United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Post-Abortion Depression Research and Care Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health and the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to expand and intensify research and related activities of the Institute with respect to post-abortion depression and post-abortion psychosis. Requires the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health to: (1) conduct or support research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, post-abortion conditions; and (2) conduct a national longitudinal study to determine the incidence and prevalence of cases of post-abortion conditions, and the symptoms, severity, and duration of such cases, toward the goal of more fully identifying the characteristics of such cases and developing diagnostic techniques. Requires the Secretary to make grants of up to $100,000 per fiscal year, under specified conditions, to provide for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with post-abortion depression or post-abortion psychosis.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Designates the air traffic control tower at Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, as the "William J. 'Whitey' Conrad Air Traffic Control Tower".
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Amends Federal law to authorize the Secretary of State to initiate a U.S. plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit of the World Health Assembly in May 2002 in Geneva, Switzerland, and to instruct the U.S. delegation there to implement such plan.
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
Homeless Veterans Assistance Act of 2001 - Expresses the sense of Congress urging Federal agencies to cooperate more fully to address the problem of homelessness among veterans. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, through FY 2003, to make grants for establishing programs, and for expanding or modifying existing programs, to furnish the following services to homeless veterans: outreach, rehabilitation, vocational counseling and training, and transitional housing assistance. Directs the Secretary to provide to grant recipients per diem payments for such services (authorizes the Secretary to provide in-kind assistance in lieu thereof). Directs the Secretary of Labor to conduct programs of job training, counseling, and placement services to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to direct the Secretary of Labor to set aside specified amounts for providing, through a supported housing program administered in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs, rental housing assistance to homeless veterans with chronic mental illness or substance abuse disorders. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with community agencies to provide representative payee services for veterans unable to manage their own personal funds. Directs each Secretary to: (1) establish a joint methodology to monitor results of services furnished to homeless veterans; and (2) carry out a demonstration program to determine costs and benefits of providing referral and counseling services to certain veterans. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a demonstration program of grants for independent group homes for veterans recovering from alcohol or other substance abuse disorders.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Clean Diamond Trade Act - Prohibits the importation of rough diamonds into the United States unless the exporting country is implementing a system of controls on the export or import of rough diamonds that: (1) meets specified requirements, consistent with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 adopted on December 1, 2000, or is functionally equivalent; or (2) meets the requirements of an international agreement which requires such controls and to which the United States is a party. Prohibits the importation of polished diamonds (including jewelry containing diamonds) into the United States unless the exporting country: (1) is implementing a system of controls on the export and import of rough diamonds, except such system shall not be required for countries that do not import rough diamonds; and (2) requires that its own imports of diamonds originate from countries that have implemented a system of controls on the export and import of rough diamonds. Provides a waiver of the requirements of this Act. Urges the President to negotiate an international agreement to eliminate trade in diamonds used to support conflict in the country or regions in which such diamonds are mined.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act of 2001 - Requires a manufacturer of a motor vehicle sold or introduced into commerce in the United States to disclose to the vehicle owner, a repair facility, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the information necessary to diagnose, service, or repair the vehicle. Sets forth protections for trade secrets. States that manufacturer noncompliance with this Act constitutes an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice affecting commerce within the purview of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Authorizes a vehicle owner or repair facility to bring a civil action in Federal district court for violations of this Act without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties. Instructs the FTC to prescribe a uniform methodology for manufacturer disclosure in writing, and on the Internet. Prohibits the FTC from prescribing rules that interfere with the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency regarding motor vehicle emissions control diagnostics systems.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) Taiwan deserves full and equal membership in the United Nations and other international organizations; and (2) the United States should take a leading role in gaining international support for Taiwan's participation in these organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Declares that Congress encourages the Government of China to honor its obligations under the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, as modified by the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees of 1967, by: (1) making genuine efforts to identify and protect the refugees among the North Korean migrants encountered by Chinese authorities; (2) providing North Korean refugees residing in China with a safe asylum; (3) halting the forced repatriations of North Korean refugees seeking asylum in China; (4) allowing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to have access to all North Korean refugees residing in China; and (5) cooperating with the UNHCR in efforts to resettle the North Korean refugees residing in China in other countries. Encourages the UNHCR to facilitate the resettlement of North Korean refugees residing in China in other countries.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Commends and congratulates Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the tenth anniversary of her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Recognizes her contributions and work toward bringing peace and democracy to Burma. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President and Secretary of State should continue to encourage the Government of Burma to restore basic human rights to the Burmese people, to eliminate the practice of human trafficking, to address the manufacture of heroin and methamphetamine, to continue releasing political prisoners, to recognize the results of the 1990 democratic elections, and to allow Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy to enjoy unfettered freedom of speech and freedom of movement; and (2) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2001
Bring Our Children Home Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that a contestant may bring an action in district court to determine which of conflicting State court child custody determinations shall prevail. Directs the Attorney General (AG) to establish a registry for all custody orders entered by State courts. Authorizes law enforcement officers of a State or local government to hold, for no more than 24 hours, any child listed as missing for proper disposition under the latest valid custody determination. Requires the Secretary of State to prepare a report on progress made by the United States in negotiating and entering into bilateral treaties relating to international child abduction with countries that are not contracting parties under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require information on each country's efforts to prohibit international child abduction. Requires the AG to prepare a report describing the status of each case involving a request for extradition in cases involving international kidnaping by parents.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2001
Bruce Vento Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Extension Act - Amends the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000 to extend naturalization application and fee deadline provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) a National Character Counts Week should be established to promote character education; and (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to embrace the elements of character identified by their local schools and communities such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, and honesty.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2001
Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Health Resources Access Improvement Act of 2001 - Urges the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to commit their departments to exploring new ways for significantly improving health resources sharing and to building supportive organizational cultures. Directs such Secretaries to: (1) conduct a demonstration project at five qualifying sites to identify advantages of providing integrated management of military treatment facilities and veterans' health care facilities in the same geographic area; and (2) provide for a unified management system for such facilities at each site. Authorizes each Secretary to waive administrative regulations or policies to implement the demonstration project. Terminates the project on September 30, 2006. Directs the Secretaries to: (1) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a prospectus for construction of a new joint medical facility for their departments; (2) enter into a joint contract for an independent, comprehensive review to identify opportunities for joint funding for an integrated graduate medical education program; and (3) develop and implement a common affiliation agreement or contract for graduate medical education purposes at project locations. Requires (current law authorizes) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to share health care resources with the Secretaries of the military departments. Repeals current Department of Veterans Affairs hospital bed limits.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2001
Encourages all participants in the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance (WCAR) to seize this opportunity to tackle the scourges of racism, xenophobia, sexism, religious intolerance, slavery, and other forms of discrimination. Recognizes that efforts to address these prejudices should occur within a global framework and without reference to specific regions, countries, or present-day conflicts. Urges: (1) the participants to utilize WCAR to mitigate, rather than aggravate, racial, ethnic, and regional tensions; and (2) WCAR to focus on concrete steps that may be taken to address gross human rights violations that were motivated by racially and ethnically based animus and on devising strategies to help eradicate such intolerance. Commends the efforts of the Government of South Africa in hosting WCAR.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Medicare Rx Drug Discount and Security Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Voluntary Medicare Outpatient Prescription Drug Discount and Security Program). Establishes as an independent executive agency a Medicare Prescription Drug Agency, headed by a Commissioner of Medicare Prescription Drugs, who shall establish a Medicare Outpatient Prescription Drug Discount and Security Program under which an eligible beneficiary may voluntarily enroll with an eligible entity and receive described benefits, including a catastrophic benefit. Outlines enrollee protections. Makes the costs of providing program benefits payable from the Medicare Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. Establishes a Medicare Competition and Prescription Drug Advisory Board. Amends SSA title XVIII part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) to provide for the exclusion of new part D costs from the determination of the Medicare part B monthly premium. Revises Medicare supplemental health insurance (Medigap) requirements with respect to revision of the 1991 National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model Regulation to accord with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month should be established to raise public awareness about the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the serious problems associated with it.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2001
Declares that Congress: (1) supports the initiatives proposed for direct dialogue without precondition between leaders on both sides of the Taiwan Strait; and (2) endorses the proposal for full participation in the October 2001 Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation forum by President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of Japan should: (1) issue an apology for the sexual enslavement of young women during the colonial occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands during World War II; (2) pay reparations to the victims; (3) educate future generations about this crime against humanity; and (4) publicly refute claims that the subjugation and enslavement of such women never occurred.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Smaller Schools, Stronger Communities Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to local educational agencies to develop and implement plans to create smaller learning communities.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Bipartisan Patient Protection Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to health care coverage. Requires group health plans and health insurance issuers providing health insurance coverage to have approved utilization review programs, claims procedures, and appeal procedures concerning claims denials. Sets forth provisions concerning group health plans and health insurers and the provision of certain advice and care, including: (1) emergency care; (2) obstetric and gynecological care; (3) specialists care; (4) prescription drugs; (5) participation in approved clinical trials; and (6) health plan information. Restricts interference by health plans and insurers with the doctor-patient relationship. Prohibits health plans and insurers from discriminating against a licensed health care professional with respect to participation or indemnification. Extends and expands provisions of the medical savings account program. Provides for: (1) the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of the self-employed; and (2) a credit for the health insurance expenses of small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Temple Mount Preservation Act of 2001 - Bars the use of appropriated funds for assistance to the Palestinian Authority (or its instrumentalities) unless the President certifies to Congress that no excavation of the Temple Mount in Israel is being conducted, other than that authorized by the Israeli Antiquities Authority. Provides a waiver of such prohibition if it is certified to Congress that it is in the national security interests of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Real Interstate Driver Equity Act of 2001 - Amends Federal transportation law to prohibit a State or political subdivision and interstate agency of two or more States from enacting or enforcing any law, rule, or regulation requiring a license or fee on account that a motor vehicle is providing pre-arranged ground transportation service, if the motor carrier providing such service: (1) meets all applicable registration and vehicle and intrastate passenger licensing requirements; and (2) is providing such service pursuant to a contract for interstate and intrastate passenger travel. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed as: (1) subjecting taxicab service to Federal regulation; or (2) prohibiting or restricting an airport, train, or bus terminal operator from contracting to provide preferential access or facilities to one or more providers of pre-arranged ground transportation service.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Veterans Benefits Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2001, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Includes: (1) diabetes mellitus (type 2) among the diseases presumed to be service-connected, and therefore compensable under veterans' disability compensation, for veterans exposed to certain herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict; and (2) illnesses that cannot be clearly defined within such presumption for disabilities occurring in Persian Gulf War veterans. Preserves the service connection for undiagnosed illnesses occurring in Gulf War veterans to allow their participation in medical research projects. Authorizes the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to impose registration fees on persons participating in a judicial conference. Authorizes the payment of proceeds to certain alternate beneficiaries under the National Service Life Insurance and United States Government Life Insurance programs. Repeals the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Improvement Fund. Extends through December 31, 2005, the Native American veteran housing loan pilot program. Directs the Secretary to conduct a pilot program for expanding the toll-free telephone access to veterans service representatives. Codifies certain recurring provisions in annual Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations Acts.
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
Recognizes the courage of Serbian democrats, in particular, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, in facilitating the transfer of Slobodan Milosevic to the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. Calls for the continued arrest and transfer of other indicted war criminals throughout the Balkans to the Tribunal. Encourages the release of all innocent political prisoners held in Serbian prisons. Declares that the House of Representatives remains committed to providing foreign assistance to support the success of economic, political, and legal reforms in Yugoslavia and other nations of the Balkans region as long as the Yugoslav Government and others continue to cooperate in the matter of war criminals.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of the People's Republic of China should cease its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Calls for the U.S. Government to urge the Chinese Government to: (1) release from detention all Falun Gong practitioners and end the torture and other cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment of such practitioners and other prisoners of conscience; and (2) abide by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by allowing Falun Gong practitioners to pursue their personal beliefs.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Prohibits the issuance of an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa to a citizen of the People's Republic of China who: (1) participates in or supports the harvesting, transplantation, or trafficking of organs of executed Chinese prisoners; or (2) seeks such visa for the purpose of training in organ or bodily tissue transplantation.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2001
Expresses the deep regret of Congress for the U.S. refusal to provide political asylum to the Jewish refugees aboard the S.S. St. Louis in May and June of 1939.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2001
Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, to provide for coverage of outpatient vision rehabilitation services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2001
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United Nations should immediately transfer to the Israeli Government an unedited and uncensored form of the videotape that contains images which could provide material evidence for the investigation into the incident of October 7, 2000, when Hezbollah forces abducted three Israeli Defense Force soldiers, as well as any other material it may possess.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a church to participate or intervene in a political campaign and maintain its tax-exempt status as long as such participation is not a substantial part of its activities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission Act - Establishes the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission to: (1) study and recommend Government activities to honor Benjamin Franklin on the tercentenary of his birth, including the minting of a Benjamin Franklin tercentenary coin and the issuance of a Benjamin Franklin tercentenary postage stamp; (2) serve as the contact point for State, local, international, and private sector initiatives regarding tercentenary activities; and (3) seek to enter into an arrangement for the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to serve as the secretariat of the Commission and house the Commission's administrative offices.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Office of Correctional Health Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the Office of Public Health and Science of the Public Health Service the Office of Correctional Health. Requires the Office to carry out public health activities for employees in Federal or State penal or correctional institutions or for persons incarcerated in such institutions, including disease prevention, health promotion, service delivery, research, and health professions education activities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Viet Nam Human Rights Act - Declares the purpose of this Act is to promote the development of freedom and democracy in Viet Nam. Establishes a Congressional-Executive Commission on Viet Nam to monitor: (1) the acts of the Government of Viet Nam which reflect compliance with or violation of human rights, in particular those contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; (2) the rule of law in Viet Nam; and (3) the development of U.S. programs and activities and private organizations to increase the interchange of people and ideas between the United States and Viet Nam. Prohibits U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to the Government of Viet Nam unless the President determines and certifies to Congress that the Government of Viet Nam has complied with certain human rights requirements. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of specified international financial institutions to use the U.S. vote to deny multilateral nonhumanitarian assistance to Viet Nam unless the President determines and certifies to Congress that such requirements have been met. Authorizes U.S. assistance for the support of individuals and organizations to promote human rights and nonviolent democratic change in Viet Nam. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to: (1) overcoming the jamming of Radio Free Asia by Viet Nam; (2) U.S. educational and cultural exchange programs to promote freedom and democracy in Viet Nam; and (3) the offer of refugee resettlement to Viet Nam nationals.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Gun Show Loophole Closing and Gun Law Enforcement Act of 2001 - Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2001 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to provide for regulation of firearms transfers at special firearms events (events at which 75 or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale or exchange if one or more of the firearms has been shipped or transported in, or otherwise affects, interstate or foreign commerce, with an exception). Prohibits a special firearms events frequent operator from organizing, planning, promoting, or operating a special firearms event without meeting specified requirements. Sets forth: (1) responsibilities of special firearms events infrequent operators, transferors other than licensees, and licensees; (2) special firearms event license application requirements; and (3) penalties for violation of this Act. Provides an option for 24-hour background checks at special firearms events for States with computerized disqualifying records and programs to improve State databases. Increases penalties for: (1) serious record keeping violations by licensees; and (2) violations of criminal background check requirements. Gun Law Enforcement Act of 2001 - Authorizes appropriations for: (1) grants to States and local governments to support prosecutions in high gun crime areas; (2) the Attorney General to hire 114 additional Federal firearms prosecutors; (3) additional Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents; (4) gun tracing and youth crime gun interdiction; and (5) grants to research entities developing technologies that limit the use of a gun to the owner.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2001, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Authorizes the payment of proceeds following the death of the insured under the National Life Insurance Program and the United States Government Life Insurance Program: (1) to another beneficiary designated by the insured, if the first beneficiary does not make a claim for such insurance within two years; or (2) to any person designated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be equitably entitled to such proceeds, if no claim has been filed by any designated beneficiary within four years. Extends through December 31, 2005, the Native American Veteran housing loan pilot program. Authorizes the Secretary to make a direct housing loan to such a veteran if the tribal organization having jurisdiction over such veteran has entered into a memorandum of understanding with any Federal department or agency with respect to such loans. Revises the loan assumption notice requirement. Eliminates the requirement of providing the Secretary with a copy of a notice of appeal of a decision by the Court of Veterans Appeals.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Working Lands Stewardship Act of 2001 - Amends specified agricultural Acts to: (1) revise and increase funding for the farmland protection program; (2) provide market development grants and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who forgo development of certain lands; (3) expand State marketing programs, including set-asides for development of local and regional markets and research; (4) increase funding for farmer-to-consumer marketing assistance; (5) provide for a program to promote the purchase of locally grown produce; (6) increase funding for programs for socially disadvantaged farmers; (7) extend and increase funding for the environmental quality incentives program, including set-asides for livestock, pesticide reduction, and water conservation; (8) provide watershed quality incentive contracts; (9) provide loans for manure reuse activities and facilities; (10) extend and increase funding for the wildlife habitat incentives program, including set-asides for imperiled native species, and acquisition of easements and water rights; (11) extend and increase acreage for the wetlands reserve program; (12) establish a wetlands reserve enhancement program; (13) extend and increase funding for the conservation reserve program, including an acreage set-aside for environmentally-sensitive lands and buffer strips, and enrollment of grasslands and rangelands; (14) authorize incentive payments for private grazing land conservation; (15) establish a grassland reserve program; (16) expand the National Organic Program to include organic farming transition assistance; (17) establish an organic certification reimbursement program; (18) extend and increase funding for the forest stewardship program, including set-asides for new land management practices, and watershed forestry initiative activities; (19) authorize appropriations for urban and community forestry activities; (20) provide funding for specified conservation technical assistance and administration and outreach, including establishment of training centers in specified cities; and (21) establish a demonstration program to promote ecosystem- and watershed-based conservation.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that there should be established a National Community Health Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Urges the Government of Vietnam to: (1) allow freedom of religious belief and practice to all Montagnards; (2) return all traditional Montagnard lands that have been confiscated or encroached upon; (3) allow nongovernmental and international humanitarian organizations to deliver humanitarian assistance directly to Montagnards in their villages; (4) open up all parts of the Central Highlands to journalists and other observers; and (5) withdraw its security forces from Cambodia and stop hunting refugees. Commends: (1) the Royal Cambodian Government for its official policy of guaranteeing temporary asylum for Montagnards fleeing Vietnam and urges that Government to take specified measures, including providing security at sites where refugees are sheltered; (2) the officials and employees in Cambodia of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Human Rights Center for their assistance to and advocacy on behalf of Montagnard asylum seekers and refugees; and (3) the Department of State for the assistance to and advocacy of Montagnard asylum seekers that have been provided by officials and employees of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh. Urges the State Department to make clear to the Vietnamese Government that continued mistreatment of Montagnards and efforts to seek forcible repatriation of refugees and asylum seekers from Cambodia represent a grave threat to the normalization process between the Governments of the United States and Vietnam and a serious obstacle to any prospects for the future provision of U.S. assistance to that Government.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to opposing any commercial and lethal scientific whaling and to supporting the expansion of whale sanctuaries. Calls for: (1) the President to use all available diplomatic channels to convey U.S. opposition to commercial whaling activities and lethal scientific whaling and to consider actions, including bilateral negotiations and sanctions, to eliminate such whaling and to prevent any trade in whale meat; and (2) the United States to strongly oppose any effort at the 53rd meeting of the International Whaling Commission in London to approve the resumption of commercial whaling and all efforts at the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to downlist any threatened or endangered whale population and to reopen international trade in whale meat.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
High-Speed Rail Investment Act of 2000 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited tax credit to holders of qualified Amtrak bonds. Sets forth definitions, State contribution requirements, and other rules. Requires approval, by the Secretary of Transportation, of qualified Amtrak projects funded by such bonds.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer an income-based credit ($2,000 maximum) for qualifying child disability education and training expenses paid on behalf of a dependent under the age of 18.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2001
Coral Reef and Coastal Marine Conservation Act of 2001 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to establish in the Department of Treasury the Coral Reef and Other Coastal Marine Resources Facility. Authorizes the President, through the exchange by the Facility of new obligations for outstanding obligations of an eligible Latin American or Caribbean country with a coral reef or other coastal marine resource meeting specified requirements, to reduce the amount owed by the country to the United States that is outstanding as of January 1, 1999, as a result of concessional loans. Authorizes the President to sell, reduce, or cancel such loans in order to facilitate a debt-for-nature swap or a debt buyback with an eligible purchaser or eligible country to support activities to conserve, maintain, and restore the country's coral reefs and other coastal marine resources. Requires each beneficiary country that has entered into a Coral Reef and Other Coastal Marine Resources Agreement with the Secretary of State to establish a Coral Reef and Other Coastal Maine Resources Fund to receive payments of interest on new obligations undertaken by the country to provide grants to certain entities in such country to conserve, maintain, and restore its coral reefs and other coastal marine resources. Requires the Enterprise for the Americas Board to carry out certain duties with respect to implementing this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2001
Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from issuing a lease, permit, or license for the exploration or extraction of oil or gas from specified submerged lands located off the coast of New Jersey.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2001
Students' Rights Resolution of 2001 - Declares that Congress recognizes: (1) the right, as established by the Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court, of all Americans to freely exercise their religion; (2) the constitutional right of students in public schools to participate in a daily period of time to be used for silent prayer, meditation, or reflection and to recite the Pledge of Allegiance; and (3) the right of religious groups to have equal access to school facilities without discrimination on account of religious character or speech. Expresses the sense of Congress that public schools should act to protect these constitutional rights by establishing a period of time for silent prayer, meditation, or reflection, establishing a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and accommodating religious groups by granting equal access rather than discriminating on account of their religious character or speech.
![Official portrait of Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000522_200.jpg)