needs on the Northern U.S. border; and (2) appropriations for increased Border Patrol, Customs Service, and INS personnel along such border. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Attorney General and the FBI to provide the Department of State and the INS with access to specified criminal history extracts in order to determine whether or not a visa or admissions applicant has a criminal history. Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to develop a technology standard to identify visa and admissions applicants. Broadens the scope of aliens ineligible for admission and deportable for terrorist activities. Defines "terrorist organization" as: (1) a designated foreign or other terrorist organization; or (2) a group of two or more individuals which engage in specified terrorist-related activities. Provides for mandatory detention until removal from the United States (regardless of any relief from removal) of an alien certified by the Attorney General as a suspected terrorist or threat to national security. Requires release of such alien after seven days if removal proceedings have not commenced, or the alien has not been charged with a criminal offense. Authorizes detention for additional periods of up to six months of an alien not likely to be deported in the reasonably foreseeable future only if release will threaten U.S. national security or the safety of the community or any person. Limits judicial review to habeas corpus proceedings in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, in developing the integrated entry and exit data system, to focus on the use of biometric technology and the development of tamper-resistant documents readable at ports of entry. Directs the Attorney General to implement fully and expand the foreign student monitoring program. Requires audits and reports on implementation of the mandate for machine readable passports. Provides for: (1) special immigrant status for certain alien victims of terrorist activities; and (2) humanitarian relief for certain surviving alien spouses and children of U.S. citizens killed by such activities. (Excludes terrorists or family members from such benefits.) Authorizes the Attorney General and revises the Secretary of State's authority to pay rewards to combat terrorism. Qualifies a Federal terrorism offense for collection of DNA for identification Authorizes consultation among Federal law enforcement officers regarding information acquired from an electronic surveillance or physical search in terrorism and related investigations or protective measures. Allows the FBI to request telephone toll and transactional records, financial records, and consumer reports in any investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities only if the investigation is not conducted solely on the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Revises U.S. Secret Service jurisdiction with respect to fraud and related activity in connection with computers. Amends the General Education Provisions Act and the National Education Statistics Act of 1994 to provide for disclosure of educational records to the Attorney General in a terrorism investigation or prosecution. Provides for expedited payments for: (1) public safety officers involved in the prevention, investigation, rescue, or recovery efforts related to a terrorist attack; and (2) heroic public safety officers. Increases Public Safety Officers Benefit Program payments. Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to establish an antiterrorism emergency reserve in the Victims of Crime Fund. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime to make supplemental grants for victims of terrorism to States, victim service organizations, public agencies, and nongovernmental organizations the provide assistance to crime victims. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend Bureau of Justice Assistance regional information sharing system grants to systems that enhance the investigation and prosecution abilities of participating Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in addressing multi-jurisdictional terrorist conspiracies and activities. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for terrorist attacks and other acts of violence against mass transportation systems. Prescribes penalties for harboring any person known to have committed or to be about to commit a terrorism offense. Establishes Federal jurisdiction over crimes committed at U.S. facilities abroad. Subjects to civil forfeiture all assets, foreign or domestic, of terrorist organizations. Extends the statute of limitations for certain terrorism offenses without limit. Provides for alternative maximum penalties for terrorism crimes. Makes the penalties for attempts and conspiracies the same as the penalties for terrorism offenses. Makes any term of years or life the supervised release terms for offenses with terrorism predicates. Makes specified terrorism crimes Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute predicates. Revises prohibitions and penalties with regard to fraud and related activity in connection with computers to include specified cyberterrorism offenses. Directs the Attorney General to establish regional computer forensic laboratories, and support existing laboratories, to develop specified cybersecurity capabilities. Prescribes penalties for knowing possession in certain circumstances of biological agents, toxins, or delivery systems, especially by certain restricted persons. Requires the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to establish requirements and priorities for foreign intelligence collected under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and to provide assistance to the Attorney General to ensure that information derived from electronic surveillance or physical searches is disseminated for efficient and effective foreign intelligence purposes. Requires the inclusion of international terrorist activities within the scope of foreign intelligence under such Act. Expresses the sense of Congress that officers and employees of the intelligence community should establish and maintain intelligence relationships to acquire information on terrorists and terrorist organizations. Provides temporary authority to defer the submission to Congress of certain reports on intelligence and intelligence-related matters. Requires the Attorney General or head of any other Federal department or agency to disclose expeditiously to the DCI any foreign intelligence acquired in the course of a criminal investigation. Requires the Attorney General, DCI, and Secretary of the Treasury to report jointly to Congress on the feasibility and desirability of reconfiguring the Foreign Asset Tracking Center and the Office of Foreign Assets Control to provide for the analysis and dissemination of foreign intelligence relating to the financial capabilities and resources of international terrorist organizations. Requires the DCI to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the establishment and maintenance of the National Virtual Translation Center for timely and accurate translations of foreign intelligence for elements of the intelligence community. Requires the Attorney General to provide a program of training to Government officials regarding the identification and use of foreign intelligence. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to designate one official to review allegations of abuse of civil rights, civil liberties, and racial and ethnic profiling by government employees and officials. Expresses the sense of Congress condemning acts of violence or discrimination against any American, including Sikh-Americans. Amends the Federal criminal code with respect to venue in money laundering cases. First Responders Assistance Act - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to State and local governments to improve the ability of State and local law enforcement, fire department, and first responders to respond to and prevent acts of terrorism. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make inadmissible to the United States any alien engaged in money laundering. Authorizes funds for Drug Enforcement Administration police training in South and Central Asia. Directs the Attorney General to conduct a feasibility study on the use of a biometric identifier scanning system with access to the FBI integrated automated fingerprint identification system at overseas consular posts and points of entry to the United States. Authorizes the use of Department of Defense funds to contract with local and State governments, during the period of Operation Enduring Freedom, for the performance of security functions at U.S. military installations. Crimes Against Charitable Americans Act of 2001 - Amends the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act to cover fraudulent charitable solicitations. Amends the Federal transportation code to prohibit States from licensing any individual to operate a motor vehicle transporting hazardous material unless the Secretary of Transportation determines that such individual does not pose a security risk warranting denial of the license. Requires background checks of such license applicants by the Attorney General upon State request. Expresses the sense of the Senate on substantial new U.S. investment in bioterrorism preparedness and response. Directs the Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support of the Office of Justice Programs to make grants to enhance State and local capability to prepare for and respond to terrorist acts. Amends the Crime Identification Technology Act of 1998 to extend it through FY 2007 and provide for antiterrorism grants to States and localities. Critical Infrastructures Protection Act of 2001 - Establishes the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center to serve as a source of national competence to address critical infrastructure protection and continuity through support for activities related to counterterrorism, threat assessment, and risk mitigation.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2001
Uniting and Strengthening America Act or the USA Act of 2001 - Establishes a counterterrorism fund. Condemns discrimination against Arab and Muslim Americans. Increases funding for the technical support center at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Authorizes the Attorney General to request military assistance to enforce laws related to any weapon of mass destruction. Requires the Director of the U.S. Secret Service to develop a national electronic crime task force. Grants the President authority to confiscate any property of any foreign person, country, or organization involved with an attack on or armed hostilities with the United States. Amends Federal criminal law to provide for authority to intercept wire, oral, and electronic communications relating to computer fraud and abuse offenses. Permits disclosure to specified Federal personnel of Federal grand jury matters pertaining to intelligence or counterintelligence. Allows sharing of electronic, wire, and oral interception information by Federal law enforcement and other specified Federal officials. Permits the similar sharing of foreign intelligence information. Requires the FBI Director to expedite the hiring of translators to support counterterrorism investigations and operations. Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 with respect to roving surveillance authority and duration of surveillance of non-U.S. persons who are agents of a foreign power. Permits the seizure of voice mail messages pursuant to search warrants. Allows subpoenas for records of electronic communications to include temporarily assigned network addresses. Permits electronic communication and remote computing service providers to make emergency disclosures to a governmental entity of customer electronic communications to protect life and limb. Authorizes Federal district courts to allow a delay of required notices of the execution of a warrant if immediate notice may have an adverse result. Prohibits use of a pen register or trap and trace devices in any investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities that is conducted solely on the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Authorizes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (or designee) to apply for an court order requiring production of certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations. Amends Federal criminal law to: (1) require a trap and trace device to restrict recording or decoding so as not to include the contents of a wire or electronic communication; (2) apply a court order for a pen register or trap and trace devices to any person or entity providing wire or electronic communication service in the United States whose assistance may facilitate execution of the order; (3) allow a trap and trace device to identify the source (but not the contents) of a wire or electronic communication; and (4) provide for nationwide service of search warrants for electronic evidence. Amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to extend trade sanctions to the territory of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban. Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for administrative discipline of Federal officers or employees who violate prohibitions against unauthorized disclosures of information gathered under this Act. Provides for civil actions against the United States for damages by any person aggrieved by such violations. Terminates specified provisions of this Act on December 31, 2004. Amends Federal criminal law to: (1) extend money laundering penalties to the laundering of the proceeds of terrorism; and (2) subject to civil forfeiture all assets, foreign or domestic, of terrorist organizations. Authorizes: (1) the Attorney General to waive certain Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) personnel caps with respect to ensuring security needs on the Northern U.S. border; and (2) appropriations for increased Border Patrol, Customs Service, and INS personnel along such border. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Attorney General and the FBI to provide the Department of State and the INS with access to specified criminal history extracts in order to determine whether or not a visa or admissions applicant has a criminal history. Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to develop a technology standard to identify visa and admissions applicants. Broadens the scope of aliens ineligible for admission and deportable for terrorist activities. Defines "terrorist organization" as: (1) a designated foreign or other terrorist organization; or (2) a group of two or more individuals which engage in specified terrorist-related activities. Provides for mandatory detention until removal from the United States (regardless of any relief from removal) of an alien certified by the Attorney General as a suspected terrorist or threat to national security. Requires release of such alien after seven days if removal proceedings have not commenced, or the alien has not been charged with a criminal offense. Limits judicial review to habeas corpus proceedings in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Broadens visa information disclosure requirements. Provides for: (1) special immigrant status for certain alien victims of terrorist activities; and (2) humanitarian relief for certain surviving alien spouses and children of U.S. citizens killed by such activities. (Excludes terrorists or family members from such benefits.) Authorizes the Attorney General and revises the Secretary of State's authority to pay rewards to combat terrorism. Qualifies a Federal terrorism offense for collection of DNA for identification Authorizes consultation among Federal law enforcement officers regarding information acquired from an electronic surveillance or physical search in terrorism and related investigations or protective measures. Allows the FBI to request telephone toll and transactional records, financial records, and consumer reports in any investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities only if the investigation is not conducted solely on the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Revises U.S. Secret Service jurisdiction with respect to fraud and related activity in connection with computers. Amends the General Education Provisions Act and the National Education Statistics Act of 1994 to provide for disclosure of educational records to the Attorney General in a terrorism investigation or prosecution. Provides for expedited payments for: (1) public safety officers involved in the prevention, investigation, rescue, or recovery efforts related to a terrorist attack; and (2) heroic public safety officers. Increases Public Safety Officers Benefit Program payments. Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to establish an antiterrorism emergency reserve in the Victims of Crime Fund. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime to make supplemental grants for victims of terrorism to States, victim service organizations, public agencies, and nongovernmental organizations the provide assistance to crime victims. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend Bureau of Justice Assistance regional information sharing system grants to systems that enhance the investigation and prosecution abilities of participating Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in addressing multi-jurisdictional terrorist conspiracies and activities. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for terrorist attacks and other acts of violence against mass transportation systems. Establishes Federal jurisdiction over crimes committed at U.S. facilities abroad. Subjects to civil forfeiture all assets, foreign or domestic, of terrorist organizations. Extends the statute of limitations for certain terrorism offenses without limit. Provides for alternative maximum penalties for terrorism crimes. Makes the penalties for attempts and conspiracies the same as the penalties for terrorism offenses. Makes any term of years or life the supervised release terms for offenses with terrorism predicates. Makes specified terrorism crimes Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute predicates. Revises prohibitions and penalties with regard to fraud and related activity in connection with computers to include specified cyberterrorism offenses. Directs the Attorney General to establish regional computer forensic laboratories, and support existing laboratories, to develop specified cybersecurity capabilities. Requires the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to establish requirements and priorities for foreign intelligence collected under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and to provide assistance to the Attorney General to ensure that information derived from electronic surveillance or physical searches is disseminated for efficient and effective foreign intelligence purposes. Requires the inclusion of international terrorist activities within the scope of foreign intelligence under such Act. Expresses the sense of Congress that officers and employees of the intelligence community should establish and maintain intelligence relationships to acquire information on terrorists and terrorist organizations. Provides temporary authority to defer the submission to Congress of certain reports on intelligence and intelligence-related matters. Requires the Attorney General or head of any other Federal department or agency to disclose expeditiously to the DCI any foreign intelligence acquired in the course of a criminal investigation. Requires the Attorney General, DCI, and Secretary of the Treasury to report jointly to Congress on the feasibility and desirability of reconfiguring the Foreign Asset Tracking Center and the Office of Foreign Assets Control to provide for the analysis and dissemination of foreign intelligence relating to the financial capabilities and resources of international terrorist organizations. Requires the DCI to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the establishment and maintenance of the National Virtual Translation Center for timely and accurate translations of foreign intelligence for elements of the intelligence community. Requires the Attorney General to provide a program of training to Government officials regarding the identification and use of foreign intelligence.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the limited (up to $2,000 annually) carryover of unused benefits from health flexible spending arrangements to subsequent taxable years to be used for the reimbursement of future medical expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require that the depreciation deduction for tangible property placed in service after 2001 be computed using neutral cost recovery ratios.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2001
Declares that, in the quest to identify, locate, and bring to justice the perpetrators and sponsors of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the civil rights and liberties of all Americans, including Sikh-Americans, should be protected. Condemns bigotry and acts of violence or discrimination against any Americans, including Sikh-Americans. Calls upon local and Federal law enforcement authorities to: (1) work to prevent hate crimes against all Americans; and (2) prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all those who commit hate crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2001
Provide Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (PATRIOT) Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) apply a court order for a pen register or trap and trace devices to any person or entity providing wire or electronic communication service in the United States whose assistance may facilitate execution of the order; (2) allow a trap and trace device to identify the source (but not the contents) of a wire or electronic communication; (3) permit seizure of voice mail messages under a warrant; (4) make it lawful to intercept the wire or electronic communication of a computer trespasser in certain circumstances; (5) allow subpoenas for records of electronic communications to include temporarily assigned network addresses; (6) provide for nationwide service of search warrants for electronic evidence; and (7) permit electronic communication and remote computing service providers to make emergency disclosures to a governmental entity of customer electronic communications to protect life and limb. Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to: (1) authorize 90-day orders of electronic surveillance and search warrants regarding non-U.S. persons under foreign intelligence surveillance; (2) require a court order approving an electronic surveillance to direct any person to furnish necessary information, facilities, or technical assistance in circumstances where the Court finds that the actions of the surveillance target may have the effect of thwarting the identification of a specified person; (3) require an application for an electronic surveillance order or search warrant to certify that a significant purpose (currently, the sole or main purpose) of the surveillance is to obtain foreign intelligence information; and (4) authorize the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (or designee) to apply for an court order requiring production of certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations. Makes it lawful for foreign intelligence information obtained as part of a criminal investigation to be provided to any Federal law-enforcement-, intelligence-, protective-, national-defense, or immigration personnel, or the President or Vice President. Repeals the requirement that the FBI Director (or designee) certify the existence of specific and articulable facts that a person or entity is believed to be a foreign power or its agent when requesting a wire or electronic communication service provider or consumer reporting agency to provide access to telephone toll, electronic communication, and other specified transactional records for counterintelligence purposes. Authorizes the President to: (1) block during an investigation any rights, power, or privilege with respect to, or transactions involving, any property in which any foreign country or foreign national has any interest; and (2) confiscate any property (subject to U.S. jurisdiction) of a foreign country, organization, or national against whom U.S. armed forces may be used pursuant to a statute authorizing use of force, or that has been involved in an armed attack against the United States. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to broaden the scope of aliens ineligible for admission and deportable due to terrorist activities. Defines "terrorist organization" as: (1) a designated foreign terrorist organization; or (2) a group of two or more individuals which engages in, or has a significant subgroup which engages in, specified terrorist-related activities. Provides for the mandatory detention until removal from the United States (regardless of any relief from removal) of an alien certified by the Attorney General as a suspected terrorist or threat to national security. Limits judicial review to habeas corpus proceedings in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Broadens visa information disclosure provisions. Authorizes appropriations for increased Border Patrol and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) personnel on the Canadian border. Provides for the sharing of certain FBI criminal history extracts with the Department of State and the INS. Provides for: (1) special immigrant status for certain alien victims of terrorist activities; and (2) humanitarian relief for certain surviving alien spouses and children of U.S. citizens killed by such activities. (Excludes terrorists or family members from such benefits.) Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) extend the statute of limitations for Federal terrorism and specified other offenses without limit; (2) provide for alternative maximum penalties for terrorism crimes; (3) make the penalties for attempts and conspiracies the same as the penalties for terrorism offenses; (4) make specified terrorism crimes Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute predicates; (5) prescribe penalties for knowing possession in certain circumstances of biological agents, toxins, or delivery systems, especially by certain restricted persons; (6) prescribe penalties for support of terrorism through expert advice or assistance, and for harboring any person known to have committed or to be about to commit a terrorism offense; (7) increase to $10,000 the minimum civil damages recoverable for violations of prohibitions against unlawful governmental access to or disclosure of stored wire and electronic communications and transactional records; (8) declare additional extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over any Federal terrorism offense involving a U.S. national or directed at U.S. security or interests; and (9) establish Federal jurisdiction over crimes committed at U.S. facilities abroad. Amends the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to permit: (1) Federal magistrates in any district in which terrorism-related activities may have occurred to issue search warrants for searches within or outside the district; and (2) disclosure to specified Federal personnel of Federal grand jury matters pertaining to terrorism or national security. Qualifies a Federal terrorism offense for collection of DNA for identification. Establishes criminal penalties for: (1) interference with a Federal law enforcement agent engaged in specified protective functions of a special agent of the Department of State and the Foreign Service; and (2) conduct directed against an individual under the protection of such special agents. Amends Federal criminal law to: (1) extend money laundering penalties to the laundering of the proceeds of terrorism; and (2) subject to civil forfeiture all assets, foreign or domestic, of terrorist organizations. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury until January 1, 2004, to disclose to Federal law enforcement agencies, in accordance with specified requirements, tax return information that may be related to terrorism and national security investigations, including the Department of Justice, Department of the Treasury, and Federal intelligence agencies for use by officers and employees (including State or local law enforcement personnel part of a Federal team) who are personally and directly engaged in such an investigation or response. Provides for tax return information disclosures pursuant to an ex parte order by a Federal district court judge or magistrate. Amends Federal criminal law to subject to U.S. extraterritorial jurisdiction any fraud and related activity in connection with access devices (e.g., credit cards). Provides for emergency funding of specified Office of Justice programs, rewards by the Attorney General and the Department of State, Immigration and Naturalization Service overtime. Urges a $25 million State Department reward for Osama bin Laden and other leaders of the September 11 attacks. Amends the Reclamation Recreation Management Act of 1992 to set criminal penalties for violation of security regulations for reclamation dams, facilities, and resources. Authorizes certain officer and employees within a Reclamation project or on Reclamation lands to carry firearms, make arrests, issue warrants, and conduct investigations. Authorizes the FBI Director to expedite the employment of translators to support counterterrorism investigations and operations without regard to applicable Federal personnel requirements and limitations, but subject to necessary security requirements. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to appoint a Deputy Inspector General for Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, and the FBI to review allegations of abuse of civil rights, civil liberties, and racial and ethnic profiling by government employees and officials.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2001
Declares that in the quest to identify, bring to justice, and punish the perpetrators and sponsors of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from South Asia, should be protected. Condemns any acts of violence or discrimination against any Americans.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2001
Requires the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to authorize payment (within 30 days of employing agency certification) of death or permanent disability benefits to qualified beneficiaries of public safety officers who were killed or who suffered a catastrophic injury as a direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty in connection with the rescue or recovery efforts related to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Expansion Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to repeal the sunset date for, and numerical limitation on, Medicare participation in Medicare+Choice medical savings account (MSA) plans under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice). (Thus terminates the demonstration basis for MSA plans, makes authority for them permanent, and the number of enrollees without a ceiling.)
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
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 · 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 · 26 July 2001
Contact Lens Prescription Release Act of 2001 - Instructs the Federal Trade Commission to promulgate a rule on ophthalmic practice that: (1) requires a contact lens prescriber to provide the patient, (or, upon request, the patient's agent), a copy of the contact lenses prescription, including its two-year expiration date; and (2) makes it an unfair trade practice for a contact lenses industry member to publish any advertisement or sales presentation relating to contact lenses that represents that they may be obtained without a valid prescription.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Salmon Planning Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) providing for peer review of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) biological opinion regarding the Operation of the Federal Columbia River power system, issued December 21, 2000, and any subsequent modification of it (opinion) and submission of a report on the results. Directs: (1) the Secretary of Commerce to publish a determination of whether implementation of the salmon recovery measures in the opinion are sufficient to achieve recovery, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, of the salmon and steelhead populations; and if not, whether partially removing the four lower Snake River dams (the dams) are necessary to restore Snake River salmon and steelhead populations; (2) the Secretary of the Interior to publish a determination of whether partially removing the dams are necessary to meet treaty obligations; and (3) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish a determination of whether partially removing the dams are necessary to meet Federal Water Pollution Control Act requirements. Directs the Comptroller General to study the potential effects of partially removing the dams. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Corps of Engineers, to partially remove the dams if the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Interior, or the EPA Administrator finds that such action is necessary to meet the aforementioned requirements. Directs the Secretary of the Army to undertake such preliminary engineering, design, construction, and other activities as necessary to remove the dams.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Living American Hero Appreciation Act - Increases from $600 to $1,000 the monthly special pension for Medal of Honor (Medal) recipients, makes such award effective from the first day of the month that begins after the date of the act for which the Medal was awarded, and makes such amount subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make a lump-sum payment to existing Medal recipients for any retroactive amounts due as a result of such increase. Requires an individual awarded a Medal, upon request, to be issued another medal for display or exhibit purposes. Provides criminal penalties for the unauthorized purchase or possession of a Medal or for false representation as a Medal recipient. Directs the Secretary to grant to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society appropriated amounts for the operation of its principal office. Directs the Secretary of Defense, in providing space-available transportation to a Medal recipient for an official Department of Defense activity, to provide such transportation to an accompanying spouse on the same basis.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Teacher Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Act of 2001 - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to provide that, subject to specified conditions, such Act is not violated if: (1) voluntary early retirement incentive plans (VERIPs), for employees of local educational agencies (LEAs) or institutions of higher education, reduce or eliminate supplemental benefits on the basis of the employee's age at retirement under certain conditions; or (2) retiree medical benefits of an employee benefit plan (including an LEA VERIP) are coordinated with Medicare or State employee benefit plans.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Economic Revitalization Tax Act of 2001 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions concerning investment of earnings in U.S. property to set forth a separate rule governing any foreign corporation which is a controlled foreign corporation and is created or organized under the laws of, or engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business within, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a possession of the United States. Provides that in the case of certain dividends received by a domestic corporation from such a corporation, there shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to 85 percent of such dividend. Establishes a safe harbor rule for certain transfers or licenses of intangible property to such a corporation.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. Postal Service should: (1) provide a maximum degree of effective and regular postal services to all communities, including rural areas and small towns where post offices may not be self-sustaining; and (2) take all necessary steps to ensure that post offices are not closed or consolidated.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
Antitrust Modernization Commission Act of 2001 - Establishes the Antitrust Modernization Commission to study and report to Congress and the President on issues and problems relating to the modernization of the antitrust laws. Directs the Commission to: (1) solicit divergent views of all parties concerned with the operation of such laws; and (2) evaluate the advisability of proposals and current arrangements with respect to such issues and problems.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
Class Action Fairness Act of 2001 - Establishes a consumer class action bill of rights, including provision for: (1) judicial review and approval of noncash settlements; (2) protection against loss by class members because of payments to class counsel; (3) a prohibition against court approval of a proposed settlement providing for greater payments to class members because they are located in closer geographic proximity to the court; (4) a prohibition against court approval of a proposed settlement providing for payment of a greater share of the award to a class representative serving on behalf of a class; (5) standardized settlement notification information; and (6) pleading requirements. Grants the district courts original jurisdiction of any civil action in which the matter in controversy exceeds $2 million, exclusive of interest and costs, and is a class action in which any member of a class of plaintiffs is: (1) a citizen of a State different from any defendant; (2) a foreign state or a citizen or subject of a foreign state and any defendant is a citizen of a State; or (3) a citizen of a State and any defendant is a foreign state or a citizen or subject of a foreign state. Lists exceptions, such as where a class action brought by shareholders solely involves a claim concerning a covered security or relating to the internal governance of a corporation. Sets forth procedures for removal of interstate class actions to U.S. district court and for review of orders remanding class actions to State courts. Grants the courts of appeals jurisdiction of appeals from orders of the U.S. district courts granting or denying class certification under rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, if notice of appeal is filed within ten days after entry of the order.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2001
Dairy Promotion Fairness Act - Amends the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 to define "imported dairy product" and "importer" for purposes of the dairy promotion program. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to appoint up to two qualifying dairy importers to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Requires dairy importers to contribute to the dairy promotion program. Makes both importers and producers (currently, limited to producers) eligible to vote in referendums.
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 · 20 June 2001
Conduit Contribution Prevention Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to increase civil money and criminal penalties for knowing and willful violations of the prohibition against making or accepting contributions in the name of another. Sets both civil and criminal fines at not less than 300 percent of the amount involved in the violation and not more than the greater of $50,000 or 1,000 percent of such amount. Mandates imprisonment for two years, or the aforementioned criminal fine, or both, for criminal violations. Limits criminal penalties to violations involving an amount aggregating $1,000 or more during a calendar year. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate related sentencing guidelines. Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of the Federal Election Commission to refer to the Attorney General any instance of probable cause that a violation of such prohibition has occurred. Revises the current ban on contributions by foreign nationals to encompass all disbursements by foreign nationals, including any disbursement to a political committee of a political party and any disbursement for an independent expenditure.
![Official portrait of Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000244_200.jpg)