United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2003
Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2003 - Provides that: (1) any person who engages in conduct that violates specified provisions of the Federal criminal code, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or specified articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (conduct constituting certain Federal violent crimes), and thereby causes the death of, or bodily injury to, a child who is in utero, shall be guilty of a separate offense (but prohibits imposition of the death penalty for such offense); and (2) the punishment for that separate offense shall be the same as that provided under Federal law for that conduct had that injury or death occurred to the unborn child's mother. Directs that if the person engaging in the conduct thereby intentionally kills or attempts to kill the unborn child, that person shall be punished as provided under the Federal criminal code for intentionally killing or attempting to kill a human being. Bars prosecution under this Act: (1) for conduct relating to an abortion for which the consent of the pregnant woman has been obtained or for which such consent is implied by law in a medical emergency; (2) for conduct relating to any medical treatment of the pregnant woman or her unborn child; or (3) of any woman with respect to her unborn child.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2003
Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to extend the meaning of "foreign power" to any person, other than a U.S. person, engaged in international terrorism or activities in preparation for them, for purposes of securing FISA warrants authorizing the electronic surveillance of communications between and among foreign powers.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2003
Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide: (1) emergency financial assistance to agricultural producers who have incurred qualifying 2001 or 2002 crop losses due to weather or related conditions; and (2) payments to livestock producers who have incurred 2001 and 2002 losses in an emergency-designated county. Permits producers with qualifying losses in both years to elect to receive payments in either, but not both, of such years. Makes producers ineligible for crop disaster assistance if they did not: (1) get Federal crop insurance for insurable commodities; and (2) file required paperwork and pay related fees for noninsurable commodities. Sets forth waiver provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Constitutional Amendment - Grants victims of violent crime the rights: (1) to reasonable and timely notice of any public proceeding involving the crime and of any release or escape of the accused; (2) to not be excluded from such public proceeding and reasonably to be heard at public release, plea, sentencing, reprieve, and pardon proceedings; and (3) to adjudicative decisions that consider the victim's safety, interest in avoiding unreasonable delay, and just and timely claims to restitution from the offender. Prohibits any restriction of such rights except as dictated by a substantial interest in public safety or the administration of criminal justice, or by compelling necessity.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
States that Robert Bancroft of Hayden Lake, Idaho, is entitled to overtime pay plus interest for missions flown as part of operation SNOWCAP in South America between February 10, 1992, and February 14, 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Provides that any surplus of receipts over outlays of the Social Security trust funds shall not be counted, and any deficit of receipts relative to outlays of the Social Security trust funds shall be counted, and must be completely offset by a surplus of all other receipts over all other outlays. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each House by rollcall vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Declares Benjamin M. Banfro to have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act upon payment of the required visa fees.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2002
Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to award a grant to Neighborhood House of St. Paul, Minnesota, to finance the construction of a new community center in St. Paul, to be known as the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2002
Maximum Economic Growth for America Through Highway Funding Part II Act or the MEGA Fund Part II Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend for six years the availability of funds in the Highway Trust Fund authorized under specified provisions of the Highway Revenue Act of 1956, the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Makes such funding available to the Maximum Economic Growth for America Through Highway Funding Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2002
Maximum Economic Growth for America Through Rural Transportation Investment Act or MEGA Rural Act - Establishes a program of Federal funds to assist States that face certain economic and demographic barriers in meeting transportation needs. Allocates funds for FY 2004 through 2009 to low-income States, high-growth States, low- and high-population-density States, and States with extensive road ownership. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a rural local roads safety pilot program. Allocates funds to States under a specified formula. Makes the Federal cost share 100 percent. Provides minimum funding levels to States for FY 2004 through 2009 for: (1) transportation services for the elderly and disabled; (2) financial assistance for other than urbanized areas; and (3) financial assistance for urbanized areas with populations of less than 200,000. Directs the Secretary to establish a program under which States provide essential bus service between rural areas and primary airports, and between rural areas and stations for intercity passenger rail service, and appropriate intermediate or nearby points. Provides the Federal share of eligible transit project or operating costs for FY 2004 and thereafter. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the crediting of interest to the Mass Transit Account within the Highway Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2002
Maximum Economic Growth for America Through Highway Funding Act (MEGA Fund Act) - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) (other than the Mass Transit Account) for various programs, including the Interstate Maintenance Program, the National Highway System, the Bridge Program, the Surface Transportation Program, the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, the Appalachian Development Highway System Program, the Recreational Trails Program, and the High Priority Projects Program. Requires deductions from program apportionments for a future strategic highway research program. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the provisions of budget legislation pertaining to the highway program should be amended to: (1) improve predictability and stability in the levels of highway program obligation authority; (2) facilitate the expenditure of funds in the HTF (other than the Mass Transit Account); and (3) eliminate the possibility of reductions in the levels of highway program obligation authority being imposed automatically so that any reductions are solely the prerogative of Congress. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Act reauthorizing highway, highway safety, and transit programs for fiscal years beginning with FY 2004 should include appropriate budgetary protections for highway safety and transit programs. Establishes a program to assist States that face certain economic and demographic barriers in meeting transportation needs. Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA Act) to provide certain minimum allocations to border States. Establishes the cooperative Federal lands transportation program for projects on highways that: (1) are State owned or maintained; and (2) cross, are adjacent to, or lead to federally owned land or Indian reservations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2002
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to include crambe and sesame seeds within the definition of "other oilseeds." Itemizes such oilseeds and applies the same marketing assistance loan rate and the same loan deficiency payment rate to each of them.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2002
Wood Preservation Safety Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to require the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, to conduct a study of silver-based biocides' effectiveness as a wood preservation treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2002
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) should enter into mediation to resolve their dispute, adopt 24-hour extensions of the expired collective bargaining agreement, and end the current lockout; and (2) if the PMA and the ILWU do not reach a settlement or reopen the ports through that mediation during a reasonable period, as determined by the President, the President should appoint a board of inquiry, to begin the emergency dispute-settling procedure under the Labor-Management Relations Act, 1947.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2002
Idaho Panhandle National Forest Improvement Act of 2002 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange certain National Forest System lands in Idaho, and to use the proceeds to acquire or rehabilitate: (1) facilities for a new ranger station in the Silver Valley area of the Panhandle National Forest; and (2) other facilities in such Forest. Authorizes the Secretary to use other funds if sale or exchange proceeds are insufficient for the acquisition or improvement of the ranger station and associated land.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2002
Sandpoint Land and Facilities Act of 2002 - Directs the Administrator of General Services to transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture jurisdiction over certain land in Sandpoint, Idaho (the "property"), with the Secretary assuming the obligation of the Administrator to repay to the Federal Finance Bank the debt incurred with respect to the property. Permits the Secretary to exchange all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the property in an exchange of equal value, in which the recipient of the property may agree to construct administrative facilities for the National Forest System in Bonner County, Idaho. Requires a recipient to honor any outstanding indebtedness on the property to the Federal Finance Bank. Directs the Secretary to use proceeds from the sale of the property for : (1) the acquisition, construction, or improvement of administrative facilities and associated land in the Northern Region of the Forest Service in Idaho; and (2) the acquisition of land and interests in land for addition to National Forest System land in such region. Forbids any proceeds from being distributed to States or counties or from being considered moneys received from units of the National Forest System under specified laws. Requires the Secretary to manage any land acquired under this Act in accordance with the Weeks Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2002
Maximum Economic Growth for America Through Environmental Streamlining Act (MEGA Stream Act) - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program under which States carry out Federal responsibilities with respect to one or more highway or transit projects (or classes of projects) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), provisions of this Act, or such other environmental review or decision-making authority of the Secretary as the Secretary deems appropriate. Sets conditions regarding State assumption of responsibility for projects located within the State for which environmental impact statements are required. Grants the U.S. district courts exclusive jurisdiction over any civil action against a State for failure to carry out any State responsibility under this Act. Requires the Secretary to conduct audits to ensure State compliance. Designates the Department of Transportation as the lead agency for purposes of compliance with NEPA. Sets forth provisions regarding statements of purpose and need for a highway or transit project, determination of alternatives, and public comment. Makes the Secretary responsible for: (1) developing a schedule for the NEPA process; (2) coordinating efforts to identify and resolve issues that could cause any other Federal agency to oppose or deny project approval or cause delay in completion of the process; (3) developing an agency coordination plan; (4) requesting each relevant Federal agency to participate in the process; and (5) preparing or ensuring that any required environmental impact statement is completed in accordance with the NEPA process.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2002
Declares the sense of Congress that the President should designate November 2002 as National Bread Month in recognition of the significance of bread in American history, culture, and daily diet.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2002
Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 - Establishes in the Department of Education an Institute for Education Sciences, consisting of: (1) an Office of the Director; (2) a National Board for Education Sciences; (3) an Office of Knowledge Utilization, including a school facilities clearinghouse and a National Library of Education; and (4) National Education Centers, including ones for Education Research, Education Statistics, and Education Evaluation. Regional Assistance Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Education to contract with public or private nonprofit entities to establish a network of ten regional educational laboratories for research, development, dissemination, and technical assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to award at least 20 grants to local entities to provide technical assistance and professional development to establish comprehensive centers that work with local educational agencies and schools in regions. National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2003 through 2008 for: (1) the National Assessment Governing Board; and (2) the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Repeals: (1) the National Education Statistics Act of 1994 (title IV of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994); (2) parts A through E and K through N of the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (title IX of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act); and (3) specified provisions under the Department of Education Organization Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2002
Supports the goals and ideas of a day of tribute to all firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Recognizes the important mission of the Fallen Firefighters Foundation in assisting family members to overcome the loss of their fallen heroes.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2002
Recognizes the 100th anniversary of the 4-H Youth Development Program, and commends such program for service to the youth of the world. Designates October 6, 2002, through October 12, 2002, as National 4-H Youth Development Program Week.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2002
Designates the month of September 2002 as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Declares that the Federal Government has a responsibility to: (1) raise awareness about the importance of screening methods and treatment of prostate cancer; (2) increase research funding that is commensurate with the burden of the disease so that the causes of, and improved methods for screening, treating, and curing prostate cancer may be discovered; and (3) continue to consider ways for improving access to, and the quality of, health care services for detecting and treating prostate cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2002
Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to repeal the applicability of sunset provisions to section 401 (Modifications to Education Individual Retirement Accounts).
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2002
Rural Four-Lane Highway Safety and Development Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish and carry out a program to make allocations to States for projects to expand eligible two-lane highways in rural areas to four-lane highways. Authorizes the Secretary to make allocations only for projects that are on the National Highway System (NHS) or a high priority corridor identified under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. Directs the Secretary to give priority to projects: (1) to improve highway safety on the most dangerous rural two-lane highways on the NHS; (2) carried out on rural highways with respect to which the annual volume of commercial vehicle traffic has increased since the enactment of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act or is expected to increase after this Act's enactment; (3) carried out on rural highways with high levels of commercial truck traffic; and (4) on highway corridors that will help stimulate regional economic growth and development in rural areas.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2002
Maximum Economic Growth for America through Investment in Rural, Elderly, and Disabled Transit Act (or the MEGA RED TRANS Act) - Amends Federal transportation law to set forth certain minimum funding levels of amounts made available from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund for: (1) formula grants and loans to States to provide mass transportation services to elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities and in non-urbanized areas; and (2) block grants to States for mass transportation service projects in urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000. Establishes an essential bus service program under which States provide essential bus service between rural areas and primary airports, and between rural areas and stations for intercity passenger rail service, and appropriate intermediate or nearby points. Sets forth certain requirements regarding the Federal share of eligible project costs or eligible operating costs with respect to funds distributed for transit projects after FY 2004. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require interest that is accrued on balances in the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to be credited to such account.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2002
Choice IDEA Act - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to allow States to opt to use part B special education program funds to carry out a parental choice program, as an alternative to opting for the current part B program. Requires such a choice program to include vouchers for parents of children with disabilities. Permits parents to use vouchers to: (1) obtain special education and related services, selected from a menu by the parent, for the child at a public school; or (2) pay the child's attendance cost at a public or private school. Directs the Secretary of Education to award grants to States that do not participate in the choice program, for subgrants to local educational agencies in which 15 percent or more of the students served are children with disabilities, to help defray the salaries of individuals who help with paperwork associated with receiving part B funds. Extends through FY 2010 the authorization of appropriations, in specified increasing amounts, for IDEA part B programs of assistance for education of all children with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2002
Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), within 15 days after the enactment of this Act, to return to the winning bidders of spectrum auction 35 the full amount of all deposits and down payments made for licenses that the FCC has not delivered by such date. Frees each winning bidder that elects within such period to relinquish a license not yet delivered of all license obligations such bidder would otherwise have had, including the obligation to pay the full amount of its winning bid upon license delivery.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2002
District of Columbia Student Opportunity Scholarship Act of 2002 - Authorizes the establishment of the District of Columbia Scholarship Corporation as a private, nonprofit corporation to administer, publicize, and evaluate a District scholarship program and determine elementary and secondary student and school eligibility. Establishes a District of Columbia Scholarship Fund, to be administered by the Secretary of the Treasury. Provides for a seven-member Corporation Board of Directors, with six members appointed by the President from House and Senate nominees, and one member appointed by the District Mayor. Authorizes the Corporation to award tuition scholarships and enhanced achievement scholarships to District students in kindergarten through grade 12 with family incomes not exceeding 185 percent of the national poverty line. Allows scholarships to be used for tuition, fees, and appropriate transportation to public, private, or independent schools (or beyond-school-hours enhancement programs) in the District and specified neighboring counties and cities in Maryland and Virginia. Requires the following order of scholarship award priorities to students who: (1) have received such a scholarship in a previous year (in the program's second and subsequent years); (2) District school or kindergarten enrollees; (3) victims of school violence; and (4) other eligible students. Requires use of a lottery whenever amounts are insufficient to provide a scholarship for each student in one of these categories. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the District scholarship program. Provides for expedited judicial review of challenges to such program.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2002
Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide: (1) emergency financial assistance to agricultural producers who have incurred qualifying 2001 or 2002 crop losses due to weather or related conditions; and (2) payments to livestock producers who have incurred 2001 and 2002 losses in an emergency-designated county. Permits producers with qualifying losses in both years to elect to receive payments in either, but not both, of such years. Makes producers ineligible for crop disaster assistance if they did not: (1) get Federal crop insurance for insurable commodities; and (2) file required paperwork and pay related fees for noninsurable commodities. Sets forth waiver provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2002
Amends the Organic Act of Guam to revise the local judicial structure of Guam to vest judicial authority, not only in the District Court of Guam (as currently), but also in a unified judicial system composed of: (1) an appellate court designated as the "Supreme Court of Guam"; (2) a trial court designated as the "Superior Court of Guam"; and (3) such other lower local courts as may have been or may hereafter be established by the laws of Guam. Authorizes the Supreme Court of Guam to create divisions of the Superior Court and other local courts of Guam. Lists the courts of record for Guam. Outlines the jurisdiction and powers of the local courts. Repeals provisions granting the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit jurisdiction to review all final decisions of the Supreme Court of Guam (effectively allowing direct review of such decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States).
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2002
Our Lady of Peace Act - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to require the head of each U.S. department or agency to ascertain whether it has such information on persons for whom receipt of a firearm would violate specified Federal provisions regarding excluded individuals or State law as is necessary to enable the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to operate. Directs that any such record that the department or agency has be made available to the Attorney General for inclusion in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System or transmission of a certification identifying the record for removal from the System. Directs the head of such department or agency, at the Attorney General's request, to furnish such information to the System electronically. Makes a State eligible to receive a waiver of the ten percent matching requirement for National Criminal History Improvement Grants if the State provides at least 95 percent of the information described in this Act, including the name of and other relevant identifying information related to each person disqualified from acquiring a firearm. Requires the Attorney General to make grants to each State: (1) to establish or upgrade information and identification technologies for firearms eligibility determinations; and (2) for use by the State's chief judicial officer to improve the handling of proceedings related to criminal history dispositions and restraining orders. Requires the Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics to study and evaluate the operations of the System and to report on grants and on best practices of States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2002
Homeland Security Act of 2002 - Establishes a Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as an executive department of the United States, headed by a Secretary of Homeland Security who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. States that the primary mission of DHS is to: (1) prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; (2) reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism; and (3) minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery, from terrorist attacks that occur within the United States. Includes as DHS's primary responsibilities: (1) information analysis and infrastructure protection; (2) chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and related countermeasures; (3) border and transportation security; (4) emergency preparedness and response; and (5) coordination (including the provision of training and equipment) with other executive agencies, with State and local government personnel, agencies, and authorities, with the private sector, and with other entities. Creates: (1) a Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, who shall be the Secretary's first assistant for purposes of details; (2) an Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection; (3) an Under Secretary for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Countermeasures; (4) an Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security; (5) an Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response; (6) an Under Secretary for Management; and (7) not more than six Assistant Secretaries. Establishes an Inspector General (to be appointed under the Inspector General Act of 1978), and requires the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Director of the Secret Service as well, to assist the Secretary in the performance of his functions. Transfers to the Secretary the functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of specified entities, including: (1) the National Communications System of the Department of Defense; (2) the select agent registration enforcement programs and activities of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); (3) the Plum Island Animal Disease Center of the Department of Agriculture (DOA); (4) certain programs and activities of the Department of Energy, such as those specified for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; (5) the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury (DOT); (6) the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice (DOJ); (7) DOA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; (8) the Coast Guard; (9) DOT's Transportation Security Administration; (10) the Federal Protective Service of the General Services Administration; (11) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (12) the National Domestic Preparedness Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; (13) HHS' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness; (14) HHS' Strategic National Stockpile; and (15) the United States Secret Service. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a human resources management system for DHS. Establishes in the Department of Defense a National Bio-Weapons Defense Analysis Center.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2002
Permanent Tax Relief for School Construction Act - Makes the sunset provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 inapplicable to provisions of such Act relating to treatment of qualified public educational facility bonds as exempt facility bonds, thus making such provisions permanent.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2002
APHIS Function Transfer Act - Transfers from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of Homeland Security: (1) specified agricultural import and entry inspection functions, personnel, and fees; and (2) Plum Island Animal Disease Center (retains Department of Agriculture access).
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that November of each year should be established as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month to raise public awareness about the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the serious problems associated with it.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2002
States that Robert Bancroft of Hayden Lake, Idaho, is entitled to overtime pay plus interest for missions flown as part of operation SNOWCAP in South America between February 10, 1992, and February 14, 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Reaffirms: (1) the language of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, including the phrase "one Nation under God"; and (2) the national motto "In God we trust."
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Designates the week of November 10-16, 2002, as National Veterans Awareness Week to emphasize educational programs for elementary and secondary school students regarding the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Calls for: (1) recognition of private organizations and health care providers for promoting awareness and research of scleroderma; (2) greater awareness of the symptoms of scleroderma and contributions to the fight against it; (3) the Government to promote awareness, to adequately fund scleroderma research projects, and continue to consider ways to improve the quality of health care services for scleroderma patients; (4) the National Institutes of Health to continue to play a leadership role in the fight against scleroderma; and (5) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give priority to establishing a national epidemiological study to better track and gather information about scleroderma.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2002
Declares that the Senate strongly disapproves of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Newdow v. U.S. Congress. Authorizes and instructs the Senate Legal Counsel to seek to intervene in the case to defend the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2002
Maximum Economic Growth for America Through the Highway Trust Fund Act (or MEGA Trust Act) - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to transfer all excise taxes imposed on alcohol fuels to the Highway Trust Fund (the "Fund"). Authorizes the transfer to the Fund from the general fund of the Treasury of the amount of money equal to the untaxed portion of gasohol containing ethanol, effective with respect to the removal or entry of any mixture after September 30, 2003. Eliminates provision of Code stating that obligations of the Fund shall not be interest bearing, thus allowing the Fund to earn interest, effective with respect to obligations held by the Fund after September 30, 2003. Extends various highway-related taxes, floor stock refunds, certain tax-free sales, exemption from tax for use of highway vehicles by States and local governments and for use of certain transit-type buses, deposits into and certain specified transfers from the Fund, transfers from the Fund for motorboat fuel taxes and small-engine fuel taxes, and refunds of certain specified funds from the land and water conservation fund into the general fund. Establishes a National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission (the "Commission"). Permits any department or agency to detail personnel to the Commission, and requires such bodies to furnish nonconfidential materials to the Commission upon request.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2002
Community-Based Forest and Public Lands Restoration Act - Requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to establish a collaborative community-based restoration program for National Forest System (NFS) and public lands. Authorizes the Secretaries to make cooperative agreements with specified entities and to hire additional outreach specialists to protect such lands. Directs the Secretaries to provide cost-share grants, cooperative agreements, or both to establish Restoration and Value-Added Centers to provide technical assistance to non-profit organizations, small or micro-enterprises, and persons forming natural-resource small or micro-enterprises. Specifies certain regions that must have at least one Center, including northern California and eastern Oregon. Directs the Secretaries to limit competition for special salvage timber sales and other timber-related contracts and agreements such that natural-resource related small or micro-enterprises and other specified entities receive a specified percentage of the contracts and agreements each year. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program of applied research to identify restoration methods and treatments and to test and develop value-added products created from the by-products of restoration.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2002
Medicare Premium Fairness Act of 2002 - Amends part B title XVIII (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to establish a geographic adjustment factor for each State based upon the average yearly amount of Medicare premiums paid to beneficiaries residing in that State. Requires the Secretary to provide for necessary adjustments of the monthly premium for each Medicare beneficiary to reflect the application of the geographic adjustment factors (either directly or as a Medicare Cost Sharing adjustment).
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2002
Support of American Eagle Silver Bullion Program Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to obtain silver from other available sources when the United States silver stockpile is depleted. Prohibits the Secretary from paying more than the average world price for silver under any circumstances.
![Official portrait of Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000858_200.jpg)