United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2003
Congratulates the Syracuse University men's basketball team for winning the 2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball national championship. Invites the team to the U.S. Capitol building to be honored and requests that the President invite them to the White House for an appropriate ceremony.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2003
Annie Fox Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of the Institute regarding breast cancer in younger women. Requires that in carrying out this Act, the Director shall provide for: (1) augmented research into various aspects of breast cancer in younger women, including the long-term effects of treatment; and (2) augmented information and education programs regarding breast cancer in younger women.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2003
Unemployment Benefits Extension Act - Amends the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUCA) to: (1) extend the TEUC program; (2) provide for additional weeks of TEUC benefits; (3) revise unemployment rate triggers for TEUC benefit periods; and (4) provide for regular unemployment compensation for certain individuals based on part-time work or an alternative base period. Extends the TEUC program through weeks of unemployment ending before December 28, 2003. Provides a phaseout period for individual payments up to weeks beginning after July 31, 2004. Increases to 26 weeks an eligible individual's TEUC payments. Provides for an additional seven weeks of payments, for a total of 33 weeks, for individuals in high-unemployment States (TEUC-X). (Current law provides 13 weeks of regular TEUC payments, with an additional 13 and total 26 in TEUC-X States.) Revises requirements for determining TEUC-X States, using certain triggers based on insured unemployment rates and on total unemployment rates. Establishes a program of payments to States to provide regular unemployment compensation benefits for individuals who otherwise would be ineligible because: (1) the base period does not count wages earned in the most recently completed calendar quarter; or (2) the individuals seek or are available for less than full-time work.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2003
R.S. 2477 Rights-of-Way Act of 2003 - Permits the filing of claims asserting the existence and validity of right-of-ways pursuant to a repealed section of the Revised Statutes (R.S. 2477) to build highways across public land not reserved for public uses. Declares that claimants shall have the burden to prove that the grant of a right-of-way was validly accepted and not abandoned. Presumes abandoned claims involving lands within a conservation system unit, an inventoried roadless area, or a wilderness study area or that are former Federal lands, unless use was open and notorious. Directs an authorized Federal officer to review the evidence put forth by a claimant that: (1) a R.S. 2477 right-of-way contains sufficient evidence to prove prior construction and use of a highway over unreserved public lands; and (2) if there is evidence of such a highway, that the right-of-way was not abandoned. Subjects the administrative record of a final decision of an authorized Federal officer to judicial review. Allows the United States to retain exclusive possession or control of the lands traversed by a valid right-of-way or any part thereof, upon payment to the claimant of an amount set by the relevant district court. Recognizes the prior adjudication of claimed right-of-ways by courts of competent jurisdiction. States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter provisions of: (1) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 regarding right-of-ways with respect to public lands and National Forest System lands; or (2) the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act pertaining to Alaska's transportation and utility network.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2003
Quality Cancer Care Preservation Act - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise the payment amount for covered drugs and biologicals furnished during a calendar quarter that are not paid on a cost or prospective payment basis. Changes such amount from 95 percent of the average wholesale price to 120 percent of the average sales price of the drug or biological for the second preceding calendar quarter. Requires drug manufacturers to report average sales prices each calendar quarter for covered drugs and biologicals. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) revise the practice expense relative value units for drug administration services (including chemotherapy administration services) in accordance with this Act to determine the units to be used in determining the fee schedule amounts paid for drug administration services under the Medicare program; (2) recognize and make payments under Medicare for chemotherapy support services furnished incident to physicians' services; (3) recognize and establish a payment amount for the service of cancer therapy management to account for the greater pre-service and post-service work associated with visits and consultations conducted by physicians treating cancer patients compared to typical visits and consultations; and (4) develop a revised methodology for determining the payment amounts for services that are paid under the Medicare fee schedule and that do not have physician work relative value units, including radiation oncology services. Amends SSA title XVIII to provide that if the Secretary requires direct supervision of a service by a physician, that supervision requirement may be fulfilled by one or more physicians other than the physician who ordered the service.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2003
Ukrainian American Veterans Charter Act - Grants a Federal charter to the Ukrainian American Veterans, Incorporated (a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York).
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2003
Credit Card Consumer Protection Act of 2003 - Amends Truth in Lending Act with respect to open-end consumer credit card plan disclosures to require: (1) a 30-day posting deadline for the mailing of credit card account statements; (2) prominent type face disclosure of the date by which a late fee will be charged to the account; and (3) recordkeeping by the credit card issuer of the pertinent dates for the mailing of bills and receipt of bill payments.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2003
Air Transportation Employees Assistance Act - Amends the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUCA) to provide for additional TEUCA benefits for certain individuals separated from employment with air carriers, or at airport facilities that provide transportation to or from an airport, or with upstream producers or suppliers for air carriers, if the Secretary of Labor determines that such separation was due, in whole or part, to: (1) reductions in service by an air carrier as a result of a terrorist action or security measure; (2) a closure of an airport in the United States as a result of a terrorist action or security measure; or (3) a military conflict with Iraq that has been authorized by Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2003
Requires engine coolant or antifreeze sold after January 1, 2004, that is manufactured after July 1, 2003, and that contains more than ten percent ethylene glycol, to include denatonium benzoate at a minimum of 30 parts per million (or other equally effective aversive agent) as a bittering agent so as to render it unpalatable. Requires a manufacturer or packager of such product to maintain records of compliance with this Act. Declares that any manufacturer, distributor, recycler, or seller of an automotive product required by this Act to contain an aversive agent shall not be liable (except for willful or wanton misconduct) for personal injury, death, or property damage that results from compliance with this Act. Declares this Act inapplicable to: (1) the sale of a motor vehicle that contains engine coolant or antifreeze; or (2) wholesale containers of engine coolant or antifreeze containing 55 gallons or more of engine coolant or antifreeze.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2003
IRS Refund Accessibility Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the Secretary of the Treasury to use any means of mass communication to disclose taxpayer identity information in order to notify individuals entitled to tax refunds.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2003
Corporate Accountability Tax Gap Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for public disclosure of certain information of publicly traded corporations. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a study of corporate tax shelter activity.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2003
Abusive Tax Shelter Shutdown and Taxpayer Accountability Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (Code) concerning tax shelters to, among other things: (1) define economic substance; (2) impose a penalty for the failure to include in a return information concerning a reportable transaction, a reportable transaction understatement (including imposing the penalty for certain understatements which were based on unreasonable legal or factual assumptions), a noneconomic substance transaction understatement, and interests in foreign financial accounts; (3) modify rules concerning the failure to furnish information regarding reportable transactions and the penalty for such failure, the failure to maintain lists of investors in potentially abusive tax shelters and the penalty for such failure, the authority to seek an injunction to enjoin promoters of abusive tax shelters; and (4) deny a deduction of interest on underpayments attributable to nondisclosed reportable transactions and noneconomic substance transactions. Amends other Code provisions to, among other things: (1) place a limit on the transfer or importation by a corporation of built-in losses; (2) provide for the partnership treatment of certain contributed property with a built-in loss; (3) repeal part V (Financial Asset Securitization Investment Trusts) of subchapter M (Regulated Investment Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts); and (4) modify rules concerning the disallowance of a deduction on certain debt instruments of corporations, passive foreign investment companies, and the reduction in a corporate shareholder's basis in stock by the nontaxed portion of extraordinary dividends.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Safe School Food Act of 2003 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to revise and increase food safety requirements for the school lunch program under such Act and the school breakfast program under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (school meals programs). Revises requirements for State or local food safety inspections for school meals programs to increase their frequency to at least twice a year (currently once), and to require State audits and reports on such inspections. Requires school meals programs to include food safety requirements in their procurement contracts. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary) to require: (1) each vendor providing food to school meals programs to supply the Secretary with contact information on each school food supplier of that vendor; and (2) as appropriate, pathogen testing during production of foods purchased for school meals programs. Requires food safety planning by school meals programs, and provides training and technical assistance by the Department of Agriculture for such planning. Directs the Secretary to give appropriate persons an opportunity for voluntary actions to recall and collect food products served in school meals that may present a threat to the public, or, if such actions are not carried out in the required period and manner, require such persons to carry out specified actions, including immediate cessation of distribution of the food product to schools. Directs the Secretary to coordinate such actions with the Secretary of Health and Human Services in case of such actions with respect to food products regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory committee to help implement an information-sharing database or other method to provide State food safety coordinators and other appropriate persons with up-to-date information regarding food safety concerns relating to food manufacturing, processing, and packing facilities that produce any food purchased or acquired for school meals programs, including recalls by and enforcement actions against the facilities. Provides for designation of State food safety coordinators. Requires the Secretary to carry out certain procedures and take certain actions under the commodities distribution program to ensure the safety of commodities that are to be donated to school meals programs.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to increase the imprisonment penalty for animal fighting violations from one year to two years. Makes it unlawful to sell, buy, transport, or deliver in interstate or foreign commerce a knife, gaff, or other sharp instrument used in a bird-fighting venture. Revises enforcement provisions. Permits euthanasia for an animal in extreme pain. Includes the Internet or any technology as interstate instrumentality.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2003
Votes for Women History Trail Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish an auto tour route, to be known as the Votes for Women History Trail, to link properties in New York State which are historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women's suffrage in the United States. Requires the National Park Service to administer the Trail through the Women's Rights National Historical Park. Requires the Secretary to: (1) produce and disseminate educational materials regarding the Trail; (2) coordinate the management, planning, and standards of the auto route in partnership with participating properties, other Federal agencies, and State and local governments; and (3) adopt an official symbol or device to mark the Trail and issue guidelines for its use. Authorizes the Secretary to designate as official stops on the Trail: (1) all Park units and programs that pertain to the struggle for women's suffrage; (2) other Federal, State, local, and privately owned properties that have a verifiable connection to such struggle; and (3) other related governmental and nongovernmental facilities and programs of an educational, commemorative, research, or interpretive nature. Allows the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with, and provide technical and financial assistance to, other Federal agencies, New York State, localities, regional governmental bodies, and private entities to coordinate such stops.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
Insurance Credit Score Disclosure and Reporting Act - Requires insurers who use consumer reports or insurance credit scores as a factor in underwriting insurance policies or renewals to disclose the effect of such practice upon the scope and cost of the insurance at the time of either insurance application or insurance renewal. Prescribes disclosure requirements, including disclosure of the relationship between the use of insurance credit scores or other risk scores or predictors. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to: (1) promulgate requirements for insurers to submit specified insurance credit score information to the Commission; and (2) investigate and report to Congress on the relationship between credit information and insurance credit scores and the race, income, geographic location, and age of insurance applicants and policyholders. Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2003
WISEWOMAN Expansion Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to permit the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through a competitive review process, to award grants to States to provide additional specified preventive health services, screenings, education, and referrals under PHSA provisions concerning preventive health measures with respect to breast and cervical cancers. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2003
Child Abuse Accountability Enhancement Act - Requires any payment of military retired pay to be paid, in whole or in part, by the Secretary of the military department concerned to another person if and to the extent expressly provided for in the terms of a child abuse garnishment order enforcing a judgment rendered against a member of the armed forces for physically, sexually, or emotionally abusing a child.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
One Strike and You're Out Act of 2003 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937, with respect to public housing and section 8 assisted housing, to provide for: (1) criminal activity eviction protections for victims of domestic or date violence; and (2) public housing agency reporting of evictions for domestic and dating violence.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
International Rule of Law and Antiterrorism Act of 2003 - Requires the President to direct: (1) the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) to use the U.S. vote to establish negotiations with the UN to establish a professional UN civilian police corps (UNCPC); (2) the Secretary of State (Secretary) to request that the UN Secretariat prepare a report concerning the UNCPC's establishment; and (3) the Secretary to work with the UN Secretariat and other UN member states to establish standards and training programs for international civilian police. Expresses the sense of Congress that the UNCPC should: (1) be composed of enforcement professionals who are appropriately trained and equipped for civilian policing functions in UN international peace operations and available for rapid deployment to such operations as needed; (2) be able to deploy not later than 15 days after deployment is authorized pursuant to a UN Security Council resolution; (3) be managed by the UN Civilian Police Division (established in October 2000 and mandated to plan and support the work of the UN civilian police officers in UN peacekeeping operations); and (4) be given the appropriate resources to properly do its job. Requires the President to report annually to specified congressional committees on the progress to establish a UNCPC.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to provide for employee leave to care for a domestic partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, or grandparent if such person has a serious health condition. Amends Federal civil service law to apply the same leave allowance to Federal employees.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
Tribal Government Tax-Exempt Bond Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the issuance of tax-exempt bonds by an Indian tribal government if: (1) at least 95 percent of the net proceeds are used to finance facilities on an Indian reservation; or (2) the obligation is part of an issue substantially all of whose proceeds are to be used in the exercise of an essential government function. Excludes an obligation used to finance a gaming facility. Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to exempt obligations issued by an Indian tribal government or subdivision from registration requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2003
Expresses the sympathy of Congress to Craig and Cynthia Corrie and to their extended families, friends, and co-workers for the loss of Rachel Corrie in the Palestinian village of Rafah in the Gaza strip on March 16, 2003. Calls on the U.S. Government to undertake a full investigation into her death. Urges the U.S. Government and the Government of Israel to work together to determine the circumstances that led to her death and to ensure that an incident of this kind does not happen again.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2003
Recognizes: (1) the 50th anniversary of the accomplishment of describing the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the essential completion of the sequencing of the human genome in April 2003, and the development of a plan for the future of genomics; and (2) the sequencing of the human genome as one of the most significant scientific accomplishments of the past 100 years. Expresses support for the goals and ideals of Human Genome Month (April 2003) and DNA Day (April 25, 2003).
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Medicare Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant Direct Reimbursement Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of surgical first assisting services furnished by certified registered nurse first assistants.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act of 2003 - Requires each participating manufacturer of a covered outpatient drug to make it available for purchase by each pharmacy: (1) in an amount equal to the aggregate amount sold or distributed by the pharmacy to Medicare beneficiaries; and (2) at a price no greater than the manufacturer's average foreign price. Sets forth special provisions with respect to hospice programs.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Living Organ Donor Job Security Act of 2003 - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow leave for living organ donation. Includes among authorized leave time spent for: (1) tests for medical suitability of the eligible employee; (2) physical, psychological, and social evaluations of the donor; (3) pre-transplant outpatient services; (4) post-operative inpatient and outpatient transplantation services; (5) travel in connection with such tests, evaluations, and services; and (6) recuperation.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) each member of the U.S. and allied armed forces should be commended for serving with distinction and professionalism; (2) the families of members of the U.S. armed forces should be commended for their support; and (3) all U.S. citizens should pay homage to such members and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2003
Wellstone Memorial Stop Corporate Expatriates Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to apply a prohibition on contracting by the Secretary of Homeland Security with foreign incorporated entities which are treated as inverted domestic corporations to any subsidiaries of such entities. Deletes a provision that would allow the waiver of such prohibition in order to prevent the loss of any jobs in the United States or to prevent the Government from incurring any additional costs that otherwise would not occur (thus allowing such waiver only in the interest of national security).
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Sunnyside, Queens, New York, as the Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide emergency protections for retiree health benefits. Prohibits group health plans from making post-retirement reductions of retiree health benefits. Requires group health plans to adopt provisions barring post-retirement reductions in retiree health benefits. Requires group health plans to restore benefits reduced after retirement. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to waive or vary such requirements, if a plan sponsor applies for such exemption, upon finding that compliance would: (1) be adverse to the interests of plan participants in the aggregate; (2) not be administratively feasible; and (3) cause substantial business hardship to the sponsor. Establishes the Emergency Retiree Health Loan Guarantee Program and its Board. Authorizes the Program, through its Board, to guarantee loans provided by private banking and investment institutions to eligible plan sponsors to assist them in meeting obligations under this Act to restore benefits reduced after retirement. Authorizes the Secretary to assess civil penalties for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
College Affordability and Lifetime Savings Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) convert the current deduction for interest on education loans to a credit equal to 50 percent of the interest paid during the taxable year on any qualified education loan; and (2) exclude from gross income amounts which would be included under specified loan forgiveness programs for teachers and other public servants.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Directs Congress to enact legislation by October 2005 to guarantee that every person in the United States, regardless of income, age, or employment or health status, has access to health care that: (1) is affordable and that removes financial barriers to needed care; (2) is as cost efficient as possible; (3) provides comprehensive benefits; (4) promotes prevention and early intervention; (5) includes parity for mental health and other services; (6) eliminates disparities in access to quality health care; (7) addresses the needs of people with special health care needs and underserved populations in rural and urban areas; (8) promotes quality and better health outcomes; (9) addresses the need to have adequate numbers of qualified health care practitioners; (10) provides adequate and timely payments; (11) fosters a strong network of health care facilities; (12) ensures continuity of coverage and continuity of care; (13) maximizes consumer choice of health care providers and practitioners; and (14) is easy for patients, providers, and practitioners to use and reduces paperwork.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Army to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (Institute). Repeals statutory authority for the Institute. Prohibits any training or education facility from being established in the Department of Defense (DOD) for Latin American military personnel for ten months. Establishes a joint congressional task force to assess appropriate education and training for DOD to provide to military personnel of Latin American nations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Domestic Violence Screening, Treatment, and Prevention Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) establish, under specified conditions, family violence research and education centers to conduct research and disseminate information concerning family violence; and (2) establish an advisory board to recommend the research agenda for such centers. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to and enter into contracts with public and nonprofit private entities capable of conducting such research. Requires the Secretary to award grants to entities that currently work in the field of family violence and health care to enable them to develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate family violence education and training curricula, programs, and strategies. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families, to award grants for up to four years to State and local governmental and nonprofit entities that currently work in the field of family violence and health care to be used to develop strategies to improve the response of State and local health care systems to domestic violence and to promote education and awareness. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to declare that State health benefits provided may cover domestic violence identification and treatment services. Amends Federal civil service law to require the Office of Personnel Management to require all contracted carriers of health coverage for Federal employees to include coverage for domestic violence identification and treatment services. Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to require: (1) the Secretary, with respect to maternal and child health services block grant funds, to provide preference to State applicants who include training of providers in how to identify and treat the effects of family violence; and (2) States to set aside a reasonable portion of such funds to provide for domestic violence identification and treatment. Requires the Secretary to allot funds to States to provide for a separate program for domestic violence identification and treatment. Amends the PHSA to authorize the Secretary to award grants to federally-qualified health centers to improve the identification and treatment of domestic violence.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to prescribe guidelines for a Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard under which retail electric suppliers submit renewable energy credits to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to: (1) encourage federally-owned utilities, municipally-owned utilities, and rural electric cooperatives that sell electric energy to electric consumers for purposes other than resale to participate in the renewable portfolio standard program; and (2) establish, not later than December 31, 2005, a State renewable energy account program.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Access to Cancer Therapies Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend Medicare coverage to all oral drugs prescribed for use as an anticancer agent for a medically accepted indication.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2003 - Provides for full voting representation in Congress for the residents of the District of Columbia, including two Senators and as many Representatives as a similarly populous State would be entitled to under the law. Treats the District of Columbia as a State. Prescribes a procedure for the first elections under this Act. Entitles the District to one Representative until the taking effect of the next reapportionment.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Diabetic Foot Amputation Prevention Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of qualified diabetic foot sore apparatus as items of durable medical equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Resolution to Expand Access to Community Health Centers Initiative - Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that appropriations for consolidated health centers under the Public Health Service Act should be increased by 100 percent during FY's 2001 through 2006 in order to double the number of individuals who receive health care services at community, migrant, homeless, and public housing health centers.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2003
Northern Border Prosecution Initiative Reimbursement Act - Directs the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Office of Justice Programs, to carry out the Northern Border Prosecution Initiative to provide funds to reimburse eligible northern border States (or local governments thereof) for costs incurred for handling dispositions of criminal cases that are federally initiated but federally declined-referred (i.e., where a decision has been made in a criminal case by a U.S. Attorney or a Federal law enforcement agency during a Federal investigation to no longer pursue Federal criminal charges against a defendant and to refer the investigation to a State or local jurisdiction for possible prosecution). Requires that such program be modeled after the Southwestern Border Prosecution Initiative and serve as a partner program to that initiative to reimburse local jurisdictions for processing Federal cases.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit: (1) Federal civilian and military retirees to pay Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and TRICARE supplemental premiums on a pretax basis; and (2) a deduction (available to itemizers and nonitemizers) for TRICARE supplemental premiums and enrollment fees. Sets an implementation deadline of the first open enrollment period beginning not less than 90 days following enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2003
Constitutional Amendment - States that: (1) equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex; (2) Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article; and (3) this amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Medicare Rx Drug Benefit and Discount Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) under which each individual who is entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) or eligible to enroll under Medicare part B (Supplemental Medical Insurance) is entitled to obtain qualified prescription drug coverage. Outlines standard coverage benefit packages. Includes for the standard package a monthly premium of $25, an annual deductible of $100, a coinsurance of 20 percent and an annual out-of-pocket spending limit of $2,000. Directs the Secretary to negotiate fair prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of SSA title XVIII to provide for the availability of prescription medicine benefits under the Medicare+Choice program. Provides for accelerated generic drug competition under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Holocaust Victims Insurance Relief Act of 2003 - Directs the Archivist of the United States to establish and maintain a Holocaust Insurance Registry of information on holders, issuers, and related liable entities of Holocaust-era insurance policies that were: (1) in effect after January 30, 1933, and before December 31, 1945; and (2) issued to a policyholder domiciled in any area of Europe that was occupied or controlled by Nazi Germany or any ally or sympathizer during such period. Requires: (1) insurers to file such information in an electronic format with the Secretary of Commerce by a specified deadline; (2) the Secretary to assess a civil penalty for each day of insurer noncompliance; and (3) the Secretary to notify each State's commissioner of insurance of the identity of any insurer that has failed to file either such information or to satisfy such civil penalty. Declares that nothing in this Act preempts the right of any State to adopt or enforce any State law requiring an insurer to disclose information regarding insurance policies that may have been confiscated or stolen from victims of Nazi persecution. Expresses the sense of Congress that if any litigation challenging such a State law is dismissed because the State's commissioner of insurance chooses to rely on this Act and therefore no longer seeks to enforce the State law, each party should bear its own legal fees and costs.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Funding Act of 2003 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 and 2005 for U.S. voluntary contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Withholds from the U.S. voluntary contribution to the UNFPA amounts allocated by UNFPA for the country program in China, if the Secretary of State certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the UNFPA country program in China does not: (1) focus on improving the delivery of voluntary family planning information and services; (2) conform with the human rights principles affirmed at the International Conference on Population and Development with the support of 180 nations including the United States; (3) operate only in counties of China where all quotas and targets for the recruitment of program participants have been abolished and the use of coercive measures has been eliminated; (4) operate in consultation with and under the oversight and approval of the UNFPA executive board, including the U.S. representative; (5) subject itself to regular, independent monitoring to ensure compliance with the principles of informed consent and voluntary participation; and (6) suspend operations in project counties found to be in violation of program guidelines.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) proposed changes to Title IX athletics policies contradict the spirit of athletic equality and gender equity; (2) current Title IX athletics policies, the Department of Education's 1979 Policy Interpretation as clarified in the 1996 Clarification of Intercollegiate Athletics Policy Guidance, should remain unchanged and be enforced vigorously to eliminate the continuing discrimination against women and girls in athletics; and (3) if the Department of Education changes Title IX athletics policies, Congress should restore the intent of Title IX through policies that preserve the right to equal opportunities in athletics.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Supports the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence (during which students vow to remain silent to bring attention to the harassment and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in schools). Requests that the President issue a proclamation calling for observation of April 9, 2003, as such Day. Encourages each city and State to adopt laws, and each school district to adopt policies, to prohibit such discrimination and harassment.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (the Act) to provide that no application by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to a U.S. court for an order requiring the production of tangible things for an investigation to obtain foreign intelligence information from a U.S. person or to protect against international terrorism may be made for the sole purpose of searching for, or seizing from, a bookseller or library documentary materials that contain personally identifiable information concerning a patron. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to preclude a physical search for documentary materials (including books, records, papers, documents, and other items) under other provisions of law. Revises congressional reporting requirements under the Act to require the Attorney General, in informing Congress with respect to applications for orders approving requests for the production of tangible things, to: (1) describe the specific purpose of each order application; (2) analyze the effectiveness of each application that was granted or modified in protecting U.S. citizens against terrorism; and (3) make public such information provided in a manner consistent with the national security of the United States.
![Official portrait of Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000480_200.jpg)