United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2004
Stabilization and Reconstruction Civilian Management Act of 2004 - States that the purpose of this Act is to provide for the development, as a core mission of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), of an expert civilian response capability to carry out stabilization and reconstruction activities in a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to furnish assistance and permit the export of goods and services to assist in stabilizing and reconstructing a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to direct the Secretary of State to establish within the Department of State an Office of International Stabilization and Reconstruction. Authorizes: (1) the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the USAID, to establish a Response Readiness Corps to provide stabilization and reconstruction activities in foreign countries or regions that are in, or are in transition from, conflict or civil strife (up to 250 personnel to serve in the Corps, and such other personnel as the Secretary may designate from the Department of State and USAID); and (2) the Secretary to establish a Response Readiness Reserve of Federal and non-Federal personnel to augment the Corps. Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army, to establish a stabilization and reconstruction curriculum for use in programs of the Foreign Service Institute, the National Defense University, and the United States Army War College. Sets forth related personnel provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2004
States that Congress: (1) condemns the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/14 (December 8, 2003) which requests the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to render an advisory opinion concerning the international legal consequences arising from Israel's construction of a security fence in parts of the West Bank; (2) deplores the use of the International Court of Justice by the United Nations General Assembly for political purposes that only do harm to the credibility of the General Assembly and the Court, and threaten to impede international and United States efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; (3) commends the Administration for its leadership in opposing the manipulation of the International Court of Justice into a political forum for denunciation of Israel and its legitimate self-defense; (4) expresses the continued commitment of the United States to Israel's right to exist as a Jewish democratic state, its security and its right of self-defense, including the right to build a security fence as a direct consequence of more than three years of Palestinian terrorism; (5) condemns the ongoing failure of the Palestinian leadership to take action to cease all violence and terrorism against Israel and to instead pursue misguided political alternatives to the Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, democratic reform, and direct peace negotiations; and (6) reiterates support for the President's June 2002 speech setting out the conditions necessary for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for the achievement of a negotiated two-state solution based on United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), and 1397 (2002) calling for the exchange of territory for peace, direct negotiations between the parties, and the immediate cessation of all violence.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2004
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the well-being of deployed U.S. armed forces is of paramount importance; (2) the Department of Defense (DOD) should do its utmost to see that such personnel have the best force protection equipment available; (3) DOD and the military departments should increase the ability of currently unarmored vehicles that are deployed forward under Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom to resist improvised explosive devices; and (4) DOD should immediately release to the military departments all funds that have been authorized and appropriated, but not released, for defeating such improvised explosive devices and mitigating their effect on vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2004
Helping the People of Haiti Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to direct the United States Executive Director at the Inter-American Development Bank to use the voice and vote of the United States to urge the Bank to release the four social sector and development loans for health, education, water and sanitation, and transportation, that have been approved by the Board of Executive Directors of the Bank and ratified by the Parliament of Haiti. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of State, respectively, to: (1) appeal to international financial institutions and foreign governments to strengthen their assistance efforts to Haiti; and (2) urge such institutions and governments to take immediate steps to provide Haiti with the full range of loans and other financial assistance.
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 · 17 March 2004
States that the House of Representatives: (1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist bombing attacks in Madrid that occurred on March 11, 2004; (2) expresses its condolences to the families of the individuals murdered in the terrorist attacks, expresses its sympathies to the individuals injured in the attacks, and conveys its hope for the rapid and complete recovery of all such injured individuals; (3) expresses its condolences to the people and Government of the Kingdom of Spain for the losses they have suffered; and (4) expresses its solidarity with Spain and all other countries which stand united against terrorism and which work together to bring to justice the perpetrators of these and other terrorist attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2004
Protecting Our Children from Violence Act of 2004 - Directs the Attorney General, upon request of the chief executive of a State, to ensure that a covered State social services officer has the authority for online access to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) databases and the Interstate Identification Index to carry out criminal history records checks. Limits such authority to a check of an individual who: (1) resided with a minor at the time of an actual or alleged incident of abuse or neglect of that minor, or at the time during which such an incident may have occurred; or (2) is the subject of an investigation relating to an incident of abuse or neglect of a minor. Requires the Attorney General to ensure that such an officer has the authority for "read only" electronic access to the NCIC databases for the purpose of carrying out checks of records relating to missing persons or warrants. Directs such officer to use access only for an investigation relating to a missing child and to share any information obtained with appropriate Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Directs the Attorney General to ensure that the Case Analysis Division, the Missing Children's Division, and the Exploited Child Unit of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children each have access to the Index, subject to specified limitations. Limits the release of information. Sets criminal penalties for knowingly releasing information in violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2004
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should use all means at his disposal to negotiate a bilateral security agreement with the Iraqi Governing Council before June 30, 2004; and (2) any such agreement should maintain maximum freedom of action for United States commanders to defeat insurgent elements in Iraq and to restore security throughout Iraq, and provide protections against local prosecution of United States Armed Forces personnel, consistent with other bilateral status-of-forces agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2004
Part-time Student Assistance Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide access and assistance to increase college attendance and completion by part-time students. Exempts from student aid need formula determinations earnings up to: (1) $9,000 by dependent students; (2) $12,000 by independent students with no dependents (other than spouse); and (3) $12,000 by independent students with dependents (other than spouse). Provides for a formula for a revised table of income protection allowances. Exempts earned income credits from the calculation of income. Revises and expands a program (child care access means parents in school) which provides grants to institutions of higher education for child care assistance for low-income students. Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a year-round Pell grant pilot program. Authorizes a demonstration program to create a holistic approach to addressing the needs of part-time students. Allows such program to: (1) be at up to 150 associates and bachelors degree-granting institutions; and (2) include grants, leveraging funds from non-Federal sources, comprehensive child care, and better tailored remedial course programs.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2004
Bring Our Children Home Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that a contestant may bring an action in U.S. district court to resolve conflicting child custody determinations. Directs the Attorney General to establish a registry of child custody and visitation orders and proceedings. Authorizes State and local law enforcement officers to hold any child listed as missing for a proper custody disposition. Amends the International Child Abduction Remedies Act to require the U.S. Central Authority under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction to establish a funding program for the provision of legal services to persons seeking remedies in interstate or international parental kidnapping cases. Authorizes the Legal Services Corporation to provide Convention-related legal assistance to qualified aliens. Requires the Central Authority to encourage the designation of courts to hear Convention-related cases. Amends the Federal judicial code to require the Federal Judicial Center to include in its continuing education programs information on the Convention and related laws. Requires various reports relating to international child abduction. Requires the Attorney General to support, through specified activities, the adoption and implementation in the States of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 to expand the Safe Havens for Children Pilot Program to include children at risk of parental kidnapping. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to authorize the disclosure of taxpayer identity information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2004
Family Abduction Prevention Act of 2004 - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to States for projects involving: (1) the extradition of individuals suspected of committing a family abduction back to the State from which the child was taken; (2)investigation by law enforcement agencies of family abduction cases; (3) training for law enforcement agencies in responding to family abductions and recovering abducted children; (4) outreach and media campaigns to educate parents on the dangers of family abductions; and (5) notifying law enforcement authorities of the name and address of anyone requesting the school records of an abducted child. Requires that not less than 50 percent of the cost of a project for which a grant is made be provided by non-Federal sources.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2004
States that the House of Representatives: (1) welcomes the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); (2) reaffirms that NATO's enlargement enhances United States and North Atlantic area security; (3) agrees that NATO's enlargement should be open to membership by any European democracy that meets NATO membership criteria and whose admission would further the principles of the Washington Treaty of 1949 and enhance North Atlantic area security; and (4) recommends that NATO heads of state and government should review the enlargement process, including the applications of Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia, at a summit meeting to be held no later than 2007.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2004
Commends the Girl Scouts of the United States of America (Girl Scouts) for its efforts to launch a national dialogue on the issue of girls' safety. Recognizes the Girl Scouts for its leadership and expertise in knowing the needs of girls through the work of the Girl Scout Research Institute. Commends the Girl Scouts for actively promoting issues important to girls.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2004
Resolves that all restrictions should be removed from the public, the press, and military families in mourning that would prohibit their presence at the arrival at military installations in the United States or overseas of the remains of members of the U.S. armed forces who have died in Iraq or Afghanistan, with the assurance that family requests for privacy will be respected.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2004
Prohibits the issuance of U.S. visas to citizens of Saudi Arabia until the President certifies that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not discriminate on the basis of religious affiliation or heritage when issuing its visas.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2004
Life Insurance Anti-Discrimination in Travel Act - Prohibits denying any person life insurance coverage, or making any distinction or otherwise discriminating in the issuance, cancellation, terms (including premium rates), or conditions of life insurance coverage, based upon that person's lawful travel experiences. Makes a violation of this Act an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2004
Declares the sense of the Congress that music education grounded in rigorous instruction is an important component of a well-rounded academic curriculum and should be available to every student in every school. Recognizes the International Music Products Association for its efforts to designate a Music Education Month in order to highlight the important role that school music programs play in the academic and social development of children.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2004
Intercountry Adoption Reform Act of 2004 or ICARE Act - Establishes an Office of Intercountry Adoptions within the Department of State (DOS). Requires the President to appoint an Ambassador at Large to head the Office. Transfers to the Office all immigration functions with respect to intercountry adoptions currently performed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant automatic U.S. citizenship to internationally adopted children upon entry of a full and final adoption decree (thus dispensing with the need for such children to obtain visas). Creates a new W nonimmigrant visa category for children traveling to the United States to be adopted by U.S. citizens. Allows adopted children age 18 or under to claim an exception to immunization requirements for purposes of admissibility (currently limited to those age 10 or under). Redefines the term "adoptable child." Requires U.S. citizen adoptive parents to obtain approval of an adoption petition prior to issuance of a W visa or a full and final adoption decree. Provides that such petitions are subject to the terms applicable to orphan petitions. Directs the Ambassador to issue regulations: (1) establishing an expedited reapproval process for families whose prior approvals to adopt have expired; and (2) governing the appeal of petition denials. Requires the Office to determine whether a child is an adoptable child, pursuant to specified procedures, as a prerequisite to the issuance of a W visa or a full and final adoption decree.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2004
States that Congress: (1) condemns the detention of Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and calls for his immediate and unconditional release; (2) condemns the violations of freedom of speech, religion, movement, association, and the lack of due process afforded to individuals in Vietnam; and (3) urges the Government of Vietnam to consider the implications of its actions for the broader relationship with the United States, including the United States-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement. Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should: (1) make the immediate release of Father Ly a top concern; (2) reiterate its deep concern regarding the violation of Father Ly's and other prisoners' human rights, and continue to urge the Government of Vietnam to comply with international standards for freedom and human rights; and (3) make it clear to the Government of Vietnam that the detention and human rights violations of Father Ly and other persons create obstacles to improved bilateral relations with the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2004
Directs each Federal agency that provides grants, loans, or loan guarantees to businesses to require, as a condition of such assistance, that the business provide annually information on: (1) the number of employees employed in the United States and its territories and the number employed outside the United States, as well as wage information on U.S. employees; and (2) the percentage of the workforce that has been laid off or forced to resign during the preceding year. Prohibits, until the situation is corrected, subsequent assistance to a business that lays off a greater percentage of workers in the United States or its territories than in other countries.
United States · United States Congress · 3 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, of production of articles, or in provision of services, like or directly competitive with articles produced or services provided by the workers' firm, subdivision, or public agency; and (2) the situation where such workers' firm, subdivision, or public agency obtains or is likely to obtain such services from a foreign country. Repeals group eligibility requirements that: (1) the country to which the workers' firm has shifted production of the articles be a party to a free trade agreement with the United States; (2) such country be a beneficiary country under the Andean Trade Preference Act, African Growth and Opportunity Act, or the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act; or (3) there has been or is likely to be an increase in imports of articles that are like or directly competitive with articles which are or were produced by such firm or subdivision. 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 to waive training requirements for an individual receiving a trade readjustment allowance if he or she has an advanced degree or postgraduate certification in a specialized field and there is a reasonable expectation of employment at equivalent wages in the foreseeable future. Permits as a training program for an adversely affected worker to continue enrollment at an institution of higher education for purposes of obtaining a degree for a maximum 104-week period, and there is a reasonable expectation of employment at equivalent wages in the foreseeable future. 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. Amends the Internal Revenue Code relating to tax credits for health insurance costs of certain TAA and Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) pension recipients with respect to: (1) redefining "eligible individual" to include any individual who is covered by a TAA petition, under certain conditions; (2) allowing a 100 percent tax credit for the first month of such costs; (3) modifying the cost requirements and the period of creditable coverage; (4) adding a special rule for eligible PBGC pension recipients; (5) continued qualification of family members after an eligible individual becomes Medicare eligible; and (6) offering by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of the Treasury jointly of Federal fallback coverage in States not offering State qualified health insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2004
Recognizes the extraordinary contributions resulting from the Hubble Space Telescope to scientific research and education. Recommends that the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) appoint an independent panel of expert scientists and engineers inside and outside of NASA to examine all possible options for safely carrying out the planned servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. Expresses the strong sentiment of the House of Representatives that NASA should continue all planning, preparation, and astronaut training activities for the SM-4 servicing mission without interruption until: (1) the expert panel issues its report; and (2) NASA provides a timetable of compliance with a recommendation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board report which calls for a fully autonomous capability for all missions, since such compliance will allow both a Hubble servicing mission and missions to the International Space Station to be carried out safely.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2004
Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to reauthorize various programs, including the national school lunch and breakfast, child and adult care food, after-school snack, summer food service, and special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). Revises requirements relating to eligibility for and access to such programs. Reauthorizes, without any termination date, the exclusion of military housing allowances from consideration as income in determining eligibility for free or reduced price lunches. Includes as automatically eligible for free lunches and breakfasts: (1) children or youth defined as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; and (2) youth served under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. Makes eligible also for such special payments any new schools which draw attendance from schools receiving severe need assistance. Extends through FY 2009 the summer food pilot projects and the summer food service program for children. Allows nonprofit organizations to participate in such programs. Revises the child and adult care food program. Extends indefinitely the period during which private day care providers with at least 25 percent of served children eligible for free and reduced price lunch are eligible to participate. Extends, from three years to five years, the period of a tier classification of a family or group day care home. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary) to issue regulations requiring States to develop and use a standard form of agreement between each family or group home day care sponsoring organization and their homes participating in the program. Extends through FY 2006 the period during which the Secretary is required to reserve funds for providing training and technical assistance to States to improve program management and oversight. Authorizes the Secretary or a State agency to disregard any overpayment to an institution if the total overpayment does not exceed a collection cost amount consistent with other disregards, except where there is evidence of a violation of criminal law or civil fraud law. Allows children up to age 18 (currently 12) to be served program meals while residing at homeless or domestic violence shelters. Directs the Secretary, in conjunction with States and participating institutions, to examine the feasibility of reducing paperwork under the program. Revises eligibility and certification requirements for free and reduced price lunches. Directs the Secretary to base income eligibility guidelines on nonfarm income poverty guidelines issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Requires applications and related descriptive materials for free and reduced price lunches to be distributed at least annually to parents and guardians in clear and understandable format and language. Requires descriptive material to contain: (1) only the income levels for reduced price lunches, and an explanation that lower income levels may mean eligibility for free lunches; and (2) notice that WIC participants in the program are eligible for free or reduced price lunches. Allows applications to be submitted by an adult of the household: (1) as a single application for all children in the household; and (2) electronically if the filing system meets confidentiality standards. Directs local education agencies (LEAs) to verify information in a sample of approved applications, with variations in such samples according to specified formulae based non-response rates. Provides for direct certification of children as eligible for free meals, without further application, based on their being in households receiving assistance under the food stamp program or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program under title IV part A of the Social Security Act. Sets forth privacy protections. Prohibits requiring LEAs to submit free and reduced price meal policy statements to State agencies after the initial submission unless there is a substantive change in such policy. Requires, with certain exceptions, a child's eligibility for free and reduced price lunches to remain in effect from the date of approval for the current school year until the beginning of school in a subsequent school year, or as otherwise specified by the Secretary. Transfers responsibility for local administration of school lunch and breakfast programs from local school food authorities (LSFAs) to LEAs (including appropriate entities determined by the Secretary in cases of private nonprofit school food authorities). Makes LEAs, as well as LSFAs, responsible for program compliance and accountability. Directs the Secretary to give priority consideration to States that will use reallocated funds for technology and information management improvements. Requires States to describe how they will use technology and information management systems to improve program integrity in certain ways. Raises the amount of the minimum State administrative expense grant, and guarantees that such a grant shall not be less than the one received in a previous fiscal year. Permits eligibility for special assistance to be determined district-wide, as an alternative to determining it on an individual school basis. Directs the Secretary to develop and distribute training and technical assistance materials relating to administration of school meals programs. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide training and technical assistance related to administrative practices to improve program integrity and administrative accuracy to State educational agencies (SEAs), LSFAs, and LEAs; and (2) assist SEAs in reviewing administrative practices of LSFAs. Establishes additional administrative and performance review requirements for selected LSFAs and LEAs that have demonstrated high levels of or high risks for administrative errors. Directs SEAs, where such a selected LSFA or LEA fails to meet performance criteria established by the Secretary, to: (1) require such entity to develop and carry out a plan of corrective action; (2) provide technical assistance; and (3) conduct a follow-up review. Authorizes the Secretary require the SEA to recover funds that were expended in error and use them to improve program integrity and administrative accuracy. Requires States to provide annual training and technical in administrative practices, emphasizing requirements established under this Act. Requires the Secretary to assist the State or provide such training and technical assistance or directly. Authorizes the Secretary or the State to contract with a third party conducting such activities. Requires each LSFA or LEA to insure that an individual conducting or overseeing such administrative procedures receives such training at least annually. Authorizes the Secretary to assist States in carrying out State training and administrative reviews of selected LSFAs and LEAs with excessive error rates. Requires LEAs participating in school meals programs to establish local school wellness policies with: (1) goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities; (2) nutrition guidelines for all foods sold on school campus during the school day in order to promote health and reduce obesity; (3) a plan to ensure policy implementation, including designating persons with operational responsibility; and (4) involvement of parents, students, and representatives of the LSFA, school board, school administrators, and the public. Revises the system of nutrition education grants to SEAs to provide assistance to State agencies, schools, and nonprofit entities for the Team Nutrition Network (TNN) program and other nutrition education projects that improve student understanding of healthful eating patterns, the quality of school meals, and access to local foods in schools and institutions operating programs under NSLA and CNA. Establishes TNN to: (1) promote the Nation's schoolchildren's health through nutrition education, physical fitness, and other activities supporting healthy lifestyles; (2) provide grants to States to develop Statewide, comprehensive, and integrated nutrition education and physical fitness programs; and (3) provide training and technical assistance to States, school and community nutrition programs, and child nutrition food service professionals. Requires State TNN Coordinators to: (1) administer and coordinate a comprehensive integrated statewide nutrition education program; and (2) coordinate efforts with the Food and Nutrition Service and State agencies responsible for children's health programs. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance for the following types of three-year pilot projects: (1) to States on a competitive basis for State TNN Coordinators to create model nutrition education and physical fitness programs for school students; and (2) to not more than 100 LEAs, at least one per State, to promote healthy eating habits and increase physical fitness among school students. Authorizes the Secretary to provide: (1) technical assistance to SEAs to improve school meal quality; and (2) technical assistance and competitive matching grants to schools and nonprofit entities to improve access to local foods in schools and institutions. Includes fruits and vegetables among the foods to be emphasized in commodity distribution. Revises fruit and vegetable pilot program requirements to direct the Secretary to make available fresh and dried fruits and fresh vegetables to 25 schools in each of four additional States and one Indian reservation, with an emphasis on low-income schools. Requires schools to serve milk in a variety of fat contents. Permits substitute nutritionally-equivalent nondairy beverages to be reimbursable, if a note is provided from a medical authority or the child's parent or guardian. Extends the period during which weighted averages are not required to be used in nutrient analysis of foods under the school lunch program, if school food authority has an equivalent nutrient analysis system. Directs the Secretary to: (1) promulgate rules, based on Federal nutrition guidelines, to increase the presence of whole grains in foods offered in school nutrition programs; and (2) enter into an agreement with a science-based organization to study, determine, and report on appropriate nutritional standards for foods available to students in school, considering total daily dietary intake of students participating in the school foods program. Revises WIC program (under CNA) definitions of: (1) nutrition education to include child development and physical activity; and (2) supplemental foods to provide for consideration of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Revises certification requirements for WIC program participation to allow: (1) a State to certify breastfeeding women for up to one year or until they stop breastfeeding, whichever is earlier; (2) a local agency to waive the physical presence requirement for infants under eight weeks of age; and (3) applicants or participants to reschedule appointments to apply or be recertified. Directs the Secretary to: (1) promulgate a rule updating the prescribed supplemental foods available through the WIC program, within six months of receiving the review of the WIC food package undertaken by the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine in September 2003; and (2) beginning in 2013, and at least every ten years thereafter, conduct scientific reviews of supplemental foods available in the WIC program and recommend changes to reflect nutrition science, current public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns. Requires State agencies to notify vendors in writing of violations, unless the notification would compromise an investigation. Authorizes State agencies to round up to the next whole can of infant formula to ensure all infants receive the full-authorized nutritional benefit. Revises WIC program competitive bidding provisions to require infant formula: (1) rebate invoices to provide reasonable estimates or actual counts of numbers of units sold to program participants; and (2) bid solicitations amounts to be adjusted on a cent-by-cent basis according to changes in the lowest national wholesale truckload price. Authorizes demonstration projects, in up to ten local sites, to evaluate inclusion of fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables, to be made available through private funds, as an addition to supplemental food provided under the WIC program. Revises WIC program provisions for management information systems to require: (1) States to comply with certain standards for electronic benefit systems; and (2) the Secretary to implement a national Universal Product Code Database for use by all State agencies. Requires participating vendors in the WIC program to purchase infant formula from a State-maintained list of approved manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers. Prohibits State alliances from exceeding 200,000 infant participants (except alliances with such numbers as of October 2003). Allows any State agency serving under 5,000 participants, or any Indian Tribal Organization, to request to join any State alliance. Increases from one to three percent the maximum portion of nutrition services and administration funds a State may expend during the subsequent fiscal year for allowable expenses incurred during a fiscal year. Extends through FY 2009 the authorization of appropriations for: (1) the WIC program; (2) WIC nutrition services and administrative funds; and (3) WIC farmers' market nutrition program. Revises requirements relating to training and technical assistance under NSLA, CNA, and other federally-assisted feeding programs. Directs the Secretary to develop policy and establish procedures regarding the purchase, distribution, notice of consumption, and provision of information regarding irradiated foods in Federal school meals programs. Extends through FY 2009 the authorization of appropriations for: (1) State administrative expenses (CNA); (2) the commodity distribution program (NSLA and the Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987); (3) purchases of locally produced foods (NSLA); (4) training, technical assistance, and food service management institute (NSLA); and (5) compliance and accountability (NSLA).
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2004
Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to prohibit the operation of the Medicare comparative cost adjustment program in Florida.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2004
Haitian Refugee Protection Act - Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti as a country whose nationals may be eligible for temporary protected status. Restricts eligibility for such status to aliens who were physically present in the United States on February 25, 2004.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2004
Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) allow pancreata procured for use in islet cell transplantation or research to be counted for certification purposes for qualified organ procurement organization grants; and (2) require the Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee to include in its annual report an assessment of the Federal activities and programs related to pancreatic islet cell transplantation.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2004
Early Treatment for HIV Act of 2004 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to give States the option of providing Medicaid coverage for certain low-income HIV-infected individuals. Provides States taking advantage of this option with an enhanced Federal Medicaid match.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2004
House Commission For Assisting Democratic Parliaments Resolution - Establishes in the House of Representatives the House Commission For Assisting Democratic Parliaments, which shall study and provide parliaments of developing countries with assistance to: (1) establish or improve existing libraries, including providing equipment, Internet access, books, reference materials, government documents, periodical subscriptions and databases; and (2) improve legislative efficiency and transparency. Provides for visits of Commission and parliament members and staff.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2004
Expresses: (1) condolences of the House of Representatives to the people of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the family of President Boris Trajkovski, and the families of the other crash victims of February 26, 2004; (2) desire for a smooth and orderly transition of power; and (3) the solidarity of the people of the United States with the people of Macedonia and the Macedonian government during this tragedy.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2004
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should give its advice and consent to ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 55/25 of November 15, 2000), and the supplementing Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and the Protocol Against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2004
Declares that Congress: (1) supports Israel's construction of a security fence to prevent Palestinian terrorist attacks; and (2) condemns the United Nations General Assembly's decision to request the International Court of Justice to render an opinion on the legality of the fence.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2004
Declares that Congress: (1) supports the Haitian people's quest for peace, justice, and prosperity; (2) implores all sides in Haiti's current political crisis to rely on dialogue and negotiations to affect political change; (3) calls on Haitian President Aristide to announce early elections; (4) commends the Haitian communities in exile for continuing to strive for peace and democracy in Haiti; (5) calls on the United States to assume a leadership role to end the violence in Haiti and assist with a subsequent peace agreement; (6) calls on the Secretary of State to request a special session of the United Nations General Assembly to consider whether the United Nations should organize a peace-building mission to Haiti, and to seek a negotiated accord to end the conflict; (7) calls on the Secretary of Defense to play a lead role in establishing and, if necessary, deploying an international stabilization force; (8) requests the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to provide humanitarian assistance and coordinate relief efforts; (9) urges the international community to provide support for peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in Haiti, and (10) urges the United Nations to establish a United Nations peace mission and deploy a peacekeeping and human rights presence in Haiti.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2004
Urges that: (1) a commemorative postage stamp be issued in honor of the centennial anniversary of Rotary International and its effort to eradicate polio; (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the U.S. Postal Service recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued; and (3) the Rotary Clubs of the United States be commended for 100 years of volunteer service.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2004
Microenterprise Results and Accountability Act of 2004 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal existing microenterprise development grant authority and reestablish and revise it as a separate title, title VI - Microenterprise Development Assistance, which shall be administered by an Office of Microenterprise Development (established by this Act) within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2004
Expresses the sense of Congress that negotiations on access to critical segments of the U.S. automobile market should not take place on a piecemeal basis, but only as part of: (1) negotiations that include all major automobile producing nations; and (2) comprehensive negotiations that address both tariff and nontariff barriers specific to the automobile industry, with progress on eliminating tariff barriers explicitly linked to concrete progress on eliminating nontariff barriers.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2004
Osteoporosis Education and Prevention Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a national campaign to increase awareness and knowledge with respect to osteoporosis. Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Assistant Secretary for Aging to make demonstration program grants to public and private nonprofit agencies, organizations, and institutions to provide information and outreach for the prevention of osteoporosis.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2004
Expresses: (1) the sympathy of the House of Representatives for the victims of the earthquake that occurred on December 26, 2003, in Bam, Iran, and their loved ones; and (2) gratitude and appreciation for the courageous work of the United States and international aid personnel saving lives in Iran. Welcomes the President's decision to issue a general license for donations to nongovernmental entities engaged in humanitarian relief activities in response to the earthquake in Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2004
Declares that Congress: (1) condemns the numerous human rights violations by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic; (2) calls on the international community to adopt a resolution at the upcoming 60th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights which details the dismal human rights record of Syria and establishes a Special Rapporteur to further investigate these abuses; (3) expresses its support for the Syrian people in their struggle for freedom, respect for human rights and civil liberties, democratic self-governance, and the establishment of the rule of law; (4) encourages the President and the Secretary of State, through the Middle East Partnership Initiative and other avenues, to assist dissidents, human rights activists, and the pro-democracy opposition in Syria; and (5) urges the adoption and pursuit of these and other policies to seek a democratic government in Syria that will restore freedom to the Syrian people, cease the illegal Syrian occupation of the Lebanese Republic, abandon Syrian support for terrorism, and live in peace and security with the international community.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 2004
Authorizes the Secretary of State to: (1) initiate, and instruct the U.S. delegation to implement, a plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual World Health Assembly summit in May 2004, in Geneva, Switzerland; and (2) introduce a resolution in support of observer status for Taiwan at such summit.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 2004
Amends the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 to require the Secretary of the Interior to convey 1,054 acres of land to the South Florida Water Management District in exchange for land located in the Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area. Requires that the use of the conveyed land by the District be compatible with the purposes of the C-111 project, including restoration of the Everglades natural system. (The C-111 Spreader Canal project modifies the existing water management system to restore historic freshwater flows to areas of the Everglades National Park and to maintain existing flood protection for surrounding areas.)
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2004
Safeguarding Schoolchildren of Deployed Soldiers Act of 2004 - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to require a State or local educational agency, for the duration of the military service on which a child's change of residence is based and at the request of a parent, to treat a child who changes residence based on such service as if the child has the residence held before the change of residence, for purposes of enrollment in elementary or secondary school.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2004
Family and Workplace Balancing Act of 2004 - Balancing Act of 2004 - Provides assistance for working families through: (1) family and medical care leave; (2) expanded child care for young children and incentives for child care providers; (3) preschool, in-school, and afterschool nutrition and education; (4) temporary and part-time workers pension and health plan benefits; and (5) encouragement of business use of employee telecommuting. Family Income to Respond to Significant Transitions Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to make five-year grants to a State or local government to pay for the Federal share of the cost of carrying out projects that assist families by providing wage replacement for eligible individuals responding to caregiving needs resulting from the birth or adoption of a son or daughter or other family caregiving needs. Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act of 2003 - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) to allow employees covered by FMLA to take up to four hours during any 30-day period, and up to 24 hours during any 12-month period, of parental involvement leave to participate in or attend their children's or grandchildren's educational and extracurricular activities. Amends Federal civil service law to apply the same parental involvement leave allowance to Federal employees. Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to authorize additional funds for expanding child care activities for young children less than three years of age. Establishes: (1) the Child Care Provider Development and Retention Grant Program; and (2) the Child Care Provider Scholarship Program. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to allot funds to eligible States (and Indian tribes and tribal organizations) for distribution directly, or at State option through local governments, to pay the Federal share of the cost of making grants to eligible child care providers under both such programs. Healthy Early Education Workforce Grant Program Act - Authorizes the Secretary of HHS to allot funds to eligible States (and Indian tribes and tribal organizations) to pay for the Federal share of the cost of providing access to affordable health benefits coverage for: (1) eligible child care providers; and (2) at State option, the spouses, domestic partners, and dependents of such providers. Directs the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of several such funded State programs representing various approaches to increasing the rate of coverage for child care providers. Child Care Construction and Renovation Incentive Grants Act - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to provide for use of community development block grants to establish child care facilities. Amends the National Housing Act to provide for insurance for mortgages: (1) on new and rehabilitated child care facilities; and (2) for acquisition of or the refinancing of debt on existing child care facilities. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make technical and financial assistance grants to acquire or improve child care facilities or equipment. Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a business child care incentive grant program. Universal Prekindergarten Act - Directs the Secretary of HHS to make grants to State agencies to develop full-day, full-year universal prekindergarten programs for all children three, four, and five years old. Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a universal free school breakfast program without regard to family incomes. Provides that appropriations and expenditures for CNA shall be considered HHS, not Department of Agriculture, functions for budget purposes. Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program of healthy school nutrition environment incentive grants. Revises CNA and NSLA requirements for regulation of competitive foods. Revises NSLA child and adult care food program provisions relating to reimbursements for afterschool dinners and eligibility of private child care centers. Afterschool Education Enhancement Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require State educational agencies to give priority to 21st century community learning centers program applications submitted jointly by eligible entities consisting of at least one local educational agency receiving funds under ESEA provisions for disadvantaged students and at least one community-based organization or other public or private entity. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for treatment of employees working at less than full-time under participation, vesting, and accrual rules governing pension plans and under group health plans. Expands the definition of employee to include certain individuals whose services are leased or contracted for. United States Business Telework Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to conduct, in not more than five States, a pilot program to raise awareness about telework among employers and to encourage them to offer telework options to employees.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 2004
Flu Protection Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Act to require: (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to conduct annual public influenza awareness campaign and education and outreach (including Medicare outreach) efforts preceding the flu season; (2) the Director to contract with influenza vaccine manufacturers to ensure the availability of additional doses of flu vaccine; (3) the Director to encourage States to develop a contingency immunization plan for high-risk populations in the event of a vaccine delay or shortage; and (4) the Secretary, through the Director, to establish a protocol to attempt to prevent, prepare for, and respond to an influenza epidemic or pandemic. Requires a manufacturer of a vaccine that receives Federal authority to distribute such vaccine to provide the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with advance notice of such manufacturer's intent to stop marketplace distribution of the vaccine. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish a vaccine manufacturing facilities investment tax credit (20 percent of qualifying property per year) for property placed in service by December 31, 2008; and (2) define "vaccine manufacturing facilities property."
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2004
Honors the life and legacy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Recognizes his contributions on the anniversary of the date of his birth (January 30, 1882).
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2004
Honors the contributions of people of Indian origin to the United States. Declares that Congress is committed to working together with India to promote peace, prosperity, and freedom among all countries.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2004
Welcomes Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the United States, asks the Prime Minister to communicate to the Turkish people the continued support of Congress and the American people, and recognizes the Prime Minister's visit as a significant step toward strengthening the relationship between the United States and Turkey. Thanks the Prime Minister and the Government and people of Turkey for their assistance in Afghanistan and postwar Iraq, and for their willingness to contribute to international peace, especially in the greater Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2004
Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly benefit of $1,000 to certain honorably-discharged veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946 (or to their survivors). Includes service in the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service. Exempts benefits paid under this Act from taxation.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2004
Expresses support for Iranians in their struggle for democracy and reform and encourages the Islamic Republic of Iran to conduct open and fair elections. Urges the President of the United States to: (1) support Iranians in their struggle for freedom and democracy; (2) continue to pursue areas of common interest with Iranians while taking an uncompromising stance on terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and human rights; and (3) use all available diplomatic means to support the Iranian people's demand for an immediate release of political prisoners and freedom of the press.
![Official portrait of Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/w000314_200.jpg)