United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2002
Highway Funding Restoration Act - Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to require that obligations for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs for FY 2003: (1) meet a specified minimum level; and (2) be distributed in accordance with that Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2002
Elder Fall Prevention Act of 2002 - Directs the Administration on Aging within the Department of Health and Human Services to: (1) oversee and support a three-year national education campaign by the National Safety Council focusing on ways to reduce the risk of elder falls and prevent repeat falls; and (2) provide grants for State coalitions for local education campaigns addressing reduction and prevention of elder falls. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) conduct and support research concerning high-risk elders, risk and protective factors, fall reduction strategies, fall prevention interventions, diagnosis and treatment of victims, barriers to adopting proven interventions, and the effectiveness of community programs in preventing assisted living and nursing home falls; and (2) award grants to enable organizations to provide professional education for physicians and health professionals in elder fall prevention. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to : (1) oversee and support demonstration and research projects to be carried out by the Council to assess the utility of targeted fall risk screening and referral programs and to include programs targeting newly-discharged fall victims at high risk for second falls and private-public partnerships involving home design and remodeling; and (2) provide grants to design and implement fall prevention programs in residential and institutional settings, including a multi-State demonstration project. Directs the Secretary to review the effects of falls on the costs of the Medicare and Medicaid Programs and the potential for reducing costs by expanding covered services, including a review of reimbursement policies.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2002
Recognizes that America has lost one of its most dedicated and hardest working advocates for adoption, and honors Rex David "Dave" Thomas in his devotion to family, life, and business. Expresses the Senate's deep and heartfelt condolences to the family of Dave Thomas on their loss.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2001
Teleworking Advancement Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit to employers of up to $500 annually for each employee participating in an employer-sponsored telework arrangement. Allows a tax credit for telework equipment expenses, as specified. Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to conduct a pilot program promoting telecommuting among small business employers, with special outreach to individuals with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2001
Fair International Labor Standards in Trade and Investment Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor, through the International Labor Affairs Bureau, to promote fair international standards in trade and investment by: (1) representing the United States in the International Labor Organization (ILO), supporting ILO activities, and consulting with organizations that represent employers and employees in ILO; (2) providing bilateral and multilateral technical assistance to enable developing countries in particular to implement core labor standards, strengthen governmental capacity to enforce national labor laws and protect internationally recognized worker rights, and develop policies to assist workers who are adversely affected by shifts in trade and investments flows, structural adjustments, and macroeconomic changes within national economies and the global economy; (3) providing bilateral aid to foreign countries to eliminate abusive child labor and other trade and investment-related worker rights violations and to support workforce development programs to foster broad-based, equitable, and sustainable economic development in recipient countries; (4) compiling and reporting annually to Congress on the extent to which each foreign country that has a trade and investment agreement with the United States protects the free exercise of internationally recognized worker rights as required under U.S. law, and promotes core labor standards as embodied in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work; (5) conducting research and analysis on the relationship between internationally recognized worker rights and core labor standards and the conduct of international, trade, commerce, and investment and related trends; and (6) making grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to carry out such functions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2001
National Aviation Capacity Expansion Act - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to implement the redesign and reconstruction of Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Cook and DuPage Counties, Illinois, in accordance with a specified runway redesign plan, and the development of a south suburban airport in the Chicago metropolitan region, by facilitating approval, funding, construction, and implementation of such plan and suburban airport. Requires all environmental reviews, analyses, and opinions related to issuance of permits, licenses, or approvals relating to such plan or airport to be conducted on an expedited and coordinated basis. States that approval by the Administrator of an airport layout plan submitted by Chicago that includes the runway redesign plan shall: (1) provide that any runway located more than 2500 feet south of existing runway 9R-27L shall not begin construction before January 2011; and (2) be subject to the condition that noise impact of aircraft operations at O'Hare after the year in which the first new runway is first used will be less than that in 2000. Prohibits the consideration of such a plan unless it includes public roadway access through the western boundary of O'Hare to passenger terminal and parking facilities. Directs the Administrator to give priority consideration to a letter of intent application submitted by the State of Illinois (or a political subdivision thereof) for construction of the suburban airport. Sets forth requirements regarding the construction of the runway redesign plan as a Federal project on or after July 1, 2004. Requires the withholding of all airport grant funds for O'Hare (other than grants involving national security and safety) until January 1, 2026, unless specified conditions with respect to operations at Merrill C. Meigs Field have been met.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2001
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add provisions granting additional authorities to the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning bioterrorism preparedness and responding to public health emergencies. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a plan which includes the development of specific criteria enabling measurements to be made of the progress made at the national, State, and local levels toward achieving the national goal of bioterrorism preparedness. Requires the maintenance of an adequate national pharmaceutical stockpile of vaccines (including a smallpox vaccine), therapies, and medical supplies for use at the Secretary's discretion in the event of a biological threat or attack or other public health emergency. Expands the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a coordinated network of public health laboratories to assist with the detection of and response to a biological threat or attack. Provides for the appointment of an Assistant Secretary for Emergency Preparedness who shall head the Office for Emergency Preparedness. Provides for a National Disaster Medical System to provide appropriate health and social services to respond to a public health emergency, if the Secretary activates the System. Provides for enhanced regulatory control of biological agents and toxins. Establishes a State Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Block Grant Program to improve State and local preparedness and response capabilities. Amends the Clayton Act to provide for a limited antitrust exemption with respect to the development of new countermeasures against bioterrorism. Requires, under the Public Health Service Act, the development of a crisis communications and education strategy with respect to bioterrorist threats to the food supply. Expands animal and plant health inspection service activities and authorities. Amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to expand the authority of the Food and Drug Administration with respect to food presenting a serious threat to humans or animals. Requires the registration of food manufacturing, processing, and handling facilities. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize existing authorities to expand Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service programs to protect the food supply of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 2001
Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act of 2001 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000, to include in the optional Medicaid eligibility category for such illnesses Indian women with breast or cervical cancer who are eligible for health services under a medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 2001
Medicare Appeals, Regulatory, and Contracting Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends part D (Miscellaneous) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to: (1) timelines for publication of final regulations and compliance with substantive changes after notice; (2) timeframes for the completion of the record in the appeals process; (3) contracts with Medicare administrative contractors for determining payment amounts, making payments, and providing certain provider services; (4) coordination of funding for education of service providers; and (5) standardization of random prepayment review and recovery of overpayments from Medicare administrative contractors. Grants a one-year delay in the lock-in procedures for Medicare+Choice plans under SSA title XVIII part C. Provides a temporary moratorium on the requirement that home health agencies collect Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) data from non-Medicare patients.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2001
Arrow Excise Tax Simplification Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the excise tax provisions on bows, arrows, and other archery equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2001
Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to set the conversion factor (update) for payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule for 2002 at 0.9 percent less than the conversion factor for 2001. Declares that this conversion factor and a specified update adjustment factor for a year after 2002 shall be applied as if this Act had not been in effect. Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to study and report to Congress on replacing the use of the sustainable growth rate as a factor in determining the update for such payments with a factor that more fully accounts for changes in the unit costs of providing physicians' services.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2001
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to provide duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences for certain hand-knotted or hand-woven carpets and leather gloves.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2001
United States-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement Act of 2001 - Declares it is U.S. policy to seek the elimination of tariff and nontariff barriers in order to achieve more open market access, on a reciprocal basis, to internationally trade goods and service through bilateral free trade agreements with like-minded countries. Authorizes the President to enter into a free trade agreement with Taiwan that seeks to eliminate tariff and nontariff barriers to goods and services. Applies congressional fast track procedures (no amendments) to implementing bills for free trade agreements entered under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2001
Provides a one year extension for providers, State health programs, health plans, and others to implement the administrative simplification standards for electronic transactions and code sets required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Differentiates these electronic transaction and code set requirements from the medical privacy regulations under HIPAA which remain unaffected.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2001
Medicare Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to declare that the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not require the payment of deductibles and coinsurance for existing preventive benefits under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). Provides for fast-track consideration of prevention benefit legislation. Directs the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects for the purpose of promoting disease self-management for conditions identified, and appropriately prioritized, by the Secretary for specified at-risk target individuals. Amends SSA title XVIII to require the Secretary to establish a comprehensive and systematic model for delivering health promotion and disease prevention services, and conduct demonstration projects to develop it. Provides for coverage of care coordination and assessment services furnished by a care coordinator as a Medicare part B medical service. Directs the Secretary to provide for appropriate adjustments to specified payment systems to take into account the additional costs incurred in providing items and services under the Medicare program to Medicare beneficiaries who suffer from serious and disabling chronic conditions. Requires the Secretary to: (1) revise the risk adjustment methodology under SSA title XVIII part C (Medicare+Choice) applicable to payments to Medicare+Choice organizations offering specialized programs for frail elderly and at-risk beneficiaries to take into account variations in costs incurred by such organizations; and (2) establish a demonstration program under which additional payments may be made to such an organization, if certain requirements are met. Directs the Secretary to: (1) study and report to Congress on chronic condition trends of Medicare beneficiaries and associated service utilization, quality indicators, and cumulative costs; and (2) contract with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to make a Medicare chronic condition care improvement study and report.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2001
Integrity of the United States Courts Act of 2001 - Amends the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act to permit a party or person to file with the U.S. Court of International Trade an appeal of a determination of a binational panel, alleging that a panel determination was based on a misinterpretation of U.S. law, a member of a binational panel is guilty of gross misconduct, bias, or serious conflict of interest, or that the panel seriously departed from a fundamental rule of procedure or exceeded its own authority, and such actions have materially affected panel determinations with respect to antidumping and countervailing duty cases and threaten the integrity of the panel review process. Authorizes a party to file an appeal of the antidumping or countervailing duty determination with the U.S. Court of International Trade if such party has requested a panel review of the determination, but such panel is not convened within 315 days. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to grant the U.S. Court of International Trade jurisdiction over the review of a final determination of a binational panel or an investigating authority. Declares that the amendments made by this Act with respect to antidumping and countervailing duty law shall apply to goods from Canada and Mexico.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2001
General Aviation Small Business Assistance Act - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration to make grants to general aviation small business concerns in amounts equal to direct and incremental losses (not compensated for by insurance or otherwise) sustained between September 11 and December 31, 2001, as a result of any Federal ground stop order(s) related to the September 11 terrorist attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2001
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide reservists and National Guard members activated on or after September 11, 2001, and other eligible persons with specified farm credit assistance, including loan modification, debt restructuring, and emergency loans.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2001
Uniting and Strengthening America Act or the USA Act of 2001 - Establishes a counterterrorism fund. Condemns discrimination against Arab and Muslim Americans. Increases funding for the technical support center at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Authorizes the Attorney General to request military assistance to enforce laws related to any weapon of mass destruction. Requires the Director of the U.S. Secret Service to develop a national electronic crime task force. Grants the President authority to confiscate any property of any foreign person, country, or organization involved with an attack on or armed hostilities with the United States. Amends Federal criminal law to provide for authority to intercept wire, oral, and electronic communications relating to computer fraud and abuse offenses. Permits disclosure to specified Federal personnel of Federal grand jury matters pertaining to intelligence or counterintelligence. Allows sharing of electronic, wire, and oral interception information by Federal law enforcement and other specified Federal officials. Permits the similar sharing of foreign intelligence information. Requires the FBI Director to expedite the hiring of translators to support counterterrorism investigations and operations. Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 with respect to roving surveillance authority and duration of surveillance of non-U.S. persons who are agents of a foreign power. Permits the seizure of voice mail messages pursuant to search warrants. Allows subpoenas for records of electronic communications to include temporarily assigned network addresses. Permits electronic communication and remote computing service providers to make emergency disclosures to a governmental entity of customer electronic communications to protect life and limb. Authorizes Federal district courts to allow a delay of required notices of the execution of a warrant if immediate notice may have an adverse result. Prohibits use of a pen register or trap and trace devices in any investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities that is conducted solely on the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Authorizes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (or designee) to apply for an court order requiring production of certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations. Amends Federal criminal law to: (1) require a trap and trace device to restrict recording or decoding so as not to include the contents of a wire or electronic communication; (2) apply a court order for a pen register or trap and trace devices to any person or entity providing wire or electronic communication service in the United States whose assistance may facilitate execution of the order; (3) allow a trap and trace device to identify the source (but not the contents) of a wire or electronic communication; and (4) provide for nationwide service of search warrants for electronic evidence. Amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to extend trade sanctions to the territory of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban. International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 - Sunsets this Act after the first day of FY2005 if Congress enacts specified legislation to that effect. Prescribes special measures for jurisdictions, financial institutions, or international transactions of primary money laundering concern, including a proscription against United States correspondent accounts with foreign shell banks. Establishes Federal jurisdiction over foreign money launderers, money that is laundered through a foreign bank, and foreign and domestic bank records related to anti-money laundering programs. Provides for forfeiture of money laundering funds in U.S. interbank accounts. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to declare inadmissible aliens who have engaged in proscribed money laundering activities. Authorizes Federal application for restraining orders to preserve the availability of property subject to a foreign forfeiture or confiscation judgment. Increases civil and criminal penalties for international money laundering. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to issue regulations to ensure that concentration accounts of financial institutions are not used to prevent association of the identity of an individual customer with the movement of funds of which the customer is the direct or beneficial owner. Establishes civil liability immunity for disclosures by a financial institution that reports suspicious activities. Mandates that financial institutions institute anti-money laundering programs. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to authorize the inclusion of suspicions of illegal activity in written employment references . Mandates that securities brokers and dealers report suspicious financial transactions. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to share monetary instruments transactions records with any U.S. intelligence agency upon request. Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to require a consumer reporting agency to furnish all information in a consumer's file to a government agency authorized to conduct investigations of or intelligence activities related to international terrorism. Places within the ambit of mandatory records and reports on monetary instruments transactions any person who engages as a business in the transmission of funds, including through an informal value transfer banking system or network (e.g., hawala) of people facilitating the transfer of value domestically or internationally outside of the conventional financial institutions system. Establishes as a bulk cash smuggling offense the knowing concealment and attempted transport (or transfer) across U.S. borders of currency and monetary instruments in excess of $10,000, with intent to evade specified currency reporting requirements. Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to: (1) the corruption of foreign governments and ruling elites; (2) support for the anti-international money laundering objectives of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering; and (3) actions addressing terrorist funding through money laundering. Authorizes: (1) the Attorney General to waive certain Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) personnel caps with respect to ensuring security needs on the Northern U.S. border; and (2) appropriations for increased Border Patrol, Customs Service, and INS personnel along such border. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Attorney General and the FBI to provide the Department of State and the INS with access to specified criminal history extracts in order to determine whether or not a visa or admissions applicant has a criminal history. Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to develop a technology standard to identify visa and admissions applicants. Broadens the scope of aliens ineligible for admission and deportable for terrorist activities. Defines "terrorist organization" as: (1) a designated foreign or other terrorist organization; or (2) a group of two or more individuals which engage in specified terrorist-related activities. Provides for mandatory detention until removal from the United States (regardless of any relief from removal) of an alien certified by the Attorney General as a suspected terrorist or threat to national security. Requires release of such alien after seven days if removal proceedings have not commenced, or the alien has not been charged with a criminal offense. Limits judicial review to habeas corpus proceedings in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Broadens visa information disclosure requirements. Professional Standards for Government Attorneys Act of 2001 - Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to review areas of actual or potential conflicts of interest for Government attorneys and make recommendations for the Supreme Court, in its discretion, to prescribe a uniform national rule for such attorneys with respect to communications with represented persons and parties. Authorizes the Attorney General and revises the Secretary of State's authority to pay rewards to combat terrorism. Qualifies a Federal terrorism offense for collection of DNA for identification Authorizes consultation among Federal law enforcement officers regarding information acquired from an electronic surveillance or physical search in terrorism and related investigations or protective measures. Allows the FBI to request telephone toll and transactional records, financial records, and consumer reports in any investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities only if the investigation is not conducted solely on the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Revises U.S. Secret Service jurisdiction with respect to fraud and related activity in connection with computers. Amends the General Education Provisions Act and the National Education Statistics Act of 1994 to provide for disclosure of educational records to the Attorney General in a terrorism investigation or prosecution. Provides for expedited payments for: (1) public safety officers involved in the prevention, investigation, rescue, or recovery efforts related to a terrorist attack; and (2) heroic public safety officers. Increases Public Safety Officers Benefit Program payments. Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to establish an antiterrorism emergency reserve in the Victims of Crime Fund. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime to make supplemental grants for victims of terrorism to States, victim service organizations, public agencies, and nongovernmental organizations the provide assistance to crime victims. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend Bureau of Justice Assistance regional information sharing system grants to systems that enhance the investigation and prosecution abilities of participating Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in addressing multi-jurisdictional terrorist conspiracies and activities. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for terrorist attacks and other acts of violence against mass transportation systems. Prescribes penalties for: (1) knowing possession in certain circumstances of biological agents, toxins, or delivery systems, especially by certain restricted persons; and (2) harboring any person known to have committed or to be about to commit a terrorism offense. Establishes Federal jurisdiction over crimes committed at U.S. facilities abroad. Subjects to civil forfeiture all assets, foreign or domestic, of terrorist organizations. Extends the statute of limitations for certain terrorism offenses without limit. Provides for alternative maximum penalties for terrorism crimes. Makes the penalties for attempts and conspiracies the same as the penalties for terrorism offenses. Makes any term of years or life the supervised release terms for offenses with terrorism predicates. Makes specified terrorism crimes Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute predicates. Revises prohibitions and penalties with regard to fraud and related activity in connection with computers to include specified cyberterrorism offenses. Directs the Attorney General to establish regional computer forensic laboratories, and support existing laboratories, to develop specified cybersecurity capabilities. Requires the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to establish requirements and priorities for foreign intelligence collected under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and to provide assistance to the Attorney General to ensure that information derived from electronic surveillance or physical searches is disseminated for efficient and effective foreign intelligence purposes. Requires the inclusion of international terrorist activities within the scope of foreign intelligence under such Act. Expresses the sense of Congress that officers and employees of the intelligence community should establish and maintain intelligence relationships to acquire information on terrorists and terrorist organizations. Provides temporary authority to defer the submission to Congress of certain reports on intelligence and intelligence-related matters. Requires the Attorney General or head of any other Federal department or agency to disclose expeditiously to the DCI any foreign intelligence acquired in the course of a criminal investigation. Requires the Attorney General, DCI, and Secretary of the Treasury to report jointly to Congress on the feasibility and desirability of reconfiguring the Foreign Asset Tracking Center and the Office of Foreign Assets Control to provide for the analysis and dissemination of foreign intelligence relating to the financial capabilities and resources of international terrorist organizations. Requires the DCI to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the establishment and maintenance of the National Virtual Translation Center for timely and accurate translations of foreign intelligence for elements of the intelligence community. Requires the Attorney General to provide a program of training to Government officials regarding the identification and use of foreign intelligence.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2001
Unity Bonds Act of 2001 - Amends Federal law to instruct the Secretary of the Treasury to issue Unity Bonds in response to the acts of terrorism perpetrated against the United States on September 11, 2001. Mandates that proceeds from the issuance of Unity Bonds be used to raise funds to assist in recovery and relief operations following the terrorist acts, including humanitarian assistance, and to combat terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2001
Emergency Aviation Security Act of 2001 - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to implement a sky marshal program that: (1) provides for random deployment of sky marshals on domestic commercial air passenger flights and international flights on American carriers into or out of the United States; (2) provides background and fitness checks for, and appropriate training, supervision, and equipment of, sky marshals; and (3) requires commercial air carriers to provide seating for a sky marshal on any selected air passenger flight without regard to the availability of seats on such flight. Authorizes the Administrator to impose a fee of not more than $1.00 per domestic flight segment to carry out such program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2001
Condemns the terrorists who attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, as well as their sponsors. Extends condolences to the victims and their families and commends the heroic actions of the rescue workers, volunteers, and State and local officials who responded. Declares that the United States is entitled under international law to respond to these attacks. Expresses: (1) thanks to those foreign leaders and individuals who have expressed solidarity with the United States in the aftermath of the attacks and asks them to continue to stand with the United States in the war against international terrorism; (2) a commitment to support increased resources in the war to eradicate terrorism; and (3) support for the determination of the President to bring to justice and punish the perpetrators of these attacks and their sponsors. Declares September 12, 2001, to be a National Day of Unity and Mourning.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make contributions of book inventory to educational or literacy organizations deductible as a qualified contribution.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 2001
Rare Diseases Act of 2001 - Amends the Pubic Health Service Act to: (1) establish an Office of Rare Diseases at the National Institutes of Health; and (2) provide for rare disease regional centers of excellence. Sets forth the duties of such Office and regional centers, including research and educational duties. Defines rare disease as any disease or condition affecting less than 200,000 persons in the United States. Amends the Orphan Drug Act to authorize appropriations for FY 2002 for grants and contracts for the development of drugs for rare diseases and conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Linking Educators and Developing Entrepreneurs for Reaching Success Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to support business incubation at institutions of higher education that award associate or baccalaureate degrees. Directs the Secretary to make competitive, matching awards to: (1) a non-profit entity that manages or provides technical assistance to a degree-granting institution's affiliated incubator (or to the institution that manages in the absence of such an entity), for helping acquire or renovate space for incubators, and for developing curricula, providing services, or providing programming for entrepreneurs housed in an incubator; and (2) a degree-granting institution or a nonprofit local government or community development organization, for feasibility studies to determine the need for or siting of incubators. Requires the Secretary to reserve certain amounts for research regarding best practices for incubator programs, including the development of a benchmarking system based on uniform measures, and for dissemination of information regarding such practices. Authorizes contracts for such purposes with organizations with expertise in business incubation practices.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Establishes in Congress the Congressional Trade Office to: (1) reassert the constitutional responsibility of Congress with respect to international trade; (2) assist Congress in providing more effective oversight of trade policy; (3) monitor compliance with major bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade agreements; (4) provide Congress with more analytical capability on trade issues; (5) perform certain dispute resolution functions with respect to the World Trade Organization and the North American Free Trade Agreement; (6) participate as observers in selected bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade negotiations; and (7) perform other trade-related functions to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Highway Trust Fund Recovery Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to transfer all excise taxes imposed on alcohol fuels to the Highway Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2001
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2001 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities (including employment agencies, labor organizations, and training programs). Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares this Act inapplicable to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's domestic partner. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from: (1) collecting statistics on sexual orientation from covered entities; and (2) compelling covered entities to collect such statistics. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) an order or consent decree for a violation of this Act that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares this Act inapplicable to: (1) religious organizations; (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Prohibits the imposition of affirmative action for a violation of this Act. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for remedies to the same extent as under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2001
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the week of November 11 through 17, 2001, should be designated as National Veterans Awareness Week for the purpose of emphasizing education efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2001
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001 - Amends Federal postal law to provide that any limitation in the Semipostal Authorization Act relating to whether more than one semipostal (a postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service, at a premium, in order to help provide funding for a national public interest) may be offered for sale at the same time, shall not apply to the breast cancer research special stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Extends the Service's authority to issue such stamps through July 29, 2008. Revises the differential amount of the special rate of postage for the breast cancer research stamp to not less than 15 percent of the regular first-class rate (currently, not to exceed 25 percent of first-class). Requires the special rate to be evenly divisible by five.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
FamilyCare Act of 2001 - Renames the State Children's Health Insurance program (SCHIP) under title XXI of the Social Security Act (SSA) as the FamilyCare program to provide for: (1) FamilyCare coverage of parents under Medicaid (SSA title XIX) as well as under new SSA title XXI; (2) optional FamilyCare coverage of parents of targeted low-income children; (3) automatic eligibility for FamilyCare coverage of children born to a parent on Family Care assistance; (4) optional coverage of legal immigrants and of children through age 20 under Medicaid and FamilyCare; (5) application of simplified FamilyCare procedures under Medicaid; (6) increased welfare-to-work transition (from six to 12 months) under Medicaid; (7) elimination of the 100 hour rule and other SSA title IV part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) related eligibility restrictions under Medicaid; (8) limitations on specified conflicts of interests under Medicaid and FamilyCare; (9) increased FamilyCare allotment for FY 2002 through 2004; and (10) authority to pay Medicaid expansion costs from the FamilyCare appropriation. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program to award demonstration grants to States to allow them to demonstrate the effectiveness of innovative ways to increase access to health insurance through market reforms and other innovative means. Authorizes the Secretary to award demonstration grants to a limited number of States to conduct innovative programs designed to improve outreach to homeless individuals and families under specified programs for the homeless (including Medicaid and FamilyCare) with respect to enrollment of such individuals and families and the provision of services under such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2001
Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2001 - Amends the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 to extend through FY 2006: (1) the authorization of appropriations for block grants for Indian tribes to carry out affordable housing activities; (2) the aggregate fiscal year limitation on guarantees for tribal housing activities loans; (3) the authorization of appropriations for the estimated long-term cost to the Government of such loan guarantees; and (4) the authorization of appropriations for providing training and technical assistance for Indian housing authorities and entities.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers, Farmers, Communities, and Firms Act of 2001 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to revise requirements with respect to: (1) agreements between the United States and States for the provision of certain services for workers adversely affected by import competition; (2) certification of eligibility of a group of adversely affected workers for trade adjustment assistance; (3) payment of, and certain limitations on, trade adjustment allowances to such workers; (4) training programs for such workers; and (5) the maximum amount of job search and relocation allowances payable to an adversely affected worker. Provides for the eligibility certification of adversely affected secondary workers for trade adjustment assistance. Defines "adversely affected secondary worker" as a worker who is employed at a downstream producer (a firm that performs additional, value-added production processes to articles produced by another firm) or a supplier (a firm that produces component parts for the production process for articles). Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a 50 percent refundable tax credit for COBRA continuation coverage premiums. Reauthorizes the trade adjustment assistance program for firms adversely affected by import competition. Revises program eligibility requirements. Reestablishes trade adjustment assistance for communities adversely affected by import competition. Authorizes: (1) such communities, because of import competition, to develop strategic plans for economic adjustment and diversification; and (2) the award of grants to carry out economic development projects under such plans. Authorizes a group of agricultural commodity producers to petition the Secretary of Agriculture for a certification of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance. Sets forth certain eligibility requirements for the payment of such assistance to agricultural commodity producers adversely affected by import competition.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for marginal domestic oil and natural gas well production during any taxable year in the amount of $3 per barrel of qualified crude oil production and 50 cents per 1,000 cubic feet of qualified natural gas production, reduced, but not below zero, as oil and gas prices increase. States that the limitation to the general business credit, based on the amount of tax, shall not be reduced by the amount of the marginal oil and gas well credit. Allows both geological and geophysical expenditures on domestic oil and gas exploration and development and delay rental payments, at the taxpayer's election, to be deducted from gross income at the time incurred.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Community Workforce Development and Modernization Partnership Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to make competitive matching grants to eligible consortia (partnerships) to: (1) help workers improve those job skills necessary for employment by businesses in the industry with respect to which the entity was established; (2) help dislocated workers find employment; and (3) upgrade the operating and competitive capacities of businesses that are members of the partnership. Requires such partnerships to include: (1) two or more businesses (or nonprofit organizations representing businesses) that are facing similar workforce development or business modernization challenges; (2) labor organizations, if such businesses employ workers covered by collective bargaining agreements; and (3) one or more businesses (or nonprofit organizations representing businesses) with resources or expertise that bear on such workforce development and business modernization challenges. Allows inclusion of: (1) State and local governments; (2) educational institutions; (3) labor organizations; or (4) nonprofit organizations. Requires priority consideration for partnerships that: (1) serve dislocated workers or workers threatened with becoming totally or partially separated from employment; (2) include businesses with fewer than 250 employees; or (3) are from a geographic region that has been adversely impacted by the movement of manufacturing operations or businesses to other regions or countries, due to corporate restructuring, technological advances, Federal law, international trade, or other factors. Sets forth partnership program requirements and authorized activities for workforce development and business modernization. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide technical assistance and seed grants to help establish such partnerships; (2) undertake outreach and promotional activities for purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Fiscal Integrity of Indian Settlements Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to provide that if an appropriation bill or joint resolution is enacted for FY 2002 that includes an appropriation authorized previously by a law approving a negotiated settlement of disputes of Indian water rights or land claims, the adjustment to discretionary spending limits to be included in any sequestration report or subsequent budgets submitted by the President shall: (1) be the amount of budget authority in that measure and the outlays flowing in all fiscal years from that authority; and (2) not exceed $200 million in budget authority. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require adjustments to the discretionary spending limits, budget allocations, and budgetary aggregates for the new budget authority provided for FY 2002, not to exceed $200 million, by a measure reported from committee, amended, or reported from conference for payments authorized previously for such settlement, as long as the adjustments do not, when taken together with all other previously enacted legislation (except for any legislation enacted pursuant to a specified section of H. Con. Res. 83 (107th Congress), reduce the on-budget surplus below the level of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund surplus in any fiscal year covered by the most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) there should be established a National Community Health Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers; and (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States and interested organizations to observe such a week with appropriate programs and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2001
Motor Vehicle Franchise Contract Arbitration Fairness Act of 2001 - Provides that whenever a motor vehicle franchise contract provides for the use of arbitration to resolve a controversy arising out of or relating to the contract, arbitration may be used to settle the controversy only if both parties consent in writing after such controversy arises. Requires the arbitrator to provide the parties with a written explanation of the factual and legal basis for the award.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Transit in Parks Act (or the TRIP Act) - Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop cooperative relationships with the Secretary of the Interior providing for: (1) technical assistance in mass transportation; (2) interagency and multidisciplinary teams to develop Federal land management agency (the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Bureau of Land Management) transportation policy, procedures, and coordination; and (3) the development of procedures and criteria relating to the planning, selection, and funding of qualified planning or capital projects carried out in or in the vicinity of any federally owned or managed park, refuge, or recreational area that is open to the general public, and implementation and oversight of the program of projects in accordance with this Act. Sets forth requirements with respect to departmental cost sharing, financing, and selection of qualified projects. Requires projects of more than $25 million to be carried out through a full funding agreement and the qualified participants of such projects to prepare a project management plan.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
National Rural Development Partnership Act of 2001 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish the National Rural Development Partnership composed of the National Rural Development Coordinating Committee (established by this Act) and State development councils (authorized by this Act). Includes among Partnership purposes: (1) enhancement of State and local rural development capacities; and (2) engagement of Federal, State, local, tribal, and private and nonprofit sectors in such efforts. Provides for State rural development council matching requirements. Terminates the Partnership five years after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
Amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to prohibit employer discrimination, during and at the conclusion of labor disputes, against employees who participate in such disputes. Prohibits employers from offering: (1) permanent replacement status to individuals who replace strikers or otherwise work or express a willingness to work during such disputes; or (2) certain employment preferences to such individuals over striking workers who have returned or have made unconditional offers to return to work.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2001
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers Act - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize a group of agricultural commodity producers to petition the Secretary of Agriculture for a certification of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance. Requires the Secretary to determine whether the petitioning group meets certain requirements and, if so, to issue such a certification. Requires the International Trade Commission to notify the Secretary immediately whenever it begins an investigation into whether an agricultural commodity is being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry producing an agricultural commodity like or directly competitive with the imported agricultural commodity. Directs the Secretary to provide agricultural commodity producers with information about trade adjustment assistance petition and application procedures, benefit allowances, training, and other employment services. Sets forth certain eligibility requirements for the payment of trade adjustment assistance to adversely affected agricultural commodity producers. Limits to $10,000 the maximum annual amount of cash benefits a producer may receive. Provides for the repayment and recovery of overpayments of trade adjustment assistance made to such producers due to fraud. Sets forth penalties for such fraud.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2001
Brownfield Site Redevelopment Assistance Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make grants for projects to alleviate or prevent conditions of excessive unemployment, underemployment, blight, and infrastructure deterioration associated with brownfield sites. Defines a "brownfield site," with exceptions, as real property the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance or pollutant. Allows inclusions of sites otherwise excluded from consideration: (1) on a site-by-site basis if financial assistance will protect human health and the environment and promote economic development or facilitate the protection of parks, greenways, or other property used for nonprofit purposes; (2) that were contaminated by a controlled substance; (3) that are certain low-risk petroleum-contaminated sites; or (4) that are mine-scarred land.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2001
Brownfields Economic Development Act of 2001 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to eligible public entities and federally recognized Indian tribes for the redevelopment of brownfield sites, independent of notes or obligations guaranteed for the acquisition of property. Defines a "brownfield site," with exceptions, as real property the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance or pollutant. Allows inclusions of sites otherwise excluded from consideration: (1) on a site-by-site basis if financial assistance will protect human health and the environment and promote economic development or facilitate the protection of parks, greenways, or other property used for nonprofit purposes; (2) that were contaminated by a controlled substance; (3) that are certain low-risk petroleum-contaminated sites; or (4) that are mine-scarred land.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2001
Bridges to the Cuban People Act of 2001 - Exempts from the embargo on trade with Cuba (including prohibitions under the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 against the unloading at a U.S. port of vessels that previously entered a Cuban port to engage in trade) the export of any agricultural commodity, farm machinery or equipment, medicine, or medical device, or any travel incident to the delivery of such items. Prohibits the President from prohibiting or regulating travel to or from or within Cuba by U.S. nationals or lawful resident aliens, including specified transactions ordinarily incident to such travel, financial or otherwise. Authorizes the President to provide scholarships for Cuban nationals who seek to undertake graduate study in public health, public policy, economics, law, or other field of social science. Authorizes the President to waive certain sanctions against, and restrictions on assistance to, Cuba, including the exclusion from the United States of certain aliens who have confiscated property in Cuba of U.S. nationals or who traffics in such property, if he determines that it will promote the peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba or will further U.S. national economic interests. Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from limiting the amount of remittances to Cuba that any U.S. person may make. Exempts from prohibitions or restrictions on trade with Cuba the import of certain drugs, biological products, and medical devices into the United States. Prohibits the use of funds to enforce unilateral sanctions on the export of goods and services intended for the exclusive use of children in Cuba.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2001
American Wildlife Enhancement Act of 2001 - Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Programs Improvement Act - Amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to extend through FY 2006 the funding for the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account. Revises Account apportionment amounts between the States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Prohibits: (1) any State from receiving less than one percent (currently, one-half percent) of such funds; and (2) such funds from being diverted for other purposes. Authorizes a State, the District, or a territory to apply to the Secretary of the Interior: (1) for approval of a wildlife conservation and restoration program; and (2) to receive funding for such program through such apportionment. Limits to 75 percent the Federal share of such a program. Requires each State receiving an apportionment to develop and implement a wildlife conservation strategy based on the best available scientific information. Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to authorize the Secretary to: (1) provide financial assistance to any person for development and implementation of an endangered and threatened species recovery agreement; (2) review such agreements; (3) enter into approved agreements; and (4) monitor agreement implementation. Amends the Partnerships for Wildlife Act to direct the Secretary to establish a competitive program for grants to States to pay the Federal share of the costs of conservation of non-Federal land or water of regional or national significance.