United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2005
Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2005 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act regarding telehealth services (services furnished via a telecommunication system by a physician to an enrolled individual) to: (1) remove current geographic restrictions on the provision of such services; (2) add to the kinds of facilities authorized to participate in the telehealth program; (3) provide for the expansion of use of store-and-forward technology; (4) add new kinds of practitioners eligible to furnish telehealth services; (5) extend the meaning of covered telehealth services to any professional service meeting certain requirements; and (6) direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to facilitate adoption of provisions allowing for multistate practitioner licensure across state lines. Directs the Secretary to make grants for expanding access to health care services for individuals in rural areas, frontier areas, and urban medically underserved areas through the use of telehealth. Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2005
San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 100,000 $5 gold coins and 500,000 $1 silver coins emblematic of the San Francisco Old Mint Building, its importance to California and U.S. history, and its role in rebuilding San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire. Requires that all surcharges received by the Secretary from such coin sales be promptly paid to the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society to rehabilitate the Historic Old Mint in San Francisco as a city museum and an American Coin and Gold Rush Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 2005
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a five-year depreciation recovery period for certain farming business machinery or equipment placed in service before January 1, 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2005
Circuit Court of Appeals Restructuring and Modernization Act of 2005 - Amends the federal judicial code to divide the Ninth Judicial Circuit into the Ninth Circuit (to be composed of California, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands) and the Twelfth Circuit (to be composed of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington). Requires the President to appoint five additional circuit judges for the new Ninth Circuit and two temporary judges for the former Ninth Circuit, to be stationed in California. Specifies the locations where new circuits are to hold regular sessions. Locates the offices of the new Twelfth Circuit in Phoenix, Arizona. Assigns active circuit judges of the former Ninth Circuit to the new circuits. Allows senior circuit judges of the former Ninth Circuit to elect assignment. Sets forth provisions governing the disposition of cases pending in the former Ninth Circuit before the effective date of this Act. Authorizes the temporary assignment of circuit and district judges of the former Ninth Circuit among the new circuits. Provides that the former Ninth Circuit shall cease to exist for administrative purposes two years after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2005
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should not be a signatory to any agreement or protocol with respect to the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, or any other bilateral or multilateral trade negotiations, that adopts any proposal to lessen the effectiveness of domestic and international disciplines on unfair trade or safeguard provisions, including certain proposals, and would lessen in any manner U.S. ability to enforce rigorously its trade laws, including the antidumping, countervailing duty, and safeguard laws. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) U.S. trade laws and international rules appropriately serve the public interest by offsetting injurious unfair trade, and that further "balancing modifications" or other similar provisions are unnecessary and would add to the complexity and difficulty of achieving relief against injurious unfair trade practices; and (2) the United States should ensure that any new agreement relating to international disciplines on unfair trade or safeguard provisions fully rectifies and corrects decisions by WTO dispute settlement panels or the Appellate Body that have unjustifiably and negatively impacted, or threaten to negatively impact, U.S. law or practice, including a law or practice with respect to foreign dumping or subsidization.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2005
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make airport development project grants from unobligated apportioned airport improvement funds for FY2005 and FY2006 for emergency capital and operating costs of repairing or replacing public use facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita which are incurred by a public use airport in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Texas listed in the Federal Aviation Administration's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Authorizes the Secretary to waive any applicable grant limitation or requirement if the Secretary determines that it is necessary to respond to the urgent needs of the region damaged by the hurricanes. Sets the federal share of project costs at 100%.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2005
Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate a proceeding no later than June 1, 2006, to reevaluate and reconfigure its band (spectrum) plans for the upper 700 megahertz band and the unauctioned portions of the lower 700 megahertz band, requiring the reconfiguration to include spectrum to be licensed for small geographic areas.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2005
Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a research agenda for the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and facilitate surveillance and prevention of such disorders. Requires the Secretary to award grants for individuals with FASD, including to: (1) establish programs of surveillance, prevention, and treatment for such individuals; (2) identify best practices for educating affected children, educating officials in the criminal justice system on coping with such individuals, and educating adoption or foster care agency officials about services for children with FASD; and (3) provide for transitional services for such individuals, for respite care for their caretakers, and for increased awareness and identification of FASD at health centers. Requires: (1) the Secretary to provide for continuation of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; and (2) the Comptroller General to evaluate and make recommendations regarding appropriate federal FASD activities. Requires the Secretary to issue public service announcements to raise awareness of the risks associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Requires the National Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders to identify and describe the ten most important actions that must be taken to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure and all its adverse outcomes. Requires the Secretary of Education to direct the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to take certain actions with regard to individuals with FASD, including implementing screening procedures and introducing curricula on how to educate children with such disorders. Requires the Attorney General to direct the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to take certain actions with regard to individuals with FASD, including educating officials on how to treat such individuals, studying the inadequacies of the current system for dealing with such individuals, and developing transition programs for such individuals who are released from incarceration.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2005
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President, in order to coordinate efficiently and monitor spending, avoid duplication, and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, shall appoint an individual to oversee all federal work and the obligation of all federally appropriated funds for the purpose of Hurricane Katrina recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2005
Expresses the Senate's disapproval of the decision by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Newdow, et al. v. U.S. Congress, et al. (holding that the policy of daily teacher-led recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance by public school students violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution). Authorizes and instructs the Senate Legal Counsel to continue to cooperate fully with the Attorney General in such case to vigorously defend the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2005
Acknowledges Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist's lifelong service to the United States. Commends his 33-year tenure on the U.S. Supreme Court and his many accomplishments as Chief Justice. Extends sympathy to his family and friends.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2005
Declares that the Senate: (1) expresses the condolences of the Nation to the victims of Hurricane Katrina; (2) commends the resiliency and courage of the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; and (3) commits to provide the necessary resources and to stand by the people of such states in the relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2005
Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2005, or the U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to include within the term "unfair or deceptive acts or practices" those acts or practices involving foreign commerce that: (1) cause or are likely to cause reasonably foreseeable injury within the United States; or (2) involve material conduct occurring within the United States. Declares that remedies available to the Commission (FTC) for unfair and deceptive acts or practices include restitution to domestic or foreign victims. Authorizes the FTC to disclose certain privileged or confidential information to foreign law enforcement agencies and to grant investigative assistance to them. Grants the FTC power to transmit to the Attorney General evidence of a violation of federal criminal law by any person, partnership, or corporation, either domestic or foreign. Authorizes the FTC to designate its attorneys to assist the Attorney General with litigation in foreign courts on particular matters in which it has an interest. Prescribes procedural guidelines for sharing by FTC with foreign law enforcement agencies of information obtained pursuant to compulsory process or investigation. Declares the FTC subject to the Right to Financial Privacy Act, but specifies conditions relating to procedures for delay of notification or prohibition of disclosure, and ex parte proceedings. Exempts from coverage by such Act an investigation or proceeding related to the administration of federal or foreign antitrust laws. Shields from liability voluntary providers of information, including certain financial institutions. Authorizes the FTC to accept: (1) payment or reimbursement from a domestic or foreign law enforcement agency, or payment or reimbursement made on behalf of such agency, for expenses incurred by the FTC in carrying out any of its proper activities; and (2) unconditional gifts, donations, bequests of real, personal, and other property, and voluntary and uncompensated services.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2005
Child Protection and Home Safety Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable tax credit for up to 25 percent of the cost of a qualified residential gun safe. Defines "qualified residential gun safe" as a container not intended for the display of firearms which is specifically designed to store or safeguard firearms from unauthorized access and which meets established performance standards. Limits the amount of such credit to $250.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2005
Child Protection and Home Safety Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable tax credit for up to 25 percent of the cost of a qualified residential gun safe. Defines "qualified residential gun safe" as a container not intended for the display of firearms which is specifically designed to store or safeguard firearms from unauthorized access and which meets established performance standards. Limits the amount of such credit to $250.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2005
Pesticide Harmonization and Joint Labeling Act - Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to establish procedures for the joint labeling of registered pesticides by the United States and any country which has a harmonized pesticide registration regulatory process (harmonized country). Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in consultation with a harmonized country, to review and approve joint labels. Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) require joint labeling of new pesticides or uses; and (2) enter into a memorandum of understanding with any harmonized country to address joint registration and labeling procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2005
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2005 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2011 for: (1) Amtrak capital and operating grants, including state capital grants; (2) the Federal Railroad Administration; (3) Amtrak repayment of long-term debt and capital leases; (4) excess Amtrak railroad retirement payments to the Railroad Retirement Account; (5) the rail cooperative research program; and (6) grants to Amtrak and states participating in the Next Generation Corridor Train Equipment Pool Committee. Amends federal transportation law to make certain Amtrak reforms and operational improvements, including: (1) state funding of Amtrak rail routes; (2) establishment of improved financial accounting system; (3) development of a five-year financial plan; (4) improvement of passenger train performance; (5) establishment of an alternative passenger rail service program; (6) employee transition assistance; and (7) development of a Northeast Corridor state-of-good-repair plan. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to an applicant state, Interstate Compact, or public agency to assist in financing the capital costs of facilities and equipment necessary to provide intercity passenger rail transportation. Establishes: (1) a Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee; and (2) a rail cooperative research program. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to Amtrak for certain systemwide security upgrades. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to Amtrak for fire and life-safety improvements and infrastructure upgrades to tunnels on the Northeast Corridor. Directs Amtrak to submit to the National Transportation Safety Board a plan to address the needs of families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report to Congress an assessment of the current system for preclearance and screening of rail and airline passengers and baggage, as well as freight railroad traffic, between the United States and Canada. Allows a tax credit to holders of rail infrastructure (intercity rail facility) bonds issued by a state, interstate compact, or Amtrak to finance or refinance certain rail improvement projects.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2005
Crow Tribe Land Restoration Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) develop a program to provide funds to the Crow Tribe of the State of Montana to acquire land and interests in land from eligible individuals within the Crow Reservation in the state; and (2) accept from eligible individuals the donation of land or an interest in land, to hold in trust for the benefit of the Tribe. Requires the Tribe to manage such land and interests. Authorizes the Secretary to issue to the Secretary of the Treasury any obligations necessary to fund the purchasing program established by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2005
Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a three-year pilot program under which up to 15 states may issue electronic migratory bird hunting and conservation stamps. Prohibits a state's participation in the program absent the Secretary's approval of an application providing details of the state's electronic stamp process. Requires the Secretary to publish eligibility requirements and selection criteria. Directs the Secretary to require participating states to: (1) provide an actual (paper) stamp to each individual to whom the state sells an electronic stamp by the date on which the electronic stamp expires; and (2) collect and transmit to the Secretary electronic stamp revenue and customer information. Authorizes participating states to charge a reasonable fee to cover program costs. Sets forth requirements for electronic stamps. Authorizes termination of a state's participation in the program by the Secretary for violations of application terms or by a state upon providing written notice.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2005
Second Amendment Protection Act of 2005 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should not provide financial support to international entities that abridge the constitutionally protected rights of law-abiding U.S. citizens to keep and bear arms. Prohibits U.S. funding to the United Nations for a fiscal year unless the President certifies to Congress that the United Nations has not taken action to restrict or otherwise adversely infringe upon the rights of U.S. individuals to possess a firearm or ammunition, including the imposition of a tax that will interfere with the right to own a firearm or ammunition.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2005
Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act of 2005 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of items and services furnished under a cardiac rehabilitation or a pulmonary rehabilitation program.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2005
National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2005 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a pilot program to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small businesses through participating Small Business Development Centers (Centers). Requires the Administrator to enter into arrangements with participating Centers to provide: (1) access to regulatory information and resources; (2) training and education activities; (3) confidential counseling to owners and operators of small businesses regarding compliance with Federal regulations; (4) technical assistance; and (5) partnerships with Federal compliance programs. Requires the Administrator, giving substantial weight to the recommendations of the majority of the Centers, to select the Center programs of two States from each of ten groups of States for participation in the pilot program. Provides grant limits. Terminates the pilot program four years after disbursement of the first grant.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2005
Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2005 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services, during the period between July 1, 2005, and the date two years after the enactment of this Act, from: (1) requiring a compliance rate, pursuant to the criterion (commonly known as the "75 percent rule") used to determine whether a hospital or hospital unit is an inpatient rehabilitation facility, that is greater than the 50 percent compliance threshold that became effective on July 1, 2004; (2) changing the designation of any inpatient rehabilitation facility in compliance with the 50 percent threshold; or (3) conducting medical necessity review of inpatient rehabilitation facilities using any guidelines other than the national criteria established in the Medicare Benefits Policy Manual. Directs the Secretary to establish procedures for: (1) making any necessary retroactive adjustment to restore the status of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation facility as a result of this Act; (2) making any necessary payments to inpatient rehabilitation facilities based on such adjustment for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2005, and before enactment of this Act; and (3) developing and implementing an appeals process that provides for expedited review of any adjustment to the status of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation facility made during such period Directs the Secretary to establish the National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation to provide advice and recommendations to: (1) Congress and the Secretary concerning the coverage of rehabilitation services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; and (2) appropriate federal agencies on how best to utilize available research funds and authorities focused on medical rehabilitation research.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2005
Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a geography education grant program under title II, Teacher Quality Enhancement. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award a grant to a national nonprofit education organization or consortium, with 75% to be used for subgrants to institutions of higher education associated with state geographic alliances, nonprofit educational organizations, or state or local educational agencies. Requires various grantee and subgrantee activities designed to expand geographic literacy among kindergarten through grade 12 students by improving their teachers' professional development programs offered through institutions of higher education. Includes among such activities state-based conferences to assess geographic literacy and identify improvement strategies.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2005
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Gaylord A. Nelson, a former member of the United States Senate from Wisconsin. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on July 11, 2005, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator Nelson.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2005
Declares that the Senate: (1) expresses deepest sympathies and condolences to the people of the United Kingdom and the victims and their families for the heinous terrorist attacks that occurred in London on July 7, 2005; (2) condemns these barbaric and unwarranted attacks on the innocent people of London; (3) expresses strong and continued solidarity with the people of the United Kingdom and pledges to remain shoulder-to-shoulder with them to bring the terrorists responsible for these brutal attacks to justice; and (4) calls upon the international community to renew and strengthen efforts to defeat terrorists by dismantling terrorist networks and exposing the violent and nihilistic ideology of terrorism, increase international cooperation to advance personal and religious freedoms, ethnic and racial tolerance, political liberty and pluralism, and economic prosperity, and combat the social injustice, oppression, poverty, and extremism that breeds terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 2005
Fairness, Accuracy, Inclusivity, and Responsiveness in Ratings Act of 2005 or FAIR Ratings Act - Prohibits a person from selling, offering to sell, or otherwise providing data from a television ratings measurement system (system) that produces data to be used commercially as currency ratings unless that system is accredited by the Media Ratings Council. Requires such Council to: (1) accredit such systems on the basis of audits; and (2) preapprove any change made to a current system. Provides accreditation standards. Requires any dispute between an operator of a system and the Council to be resolved through dispute resolution procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2005
Better Healthcare Through Information Technology Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology to develop a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the public-private American Health Information Collaborative to recommend to the President uniform policies to support the widespread adoption of health information technology and modifications to standards for the electronic exchange of health information. Requires the President to review and, if appropriate, provide for the adoption of such standards. Prohibits any federal agency from expending federal funds to purchase hardware, software, or support services that are inconsistent with adopted standards. Requires all federal agencies collecting health data to comply with the adopted standards. Requires the Secretary to develop criteria to: (1) ensure uniform and consistent implementation of any standards voluntarily adopted by private entities; and (2) ensure and certify hardware, software, and support services compliance with adopted standards. Allows the Secretary to award grants to: (1) facilitate the purchase and enhance the utilization of qualified health information technology systems; and (2) carry out demonstration projects to develop academic programs integrating qualified health information technology systems in the clinical education of health professionals. Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop quality measurement systems for the purposes of measuring the quality of care patients receive; and (2) study methods to create efficient reimbursement incentives for improving health care quality. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ), to develop a Center for Best Practices for the effective use health information technology. Allows the Director of AHRQ to establish a demonstration program to award grants or contracts to support health information network planning, implementation, and evaluation activities. Amends the Social Security Act to allow physicians to receive financial support regarding the electronic exchange of health information.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2005
ALS Registry Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) develop a system to collect data on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); and (2) establish a national registry for the collection and storage of ALS data. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to establish the Advisory Committee on the National ALS Registry to study and make recommendations to the Secretary concerning: (1) the development and maintenance of the registry; (2) the type of information to be included; (3) the manner in which data is to be collected; (4) the use and availability of such data; and (5) the collection of information about diseases and disorders that primarily affect motor neurons that are considered essential to furthering the study and cure of ALS. Allows the Secretary, acting through the Director, to award grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, public or private nonprofit entities for the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on ALS. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to: (1) identify, build upon, expand, and coordinate among existing data and surveillance systems, surveys, registries, and other federal public health and environmental infrastructure wherever possible; and (2) provide for public access to an electronic national database that accepts data from state registries, health care professionals, and others as recommended by the Advisory Committee in a manner that protects personal privacy. Requires the Secretary to ensure that epidemiological and other types of information is made available to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2005
Protection of Homes, Small Businesses, and Private Property Act of 2005 - Declares that the power of eminent domain shall be available only for public use, which shall not be construed to include economic development. Applies such limitation to all exercises of eminent domain by the federal government or by state and local governments through the use of federal funds.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2005
Ninth Circuit Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal judicial code to divide the Ninth Judicial Circuit into the Ninth Circuit (to be composed of California, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands), and the Twelfth Circuit (to be composed of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Requires the President to appoint five additional circuit judges for the new Ninth Circuit and two temporary judges for the former Ninth Circuit. Specifies the locations where new circuits are to hold regular sessions. Locates the offices of the new Twelfth Circuit in Phoenix, Arizona. Assigns active circuit judges of the former Ninth Circuit to the new circuits. Allows senior circuit judges of the former Ninth Circuit to elect assignment. Specifies the disposition of cases pending in the former Ninth Circuit before the effective date of this Act as follows: (1) proceedings in matters that have been submitted for decision shall continue without regard to this Act; (2) matters not yet submitted for decision must be transferred to the court to which they would have been submitted under this Act; and (3) petitions for rehearing en banc that are pending shall be considered by the court to which they would have been submitted had this Act been in full force and effect at the time that the appeal or other proceeding was filed. Authorizes the temporary assignment of circuit and district judges of the former Ninth Circuit among the new circuits. Directs that the former Ninth Circuit shall cease to exist for administrative purposes two years after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2005
Recognizes July 1, 2005, as the 100th anniversary of the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture and commends the Forest Service for 100 years of dedicated service managing the forests of the United States. Encourages the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2005
Amends title VI (Open-market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act or ORBIT Act) of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962, concerning INTELSAT (a global satellite provider of voice, data, and Internet services) and Inmarsat (a global mobile satellite communications provider), to prohibit any successor entity or separated entity from having officers or managers who are officers or managers of any signatories. (Current law prohibits any successor entity or separated entity from having officers or managers who are officers or managers of any signatories or former signatories or who have any direct financial interest in or financial relationship to any signatories or former signatories, except that such interest may be managed through a blind trust or similar mechanism.) Strikes provsions that prohibited a separated entity from having officers or directors, who are either officers or managers of any intergovernmental organization or who have any direct financial interest in or financial relationship to any international organization, except that such interest may be managed through a blind trust or similar mechanism. Requires the United States to preserve the space segment capacity of the GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System). Directs the Federal Communications Commission to review competitive market conditions of domestic and international satellite communications services and include in an annual report an analysis of those conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2005
Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2005 - 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. Provides for benefits for World War II Merchant Mariners under title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2005
Long-Term Care and Retirement Security Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a tax deduction from gross income for long-term care insurance premiums; (2) include long-term care insurance in employee benefit cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements; (3) allow a tax credit for certain long-term care costs; (4) set forth certain consumer protections for long-term care insurance contracts; and (5) allow tax free exchanges of long-term care insurance contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2005
Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005 - Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reallocating primary allocations of bands of frequencies of the amateur radio and amateur satellite services, diminishing the secondary allocations of such bands to such services, or making additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to the amateur radio or satellite service, unless the FCC provides equivalent replacement spectrum to amateur radio and satellite service.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2005
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable J. James Exon, former United States Senator for Nebraska. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on June 13, 2005, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator Exon.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2005
Authorizes the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, to enter into a lease or other temporary conveyance of water rights recognized under the Fort Peck-Montana Compact with the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association, Incorporated (or any successor non-federal entity) for the purpose of meeting the Association's water needs.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2005
Congratulates the Small Business Development Centers of the Small Business Administration on their 25 years of service to America's small business owners and entrepreneurs. Recognizes the service of such Centers in helping small businesses start, grow, and flourish. Directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Association for Small Business Development Centers for appropriate display.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2005
Prompt Disability Payment to Mesothelioma Victims Act of 2005 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to shorten the waiting period for Social Security disability benefits for individuals with mesothelioma.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2005
VetsRide Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in remote rural areas in order to assist: (1) such veterans to travel to Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and (2) in providing medical care to such veterans. Limits grant amounts to $50,000.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2005
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit taxpayers to elect to expense (i.e., deduct all expenses in the current taxable year) qualified broadband expenditures, including installation and connection costs for subscribers in rural or underserved areas. Permits mutual or cooperative telephone companies to elect to reduce their unrelated business taxable income in any year by the amount of their qualified broadband expenditures. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) designate census tracts identifying rural and underserved areas under this Act; and (2) prescribe regulations for carrying out the purposes of this Act. Prohibits federal or state agencies from adopting regulations and ratemaking procedures that would eliminate or reduce the broadband expense deduction provided by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2005
College 529 InvEST Act of 2005 - Makes permanent the provision relating to qualified tuition programs enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA).
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2005
Amends federal transportation law to extend through December 31, 2008, the Secretary of Transportation's authority to: (1) issue war risk insurance policies to air carriers; and (2) certify that an air carrier is a victim of an act of terrorism and not liable for losses suffered by third parties that exceed $100 million, as well as immunity from punitive damages (with the federal government responsible for any liability above $100 million).
![Official portrait of Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b001126_200.jpg)