United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act - Modifies Federal criminal code provisions regarding trafficking in counterfeit goods or services to prohibit trafficking in counterfeit marks. Directs the court: (1) upon a determination by a preponderance of the evidence that any article in a defendant's possession bears or is a counterfeit mark, to order the forfeiture and destruction of such article, regardless of whether the defendant is convicted of an offense; and (2) in imposing sentence, to order a person convicted of, or who pleads guilty or nolo contendre to, a violation to forfeit any property derived from proceeds of, or used in the commission of, the violation. Modifies the definition of "counterfeit mark" to include a spurious mark that is applied to, or consists of, a label, patch or medallion. Provides that nothing in this Act shall entitle the United States to bring a criminal cause of action for the repackaging, without deception, of genuine goods or services.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act or SPY ACT - Makes it unlawful for any person who is not the owner or authorized user (user) of a protected computer (a computer exclusively for the use of a financial institution or the U.S. Government, or a computer used in interstate or foreign commerce or communication) to engage in deceptive acts or practices in connection with specified conduct, including: (1) taking unsolicited control of the computer; (2) modifying computer settings; (3) collecting personally identifiable information; (4) inducing the unsolicited installation of computer software; and (5) removing or disabling a security, anti-spyware, or anti-virus technology. Makes it unlawful for a person to: (1) transmit to a protected computer any information collection program (a program that collects personally identifiable information and uses the information to send advertising), unless such program provides notice required by this Act before execution of any of the program's collection functions; or (2) execute any collection information program installed on a protected computer unless, before execution, the user has consented to such execution under notice requirements of this Act. Provides for enforcement of violations as unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Makes this Act inapplicable with respect to: (1) law enforcement actions; (2) monitoring undertaken for network security; and (3) Good Samaritan actions (actions taken in good faith, and with the user's consent, by a computer software or service provider to remove or disable a program which violates this Act). Directs the Federal Trade Commission to report to Congress regarding the use of computer tracking cookies in the delivery or display of advertising to computer owners and users.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Servicemembers Anti-Predatory Lending Protection Act - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to set forth terms for consumer credit extended to a servicemember or servicemember's dependent, including terms of interest with respect to the extension of such credit. Prohibits a creditor from imposing an annual percentage rate greater than 36 percent with respect to the consumer credit extended. Sets forth mandatory loan disclosures, including: (1) a statement of the annual percentage rate applicable to the extension of credit; and (2) a clear description of the payment obligations. Prohibits a creditor from automatically renewing, repaying, refinancing, or consolidating any consumer credit with the proceeds of other credit extended to a servicemember or a servicemember's dependent by the same creditor without: (1) executing new loan documentation signed by the servicemember; and (2) providing the mandatory loan disclosures. Preempts any State or Federal law, rule, or regulation, including any State usury law, to the extent that it is inconsistent with this Act. States that this Act does not preempt any such law, rule, or regulation that provides additional protection. Prescribes criminal penalties for violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, Neutralize, and Undermine Production (CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to carry out environmental cleanup and remediation programs involving specified lands that are contaminated with hazardous substances associated with illegal methamphetamine manufacture. Directs: (1) the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate as hazardous certain byproducts of the methamphetamine production process and expand penalties against laboratory operators; (2) the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration to list byproducts likely to cause long-term environmental harm; (3) the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to provide grants to State and local law enforcement for specified training and equipment acquisition; (4) the EPA Administrator to study the impact of methamphetamine laboratory operation on the environment; and (5) the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study contamination issues. Amends: (1) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize grants for educational programs; (2) the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to provide treatment; and (3) the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include among permissible grant projects under the "cops on the beat" program hiring personnel and purchasing equipment. Urges the President to seek commitments from the Canadian Government regarding the availability of pseudoephedrine.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005
Expresses support for the goals of National Manufacturing Week. Congratulates manufacturers and their employees for their contributions to growth, innovation, and the Nation's future. Recognizes that the manufacturing sector is facing serious, new challenges which affect prospects for growth of the U.S. economy.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2004
Ensuring Needed Help Arrives Near Callers Employing 911 Act of 2004 or ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 - Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Organization Act to direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to: (1) coordinate the national implementation of E-911 (enhanced 911 emergency phone) services; and (2) create an E-911 Implementation Coordination Office. Requires: (1) such officials to provide grants to eligible entities for the implementation and operation of such services; and (2) grant recipients to certify that no E-911 charges imposed by the appropriate taxing jurisdiction are being obligated or expended for any purposes other than service implementation and maintenance. Requires the: (1) Comptroller General (CG) to study and report on State and local use of 911 service charges; and (2) Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report on the deployment of E-911 phase II services by tier III service providers. Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act - Requires any Federal entity that operates a Government station assigned within a specified band of frequencies and that incurs relocation costs due to reallocation to non-Federal use to receive reimbursement from the Spectrum Relocation Fund (Fund) established in this Act. Requires the NTIA to notify the FCC of estimated relocation costs at least six months prior to the commencement of any auction of eligible frequencies. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the FCC, in designing competitive bidding under such auctions, to achieve specified cost recovery objectives. Prohibits the FCC from concluding any auction under which such objectives are not attained. Authorizes the FCC to grant a license for the advance use of eligible frequencies pending an auction, on the condition that the licensee cannot cause harmful interference to the Federal entity until the entity's authorization has been terminated. Establishes the Fund. Requires the CG to examine and report on national commercial spectrum license policy as implemented by the FCC. Universal Service Antideficiency Temporary Suspension Act - Makes certain Federal limitations on the obligation and expenditure of Federal funds and appropriation apportionment inapplicable to any amount collected as Federal universal service contributions or to the expenditure or obligation of amounts attributable to such contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2004
Renewable Energy Security Act of 2004 - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to prohibit expenditures from exceeding an average of $3,000 per dwelling unit for labor, weatherization materials, and related matters for a renewable energy system. Directs the Secretary of Energy to prescribe regulations for criteria and procedures governing renewable energy systems. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to direct the Secretary to evaluate the use of renewable energy systems in residential buildings. Amends the Biomass Energy and Alcohol Fuels Act of 1980 to redefine biomass. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow as a credit against tax, for both individuals and small businesses, 20 percent of the qualified renewable energy system expenditures during the taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2004
Declares that Congress: (1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the World War II Battle of the Bulge; (2) honors those who gave their lives during the battle; and (3) reaffirms the bonds of friendship between the United States and both Belgium and Luxembourg.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2004
Combat Meth Act - Directs the Attorney General to carry out a program to provide grants to qualified States (i.e., those which had more than 200 methamphetamine lab seizures in 2003 and that provide a specified mandatory minimum sentence for possession and/or distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine or 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine) to combat methamphetamine abuse, focusing on the prosecution of repeat offenders. Authorizes funds to provide training to: (1) State and local prosecutors and law enforcement agents for investigation and prosecution of methamphetamine offenses; and (2) State law enforcement personnel at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Clandestine Laboratory Training Facility in Quantico, Virginia. Amends: (1) the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the public safety and community policing grant program to authorize the use of grant funds to hire personnel and purchase equipment to assist in enforcing and prosecuting methamphetamine offenses and in cleaning up methamphetamine-affected areas; and (2) the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to local governments and nonprofit private entities to provide treatment for methamphetamine abuse. Directs the Attorney General to allocate funds for the hiring and training of special assistant U.S. attorneys. Authorizes the Attorney General, acting through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, to award grants to States to establish methamphetamine precursor monitoring programs.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2004
Recognition of Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners in the Federal Workers' Compensation Act - Amends the Federal Employees' Compensation Act to include within the definition of "physician" physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2004
Increases the death gratuity payable with respect to members of the Armed Forces from $12,000 to $50,000. Makes this increase applicable to deaths occurring on or after September 11, 2001. Requires the Secretary of Defense to derive funds for payments under this Act in FY 2005 from travel funds for personnel of the Office of the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business tax credit of $1,000 for each of their employees who teaches a course at an accredited community college for which the employee receives no compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Municipal Solid Waste Responsibility Act of 2004 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit a landfill or incinerator (facility) from receiving out-of-State municipal solid waste unless the owner or operator of the facility obtains explicit authorization from the affected local government. Directs affected local governments, prior to taking formal action on a request for such authorization, to: (1) notify the Governor, contiguous local governments, and any contiguous Indian tribes; and (2) provide public notice and an opportunity for comment. Creates exceptions to the authorization requirement for owners or operators who held certain authorizations prior to enactment of this Act, where the facility received shipments of out-of-State municipal solid waste during 1993, or where the waste was generated within the bi-State metropolitan statistical area in which the facility is located. Authorizes States to: (1) limit the amount of out-of-State municipal solid waste received annually by facilities; (2) impose cost recovery surcharges on the combustion or disposal of such waste; and (3) enact laws imposing limitations on the receipt and disposal of foreign municipal solid waste. Prohibits persons from importing, transporting, or exporting municipal solid waste for final disposal or incineration in violation of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada Concerning the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct studies and develop recommendations concerning the benefits of alternatives to open field disposal of agricultural solid wastes (including biomass).
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Healthy Start Reauthorization Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider certain criteria in making grants under the Healthy Start Initiative, including: (1) factors that contribute to infant mortality, such as low birthweight; and (2) the extent to which applicants for grants facilitate a community-based approach to the delivery of services and a comprehensive approach to women's health care to improve perinatal outcomes. Eliminates authority for the Secretary to make additional grants to: (1) assist communities with technical assistance, replication of successful projects, and State policy formation to reduce infant and maternal mortality and morbidity; and (2) conduct and support research and to provide additional health care services for pregnant woman and infants.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Honors the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the Wilderness Act on September 3, 1964. Recognizes and applauds the extraordinary work of the individuals and organizations involved in building the National Wilderness Preservation System.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2004
NASA and JPL 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to mint and issue: (1) ten dollar gold coins; (2) five dollar gold coins; (3) one dollar silver coins; and (4) half-dollar silver coins emblematic of the 50 years of exemplary and unparalleled achievements of NASA and JPL. Directs each Federal agency and U.S. instrumentality that has in its possession any craft or any part of a craft that flew in space to: (1) retrieve any gold, silver, copper, and other precious metal that may be used in the production of any coins under this Act from such craft or part; and (2) deposit such metals with the Director of the United States Mint. Requires that all sales of coins minted under this Act include a surcharge of : (1) $75 per coin for the ten dollar coin; (2) $35 per coin for the five dollar coin; (3) $10 per coin for the one dollar coin; and (4) $3 for the half-dollar coin, which shall be paid by the Secretary to the NASA Family Assistance Fund for the purposes of providing financial assistance to the families of NASA personnel who die as a result of injuries suffered in the performance of their official duties.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2004
Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the Center for Mental Health Services to: (1) administer the grant program established by this Act; (2) provide technical assistance to entities that provide permanent supportive housing to the chronically homeless; and (3) implement an approach to disseminate information about such housing that is targeted to individuals who have been homeless for long periods and have disabilities. Defines "chronically homeless" as an individual or family that is currently homeless, has been homeless continuously for at least one year or on at least four separate occasions in the last three years, and has an adult head of household with a disabling condition. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to: (1) design national strategies to provide services in supportive housing to end chronic homelessness; (2) collaborate with specified Federal departments and programs to implement programs that address chronic homelessness; (3) develop improved methods for serving individuals with mental or physical illnesses, disabilities, substance abuse problems, or co-occurring disorders; and (4) promote collaboration between Federal, State and local agencies that are responsible for systems of care to ensure that services for the chronically homeless are delivered in a coordinated manner that promotes housing stability. Requires the Secretary to award matching grants for the provision of services to chronically homeless individuals in permanent supportive housing.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2004
Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise provisions regarding Federal assistance for programs to reduce suicide among children and adolescents. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award grants or cooperative agreements to: (1) develop and implement State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies in schools, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance abuse programs, mental health programs, foster care systems, and other child and youth support organizations; (2) support public organizations actively involved in State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies and in the development and continuation of such intervention and prevention strategies; (3) collect and analyze data on State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention services that can be used to monitor the effectiveness of such services and for research, technical assistance, and policy development; and (4) assist eligible entities in achieving their targets for youth suicide reductions. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator, to award a grant or contract to establish the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Requires the Secretary to award grants to institutions of higher education to expand mental and behavior health services to students, to provide such services, and to develop best practices for the delivery of such services.
United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2004
Declares that the House of Representatives honors former President Gerald R. Ford on the occasion of his 91st birthday and extends its congratulations and best wishes to former President Ford and his family.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2004
Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a three-year pilot program under which up to 15 States authorized by the Secretary may issue electronic migratory bird hunting and conservation stamps. Requires implementation of the program no later than one year after the beginning of the first full Federal migratory waterfowl hunting seasons after enactment of this Act and continuation of the program for three such seasons. Prohibits a State's participation in the program absent the Secretary's approval of an application providing details of the State's electronic stamp process. Requires the Secretary to publish: (1) deadlines for the submission of State applications; (2) eligibility requirements for program participation; and (3) criteria for selecting States for the program. Directs the Secretary to require participating States to: (1) provide an actual (paper) stamp to each individual to whom the State sells an electronic stamp by the date on which the electronic stamp expires; and (2) collect and transmit to the Secretary electronic stamp revenue and customer information. Authorizes participating States to charge a reasonable fee to cover program costs. Sets forth requirements for electronic stamps. Authorizes termination of a State's participation in the program by the Secretary, upon written notice, for violations of the terms of an approved application or by the State. Requires the Secretary to evaluate and report on the pilot program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2004
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic located in Peoria, Illinois, as the Bob Michel Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2004
Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services: (1) to develop and implement a National Arthritis Action Plan; and (2) acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to conduct, support, and promote the coordination of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases research. Requires the Secretary to award grants to: (1) support arthritis-specific research projects at the Centers for Prevention Research by the CDC; (2) support State comprehensive arthritis control and prevention programs and public health surveillance, prevention, and control activities; and (3) assist in the implementation of a national strategy for arthritis control and prevention. Requires the Secretary to coordinate a national education and outreach program on arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Requires the Secretary to establish an Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases Interagency Coordinating Committee to: (1) improve coordination of Federal research activities related to arthritis and rheumatic diseases; and (2) convene a summit to provide a detailed overview of such current Federal research. Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health to expand and intensify juvenile arthritis research and related programs, including by awarding grants to establish new research programs. Allows the Secretary, acting through the Director of the CDC, to award grants to support the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on juvenile arthritis. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the CDC, to support the development of a National Juvenile Arthritis Patient Registry to collect data for follow-up studies regarding the prevalence and incidence of juvenile arthritis, as well as capturing information on evidence-based health outcomes related to specific therapies and interventions. Requires the Secretary to promote and support pediatric rheumatology training, including by allowing the Secretary to establish a loan repayment program. Requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the economic impact of arthritis in the workplace.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2004
Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2004 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit a person from using any telephone facsimile (fax) machine, computer, or other device to send, to another fax machine, an unsolicited advertisement to a person who has requested that such sender not send such advertisements, or to any other person unless: (1) the sender has an established business relationship with the person; and (2) the advertisement contains a conspicuous notice on its first page that the recipient may request not to be sent any further unsolicited advertisements, and includes a domestic telephone and fax number (neither of which can be a pay-per-call number) for sending such a request. Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide that a request not to send unsolicited advertisements complies with FCC requirements if: (1) the request identifies the recipient fax number to which the request relates; (2) the request is made to the telephone or fax number of the sender; and (3) the person making the request has not subsequently provided express invitation or permission to have such advertisements sent. Authorizes the FCC to allow professional tax-exempt trade associations to send unsolicited advertisements to their members in furtherance of association purposes. Requires the: (1) FCC to report annually to Congress on the enforcement of the above requirements; and (2) Comptroller General to study, and report to specified congressional committees on, complaints received by the FCC concerning unsolicited advertisements sent to fax machines.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2004
Vocational and Technical Education of the Future Act - Amends the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1998 to reauthorize and revise its programs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2004
Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to extend until December 31, 2009, the exemption that allows the retransmission of the signals of a network station directly to a home satellite antenna without the consent of the originating station to subscribers outside the local market that reside in unserved households. Allows a satellite carrier to retransmit the signal of any station that a cable system is authorized or would be authorized to transmit as a significantly viewed station. Requires a satellite carrier to transmit all signals of local television broadcast stations retransmitted by that carrier within a local market by means of a single reception antenna and associated equipment within one year of enactment of this Act. Allows an eligible subscriber to receive the distant signal of a network station under certain circumstances where a local signal affiliated with the same network is available. Prohibits a satellite carrier from providing a distant signal to a subscriber in a location in which a local signal was available by the carrier before the person becomes a subscriber to that carrier. Sets forth provisions regarding notifications required by any satellite carrier offering retransmissions to a subscriber and the collection and use of a subscriber's personally identifiable information. Prohibits a multichannel video programming distributor from failing to negotiate in good faith for retransmission consent. Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) initiate an inquiry to recommend the appropriate methodologies to determine which consumers will be unable to receive digital television service after the discontinuance of analog television service; and (2) exempt certain subscriber requests for a signal intensity test from verification requirements. Allows a satellite carrier to retransmit to subscribers in certain counties in a State the distant signal of a station in the capital city of that State if such subscribers are in a local market principally comprised of counties in another State.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2004
States that Congress: (1) recognizes the essential role of nuclear power in the national energy policy of the United States; and (2) supports the increased use of nuclear power and the construction and development of new and improved nuclear power generating plants as a means of contributing to national energy independence and maintaining a clean environment.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2004
Legal Expense Equity Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize parties in civil diversity litigation to serve written settlement offers on an adverse party at any time not less than 10 days before trial. Authorizes the court, at any time before judgment is entered, to exempt from settlement any claim that presents a novel and important question of law or fact that substantially affects nonparties. Voids all settlement offers made by the parties with respect to such exempted claims. Authorizes an offeror whose proposed settlement was declined by an offeree to file a petition with the court seeking payment by the offeree of costs and fees, including attorney's fees, from the date of the last settlement offer by either party if the ultimate judgment or order is not more favorable to the offeree than the proposed settlement. Requires the court to order payment by the offeree in such circumstances unless requiring payment would be manifestly unjust. Limits attorney's fees ordered under this Act to: (1) the actual attorney's fees incurred by the offeree in connection with the claim; or (2) if no such cost was incurred due to a contingency fee agreement, a reasonable cost that would have been incurred by the offeree absent a contingency fee agreement. States that this Act does not apply to claims seeking equitable remedies.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2004
Priorities for Graduate Studies Act of 2004 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise requirements and reauthorize appropriations for the following Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs under title VII: (1) the Jacob K. Javits fellowship program; (2) the program of graduate assistance in areas of national need; (3) the Thurgood Marshall legal educational opportunity program; (4) the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education; and (5) demonstration projects to ensure that students with disabilities receive a quality higher education. Eliminates the Urban Community Service program and certain continuation awards.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2004
Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Committee Act - Establishes the Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Committee to: (1) study and report to the President, the Congress, and the Governor of each Great Lakes State on programs established and carried out to achieve restoration goals for the Great Lakes prepared by the Governors of Great Lakes States; and (2) make recommendations for prioritization of such goals, legislation, and funding to achieve them, and improvement of coordination among programs and governments with respect to them.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2004
States that Congress: (1) urges the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to immediately provide to the United States all information relating to Americans unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, including documents relating to Americans unaccounted for in areas of Laos and Cambodia that were under wartime Vietnamese control; (2) welcomes the improvement in military ties between the United States and Vietnam, including the port call of the U.S.S. Vandergrift in November 2003, and urges the Government of Vietnam to respond positively by the end of 2004 to requests to permit a United States Navy vessel to conduct humanitarian underwater recovery missions along the coastline of Vietnam; and (3) will consider statements by President George W. Bush and the response of the Government of Vietnam to the U.S. request to use a United States Navy vessel to conduct humanitarian underwater recovery missions along the coast of Vietnam before taking further steps beneficial to the economic and political objectives of the Government of Vietnam.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2004
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) supports the goals of National Marina Day; and (2) urges U.S. marinas to continue to provide environmentally friendly gateways to boating.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2004
Direct Loan Reward Act of 2004 - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a Direct Loan Reward Program to encourage institutions of higher education to participate in the student loan program under part D, Federal Perkins Loans. Makes the amount of financial reward payment to an institution under this Act equal to 50 percent of the savings to the Federal Government generated by the institution's participation in such part D student loan program instead of its participation in the student loan program under the part B Federal Family Education Loan Program.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2004
Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act - Modifies Federal criminal code provisions regarding trafficking in counterfeit goods or services to prohibit trafficking in counterfeit marks. Directs the court: (1) upon a determination by a preponderance of the evidence that any articles in a defendant's possession bear or are counterfeit marks, to order the forfeiture and destruction of such articles, regardless of the defendant's criminal culpability; and (2) in imposing sentence, to order a person convicted of, or who pleads guilty or nolo contendre to, a violation to forfeit any property derived from proceeds of, or used in the commission of, the violation. Modifies the definition of "counterfeit mark" to include a spurious mark that is applied to, or consists of, a label, patch or medallion. Authorizes the court, in determining whether a particular mark is a "famous mark," to consider information, data, testimony, and documentation regarding specified factors, such as the degree of inherent or acquired distinctiveness and the degree of general public recognition of the mark, and the record of successful criminal, civil, or administrative enforcement of rights in the mark. Places upon the United States the burden of proof and persuasion regarding the determination of whether a particular mark is a famous mark. Prohibits prosecution of a person by virtue of a counterfeit mark that has been lawfully registered and that is valid at the time of the alleged offense.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2004
Urges the U.S. Air Force to continue to honor and learn from the example provided by the Tuskegee Airmen as it faces the challenges of the 21st century and the war on terror.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2004
Honors the extraordinary contributions of the women whose dedicated service on the home front during World War II was instrumental in achieving an Allied victory. Recognizes the lasting legacy of equal employment opportunity and support for child care and health care that developed during the "Rosie the Riveter" era. Calls on the people of the United States to study, reflect on, and celebrate the stories and accomplishments of women who served the Nation as "Rosies" during that war.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2004
Middle-Class Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the increased alternative minimum tax exemption amounts for individual taxpayers to taxable year 2005 (currently available for 2003 and 2004). Provides for an inflation adjustment to such amounts for taxable year 2005.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2004
Know Your Vote Counts Act of 2004 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to revise voting system standards to require the voting system used in an election for Federal office to provide the voter with an auditable paper record showing how the vote will be recorded by the system after the voter enters it. Requires the voter to use such record to verify that the vote shown is the vote the voter intends to cast. Requires the system, if the voter does not verify his or her vote, to provide the voter with: (1) the opportunity to change the ballot and correct any error, and (2) a new auditable paper record that reflects the change or correction made by the voter. Makes a vote final once a voter verifies that the vote shown on a paper record is the vote the voter intends to cast. Makes the paper record serve as a permanent paper record of the vote. Prohibits the removal of such record from the polling place except for purposes related to a recount. Requires voluntary voting system guidelines to include guidelines to ensure security of electronic data.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2004
Recognizes the contributions of the teachers, administration, and staff of military impacted schools and Department of Defense education activity schools worldwide. Commends the teachers in military impacted communities who educate students during times of peace and conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2004
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to make unlawful the importation, sale for importation, or sale within the United States after importation, of articles falsely labeled or advertised as meeting a Federal Government or industry standard for performance or safety.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2004
Improving Efficiency and Quality in Hospitals Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to make grants to hospitals for developing and implementing measurement-based strategies to improve the quality and efficiency of health care. Requires hospitals to use the grants to improve safety, injury avoidance, the effectiveness of services, timeliness, efficiency, and the equitable distribution of services. Requires the Secretary to provide such grants to urban hospitals, non-urban hospitals, teaching hospitals, and hospitals with fewer than 50 acute care beds.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2004
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permanently extend the 50 percent and 30 percent bonus depreciation for certain original use property, including water utility property, computer software, or qualified leasehold improvement property, with a recovery period of 20 years or less. Allows a taxpayer to elect an increased refundable minimum tax credit in lieu of taking a bonus depreciation deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2004
American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in celebration of the recovery of the bald eagle, in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the placement of the bald eagle on the endangered species list under such Act, to mint and issue not more than: (1) 100,000 $5 gold coins; (2) 500,000 $1 silver coins; and (3) 750,000 half dollar coins. Directs that the design of the coins be emblematic of the bald eagle and its history, natural biology, and national symbolism. Requires that sales of the coins include a surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin, $10 for the $1 coin, and $3 for the half dollar coin, which shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee to: (1) establish an interest-bearing endowment called the American Eagle Fund as a permanent source of support for the care, monitoring, maintenance, and recovery of the bald eagle and its habitat in the United States; (2) make annual grants to Federal, State, and private eagle restoration, protection, and enhancement projects; (3) administer the Fund in an annual amount not to exceed the lesser of ten percent of the annual income of the Fund or $250,000; and (4) provide financial support for capital projects and for continuation and expansion of the Foundation's efforts to educate the American people about the bald eagle.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2004
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Reauthorization Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to modify provisions regarding firefighter assistance to make the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration (currently, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency) responsible for such assistance. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to volunteer emergency medical service squads and to provide assistance for firefighter safety research and development. Includes within authorized uses of grants the funding of such squads that are not affiliated with a fire department, hospital, or for-profit entity. Makes specified funds available for research to improve firefighter health and life safety. Grants priority for certain earmarked funds to organizations that focus on prevention of injuries to high risk groups from fire, as well as research programs that demonstrate the potential to improve firefighter safety. Allows the Administrator to provide assistance only if the applicant agrees to match with an equal amount of non-Federal funds 20 (currently 30) percent of the assistance received for any fiscal year. Modifies grant recipient limitations. Directs the Administrator to: (1) convene an annual meeting of non-Federal fire service experts to recommend criteria for awarding grants and necessary administrative changes; (2) publish each year in the Federal Register guidelines that describe the grant application process and award criteria; (3) appoint fire service personnel to conduct peer review of applications; and (4) re-conduct a study to define the current role and activities associated with fire services.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2004
Trade Adjustment Assistance Equity for Service Workers Act of 2004 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend trade adjustment assistance (TAA) to workers in a service sector firm or its subdivision or public agency. Revises group eligibility requirements for TAA to include: (1) a shift, by a public agency to a foreign country in provision of services, like or directly competitive with services which are provided by the workers' firm, subdivision, or public agency; and (2) the situation where the workers' firm, subdivision, or public agency obtains or is likely to obtain such services from a foreign country. Requires the Secretary of Labor to certify as eligible to apply for TAA any adversely affected secondary workers in a service sector firm or its subdivision or public agency. Specifies criteria for determination of the existence of increased imports of like or directly competitive articles or services. Increases from $220 million to $440 million the amount of fiscal year payments for training of adversely affected workers under the Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to provide technical assistance for the establishment of industrywide programs for new service development. Modifies the trade monitoring system to include imports of services.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2004
Congratulates the American Dental Association for establishing and continuing its sponsorship of the Give Kids a Smile program. Emphasizes the need to improve access to dental care for children. Thanks the thousands of dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and others who volunteered their time to provide dental education, screening, and care to an estimated one million children during this year's Give Kids a Smile program. Thanks Crest Healthy Smiles 2010, Sullivan-Schein Dental, DEXIS Digital X-ray Systems, and Ivoclar Vivadent Inc. for their support of the program.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2004
Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime Heritage Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service Midwest Regional Office, to study and report on: (1) potential economic and tourism benefits of preserving Michigan maritime heritage resources; (2) suitable and feasible options for long-term protection of these resources; and (3) the manner in which the public can best learn about and experience these resources. Directs the Secretary, in conducting the study, to take specified actions, including: (1) reviewing Federal, State, and local maritime resource inventories and studies; (2) identifying sources of financial and technical assistance to communities for the conservation and interpretation of State maritime heritage resources; and (3) addressing ways of linking national, State, and regional and local areas and sites into a Michigan Maritime Heritage Destination Network.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2004
Deficit Control Act of 2004 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require annual joint (currently, concurrent) budget resolutions signed by the President. Sets forth provisions regarding the establishment of a reserve fund for emergencies. Eliminates inflation adjustments. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide spending caps on the growth of entitlements and mandatory budget outlays. Excludes from such limits any benefits payable under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) (as well as old age, survivors, and disability insurance under SSA title II and Tier 1 railroad retirement benefits, as under current law), along with specified Government accounts and activities (including existing exemptions). Revises other existing exceptions, limitations, and special rules with respect to sequestration exemptions, removing Medicare benefits from the current list. Sets limits on discretionary spending programs for FY 2006 through FY 2014, specifying such limits each fiscal year for the nondefense category. Provides for points of order against any increase in such limits. Establishes a procedure for enhanced and expedited consideration by Congress of rescissions proposed by the President. Establishes the Commission to Eliminate Waste, Fraud, and Abuse. Provides for accrual funding of the: (1) Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (2) Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System; (3) Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System; and (4) post-retirement health benefits costs for Federal employees. Establishes in the Treasury: (1) the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Retirement Fund; (2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Retirement System; and (3) the Coast Guard Military Retirement Fund. Changes the name of the Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Fund to Uniformed Services Health Care Fund (thus, providing health care programs for all uniformed service retirees, under certain conditions). (Currently, such programs are for Department of Defense Medicare-eligible beneficiaries). Decreases the limit on the public debt from $7.384 trillion to $4.393 trillion. Amends the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act to extend: (1) certain budget enforcement requirements through FY 2014; (2) PAYGO requirements through FY 2018; and (3) PAYGO requirements through FY 2014 to provide for an offsetting sequestration for direct spending and receipts legislation enacted before October 1, 2014, that causes a net deficit increase. Declares that the term "receipts legislation" does not include provisions of a bill or joint resolution amending the Internal Revenue Code that increases the deficit, if the amount of deficit increase does not exceed for any fiscal year covered by such resolution the amount by which the aggregate level of Federal revenues should be decreased under it.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2004
Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award: (1) grants for reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses and incidental nonmedical expenses incurred by individuals toward making living organ donations; (2) peer reviewed grants, or enter into contracts, for studies and demonstration projects to increase organ donation and recovery rates; (3) grants to States for organ donor awareness, public education and outreach activities, and programs designed to increase the number of organ donors within the State; and (4) matching grants to qualified organ procurement organizations and hospitals to establish programs coordinating organ donation activities to increase the rate of organ donations for such hospitals. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish a public education program to increase awareness about organ donation and the need to provide for an adequate rate of donation; (2) support the development and dissemination of educational materials to inform health care professionals about organ, tissue, and eye donation issues; and (3) report on the ethical implications of proposals to increase cadaveric donation. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to: (1) develop scientific evidence supporting increased donation and improved recovery, preservation, and transportation of donated organs; and (2) support research and dissemination of findings to develop a uniform clinical vocabulary, apply technology to support organ procurement organizations, enhance the skills of the organ procurement workforce, and assess specific organ recovery, preservation, and transportation technologies. Authorizes the Secretary to establish mechanisms to evaluate the long-term effects associated with living organ donations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2004
Expresses the thanks of the House of Representatives to and commends the Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN), together with Brian Lamb and the more than 275 C-SPAN employees, for their service to the House on the 25th anniversary of C-SPAN's first coverage of the proceedings of the House.
![Official portrait of Rep. Upton, Fred [R-MI-6]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/u000031_200.jpg)