United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2001
Farm and Ranch Risk Management Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual engaged in an eligible farming or commercial fishing business a deduction for any taxable year of up to 20 percent of taxable income attributable to the eligible farming or commercial fishing business which was paid in cash by the taxpayer to a Farm and Ranch Risk Management Account (FARRM Account). Includes distributions from a FARRM account in the taxpayer's gross income, and subjects to a special ten percent surtax any distributions not made within five years of contribution. Establishes a tax on excess contributions, but exempts the taxpayer from the tax on certain prohibited transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2001
Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act , the Internal Revenue Code, and Medicare supplemental policy provisions to prohibit health plans and insurers, with respect to protected genetic information, from discriminating in enrollment, eligibility, contribution rates, and premium rates based on such information. Makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or training program to discriminate because of protected genetic information.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2001
Family Farm and Business Protection Act of 2001- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $10 million the maximum estate tax deduction for family-owned business interests.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2001
Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group health insurance coverage, with regard to hospital stays in connection with breast cancer treatment, from: (1) covering less than 48 hours after mastectomies or less than 24 hours after lymph node dissections; or (2) requiring plan or issuer authorization for prescribing any length of stay. Prohibits: (1) denying eligibility, enrollment, or renewal to avoid these requirements; (2) providing payments or rebates to women; or (3) penalizing or providing incentives to providers. Applies the same requirements to issuers in the individual market.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the International Criminal Court Treaty undermines United States sovereignty and security, conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, contradicts customs of international law, and violates the inalienable rights of self-government, individual liberty, and popular sovereignty; and (2) President Bush should declare to all nations that the United States does not intend to assent to or ratify the treaty and that former President Clinton's signature to the treaty should not be construed otherwise.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2001
Repeals Federal law that prohibits National Guard technicians from receiving compensation for irregular or overtime work. Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to: (1) grant an equal amount of compensatory time off for such work; or (2) pay the technician for such work at a rate of one and one-half times their basic rate of pay.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2001
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Education Act - Authorizes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc., to construct a temporary education center for educating people about the Memorial. Requires the center to remain for ten years, after which Congress may reevaluate the continuing need for the center. Sets forth conditions for the use of excess coin funds under the United States Veterans Commemorative Coin Act of 1993 in the construction of such center, including that the Fund provide detailed information with respect to the use of such funds.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2001
Fairness for National Guard Technicians Act - Requires National Guard military technicians (dual status) who are eligible, at the time dual status is lost, to an unreduced retirement annuity and are age 60 or older to be separated no later than 30 days after such status is lost. Requires such technicians who are not eligible to an unreduced annuity or who are not under age 60 at such time to be offered the opportunity to either reapply for a dual status position or apply for a civil service position that is not a technician position. States that a technician shall be considered to lose dual status upon: (1) being separated from the Selected Reserve; or (2) ceasing to hold the military grade specified for the technician position held.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2001
Amends the Emergency Steel Loan Guarantee Act of 1999 to permit the use of guaranteed loan proceeds to repay outstanding debts of a qualified steel company. Sets a maximum principal loan guarantee of 95 percent if the Loan Guarantee Board determines that the aggregate amount of imported steel during the prior year exceeds 30 percent of the aggregate amount of domestic steel produced during that year. Permits conversion of such loan guarantee to a grant to a steel company for loan repayment purposes if the company is unable to repay the loan because of financial hardship beyond its control, has demonstrated a good faith effort to be cost efficient, and such grant is in the U.S. national security interest. Insulates the Board's loan guarantee authority for steel companies from the authority of any other Federal department or agency, including the Office of Management and Budget.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2001
Blind Empowerment Act of 2001 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to increase, by specified increments over five years, the level of earnings demonstrating the ability of a blind person to engage in substantial gainful activity for purposes of determining disability insurance benefit payments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2001
Bear Protection Act of 2001 - Prohibits any person from: (1) importing bear viscera into, or exporting it from, the United States; or (2) selling bear viscera, bartering, offering it for sale or barter, or purchasing, possessing, transporting, delivering, or receiving it in interstate or foreign commerce. Subjects persons who violate such prohibitions to specified penalties. Waives such prohibition for wildlife law enforcement purposes where a valid permit has been issued. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to continue discussions concerning trade in bear viscera with the appropriate representatives of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and with other representatives of countries that are not party to the Convention which are determined to be the leading importers, exporters, or consumers of such products, in order to establish coordinated efforts with such countries to protect bears. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect State regulation of bear population or to affect the lawful hunting of bears under State law.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the current dollar limitation on the deduction for interest on educational loans provision and replace it with a limitation on such deduction based on modified adjusted gross income. Repeals the 60-month limitation period on the allowance of the interest deduction on such loans.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2001
Montgomery GI Bill Improvements Act of 2001 - Amends Federal basic educational assistance provisions (the Montgomery GI Bill) to authorize enhanced educational assistance to a member of the armed forces who, after September 30, 2001: (1) first enters on active duty; (2) reenlists or continues to serve on active duty; (3) serves a continuous period of active duty of four years; or (4) serves and is discharged or released for a service-connected disability, at the convenience of the Government (after serving at least 42 months of such duty), or due to a reduction in force. Limits to 36 months the period for such enhanced assistance. Requires the payment of educational expenses under such program. Provides: (1) a monthly stipend for approved programs of education; and (2) tutorial assistance. Increases the monthly rates of basic educational assistance. Repeals, with respect to such assistance: (1) a required monthly reduction in pay for individuals who do not elect to participate in such assistance program; (2) a provision authorizing individuals to elect not to receive such assistance; (3) the requirement that participants complete the requirements of a high school diploma or equivalency certificate prior to the end of their initial obligated period of service in order to be eligible to receive such assistance; and (4) provisions limiting an individual's opportunity to withdraw an election not to enroll in such assistance program. Authorizes an individual entitled to basic educational assistance to receive an accelerated payment of such allowance, beginning on March 1, 2002, under certain conditions. Authorizes the use of basic educational assistance for training for technological occupations offered by entities other than educational institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
Federal Protective Service Reform Act - Amends Federal law to redesignate special policemen of the General Services Administration (GSA) as police officers, and empower them to: (1) carry firearms; (2) petition Federal courts for and execute arrest and search warrants; (3) make arrests without a warrant; and (4) conduct investigations. Increases the maximum penalty for violations of any rules or regulations with respect to Federal property. Directs the Administrator to establish the Federal Protective Service (FPS) as a separate operating service of GSA, headed by a Commissioner. Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to survey the pay and benefits of all Federal police forces to determine whether any disparities exist that are not commensurate with differences in duties or working conditions. Mandates at least 730 full-time police officers in the FPS one year after the enactment of this Act, with no reduction unless specifically authorized by law. Directs the FPS Commissioner to: (1) prescribe minimum standards of employment suitability in the contracting of security personnel for Federal property; and (2) analyze each security personnel supply contract to determine if the use of personnel directly employed by the United States would be more cost effective. Federal Facility Safety Enhancement Act - Amends the Public Buildings Act of 1959 to direct the GSA Administrator to notify: (1) Federal employees and, before enrollment of any child in a childcare facility located in a public building under GSA control, the child's parents or guardians of the identity of the building's current tenants and the designation of the building's level of security; and (2) the child's parents or guardians if any new Federal tenant is scheduled to take occupancy in such building. Requires the Administrator, after being informed of a serious threat that could affect the safety and security of Federal employees, the public, and children enrolled in such a childcare facility, to give notice of the threat to the contact person for each tenant and to the parents or guardians of each child in the facility.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2001 - Permits retired members of the armed forces with service-connected disabilities to be paid both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation. Repeals a special compensation program for certain severely disabled military retirees.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
National Language Act of 2001 - Makes English the official language of the U.S. Government. Requires the Government to conduct its official business in English, including publications, income tax forms, and informational materials. Provides that this Act shall not apply to the use of a language other than English for religious purposes, for training in foreign languages for international communication, to programs in schools designed to encourage students to learn foreign languages, or by persons over age 62. Repeals the Bilingual Education Act. Terminates the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs in the Department of Education. Repeals provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 regarding bilingual election requirements and regarding congressional findings of voting discrimination against language minorities, prohibition of English-only elections, and other remedial measures. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that all public ceremonies in which the oath of allegiance is administered pursuant to such Act be conducted solely in English. Specifies that this Act shall not preempt the law of any State.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
Prohibits any drilling activity (including slant or directional drilling) to extract oil or gas from lands beneath waters under Federal jurisdiction in Mosquito Creek Lake, Cortland, Ohio.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
Fair Justice Act of 2001 - Establishes the Fair Justice Agency as an independent executive branch agency to investigate and prosecute alleged misconduct, criminal activity, corruption, or fraud by Department of Justice officers or employees.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
Postmasters Fairness and Rights Act of 2001 - Amends Federal law to prescribe guidelines within which the Postal Service shall propose changes in pay policies, schedules, and fringe benefit programs affecting postmasters which are to be in effect during the period covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Postal Service and certain recognized bargaining representatives. Grants certain qualified postmasters' organizations the right to participate in program planning and development pertaining to pay policies, schedules, and fringe benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act - Amends Federal employee provisions to include the following as an employee, for purposes of authorized enrollment under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: (1) a member of the armed forces who began service before June 7, 1956, and retired after a minimum of 20 years of such service or by reason of a service-connected disability; and (2) the surviving widow or widower of such member. Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management to provide FEHB coverage to the following eligible beneficiaries: (1) a member or former member entitled to military retired or retainer pay; (2) an unremarried former spouse who was married to a member for at least 20 years, during which such member performed at least 20 years of retirement-creditable military service; (3) a dependent of a deceased qualifying member or former member; (4) a dependent of a living member or former member; and (5) a family member.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Book Stamp Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a grant program (based on certain State allocations under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990) to promote child literacy and improve children's access to books at home and in early learning and other child care programs, by making books available through such programs. Requires State agencies to use such grants to enter into contracts with local child care resource and referral agencies to: (1) provide payments for eligible early learning program and other child care providers, on the basis of local needs, to make books available; and (2) promote child literacy and improve children's access to books at home and in early learning and other child care programs. Allows State agencies to reserve a portion of grant funds to support a public awareness campaign relating to program activities. Amends Federal law relating to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to require USPS to establish special postage stamps for child literacy, at the regular first-class rate plus a differential amount, for voluntary use by patrons. Requires USPS to pay certain amounts raised by stamp sales to HHS for child literacy promotion activities.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Minimum Wage Act of 2001 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the Federal minimum wage (currently $5.15 per hour) to: (1) $5.65 per hour during the year beginning July 1, 2001; and (2) $6.15 per hour beginning July 1, 2002.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
ERISA Guaranteed Benefits COLA Act of 2001 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to guaranteed benefit payments paid by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Makes such adjustments for guaranteed benefit payments with respect to single-employer plans, multiple employer plans, and aggregate limits.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Early Detection of Dyslexia in Children Act of 2001- Directs the Secretary of Education to study and report to the Congress on methods for identifying and treating children with dyslexia in kindergarten through third grade.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Community Protection Act of 2001- Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize qualified law enforcement officers (including qualified retired officers) carrying the photographic identification issued by the governmental agency for which the individual is, or was, employed as a law enforcement officer, notwithstanding State or local laws, to carry a concealed firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Specifies that this Act shall not be construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that: (1) permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed firearms on their property; or (2) prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on any State or local government property, installation, building, base, or park.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that firearms prohibitions applicable by reason of a domestic violence misdemeanor conviction shall apply only to such convictions obtained on or after September 28, 1996 (the date such prohibitions became law).
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Probation Officers' Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize probation officers and pretrial services officers to carry firearms upon satisfactorily completing safety and proficiency training or testing prescribed by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Presidential Order Limitation Act of 2001 - Requires the President to transmit a copy of each presidential order to: (1) the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (2) the president pro tempore of the Senate; and (3) the chairperson and ranking member of each standing and select committee of the House and the Senate. Prohibits an order from taking effect earlier than 30 days after transmission to such parties to allow congressional review of, and action on, the order. Makes such time limitation inapplicable in the case of an emergency which requires the order to take effect at an earlier time to: (1) protect national security; (2) prevent physical injury; (3) provide disaster relief; or (4) safeguard an American foreign policy interest.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Notch Baby Health Care Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit for premiums paid by a "notch baby" under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Amends such part B to eliminate the part B premium penalty for a "notch baby."
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Notch Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to revise the formula for the computation of minimum Old Age Insurance benefits for individuals who reached age 65 in or after 1979 and to whom applies the 15-year transition period for the changes in benefit computation rules enacted in the Social Security Amendments of 1977. Sets forth a schedule of additional benefit increases for such beneficiaries (and related beneficiaries), with percentages declining from 55 percent to five percent and keyed to the year an individual became eligible for such benefits between 1979 and 1988. Allows such beneficiaries, in the alternative, to receive lump sum payments over four years totaling $5,000. Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, when estimating any additional spending under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) resulting from this Act, to decrease the adjusted discretionary spending limits for budget authority and outlays for FY 2002 set forth in such Act by the increase in direct spending estimated to result from enactment of this Act for that fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Notch Baby Act of 2001- Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act with respect to the benefit computation formula for individuals affected by the changes in benefit computation rules enacted in the Social Security Amendments of 1977 who reached age 65 during the ten year period after 1981 and before 1992. Sets forth a schedule of additional benefit increases for such beneficiaries (and related beneficiaries), with percentages declining from 60 percent to ten percent keyed to the year an individual became eligible for such benefits between 1979 and 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the wholesale distributor of certain drugs who is not the manufacturer or an authorized distributor of record for a calendar year (currently, the language "for a calendar year" is not in the Act) of a drug to provide to the recipient of the drug a statement identifying each prior sale, purchase, or trade of such drug.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
IRA Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the annual limitation on deductible individual retirement account contributions to $5000.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Expresses support for and encourages the public display of the national motto of the United States, "In God We Trust," in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Calls upon the President: (1) to immediately review the entry into the customs territory of the United States of all steel products of Australia, China, South Africa, Ukraine, Indonesia, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, or Brazil; (2) if he finds that the Governments of such countries are not abiding by the spirit and letter of international trade agreements regarding steel imports into the United States, to immediately impose a one-year ban on the imports of all steel products from such countries; (3) to establish a task force within the executive branch to closely monitor steel imports into the United States; and (4) to report to Congress on any other actions to ensure that all U.S. trading partners abide by such agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2000
Requires that up to a specified maximum amount of funds from FY 2001 appropriations for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration be available for promulgating, issuing, implementing, administering, and enforcing proposed, temporary, and final standards on ergonomic protection.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2000
Minimum Wage Act of 2000 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the Federal minimum wage (currently $5.15 per hour) to: (1) $5.65 an hour during the year beginning on January 1, 2001; and (2) $6.15 an hour beginning on January 1, 2002. (This bill also states that the current $5.15 Federal minimum wage is, or was, in effect during the period ending June 30, 2000, but does not indicate what amount or coverage is, or is to be, in effect from the period from July 1 through December 31, 2000.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2000
Prohibits U.S. assistance (except humanitarian assistance) to the Palestinian Authority (or to any successor or related entity) or for programs, projects, and activities to the West Bank or Gaza unless the President determines and certifies to specified congressional committees that: (1) the leadership of the Palestinian Authority has publicly renounced violence as a means of political expression and has taken all actions to bring an end to the violence which commenced in early October 2000 in the West Bank and Gaza; and (2) the violence in the West Bank and Gaza has subsided.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2000
Circulating Currency Simplification and Cost-saving Act - Declares that: (1) all Federal reserve notes issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall be the obligation of the United States and be deemed to be U.S. currency notes; and (2) all Board assets and liabilities with respect to the issuance of such Federal reserve notes shall be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury, and be assets and liabilities of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2000
Calls upon the President to: (1) take all appropriate action to provide relief from injury caused by steel imports; and (2) immediately request the U.S. Trade Commission to commence an expedited investigation for positive adjustment of such steel imports under section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2000
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 · 11 October 2000
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Argentina should provide an immediate and final resolution to the Buenos Aires Yoga School case.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2000
Requires the Secretary of Defense to revise Department of Defense policy regarding the euthanization of military working dogs to: (1) terminate the practice of euthanizing such dogs at the end of their useful life; and (2) limit such euthanization to when medically necessary or necessary for the public safety. Requires the Secretary to make such a dog available for adoption by law enforcement agencies, former handlers, and other persons capable of humanely caring for such dogs. Requires the commander of the last unit to which the dog is assigned to make the decision whether a particular dog is suitable or unsuitable for adoption. Directs the Secretary to require that any dog recipient hold harmless the United States from any damages or injury caused by a dog after such transfer. Requires an annual report from the Secretary to Congress concerning dogs adopted, waiting for adoption, or euthanized during the preceding year (with an explanation in the case of euthanization).
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2000
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions concerning reporting requirements of political organizations to exempt from such requirements certain State and local political committees which are required to make State filings which are publicly available.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2000
Lance Armstrong Congressional Gold Medal Act - Authorizes the President to present a congressional gold medal to Lance Armstrong, in recognition of his outstanding performance as two-time winner of the Tour de France and his courageous spirit in overcoming cancer. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates. Requires deposit of sale proceeds in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2000
Calls on the Russian Federation to immediately release Edmond Pope and to ensure that proper and qualified medical attention is provided to him. Expresses the sense of Congress that if Pope is not released immediately, the President should continue efforts to secure his release, including consideration of: (1) terminating all assistance to the Government of the Russian Federation under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the annual Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for purposes of preparing the Russian Federation's entrance or accession to the World Trade Organization; and (2) opposing any further debt relief of obligations owed to the U.S. Government from the Government of the Russian Federation. Urges the President to increase efforts to secure appropriate medical attention for Pope.
![Official portrait of Rep. Traficant, James A., Jr. [D-OH-17]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000350_200.jpg)