United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2002
Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq - Expresses support for the President's efforts to: (1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions applicable to Iraq; and (2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion, and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions. Authorizes the President to use the U.S. armed forces to: (1) defend U.S. national security against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and (2) enforce all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq. Directs the President, prior to or as soon as possible (but no later than 48 hours) after exercising such authority, to make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that: (1) reliance on further diplomatic or peaceful means alone will not achieve the above purposes; and (2) acting pursuant to this resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization for use of the armed forces, consistent with requirements of the War Powers Resolution. Requires the President to report to Congress at least every 60 days on matters relevant to this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2002
Yavapai Ranch Land Exchange Refinement Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in the Prescott, Coconino, and Kaibab National Forests, Arizona, to the Yavapai Ranch Limited Partnership or the Northern Yavapai, L.L.C. (both referred to respectively as the "YLRP"), in exchange for land within the boundaries of the Prescott National Forest, Arizona. Grants to the YLRP perpetual, unrestricted, and nonexclusive easements that run with and benefit land transferred to the YLRP. Requires the YLRP to execute, record, and amend two declarations it made with regard to water and the future development of lands in the Prescott National Forest. Reserves for the YLRP unrestricted easements and water rights for not more than three existing wells and related equipment on the land it is transferring to Federal control, with certain water rights from the wells to be reserved for the United States. Prescribes that if any part of either territory being transferred is unacceptable to the entity receiving it due to the presence of hazardous materials or any other reason, such section shall be deleted from the exchange and an adjustment shall be made. Requires the values of the land exchanged to be equal. Revokes any public orders withdrawing any of the Federal land from appropriation or disposal as necessary for the implementation of this Act. Withdraws the Federal land from all forms of entry and appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining and mineral leasing laws and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, until the date of the exchange. Prescribes that the land acquired by the United States shall become part of the Prescott National Forest and shall be managed to maintain its present character and natural values.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2002
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to Pleasant Country Ltd. all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to certain Federal lands in Maricopa County, Arizona, in exchange for lands of equal value designated from the approximately 8,000 acres of private land in the vicinity of Lake Pleasant in Yavapai County, Arizona. Declares that the exchange shall not be considered a major Federal action for the purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2002
Wildfire Prevention and Forest Health Protection Act of 2002 - Authorizes Regional Foresters to exempt certain wildfire prevention tree-thinning projects on National Forest System lands from any laws that give rise to legal causes of action seeking to delay or prevent such actions. Exempts such projects from: (1) judicial review; or (2) notice, comment, and appeals under the Appeals Reform Act. Sets forth the Constitutional authority for this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2002
Federally Declared Disaster Exemption Act of 2002 - Allows land management activities by specified Federal agencies undertaken in places the President has declared as major disaster areas under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to proceed without regard to certain provisions of law, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the National Forest Management Act. Exempts such activities from the notice, comment, and appeal requirements of the Appeals Reform Act and from judicial review by any U.S. court. Applies this Act to the two-year period beginning on the date of the Presidential declaration regarding a major disaster area.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2002
Allows land management activities by specified Federal agencies undertaken in places the President has declared as major disaster areas under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to proceed without regard to certain provisions of law, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the National Forest Management Act. Exempts such activities from the notice, comment, and appeal requirements of the Appeals Reform Act and from judicial review by any U.S. court.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2002
Urges the people of the United States to honor Patriot Day, September 11, by remembering those individuals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks and by writing letters to the men and women serving to protect the Nation in the Armed Forces at home and overseas.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2002
Back to School Tax Relief Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a taxpayer whose adjusted gross income is $20,000 or less ($40,000 in the case of a joint return) to deduct up to $3,000 in qualified elementary and secondary education expenses. Defines qualified elementary and secondary education expenses and adjusted gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2002
Wildfire Response Enhancement Act - Authorizes the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to place an order with any Federal agency for goods or services directly related to fighting wildfires if the goods or services are necessary to properly respond to a wildfire without regard to a provision requiring a prior determination that the goods or services cannot be provided by contract as conveniently or cheaply by a commercial enterprise.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2002
Drug Importation Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to permit an individual who is not in the business of importing prescription drugs to import prescription drugs which appear to be approved, non-narcotic, and produced by a registered producer. Provides for a program where a pharmacist who is not otherwise permitted to import a prescription drug may do so when a drug meets the above standard. Excludes controlled substances and biological products. States that alternative labeling may be required.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2002
Wildfire Prevention Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to: (1) establish three Institutes (one each in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado) to promote the use of adaptive ecosystem management to reduce the risk of wildfires, and improve the health of forest and woodland ecosystems; and (2) provide assistance to the Institutes to promote the use of such management. Defines adaptive ecosystem management as a natural resource management process under which planning, implementation, monitoring, research, evaluation, and incorporation of new knowledge are combined into a management approach that is: (1) based on scientific findings and the needs of society; and (2) used to modify future management methods and policy. Prescribes requirements for cooperation among the Institutes and Federal programs relating to ecological restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and wildfire management technologies.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Liver Research Enhancement Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the National Center on Liver Disease Research in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Establishes the Liver Disease Research Advisory Board to help the Director of the Center develop the Liver Disease Research Action Plan identifying scientific opportunities and priorities of liver disease research. Requires the Director to coordinate the Plan's implementation by the national research institutes, which shall allocate adequate funds for same.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2002
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Pledge of Allegiance, including the phrase "One Nation, under God," reflects the historical fact that a belief in God permeated the founding and development of our Nation; (2) the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals's ruling is inconsistent with the U.S. Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence that the Pledge and similar expressions are not unconstitutional expressions of religious belief; (3) such phrase should remain in the Pledge; and (4) the Ninth Circuit should agree to rehear this ruling en banc in order to reverse this constitutionally infirm and historically incorrect ruling.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2002
Securing America's Freedom through Enforcement Reform Act of 2002 (SAFER Act) - Sets forth provisions, and amends specified Acts, with respect to: (1) prevention and punishment of alien smuggling, and transporting and harboring of aliens; (2) border patrol increases; (3) use of the military along the border; (4) visas, including the visa waiver program, and consular interviews of applicants; (5) alien terrorist removal, deportability, and asylum requests; (6) alien criminal removal; (7) alien human rights violator removal, deportability, and bar to status adjustment, including criminal penalties for reentry and aiding human rights violators to enter the United States; (8) document security (birth certificates, drivers licenses, social security cards); (9) employment eligibility verification; (10) increased Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) investigative personnel, (11) expedited exclusion; (12) criminal and civil penalties for improper entry of aliens; (13) voluntary departure; (14) detention facilities; (15) removal proceedings; (16) establishment of a Federal election-related Citizenship Verification Program; (17) establishment of an Office of Citizenship; (18) treatment of nationals of state sponsors of terrorism; (19) refugee admissions, and extended family and employment preferences; (20) elimination of diversity immigrant program; (21) temporary protected status; (22) designation of foreign terrorist organizations; (23) foreign students; (24) INS attorneys; (25) alien proof of identity; and (26) information on foreign crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician or other individual from knowingly performing a partial-birth abortion, except when necessary to save the life of a mother that is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury. Authorizes the father, if married to the mother at the time of the abortion, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus, if the mother is under 18 years of age, to obtain specified relief in a civil action, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion. Authorizes a defendant accused of an offense under this Act to seek a hearing before the State Medical Board on whether the physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother. Prohibits the prosecution of a woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed for conspiracy to violate this Act or under provisions regarding punishment as a principal or an accessory or for concealment of a felony.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to include demonstration, education, and other programs concerning cancer survivorship among the activities of the National Cancer Institute (Institute) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Requires the Director of NIH to: (1) expand and coordinate NIH activities related to cancer survivorship; and (2) establish an Office on Survivorship within the Institute. Creates the position of Associate Director for Survivorship. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, to: (1) study the health challenges associated with cancer survivorship and carry out projects and interventions; and (2) make grants for the monitoring and evaluation of cancer care and survivorship.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2002
Arlington National Cemetery Burial Eligibility Act - Allows the remains of the following persons to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery: (1) any member of the armed forces who dies while on active duty; (2) any retired member of the armed forces; (3) any member or former member of a reserve component of the armed forces who served on active duty, who was honorably discharged from active duty, who was under 60 years of age, and who, but for such age, would have been eligible for retired pay; (4) any former member who was separated for physical disability before October 1, 1949, who served on active duty, and who would have been eligible for disability retirement if such provisions had been in effect on such date; (5) any former member whose last active military service was terminated honorably and who has been awarded one of a number of specified military decorations; (6) any former prisoner of war who dies on or after November 30, 1993; (7) any reserve member who dies while on active duty for training or inactive duty training; (8) the President or any former President; (9) the spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, and, in the discretion of the Cemetery's Superintendent, unmarried adult child of an interred member (but only if buried in the same gravesite); (10) the spouse, minor child, and unmarried adult child (discretionary) of a member on active duty if such person dies while the member is on active duty; (11) the individual whose spouse, minor child, and unmarried adult child (discretionary) is eligible under (10), above, but only if buried in the same gravesite; (12) the parents of a minor child or unmarried adult child whose remains, based on the parent's eligibility, are already buried in the Cemetery, but only if buried in the same gravesite; (13) the surviving spouse, minor child, and unmarried adult child (discretionary) of a member who was lost, buried at sea, or officially determined to be permanently absent in a status of missing or missing in action; and (14) the surviving spouse, minor child, and unmarried adult child (discretionary) of a member buried in a cemetery under the jurisdiction of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Authorizes the President to deem an otherwise ineligible individual as eligible for such burial for extraordinary acts, services, or contributions to the armed forces.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2002
Expresses support for the President's decision to withdraw the United States from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty effective June 13, 2002, and to provide for the establishment of a robust layered missile defense system to protect the United States and its allies.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2002
Tonto and Coconino National Forests Land Exchange Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to certain private land owners specified lands in the Tonto National Forest in exchange for the conveyance by such land owners of certain lands adjacent to the Montezuma Castle National Monument and certain lands within the Coconino National Forest. Requires that the values of Federal and non-Federal lands be equalized. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to certain private land owners specified lands northeast of Payson, Arizona in exchange for the conveyance by such land owners of certain lands within the Tonto National Forest. Requires that the values of Federal and non-Federal lands be equalized. Provides that the land acquired by the Secretary become part of the Tonto or Coconino National Forest, as appropriate. Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer all or a portion of the lands acquired adjacent to the Montezuma Castle National Monument to the Secretary of the Interior in exchange for payment by the Secretary of the Interior. Stipulates that any lands transferred to the Secretary of the Interior be incorporated in the Montezuma Castle National Monument.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Urges the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend to the Postmaster General that a commemorative postage stamp be issued by the U.S. Postal Service each year in honor of Veterans Day.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2002
National Drought Preparedness Act of 2002 - Establishes the National Drought Council which shall: (1) develop a national drought policy action plan; (2) evaluate Federal drought-related programs; (3) coordinate and prioritize enhancement of the national drought monitoring network; and (4) provide for the development of a drought information delivery system, drought planning models, and drought preparedness plans. Terminates the Council eight years after enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of the National Drought Council to establish the National Office of Drought Preparedness. Establishes within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the Drought Assistance Fund, which shall be used to: (1) assist State, local, tribal, and critical service entities with drought-related activities; and (2) expand the technology transfer of drought and water conservation strategies. Requires: (1) the Director to publish guidelines for administering a national technical and financial drought assistance program; and (2) the Director, the Secretaries of Agriculture, the Interior, and the Army, and other appropriate Federal agency heads to implement integrated drought preparedness plans. Authorizes States, Indian tribes, local governments, and regional, water providers to develop and implement drought preparedness plans. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the Director of FEMA to reimburse States for qualifying costs incurred in prepositioning wildfire suppression resources.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2002
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Pay Equity and Reform Act - Excludes availability pay for Federal criminal investigators from premium pay limitations. Amends the Federal Law Enforcement Pay Reform Act of 1990 to increase the Federal special pay differential for Federal law enforcement officers employed in specified metropolitan statistical areas. Requires a study by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding the need for, and potential benefits of, the establishment of a separate pay, evaluation, and promotion system for Federal law enforcement officers. Authorizes OPM to implement a demonstration project for such a system.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2002
Date Certain Tax Code Replacement Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2005; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2005. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Establishes the National Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification to review: (1) the present structure and provisions of the Code; (2) whether the tax systems of other countries could provide more efficient and fair methods of funding government revenue requirements; (3) whether the income tax should be replaced with a tax imposed in a different manner or on a different base; and (4) whether the Code can be simplified, absent wholesale restructuring or replacement. Requires a Commission report to Congress on review results, with recommendations for Code reform and simplification. Terminates the Commission 90 days after such report. Authorizes appropriations (with interim funding). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be approved by Congress in its final form before July 4, 2005, and, if not, Congress should be required to vote to reauthorize the Code.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2002
Environmental Policy and Conflict Resolution Advancement Act of 2002 - Amends the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental and Native American Public Policy Act of 1992 to authorize appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008 for the Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund. Requires a specified amount to be used for grants or other arrangements to pay for services provided in a neutral manner relating to, and to support the participation of non-Federal entities in, environmental conflict resolution proceedings involving Federal agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2002
Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act - Amends Federal law to direct the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to establish a program to: (1) deputize qualified volunteer pilots of passenger aircraft as Federal flight deck officers; and (2) provide training, supervision, and equipment for such officers. Directs the Under Secretary to authorize flight deck officers to carry firearms and to use force, including lethal force, when they judge the security of an aircraft is at risk. Shields air carriers from liability for damages in Federal or State court arising out of the actions or omissions of a flight deck officer defending a plane from criminal violence or air piracy. Shields flight deck officers from liability except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2002
Child Obscenity and Pornography Prevention Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) making a visual depiction that is a computer image or computer-generated image of, or that appears virtually indistinguishable from an image of, a minor engaging in specified sexually explicit conduct; (2) offering, agreeing, attempting, or conspiring to provide, sell, receive, or purchase a visual depiction of a minor engaging in such conduct; (3) producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing with intent to distribute, or possessing a visual depiction that is, or is virtually indistinguishable from, that of a pre-pubescent child engaging in such conduct; (4) showing a minor obscene material or child pornography; (5) providing obscene material, child pornography, or other material assistance to facilitate offenses against minors; or (6) employing or coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct outside of the United States for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. Includes the prohibition on the use of materials to facilitate offenses against minors within the scope of enhanced penalties provisions. Authorizes a provider of electronic communication or remote computing services that reasonably believes it has obtained knowledge of facts and circumstances indicating a violation of provisions regarding child pornography to report to the Cyber Tip Line at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which shall forward that report to designated law enforcement agencies. Directs the Attorney General to establish and supervise the development and operation of a comprehensive computerized database to facilitate the identification of child pornography produced with actual children and to facilitate the identification of perpetrators.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2002
America's Wilderness Protection Act - Releases all areas with wilderness study area status on this Act's enactment date from such status on the earlier of: (1) the date the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the area is not suitable for wilderness designation; (2) ten years after this Act's enactment; or (3) the date the area is designated as wilderness by Congress. Releases any area that is given wilderness study area status after this Act's enactment from such status on the earlier of: (1) the date such Secretary determines that the area is not suitable for wilderness designation; (2) ten years after the date the area was given such status; or (3) the date that the area is designated as wilderness by Congress. Provides for the reversion of any area that is released from wilderness study area status to the land use status such area had immediately before and prohibits it from being studied again regarding wilderness designation.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2002 - Makes changes to the health care liability system, including compensation for injured patients and other issues arising out of health care law suits. Requires a suit to be brought within three years of the date of injury or one year after the claimant discovers or should have discovered the injury, whichever occurs first. Sets forth requirements and permissible recovery amounts for compensating patient injury, including: (1) the full amount of economic loss without limitation; (2) noneconomic damages as specified; and (3) a fair share rule. Requires the court to supervise payment-of-damage arrangements, limiting contingency fees. Permits the introduction of evidence of collateral source benefits. Limits the availability of punitive damages, requiring clear and convincing evidence of malicious intent to injure or a deliberate failure to avoid substantially certain, unnecessary injury. Prohibits their award for products that comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, absent material and knowing misrepresentation by those submitting required approval or clearance information to the FDA. Authorizes periodic payment of future damages to claimants. Excludes suits for vaccine-related death or injury from the requirements of this Act if otherwise covered under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Preempts State law unless such law imposes greater protections for health care providers and organizations from liability, loss, or damages. .
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2002
Federal Agency Protection of Privacy Act - Requires Federal agencies: (1) when publishing a general notice of proposed rulemaking for any proposed rule or for an interpretative rule involving the internal revenue laws, to prepare, make available for public comment, and publish an initial analysis describing the rule's impact on the privacy of individuals; and (2) when promulgating the final rule, to prepare, make publicly available, and publish a final privacy impact analysis that includes a summary of the significant issues raised by and changes made pursuant to public comments on the initial analysis. Requires the head of an agency promulgating a rule that may have a significant privacy impact on individuals or on a substantial number of individuals to use specified techniques to assure that individuals have been given an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking. Requires each agency to: (1) carry out a periodic review of promulgated rules that have such impact to determine whether each such rule can be amended or rescinded in a manner that minimizes such impact while remaining in accordance with applicable statutes; (2) carry out such review in accordance with a plan that provides for the review of each rule every ten years after the rule was published as a final rule; and (3) publish annually a list of the rules to be reviewed. Sets forth provisions governing judicial review of agency compliance with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 2002
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense for FY 2003 for: (1) armed forces procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and chemical agents and munitions destruction; (2) research, development, test and evaluation; (3) operation and maintenance, including defense working capital funds; (4) the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and (5) active and reserve military personnel, including authorized end strengths. Increases as of January 1, 2003, the rates of military basic pay. Extends certain bonus and special and incentive pay authorities. Authorizes: (1) the payment of distribution incentive pay for service in less-than-desirable locations or in difficult-to-fill positions; and (2) certain travel and transportation allowances. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) military spouse, retirement, and survivor benefit matters; (2) military health care; (3) acquisition policy and management, including the authority to waive domestic source or content requirements; (4) Department of Defense (DOD) organization and management, including the designation of departmental accountable officials; (5) general contracting and acquisition procedures and limitations; (6) the repeal of various DOD reporting requirements; (7) FY 2003 military construction and military family housing, including alternative authority for the acquisition and improvement of such housing; (8) the conveyance of military surplus real property for natural resource conservation purposes; and (9) the authority to carry out environmental response projects necessitated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 2002
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2003 for the armed forces for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, chemical agents and munitions destruction, and other procurement. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) the Defense Inspector General; and (3) defense health programs. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) research, development, test, and evaluation; (2) operation and maintenance, including working capital funds and the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and (3) active and reserve military personnel, including authorized end strengths. Places specified FY 2003 limits on the number of Army and Air Force reserve non-dual status technicians.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Airport Streamlining Approval Process Act of 2002 - Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take action to encourage the construction of airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a coordinated review process for such projects, which shall provide that all environmental reviews, analyses, opinions, permits, licenses, and approvals that must be issued or made by a Federal agency or airport sponsor for such a project will be conducted concurrently in cooperation with specified Federal and State environmental agencies. Authorizes the Secretary, at the request of an airport sponsor for a congested airport, to approve a restriction on use of a runway to be constructed at the airport to minimize potentially significant adverse noise impacts from the runway, if certain criteria are met. Authorizes the Secretary, in specified circumstances, to allow an airport sponsor carrying out such a project to make payments, out of airport revenues (including local taxes on aviation fuel), for measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of the project, including aircraft noise. Permits the FAA Administrator to accept funds from an airport sponsor to hire additional staff or obtain the services of consultants in order to facilitate the timely processing, review, and completion of environmental activities associated with an airport development project. Repeals the requirement that the Secretary approve a project grant application only if the chief executive officer of the State in which the project will be located certifies that there is reasonable assurance that the project will be located, designed, constructed, and operated in compliance with applicable air and water quality standards. Revises the approval criteria without the requirement of an environmental impact statement for an airport development project that does not involve the location of an airport or runway, or a major runway extension, at an existing airport. Allows such a project without an environmental impact statement if completing the project would allow airport operations involving aircraft complying with the noise standards prescribed for "stage 3" aircraft (currently "stage 2" aircraft).
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2002
Clergy Housing Allowance Clarification Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify that the parsonage allowance exclusion from gross income cannot exceed the fair rental value of the home, including furnishings and appurtenances such as a garage, plus the cost of utilities.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2002
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2002, 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 · 20 March 2002
Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Facility Quality Improvement Act of 2002 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise the Federal survey and certification process of skilled nursing facilities. Revises requirements for nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs and for nurse aide competency evaluation programs to state that the prohibition on approval of a program offered by or in a skilled nursing facility which is operating under a waiver, subject to an extended survey, or has been assessed a civil penalty shall not be continued when the facility involved through on-site verification demonstrates compliance with the applicable standards. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) waive the skilled nursing survey and certification process in order to test and implement innovative alternatives to the otherwise applicable survey process; and (2) continue payments for up to one year under certain conditions, pending remediation, to a nursing facility that no longer meets the specified requirements. Requires each State to establish an informal and independent dispute resolution process to allow facilities to settle disputes involving compliance with nursing facility requirements. Requires surveyors to defer to the diagnosis and treatment decisions of the resident's attending physician and of the facility's medical director and requires the Secretary to implement programs to monitor and correct instances of failure of surveyors to do so. Declares that nothing shall be construed as precluding members of survey teams from providing information to faculty and staff on best or innovative practices for assuring quality care in nursing facilities. Requires the Secretary to provide incentives for operators with histories of good compliance to acquire facilities with poor compliance histories. Permits nursing facilities to appeal deficiency determinations. Requires the Secretary to establish a program that rewards skilled nursing facilities that provide the highest quality of care.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Agua Fria National Monument Technical Corrections Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, to modify: (1) the boundaries of the Agua Fria National Monument to exclude specified parcels of public and private land; and (2) the Monument's western boundary to be at least 400 feet east of the existing Arizona State Department of Transportation right-of-way. Bars the use of the National Park Service or the Fish and Wildlife Service to administer the Monument. Requires the Secretary to: (1) review the interim management policy for the administration of the Monument; and (2) develop a plan for its long-range management. Establishes the Agua Fria National Monument Advisory Committee. Requires the Secretary to: (1) allow hunting, trapping, and fishing on lands and waters within the Monument; (2) continue to allow the use of motorized vehicles on designated roads and trails; (3) allow the use of non-motorized, wheeled game carriers for the removal of downed big game; and (4) permit livestock grazing. Declares that the designation of the Monument by Presidential Proclamation 7263 of January 11, 2000, and the enactment of this Act shall preclude the use by the President of the authority provided in the Antiquities Act to expand by presidential proclamation its boundaries to include any other Federal lands. Directs the Secretary to submit to the President a study containing recommendations regarding any boundary changes to the Monument that would enhance protection of the archaeological resources or expand opportunities for public education and scientific research concerning these resources.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Jobs for Veterans Act - Entitles the following to priority under certain job training programs funded by the Department of Labor (Department): (1) a veteran; (2) the spouse of any veteran who died of a service-connected disability; (3) the spouse of a member serving on active duty who is listed as missing in action, captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power; and (4) the spouse of any veteran who has a total service-connected disability rating or who died while a disability so evaluated was in existence. Requires any Federal personal property and nonpersonal services procurement contract of $100,000 or more to contain a provision requiring the contractor to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment disabled veterans, veterans who served on active duty during a war or campaign for which a campaign badge has been authorized, and veterans who, while serving on active duty, participated in a military operation for which a service medal was awarded. Directs the Secretary of Labor to carry out a program of performance incentive awards to States to encourage the improvement and modernization of veterans' employment, training, and placement services. Establishes within the Department an Assistant and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training, with specified duties. Requires the assignment of regional administrators, and State directors, for veterans' employment and training. Requires States to employ a sufficient number of disabled veterans' outreach specialists and local veterans' employment representatives. Establishes the President's National Hire Veterans Committee to take certain actions to facilitate the employment of veterans and disabled veterans. Expresses the sense of Congress commending veterans' and military service organizations. Requires a study to quantify the economic benefit attributable to veterans employment and training services.
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 · 14 March 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Forest Service and other Federal land management agencies should, among other specified actions, fully implement the Western Governors Association's Collaborative ten-year Strategy for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment to reduce the overabundance of forest fuels that place these resources at high risk of catastrophic wildfire; (2) the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior should immediately prepare for public review a national prescribed fire strategy for public lands; and (3) such strategy should be incorporated into any regulatory land use planning programs that propose the use of prescribed fire as a management practice.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2002
Good Neighbor Act of 2002 - Prohibits any Federal agency from acquiring any qualified land for a covered agency (the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) unless the Government disposes of qualified land of such agency located in the same county and having a fair market value equal to at least 97 percent of the land to be acquired. Defines "qualified land" to mean land located in a county in which 50 percent or more of the total acreage is owned by the Government and is under the administrative jurisdiction of one or more covered Federal agencies. Requires the head of a Federal agency before acquiring such qualified land, to: (1) notify the State's Governor, the county chief executive, and each Member of the House of Representatives and the Senate elected to represent the area in which the land is located; and (2) hold at least one hearing in the county. Prohibits an acquisition of qualified land by a Federal agency which will result in 66 percent or more of the total acreage in a county being owned by the Government and under the jurisdiction of one or more covered agencies, unless it is approved by the county.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2002
Amends the Education Land Grant Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to pay environmental review costs with respect to conveyances under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2002
Consistent Public Land Laws Enforcement Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, and other Federal law to classify as a Class B misdemeanor a violation of any regulation concerning the management, use, and protection of National Park System lands, National Forest lands, and other public lands. Makes a person guilty of a Class A misdemeanor (subject to a higher fine and/or imprisonment) for the knowing and willful violation of any such regulation. Provides authority to adjudge persons who commit such a violation to pay all costs of the proceedings. Allows fines so collected to be used to: (1) cover the costs of improvement, protection, or rehabilitation of the public lands rendered necessary by such violation; and (2) increase public awareness of such regulations and other requirements concerning public land use.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2002
Congratulates the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, on its bicentennial anniversary. Recognizes it as an outstanding leadership development institution that upholds and promotes the highest virtues of American society. Commends all those who have led and taught at the Academy for inculcating its graduates with moral, ethical, and intellectual values and skills that are the foundations for the dedicated service so honorably given by those graduates to the Army, the Nation, and friends of freedom and liberty around the world for 200 years.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2002
Increases for FY 2003 and thereafter the amounts authorized to be paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to State and local agencies for the reimbursement of administrative expenses related to ascertaining the qualifications of educational institutions for furnishing courses to veterans and eligible beneficiaries under the Montgomery GI Bill and other veterans' educational assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2002
Highway Funding Restoration Act - Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to require that obligations for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs for FY 2003: (1) meet a specified minimum level; and (2) be distributed in accordance with that Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2002
Sound Science Saves Species Act of 2002 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require a petition to add or remove a species from either the endangered or threatened species list to contain: (1) evidence of the species' known and historic ranges, the most recent population estimates and trends, and the reason that the petitioned action is warranted, including known or perceived threats; (2) a bibliography of scientific literature on the species; and (3) a description of all available data on the species' historical and current range, population, and distribution, an explanation of the methodology used to collect such data, and an identification of the location where it can be reviewed. Requires the Secretary to make specified notifications after receiving such a petition. Sets forth requirements for the independent scientific review of petitions and findings regarding petitions and jeopardy opinions. Limits re-petitions for adding to such lists.
![Official portrait of Rep. Stump, Bob [R-AZ-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s001044_200.jpg)